Sofia University

The first in Bulgaria, Sofia University was founded back in 1888. It has since become one of the most highly-rated universities in the country, known for its training, scientific research and social and humanitarian studies in particular.

Originally, it only offered philosophy, philology and history-based courses, adding physics and mathematics programmes a year later. In 1904, it opened five more faculties: Theology, Economics, Agriculture, Forestry and Medicine. By 2016, its number of faculties had surpassed 15, with more recent ones including the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.

Is it located in the centre of the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, a relaxed city with an interesting selection of churches, mosques, galleries, museums, restaurants and greenery, and a 2,290m mountain just 8km south.

SU boasts the biggest academic library in the country, with access to more than two and a half million titles. Including branch libraries, there are around 30 in total.

It maintains agreements with more than 80 overseas institutions and has a large number of students involved in foreign exchanges compared to other universities in the country.. Courses are usually taught in Bulgarian, but language courses are available for international students, of which SU has a great deal. Master’s programmes are often available in English, and occasionally French, German, Italian and Russian.

Like at other Bulgarian universities, standard undergraduate courses last four years, and Master’s programmes an extra year. The university provides discounted accommodation for lots of international students, but renting privately in student-friendly parts of Sofia is also relatively cheap.