Last checked: November 2026
If you want to study medicine in Bulgaria, you are looking at one of the most established English-taught routes into a European medical degree. Four state medical universities in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Pleven teach the six-year Medicine programme fully in English, and fees sit well below what private medical schools in Western Europe charge. It is still a serious commitment: around €54,000–€60,000 in tuition alone, entrance exams in Biology and Chemistry, and a long document trail before you can even apply for a visa.
We wrote this guide for self-funded students from Nigeria, Ghana and the rest of Africa who want the honest picture: which universities to look at, what they cost, how admission works, how the type D visa fits in, and what you need to know about practising back home afterwards.
Why African students study medicine in Bulgaria
The main draws are price, language and recognition inside Europe. A Bulgarian medical degree is an EU qualification, and the programmes are taught in English from the first day of year one. You do learn Bulgarian along the way, because from the clinical years you will talk to patients in hospitals where English is not the working language.
Bulgaria has been a full Schengen member since 1 January 2025 and has used the euro since 1 January 2026, so fees and living costs are now quoted in euros. Living costs are among the lowest in the EU, which matters over six years. If you are comparing several countries, our guide to the cheapest countries to study in Europe puts Bulgaria in context.
The downsides are real too. The workload is heavy, attrition in the first two years is significant, and a degree that lets you practise in the EU does not automatically let you practise in Nigeria or Ghana. We cover that below.
Universities that teach Medicine in English
These are the four universities most African applicants consider when they decide to study medicine in Bulgaria. All run a six-year integrated Master’s in Medicine. Fees below are first-year figures from each university’s own website; some universities charge less in later years.
| University | City | Annual tuition (first year) | Selection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical University of Sofia | Sofia | €9,950 | Remote exam in English, Biology and Chemistry |
| Medical University of Plovdiv | Plovdiv | €10,000 (2025/26 table) | Online Biology and Chemistry tests plus English diagnostic test |
| Medical University of Varna | Varna | €10,000 (2026/27) | Online Biology and Chemistry tests, plus diploma grade |
| Medical University of Pleven | Pleven | €9,000 (2026/27) | Biology and Chemistry entry tests |
Plovdiv’s published table lists lower fees for later years (€9,200 for years two and three, €8,200 for years four to six), so the six-year total depends on the school. Trakia University in Stara Zagora and Sofia University’s Faculty of Medicine also teach medicine in English, but check their current fees and admission rules directly before you compare them.
Sofia
For many who study medicine in Bulgaria, Sofia is the first choice: it is the capital and has the largest medical university. For non-EU applicants it lists one remote entrance exam in English, Biology and Chemistry, held on 9 September 2026 for the 2026 intake, with documents accepted from 27 July to 31 August 2026. Fees include €55 for document submission and €210 for the exam.
Plovdiv
Plovdiv runs several exam sessions between April and September, which gives you more than one attempt in a year. Your score is three times Biology plus three times Chemistry plus English, out of 42. It also asks for at least B1 English, proven by a certificate, an English-medium school diploma or its own diagnostic test.
Varna
Varna sits on the Black Sea coast. It charges a non-refundable application fee of €340 and requires an official-language grade of at least 65% on your school diploma. Its English requirement is stricter than the others: IELTS Academic 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90, and Nigeria and Ghana are not on its list of exempt countries.
Pleven
Pleven is smaller and quieter, with a February intake for English-taught Medicine. Applications for the February 2027 intake closed on 1 October 2026, so the next window will likely open in mid-2027. It asks for B2 English and charges a €200 entrance exam fee.
Entrance exams and admission requirements
Most universities that let you study medicine in Bulgaria in English select students through entrance tests in Biology and Chemistry, set at roughly the level of senior secondary school science. Good WAEC or WASSCE results help you prepare, but they do not replace the exam. Practise with the past papers or sample tests each university publishes, and treat this like a professional exam rather than a formality.
English is usually assessed separately. Some schools accept an English-medium secondary diploma, others want IELTS, TOEFL or PTE, and some run their own test. If you fall short, most offer a one-year preparatory course: Pleven lists €4,000 and Sofia €4,800. Our article on studying in Europe without IELTS explains when a school certificate is enough.
Documents checklist for Nigerian and Ghanaian applicants
- Secondary school certificate (WAEC, NECO or WASSCE) and full transcript showing Biology and Chemistry
- An official document confirming you are eligible for university in your home country
- Legalisation of these documents: Ghana uses the apostille; Nigerian documents usually go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bulgarian Embassy in Abuja
- Translation into Bulgarian by an authorised translator
- Recognition of your school certificate in Bulgaria (NACID or the Regional Education Directorate, depending on the school)
- Valid passport, passport photos and the signed online application form
- English certificate if your chosen university requires one
Some universities let you sit the exam before every document is ready, but your place depends on submitting the full set before the deadline. Varna, for example, gives 11 September 2026 as the final date for paper documents and warns that NACID verification alone takes about a month.
Tuition fees and the real cost to study medicine in Bulgaria
Tuition is the largest line in your budget, but the total cost to study medicine in Bulgaria for six years includes much more. Here is a realistic first-year picture for a student in Plovdiv or Varna.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition (year one) | €9,000–€10,000 |
| Application and exam fees | €240–€340 |
| Document legalisation, translation and NACID | Varies; budget a few hundred euros |
| Type D visa fee | €100 |
| Living costs (10–12 months) | €6,000+ |
| Flights, insurance, residence permit | Varies |
If you are planning to study medicine in Bulgaria on family savings, confirm that the money for years two to six exists before you enrol. Students who run out of funds mid-degree often lose their residence permit, because universities require proof of paid tuition for each renewal.
Living costs in Bulgaria for students
Your monthly budget is the second big factor when you study medicine in Bulgaria. Pleven’s official guide puts minimum living costs at €500 a month, with food around €250–€300. A university hostel bed costs €75–€95 a month, a room in a shared flat €150–€300, and a private flat €300–€400. Sofia and Varna are more expensive than Pleven, especially in summer in Varna.
In our experience, a careful student outside Sofia can manage on €550–€700 a month, while Sofia often needs more once rent is included. Books, lab coats, a stethoscope and occasional exam resits add to this. Bulgaria allows students to work part-time, but medicine leaves little free time, so do not build your budget around a job.
The type D student visa from Nigeria and Ghana
Nigerians and Ghanaians need a long-stay type D visa to study medicine in Bulgaria. The order matters: you first get admitted, then the university forwards your file to the Ministry of Education and Science, which issues a certificate of acceptance. Varna says this step takes up to about a month. Only then can you apply for the visa.
Applications go to the Bulgarian Embassy in Abuja. Bulgaria has no functioning embassy in Accra, so Ghanaian applicants are also served from Abuja, according to the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Plan for the cost and time of travelling to Nigeria.
The Ministry’s type D checklist includes:
- Passport valid for at least 18 months with two blank pages
- Ministry of Education certificate of acceptance and university enrolment certificate
- Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria
- Health insurance covering the whole stay, minimum €30,000
- Proof of funds equal to at least six Bulgarian monthly wages
- Police clearance certificate, translated and legalised
- Completed application form and visa fee of €100
You can apply no earlier than three months before travel. A proposal published in October 2026 would raise the type D fee to €120, so check the current amount when you book. After arrival you apply for a residence permit at the Migration Directorate before your visa expires; for non-EU students it is usually issued for one year and renewed each year. Our guides to proof of funds from Nigeria and student visa motivation letters apply here too.
Recognition at home: MDCN and the Ghana Medical and Dental Council
This is the part agents often skip. Graduating after you study medicine in Bulgaria makes you eligible to work within the EU system, but practising in Nigeria or Ghana depends on the rules of your national regulator when you return.
In Nigeria, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria requires foreign-trained graduates to pass its assessment examination. Its current notice says your school must be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, your degree must be verified, and you must show current eligibility to practise in the country of training, including a certificate of good standing from that country’s regulator. The exam fee for Nigerian candidates in 2026 is ₦250,000.
That last requirement deserves attention. Ask your chosen university, before you enrol, what graduates must do to obtain a practising licence or good standing in Bulgaria, including any Bulgarian language requirement. In Ghana, foreign-trained doctors also sit a licensing examination with the Medical and Dental Council, and a common licensing exam for all new doctors was announced for October 2025. Rules change, so check with the regulator in the year you plan to graduate.
Scams and agents to avoid
Students who want to study medicine in Bulgaria attract many agents, and some promise “guaranteed admission without exams” or visa approval. No one can guarantee either. Pay university fees only to the university’s own account, read its admission pages yourself, and use our guide on checking if a study abroad agent is genuine.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study medicine in Bulgaria without an entrance exam?
The state medical universities covered here select English-programme students through Biology and Chemistry tests. Be careful with anyone offering a place with no exam at these universities.
How much does it cost to study medicine in Bulgaria per year?
First-year tuition at the four state medical universities ranges from about €9,000 to €10,000, plus roughly €500–€700 a month to live.
Is WAEC enough for English?
It depends on the university. Some accept an English-medium school diploma, while Varna asks for IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90 from Nigerian and Ghanaian applicants.
Can I work while studying?
Students may work up to 20 hours a week during term, according to the EU Immigration Portal. In practice, medicine leaves little time for paid work.
Where do Ghanaians apply for the visa?
At the Bulgarian Embassy in Abuja, which covers Ghana. Confirm appointment arrangements with the embassy before you travel.
If you are serious about wanting to study medicine in Bulgaria and already have your school results, we can help you shortlist universities, prepare the application and build a strong type D visa file. See our application support service, or book a free consultation to talk through your plans.
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