System of Higher education in Bulgaria
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
TO THE FOREIGN CITIZENS, CANDIDATES FOR STUDY
AT THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC “PROF. PANCHO VLADIGEROV”
The Higher education system organizes tuition after completing secondary education and consists of the following degrees:
- EDUCATIONAL AND QUALIFICATION DEGREE “BACHELOR” – with a minimum period of preparation according to the curriculum of 4 years
- MASTER’S DEGREE – with a minimum preparation period of 5 years after secondary education or no less than one year after the BACHELOR’s degree.
- EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC DEGREE “DOCTOR” – with a minimum period of preparation of 3 years after obtaining the “MASTER’S” degree.
Individuals who have completed a state-subsidized Higher education and obtained a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with a 5-year period of study cannot apply for a second state-subsidized higher education in the same or lower from their educational and qualification degree.
Foreign citizens can apply:
- in implementation of intergovernmental agreements on educational, scientific and cultural exchange;
- according to acts of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria;
- against tuition fees.
Foreign citizens can apply for training:
- in full-time Bachelor’s and Master’s programs;
- study in Bulgarian for one academic year (language and specialized training);
- postgraduate specializations (from 1 semester to 4 semesters);
- Doctorate (PhD).
Applicants must meet the following conditions:
- for Bachelor’s programs – applicants must have a completed secondary education, providing them with access to Higher education in the country where the secondary education was obtained;
- for Master’s programs – applicants must have a completed Higher education (minimum Bachelor’s degree with average grade, minimum “Good 4” for paid tuition);
- for specializations – completed Higher education;
- for Doctoral studies – Higher education (Master degree).
For Bachelor’s and Master’s programs, applicants must be fluent in the Bulgarian language or undergo training in the Bulgarian language (language and specialized training) for one academic year.
Applicants under intergovernmental agreements submit documents to the Ministry of Education and Science through the competent institutions in the country from which they are applying. Candidates are admitted under the conditions and according to the procedure defined in the intergovernmental agreements, after coordination with the NAM.
Candidates of Bulgarian nationality who wish to study according to acts of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria, submit documents to the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria. They are accepted under the conditions and according to the order defined in the relevant act of the Ministry of Education and after successfully passing the specialized exams at the National Academy of Music.
Applicants for paid tuition submit their documents to the NAM. After approving the application, the Academy sends the documents for approval to the Ministry of Education and Science. The Ministry of Education and Science issues a Certificate of obtaining a visa for study.
Candidates with dual citizenship, one of which is Bulgarian, submit their documents to the NAM.
Foreign citizens can apply for study also under the conditions and according to the order of admission of Bulgarian citizens, if:
- Have the status of permanent residents on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;
- Have refugee status;
- Are of Bulgarian nationality, certified according to Decree No. 103 of 1993 or Decree No. 228 for carrying out educational activities among Bulgarians abroad;
- Are citizens of a member state of the European Union and the European Economic Area.
Candidates for study under the conditions and according to the procedure for admission of Bulgarian citizens, incl. the candidates under item 3 and item 4 are accepted within the number of students approved annually by the Council of Ministers.
Applicants under the conditions and according to the procedure for accepting Bulgarian citizens under items 1, 2 and 4, submit their documents and appear for entrance exams within the time limits set for Bulgarian citizens. Candidates of Bulgarian nationality submit documents within the deadlines set by the Ministry of Education and Science and appear for specialized exams at the National Academy of Music in the month of September in the year of application.
At the time of submitting the documents, the candidates’ Diplomas must have passed the recognition procedure by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science. Candidates present the Diploma and a Certificate of Recognition issued by the Ministry of Education and Science.
Application deadlines
Applicants for paid tuition at the NAM submit their documents to the Academy in person or through an authorized representative as follows:
- post-secondary education from September 1 to September 20;
- for Master’s programs for “Bachelor” or “Master” degree holders from September 1 to September 3 or until January 20;
- for specializations – before the start of the winter or summer semester.
At the time of submitting the documents, the candidates’ Diplomas must have passed the recognition procedure by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science /MES/. Candidates present the Diploma and a Certificate of Recognition issued by MES.
Visas for study
Approved candidates submit documents to obtain a study visa at a Bulgarian diplomatic mission in the country of which they are citizens.
Those accepted for part-time studies receive, after enrolling in the NAM, a certificate and submit documents to the Bulgarian diplomatic mission in the country of which they are citizens, to obtain a multiple-entry visa for the purposes of the studies.
A study visa is not required for:
- citizens of member states of the European Union and the European Economic Area;
- foreigners permanently residing in the Republic of Bulgaria who applied and were accepted under the conditions and according to the procedure for Bulgarian citizens;