Studying Medicine in Bulgaria in English (2026-2027)
A verified guide to English-taught medicine in Bulgaria: verified 2026-2027 tuition from €9,000 to €10,000/year at Pleven, Sofia, and Plovdiv, admission, and the licensing routes back to Canada and the USA.
Quick Answer
EuroMedGuide verifies 11 English-taught programs in Bulgaria — 5 Medicine, 3 Dentistry, 3 Pharmacy. Verified 2026-2027 medicine tuition sits around €9,000-€10,000/year at the Medical Universities of Pleven, Sofia, and Plovdiv. Bulgaria uses an entrance exam in biology and chemistry rather than the MCAT, and its EU medical degrees are listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
Source Status
Tuition figures are drawn from the verified EuroMedGuide 2026-2027 catalog and link to each university's official fee page. Recognition points cite the World Directory of Medical Schools and home-country regulators and are framed 'verify before acting'.
Quick Take
- 11 verified English-taught programs in Bulgaria (5 Medicine, 3 Dentistry, 3 Pharmacy).
- Verified 2026-2027 medicine tuition sits around €9,000-€10,000/year.
- Admission is a biology-chemistry entrance exam, not the MCAT.
Why Bulgaria
Bulgaria offers established English-taught, six-year MD programs at public medical universities inside the EU, at tuition well below Western Europe. It is a common choice for students who want an EU degree and a structured, exam-based admission they can prepare for.
There is no MCAT — admission is a biology and chemistry entrance exam. See do you need the MCAT?.
What it costs
Verified 2026-2027 annual medicine tuition, each figure linking to its official source. Add Sofia, Plovdiv, or Pleven living costs with the cost calculator.
| University | Verified annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Medical University of Pleven | €9,000 |
| Medical University of Sofia | €9,950 |
| Medical University of Plovdiv | €10,000 |
Admission
Bulgarian medical universities typically require a competitive entrance exam in biology and chemistry, a completed secondary education with strong science grades, English proof, and legalized documents. Confirm each school's exact rules on its official page and track dates on the deadline board.
Coming home
Plan the licensing route early. Bulgarian medical universities are listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. For the U.S. route the school must be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools with an applicable ECFMG Sponsor Note covering your graduation year, then you complete ECFMG certification and the USMLE; for Canada, the MCC route (MCCQE Part I and the NAC Examination) and your provincial regulator. See the Canada & USA pathways hub. This is not licensing advice.
FAQs
How much does medicine in Bulgaria cost?
Verified 2026-2027 tuition is around €9,000-€10,000/year at Pleven, Sofia, and Plovdiv. Every figure links to its official source.
Do I need the MCAT for Bulgaria?
No. Bulgarian medical schools admit through a biology and chemistry entrance exam, not the MCAT.
How many English-taught programs does Bulgaria have?
EuroMedGuide verifies 11 in Bulgaria: 5 Medicine, 3 Dentistry, and 3 Pharmacy.
Is a Bulgarian medical degree recognized in the U.S. or Canada?
Bulgarian schools are listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. For the U.S. the listing must carry an applicable ECFMG Sponsor Note for your graduation year; for Canada, verify with the MCC and your provincial regulator. Recognition is not automatic.
How hard is the entrance exam?
It is competitive and covers biology and chemistry to a secondary-school-plus standard. Prepare specifically for the school's syllabus, which each university publishes.