Q&A Europe
Higher Education in Europe
Bulgaria’s joining the EU imposes complete changes on the application procedure and the documents to be presented by Bulgarian applicants. Here are the major changes that became effective as of 1 January 2007.
- No further need of visa for Bulgarian citizens studying in EU member states.
- Reduction of tuition fees in countries where there are different fees for home, EU and international students (e.g. The Netherlands, U.K., Greece, etc.)
- Tuition-free education in some countries of the EU
- Later application deadlines and an increase in universities and programs to be chosen from in a given semester.
- Bulgarian students can apply for scholarships funded by the Structural Funds of the EU
- Possibility to take out a loan in the country where the studies are undertaken.
What are the educational systems in Europe ?
After secondary school in Bulgaria the educational system in EU member states offers education in the form of Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees or as specialization. Duration of the program is 3 to 3.5 years for a Bachelor’s and 1 to 2 years for a Master’s degree. The duration of a Doctoral degree and specializations depends on the subject
How do I choose a university? Where to apply ?
The choice of a higher education institute depends on your academic success, your English language proficiency, other European languages, the subject you choose and your financial situation.
As there are no catalogues that contain complete information concerning all universities, all subjects, language of studies and the admission requirements we recommend you start your search from the website: http://ec.europa.eu/ploteus, which gives you a general view of your choices but the most precise and updated application details you will always find on the home page of the university!
Specific information concerning the different educational systems in EU member states and legalization procedures of official documents you can find here: www.enic-naric.net.
Almost all EU member states also offer Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in English language. In some countries basic knowledge of the national language is also required, others offer programs that are entirely in English. The most popular subjects are economics, computer science, social sciences and arts.
Tuition fees vary with the hosting country. Higher Education in Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Belgium is free, the Netherlands and the UK have tuition fees, in Germany there are provinces with or without tuition fees. Minimal tuition fees are 1000 Euro per year, but they can get as high as 20 000 Euro depending on university and program chosen.
Other unavoidable expenses include health insurance, social insurance, textbooks, accommodation and pocket money. These expenses vary from 600 to 1000 Euro monthly.
What are the application deadlines ?
Application deadlines for European universities start in December and continue until May and June for admission in September/October of a given year. Some universities have all year rolling applications and the beginning of the studies can be either in spring or fall term.
Which documents and exams are necessary for application ?
As educational systems vary widely from country to country admission requirements and necessary documents also differ considerably. For further details we advise you to turn to the university of your choice.
For programs taught in English language an internationally recognized certificate of English proficiency is required – these are usually TOEFL, IELTS or their equivalents. Some universities require an entrance exam.
How do European universities rank ?
The European commission periodically makes studies to determine the best universities in its member states and publishes a detailed report.
Newspapers and magazines like Financial Times, Newsweek and Economist publish their own rankings of universities and programs. For further information:
www.guardian.co.uk
For detailed and specific information concerning application to a European university you can turn to our advisers!
