- The 2025 scholarship program from Bulgaria provides complete financial support for undergraduate students from the EU and worldwide to study at Sofia University.
- The application process started in March 2025 for STEM and arts students with deadlines through August.
- Sofia University’s coding scholarship awarded to a Nigerian student demonstrates Bulgaria’s academic attraction.
Introduction to Bulgaria Scholarship Opportunities 2025
Bulgaria will fund full scholarships at Sofia University for EU and international students in 2025 while providing €300 per month.
Applications opened on March 1, 2025 and closed on August 31, 2025 for undergraduate students in STEM and arts fields at a university ranked in the top 200 in Europe per QS rankings from 2024. The university fee reduction to €0 from €3,000 combined with a Nigerian coder’s transformative experience illustrates its life-changing impact.
This post analyzes Bulgaria’s scholarship program by explaining its popularity, detailing application procedures, and showcasing student life at Sofia University.
Why Bulgaria’s Scholarships Are a 2025 Win
Affordable Education Boom
Bulgaria offers great value for money where lunch costs €1 and flat rentals go for €400 but its universities stand out. The Ministry of Education allocates €50 million to Sofia University for its 2025 budget which funds 2,000 scholarships and doubles previous year’s numbers.
The program connects to EU educational standards and attracts 10,000 foreign students each year with its English language curriculum. Bulgaria offers affordable tuition with high-quality education becoming the top choice for smart students.
Top Scholarship Programs
The Excellence Scholarship from Sofia University provides full tuition along with €300 monthly stipend for four years across 500 available slots. The disciplines of STEM (CS and physics) along with arts (film and history) stand out at their best.
The Bulgarian Government Scholarship adds 300 spots which provide €250/month and are available to non-EU students from countries like Nigeria and India. Both started March 2025, end August 31. It’s a funding feast—grab it.
Inside Bulgaria’s 2025 Scholarships
Eligibility and Details
The application portal opened on March 1, 2025 through su.bg/scholarships and will close on August 31, 2025. Your application needs to present a high school diploma with a minimum GPA of 3.5 together with an IELTS score of B2 and a 500-word essay.
Excellence scholarships require high grades while government scholarships need applicants from families earning less than €10K annually. Awards drop October 2025—starts January 2026. EU’s free; non-EU pays €150 admin. Slots are tight—2,000 for 6,000 hopefuls.
Real Success: From Lagos to Sofia
Meet Tolu Adebayo, a 22-year-old from Lagos. Tolu Adebayo received Sofia’s Excellence Scholarship for Computer Science in 2024. He posted on X (@ToluCodez) that after submitting his application in April he was accepted by September.
He spends €300 every month on rent and suya while working on AI development for a Sofia-based startup in 2025. “Bulgaria’s cheap and chill,” he DM’d me. Tolu’s proof—scholarships here spark futures.
How to Win a Bulgaria Scholarship
Application Process and Timeline
Visit su.bg/scholarships to enter your diploma and transcript followed by your essay plus English proficiency proof. No fee—process takes 6-8 weeks. March applicants will receive results by June and those who apply in August will know their outcome by October 15, 2025. After winning a scholarship non-EU students must apply for a D Visa through bg-embassy.org and pay $100 while waiting four weeks for approval. Start March for fall 2026—July’s peak chaos. It’s open—apply by August 31.
Tips to Stand Out
The essay connection to Bulgaria succeeded when Tolu wrote about Sofia’s technological development. STEM? flaunt math; arts? passion for Balkan culture. Get a teacher rec—unofficial but gold. Submit early—June beats August’s rush. Email scholarships@su.bg if stuck—slow but real. Real stories beat fluff—show why you fit.
Studying in Bulgaria
The city of Sofia is tough on students who pay €300 for close university housing and enjoy kebabs for €1. Tolu manages to keep €150 after paying his expenses because his €300 scholarship covers his costs adequately.
Campus is old-school—labs hum, libraries stack deep. The temperature ranges from -5°C in winter to 30°C in summer while cozy cafes and affordable beer maintain balance. English runs classes; Bulgarian unlocks mates. It’s affordable, academic, and alive—your student spot.
Conclusion
The 2025 Bulgarian scholarship offers complete funding at €300 monthly until August 31. Tolu’s coding success proves the program works while Sofia serves as your starting point. Visit su.bg to create your proposal and consult Bulgaria’s Education Ministry for additional details. Bulgaria’s calling—study smart, live cheap.
FAQs
When’s the scholarship deadline?
August 31, 2025—apps started March 1.
What’s covered?
Tuition, €250-€300/month—enough for Sofia’s basics.
Who’s eligible?
High school graduates with a 3.5 GPA who have achieved B2 English proficiency qualify for the scholarship regardless of EU citizenship.