Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” is a public university in Sofia, the first higher education institution in Bulgaria; classes began on 1 October 1888.[1][2] It has 16 faculties and a branch in Burgas.[1] We could not confirm its QS World University Rankings 2027 position from a source we could read; in the 2026 edition it was ranked 731–740.[3]
For 2026/27, students from outside the EU and EEA pay annual tuition set in euros. Many full-time programmes are listed at €3,300 a year, and the preparatory language course costs €3,500.[4][5] EU and EEA citizens apply under the rules and conditions for Bulgarians.[6]
Key facts
| Official name | Софийски университет „Св. Климент Охридски“ (Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”) |
| Location | Sofia, Bulgaria (main building: 15 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, 1504 Sofia)[1] |
| Type | Public university[2] |
| Founded | Classes began on 1 October 1888; a university since 1894 and named “St. Kliment Ohridski” since 1905[7] |
| Faculties | 16 faculties and one branch in Burgas[1] |
| Study programmes | 124 programmes after secondary education, plus master’s programmes (page of July 2025)[7] |
| Students | 21,547 (Times Higher Education data for its 2027 ranking)[8] |
| University library | More than 2,620,000 volumes[7] |
| QS World University Rankings | 2027 position not confirmed; 731–740 in the 2026 edition[3] |
| Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 | 1601–1800[8] |
| Tuition 2026/27, non-EU/EEA students | Programme-based; many full-time programmes €3,300 per year; preparatory language course €3,500[4] |
| Language of teaching | Bulgarian, with some programmes in English (for example Medicine, Pharmacy, Philosophy, European Union and European Integration)[9] |
| Official website | uni-sofia.bg |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”
Sofia University was founded in 1888 after a decision of the National Assembly as a Higher School, became a university in 1894 and took the name “St. Kliment Ohridski” in 1905.[7] The university describes itself as the first Bulgarian higher education institution and as the biggest scientific hub in the country.[1] Its main building is at 15 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd in central Sofia.[1]
The academic structure has 16 faculties and one branch in Burgas.[1] The university library holds more than 2,620,000 volumes.[7] It takes part in EU mobility programmes such as Erasmus+.[7]
How is Sofia University ranked?
QS World University Rankings 2027 (published 18 June 2026): we could not confirm Sofia University’s position from a source we were able to read. The Technical University of Sofia states in its own announcement that only two Bulgarian institutions are in the published ranking of 1,504 universities, but the announcement does not name the second one.[10] For comparison, Bulgarian News Agency reported on 19 June 2025 that the university was ranked 731–740 in the 2026 edition and has appeared in the ranking since 2013.[3]
Times Higher Education: the 2027 World University Rankings list Sofia University in the 1601–1800 band.[8] The two rankings use different methods, so positions are not directly comparable. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Sofia University?
The university offers 124 programmes after secondary education, from humanities and sciences to Medicine and Pharmacy, and a wide range of master’s programmes.[7] The bachelor’s page groups the subjects by faculty:[7]
- Humanities and social sciences: Philosophy, History, Classical and Modern Philology, Slavic Studies, Law, Education, Theology, Journalism and Mass Communication.
- Sciences and technology: Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Mathematics and Informatics, Geology and Geography.
- Economics and business: Economics and Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance and Digital Applications.
- Medicine: Medicine, Nursing, Medical Rehabilitation and Ergotherapy.
English-taught options include bachelor’s programmes in European Union and European Integration, Quantum, Nuclear and Particle Physics, and Philosophy,[9] and six-year Medicine and five-year Pharmacy master’s programmes taught in English.[11] Many master’s programmes are taught in English or other foreign languages.[11]
How much does Sofia University cost in 2026/27?
Tuition for newly admitted students from non-EU/EEA countries in 2026/27 is set in euros under Article 95, paragraph 8 of the Higher Education Act. The amounts are listed programme by programme in a PDF schedule, for Bulgarian-taught and English-taught programmes.[4] A few examples of full-time annual fees for bachelor’s programmes from that schedule:[5]
| Programme | Full-time, per year | Part-time, per year |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy (in English) | €3,300 | €2,750 |
| European Union and European Integration (in English) | €3,300 | €2,750 |
| Nuclear and Particle Physics (in English) | €4,950 | €2,750 |
| Specialised preparatory language course | €3,500 | not listed |
Fees for other programmes differ and are higher in several natural-science, technical and medical fields. Check your own programme in the official fee schedule; the table layout of the PDF is complex, so confirm the figure with the admissions office.[5]
Payment and special cases
The annual fee is paid in two equal halves at the start of each semester.[4] A student with dual citizenship, one of them Bulgarian, pays half of the foreign-student fee, but only if that amount is lower than the fee Bulgarian citizens pay for the same programme.[4] If a student withdraws before 1 October after enrolment, 80% of the fee may be refunded on written request to the Rector.[4] EU and EEA citizens, people with permanent residence in Bulgaria, refugees and foreign citizens of Bulgarian nationality apply under the conditions for Bulgarians.[6] The page is dated 15 October 2026; fees are set per academic year, so check it again before you apply.[4]
How do you apply to Sofia University?
The route depends on your category. The university lists four: intergovernmental agreements and Council of Ministers decrees (applicants are introduced by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science), applicants from EU states and certain other groups (who follow the Bulgarian procedure), and all other foreign applicants, who pay the tuition fees for international students.[6]
- Non-EU applicants: apply by submitting documents only, except for Medicine and Pharmacy. Applications are ranked, provided the relevant grade is not lower than 62% of the maximum under the grading system of the country where the secondary education was completed.[12] The page is dated November 2022, so confirm current rules with the International Students Admission Office.
- Medicine (in English): a written entrance exam in English with a Chemistry and a Biology test, four hours in total, each worth 50% of the final grade.[11]
- Pharmacy (in English): a written entrance exam in English with Chemistry (40%), Biology (40%) and English (20%).[11]
- Bachelor’s in English: the European Union and European Integration programme accepts students after an exam in English.[9]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year. Contact: foreignstud@admin.uni-sofia.bg.[7] Diploma recognition and visa pages are linked from the university’s international students section.
Which language level do you need?
Teaching is in Bulgarian or English depending on the programme. For Bulgarian-taught programmes, non-EU students study after a successfully completed course at the university’s Department for Language Teaching; the specialised preparatory language course costs €3,500 for 2026/27.[4] For English-taught programmes the university tests English in the entrance exam (Medicine, Pharmacy and the European Union and European Integration bachelor’s).[11][9]
The pages we read do not list accepted language certificates or minimum scores for English programmes, so ask the admissions office before you book a test.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Sofia University cost for international students?
Can I study in English at Sofia University?
What is Sofia University’s QS ranking?
We could not confirm its QS World University Rankings 2027 position. In the 2026 edition it was ranked 731–740.[3]
Do EU citizens pay the same fees as Bulgarians?
Applicants from EU member states apply under the procedures, terms and conditions for Bulgarians.[6]
Is Sofia University the same as the Medical University of Sofia?
No. They are separate institutions with their own admissions. Sofia University also offers Medicine in English at its own Faculty of Medicine.[11]
More about studying in Bulgaria
- Bulgaria: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Bulgaria
- Medical University of Sofia
- Medical University of Plovdiv
- Technical University of Sofia
- University of National and World Economy (UNWE)
Sources
[1] Sofia University: Presentation of the University (page updated 24 Feb 2026)
[2] Wikipedia: Sofia University (type and founding date; revision of July 2026)
[3] Bulgarian News Agency: Sofia University Ranks 731–740 Globally Among 1,500 Universities (article of 19 Jun 2025; QS 2026 edition)
[4] Sofia University: Tuition fees for the academic year 2026/2027 (page updated 15 Oct 2026)
[5] Sofia University: Fee schedule 2026–2027, Bulgarian and English (PDF) (PDF without a date, for 2026/27)
[6] Sofia University: General rules for admission (international students) (page updated 4 Mar 2025)
[7] Sofia University: Bachelor’s degree programmes (page updated 7 Jul 2025)
[8] Times Higher Education: Sofia University (page without a date; World University Rankings 2027 data)
[9] Sofia University: Bachelor’s degree programmes in English (page updated 10 Feb 2025)
[10] Technical University of Sofia: first inclusion in QS World University Rankings 2027 (QS publishes at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (article of 18 Jun 2026)
[11] Sofia University: Master’s degree programmes in English or other foreign languages (page updated 7 Jul 2025)
[12] Sofia University: Application procedure (page updated 17 Nov 2022, so confirm current rules)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.