MBBS in Bulgaria 2027-28 for Indian Students

Bulgaria offers six-year English-taught medicine at state medical universities in Sofia and Varna, inside the European Union and at lower living costs than most of Europe. Here is what to know for the 2027-28 intake.

Why study medicine in Bulgaria

Bulgaria's state medical universities have taught international students for many years. The Master's degree in Medicine with the professional qualification "Physician" is a six-year programme recognised in the European Union. Bulgaria joined the Schengen area fully in 2025 and adopted the euro in 2026, which makes travel and fees simpler for students.

Universities on this page

• Medical University – Sofia — Bulgaria's oldest medical school, with its Faculty of Medicine dating from 1917. Its six-year course is organised in three stages: pre-clinical, para-clinical and clinical.
• Medical University – Varna — a state medical university on the Black Sea coast. Its English programme lasts six years: ten semesters of study and a one-year state clinical internship (310 calendar days). Bulgarian is compulsory during the first three years.

How admission works

Bulgarian medical universities usually select international students through an entrance exam (commonly biology and chemistry), sometimes with an English check, or through a document review. Rules differ by university and change from year to year, so read the official admission page for 2027-28. Some universities run a preparatory course for students who need it.

Course structure

The first years focus on anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and other basic sciences. The middle years add pathology, pharmacology and microbiology. The later years are clinical, and the final year is a pre-graduation internship in hospitals. Bulgarian language classes help you talk to patients.

2027-28 intake timeline for Bulgaria

• November 2026 – March 2027: read each university's admission rules and start revising biology and chemistry.
• March – July 2027: submit documents and sit entrance exams in the official sessions.
• May 2027: appear for NEET-UG 2027.
• July – September 2027: enrol, pay fees, and apply for the long-stay visa.
• Autumn 2027: classes start.

Costs to plan for

Tuition for international students is set by each university and is usually quoted in euros. Ask for the official 2027-28 fee in writing. Living costs in Bulgaria are among the lowest in the EU. Also plan for exam fees, document legalisation, insurance, residence permit and travel.

Will this degree let you practise in India?

The National Medical Commission (NMC) does not approve or list foreign universities. Your course must meet the NMC Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021: at least 54 months of study, a 12-month internship at the same institution, teaching in English, the whole course done outside India in the same institution, and eligibility for a licence to practise in that country on the same terms as its citizens. You must also qualify NEET-UG before joining, clear the licensing exam (currently FMGE), and complete a 12-month internship in India. Ask the university to confirm these points in writing, and read the latest notices on nmc.org.in.

Bulgarian programmes include a final-year clinical internship. Ask the university to confirm in writing that it meets the NMC's 12-month internship rule and that graduates are eligible for a Bulgarian licence on the same terms as citizens.

Sofia or Varna: how to compare

Medical University – Sofia is in the capital, with the country's largest hospitals and a busy city life. Medical University – Varna is on the Black Sea coast, with a calmer pace and a seaside climate. Compare the entrance exam, the yearly fee, the Bulgarian language requirement and hostel availability. Also ask how many international students graduate on time each year.

Who should consider Bulgaria

Bulgaria suits students who want an EU medical degree at a moderate cost, are ready to sit an entrance exam in biology and chemistry, and will learn Bulgarian for their clinical years.

Your 2027-28 checklist for MBBS in Bulgaria

• Qualify NEET-UG (2025, 2026 or 2027 result, within its three-year validity).
• Read the university's official 2027-28 admission rules, entrance test details and fee list.
• Get written confirmation of course length, internship, teaching language and licence eligibility.
• Check the latest notices on nmc.org.in about Bulgaria before paying anything.
• Prepare your passport, Class 10 and 12 documents and NEET scorecard, and find out which need apostille or translation.
• Plan the full budget for six years, plus 10–15% for exchange-rate changes.
• Pay fees only to the university's official bank account and keep every receipt.

NMC rules for MBBS in Bulgaria: read before you apply

If you want to practise medicine in India after studying in Bulgaria, your course must meet the NMC Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021. These rules apply to students who joined a foreign medical course on or after 18 November 2021. The National Medical Commission (NMC) does not approve or publish a list of foreign universities. Instead, it sets conditions that your course must meet:

• The course is at least 54 months long.
• You complete a 12-month internship in the same foreign university.
• The whole course is taught in English.
• The entire course, training and internship happen outside India, at the same university. No part of it can be done in India.
• You study the subjects listed by NMC.
• You become eligible for a licence to practise medicine in Bulgaria, on the same terms as its own citizens.
• You finish the course within 10 years of joining.

After returning to India, you must clear the licensing exam for foreign medical graduates and complete a 12-month supervised internship in India. Today this exam is the FMGE, conducted by NBEMS. NMC plans to replace it with the National Exit Test (NExT), but as of October 2026 NExT has not started for foreign graduates.

Eligibility for MBBS in Bulgaria

• Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English, with the marks needed for MBBS admission in India (lower for reserved categories; check the NEET-UG information bulletin).
• NEET-UG qualified. NEET is compulsory for Indian students who want to practise in India after studying abroad. For foreign admission, the result is valid for three years from the date it is declared. The Supreme Court upheld this rule in 2025.
• At least 17 years old by 31 December of the admission year.
• A valid passport.

Universities may also set their own minimum marks, an entrance test or an interview. Do not trust anyone who offers MBBS admission without NEET if you want a medical career in India.

Documents usually required

• Passport
• Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets and certificates
• NEET-UG scorecard
• Passport-size photographs
• Medical fitness certificate and any tests the embassy asks for
• Admission letter and visa invitation or approval

Some documents may need translation, notarisation or apostille. Follow the exact list your university gives you.

MBBS admission process for Bulgaria

1. Counselling: share your NEET score, Class 12 marks, budget and preferences with a counsellor.
2. Shortlisting: compare course duration, teaching language in every year, clinical training, hostel and the full cost.
3. NMC check: ask the university to confirm the NMC conditions in writing and read the latest notices on nmc.org.in.
4. Application: submit your documents through the university's official channel.
5. Admission letter: read the fee schedule and refund rules before paying.
6. Visa: apply for the student visa arranged through the university.
7. Travel: attend a pre-departure briefing and plan your arrival with the university.

After MBBS in Bulgaria

Most Indian graduates return to clear the FMGE and complete the internship in India, then practise or prepare for postgraduate entrance exams. Some take licensing exams in other countries. A foreign medical degree alone does not give you the right to practise anywhere. Read our MBBS abroad guide for the full rules.

Your MBBS journey in Bulgaria, year by year

• Before you leave: qualify NEET, choose the university carefully, check the NMC conditions in writing, arrange documents and visa, and join a pre-departure briefing.
• First year: settle into hostel life, learn the local language seriously, and build strong basics in anatomy, physiology and biochemistry.
• Middle years: focus on pathology, pharmacology and microbiology. Start reading Indian textbooks and solving FMGE-style questions alongside your university studies.
• Clinical years: attend every hospital posting, talk to patients in the local language, and keep a record of your clinical training.
• Final year and internship: complete the 12-month internship at your university, collect all certificates, and prepare for the licensing exam in India.
• After returning: apply for the FMGE, then the 12-month internship in India through your State Medical Council.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Choosing only by the lowest fee. A cheap course that does not meet NMC rules can cost you your career in India.
2. Believing "NMC approved" claims. NMC does not approve foreign universities. Check the conditions yourself.
3. Ignoring the local language. Students who do not learn it struggle in clinical years.
4. Leaving FMGE preparation to the end. Start practising early.
5. Paying agents in cash or to personal accounts. Pay fees only to the university's official account and keep every receipt.
6. Not keeping documents. Save your syllabus, marksheets, attendance and internship certificates. You will need them in India.

Paying for your studies in Bulgaria

Education loans

Many Indian families use an education loan for studies abroad. Banks and lenders usually ask for the admission letter, a cost estimate from the university, academic records, identity and address proof, and income documents of a co-applicant, usually a parent. Larger loans may need collateral. Interest rates, limits and repayment rules differ between lenders, so compare at least two or three offers and read the terms carefully.

Sending money abroad

Fees and living money are usually sent through a bank's foreign remittance service under the RBI's rules for education abroad. Keep the university's fee invoice and bank details ready, and always pay only to the university's official account. Never pay fees into a personal account.

Making a realistic budget

• Write down tuition for every year, not just the first year.
• Add hostel, food, transport, mobile, insurance, books and visa charges.
• Add flights home at least once a year.
• Keep 10–15% extra for exchange rate changes and emergencies.

How to prepare for the FMGE while studying in Bulgaria

The FMGE tests your medical knowledge as per the Indian curriculum. Many students who study abroad find it challenging, so prepare steadily through your course:

• Use standard Indian textbooks alongside your university notes, especially for clinical subjects.
• Solve multiple-choice questions regularly from your second year onwards.
• Revise subject by subject after each semester, while the topics are fresh.
• Take mock tests in the final year to build speed and confidence.
• Study in a group with other Indian students to stay motivated.

MBBS in Bulgaria or a private college in India?

• Cost: studying abroad is often cheaper than many private colleges in India, but compare the full cost honestly.
• Practice in India: an Indian MBBS lets you practise after internship; a foreign degree also needs the licensing exam and an internship in India.
• Patients and language: in India you train with patients who speak your language; abroad you must learn a new one.
• Experience: studying abroad builds independence and international exposure.

Discuss these points openly as a family before you decide.

Living and studying in Bulgaria: what to expect

Bulgaria at a glance for students

Bulgaria is in South-Eastern Europe, on the Black Sea. It is a member of the European Union and joined the Schengen area fully in 2025. Its capital is Sofia. Other university cities include Varna, Plovdiv and Pleven. The language is Bulgarian, written in the Cyrillic alphabet. Bulgaria adopted the euro (EUR) from 1 January 2026, replacing the lev.

Bulgarian medical universities teach medicine in English to many international students. Bulgarian language classes are compulsory in the early years, because you need it in clinical training.

Weather

Sofia has cold winters with snow. Varna, on the Black Sea coast, has milder winters and warm summers.

Visa and residence

Non-EU students usually need a long-stay (D) visa for study, using the documents issued after admission and enrolment approval. After arrival, you register and apply for a long-term residence permit. Your university's international office will guide you.

Living costs and accommodation

Living costs in Bulgaria are among the lowest in the European Union. Students live in university hostels, which have limited places, or in rented flats.

How PSP Education helps you

PSP Education has guided Indian students and parents since 1992. For MBBS in Bulgaria, we help you compare universities, check the rules that apply to you, prepare documents, apply before the 2027-28 deadlines and plan your visa and travel. We give honest advice, and we never promise seats, visas or jobs that no consultant can guarantee. Use the enquiry form on this page or call us to book free counselling.