The University of Plovdiv “Paissi Hilendarski” is a public higher education institution located in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It was founded in 1961 and later developed into a full university, becoming one of the largest and most comprehensive universities in Bulgaria—second only to Sofia University in size and academic diversity. The university is named after Paissi Hilendarski, a prominent figure in Bulgarian history and culture.
The University of Plovdiv offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across multiple academic disciplines. Its main academic units include the following faculties:
Faculty of Biology
Faculty of Chemistry
Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Languages and Literature
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics
Faculty of Philosophy and History
Faculty of Physics and Technology
Programs include disciplines such as biology, chemistry, economics, languages, law, mathematics, education, philosophy, history, physics and engineering technologies, among others. Courses may be offered in Bulgarian, and some subjects or elective options are available in English, especially for exchange students (e.g., Erasmus+ mobility).
Although the official uni‑plovdiv.bg site does not list a detailed international student admissions section in the publicly accessible pages we searched, the typical university admissions process in Bulgaria—which applies to Plovdiv University as a public higher education institution—is generally as follows:
Program Selection
Choose your intended degree program (bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level) offered by one of the university’s faculties.
Document Preparation
Prepare your academic documents, including your high school diploma and transcript for undergraduate entry, or your bachelor’s degree and transcript for graduate entry. These documents usually must be notarized and apostilled in your home country and translated into Bulgarian if required.
Submission of Application
Submit your application and supporting documents either through the university’s international office or through an authorized representative/agent, such as Uni‑Bulgaria YED if you are applying from Türkiye.
Recognition and Equivalency
The university (often via the Ministry of Education or a specialized equivalency board) reviews and recognizes your previous educational credentials and issues an acceptance or pre‑enrollment confirmation.
Ministry of Education Permission
For non‑EU/EEA students, the university typically applies for an official Ministry of Education permission document required for the Type D Student Visa.
Visa Application
Once the permission document is issued, you apply for the D‑type student visa at the Bulgarian consulate or embassy.
Arrival and Registration
After visa approval, you arrive in Bulgaria, complete final registration at the university, pay tuition fees, and begin your studies.
The exact list of required documents and specific academic entry requirements (e.g., entrance exams or language proficiency) are determined by each faculty and may vary by program. For detailed up‑to‑date requirements, contacting the university’s International Relations Office or using an authorized representative like Uni‑Bulgaria YED is recommended.
