The University of Forestry (LTU), known in Bulgarian as Лесотехнически университет, is a public state university located in Sofia, Bulgaria. Originally founded as a higher education institute in 1953, it has developed into Bulgaria’s only specialised university in forestry and related natural sciences, combining education, research and innovation in sustainable resource management and environmental studies. LTU is accredited by the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency and follows the European higher education framework with Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programmes.
LTU is organised into six main faculties offering a broad range of academic programmes in forestry, environmental sciences and related disciplines.
Faculty of Forestry – Forest management, timber production and conservation.
Faculty of Forest Industry – Wood technology, furniture design and production engineering.
Faculty of Ecology and Landscape Architecture – Environmental protection, ecology and landscape planning.
Faculty of Agronomy – Agronomy, plant protection and agricultural sciences.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – Veterinary education and sciences (including programmes in English).
Faculty of Business Management – Management and business skills for natural resource sectors.
Forestry & Forest Management
Wood and Furniture Technology
Ecology and Environmental Protection
Landscape Architecture & Urban Green Planning
Agronomy & Crop Protection
Veterinary Medicine (English programme available)
Business Management in Natural Resources
(These programmes are offered at Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral levels.)
International students (especially non‑EU applicants) who wish to study at LTU generally follow these steps:
Choose a Program
Identify the desired degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD) and faculty at the University of Forestry.
Prepare Required Documents
Bachelor’s applicants: Secondary/high school diploma and full transcript.
Master’s applicants: Bachelor’s diploma and transcript.
Doctoral applicants: Master’s diploma and transcript plus any required research proposal.
Documents must be notarised, apostilled and translated into Bulgarian or English if necessary.
Submit Documents to the University
Send your application and required documents to LTU’s admissions office or a university representative/agent.
Some faculties (e.g., Veterinary Medicine) may require an entrance test or exam focusing on relevant subjects (e.g., biology).
University Review & Acceptance
The university reviews the submitted documents and, if successful, issues an offer letter or pre‑registration confirmation.
Ministry Permission (for Non‑EU Students)
LTU (like all Bulgarian state universities) forwards accepted applications to the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science to receive the official study permission letter required for the Type D Student Visa.
Visa Application
Using the ministry permission and proof of accommodation, students apply for their Type D student visa at the Bulgarian consulate or embassy in their home country.
Arrival & Final Registration
After visa issuance and arrival in Bulgaria, students complete final registration at the university, pay tuition fees and begin classes.
