Bulgaria advances law to regulate university tuition fees

The Bulgarian Parliamentary Commission on Education and Science has passed the first reading of amendments to the Higher Education Act. The proposed changes, submitted by the Council of Ministers, primarily focus on regulating student tuition fees and scholarships.

A key provision aims to limit tuition fee increases for students in paid programs starting in the 2025/2026 academic year. The goal is to ensure students know the maximum potential cost of their entire degree at the start of their studies, preventing sudden financial burdens. Additionally, the bill proposes reducing the minimum share of funds required for tuition formation from 60% to 50% to increase accessibility for low-income students.

The amendments also seek to reduce administrative burdens by granting universities more autonomy. Academic councils will be able to determine application fees independently without requiring subsequent approval from the Council of Ministers.