Bulgaria proposes new tuition fee formula to cap university fee hikes

The Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science has drafted a new tuition‑fee framework aimed at limiting sharp price increases for students. The proposal lowers the minimum fee threshold from 60 % to 50 % of living‑cost estimates and caps the total fee growth over a four‑year programme at 20 % above the first‑year level. Universities would be allowed to set their own application fees, while state scholarships would remain available only to regular‑track students and doctoral candidates. The rules would apply to students admitted for the 2025/2026 academic year and are open for public comment until 15 July, after which they will be consolidated for parliamentary approval.

Rectors’ Council chair Prof. Dr. Miglena Temelkova warned that “the formula‑based fees in Bulgaria hinder universities from pricing freely”, and Sofia University deputy rector Prof. Dr. Madlen Danova explained that the current method forces the fee structure seen today.