Bulgarian Parliament caps university tuition fee increases

The Bulgarian Parliament has approved amendments to the Higher Education Act during its second reading, introducing new regulations for university tuition fees and scholarships.

A key provision establishes a cap on tuition increases, preventing fees for paid enrollment in state universities from rising by more than 20% relative to the amount set in the first year. Additionally, the minimum required tuition fee has been reduced from 60% to 50% of the state-provided maintenance funds for specific fields of study. These changes will apply to students admitted for the 2025/2026 academic year.

The amendments also impact scholarship distribution. State budget scholarships will now be exclusively provided to full-time students and doctoral candidates in state-subsidized programs. Students in other forms of study must rely on funding from universities, individuals, or legal entities.

To reduce bureaucracy, academic councils at state universities will now independently determine application fees without requiring approval from the Council of Ministers. Furthermore, the certification of completed degrees and the recognition of foreign education will be handled officially by the institutions.