University of Economics – Varna

About University of Economics – Varna

University of Economics – Varna traces its institutional origin to 14 May 1920, when the future university opened as Bulgaria’s first higher school of commerce. Its name and organizational form changed several times during the twentieth century, and it adopted the present University of Economics – Varna name in 1990, with parliamentary recognition following in 1995. The university remains an independently accredited higher-education institution. Bulgaria’s National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency granted institutional accreditation on 6 June 2024 for six years, making it valid until 6 June 2030. The agency records an institutional capacity of 8,000 students. This is an authorized capacity, not a verified current enrollment figure, so applicants should not interpret it as the size of the present student body. UE–Varna is academically specialized rather than comprehensive. Its teaching and research concentrate on economics, business and administration, tourism, and computing-related fields. The main institutional address is 77 Knyaz Boris I Boulevard in Varna, with an Academic and Research Centre and a separate College of Tourism at other city addresses. The official site active in 2026 provides current academic calendars, enrollment notices and programme information, supporting its operating status. For international applicants, the important practical distinction is between Bulgarian-taught programmes and the smaller selection taught in English or Russian, as language and admissions requirements differ.

Admissions rules depend on degree level, citizenship, prior education and teaching language. For international bachelor’s admission, non-EU and non-EEA applicants are assessed from their documents. The published criterion requires the combined result in mathematics and one optional secondary-school subject to exceed 62% of the maximum available grade. English-taught programmes require evidence at CEFR B2 or above, an accepted certificate, or a university language examination; the criteria page lists IELTS 5.5 and TOEFL iBT 65 among accepted thresholds. Applicants from countries where English is official are exempt from that English condition. EU and EEA applicants enter a selection procedure also used for Bulgarian citizens and may compete for state-subsidized study or choose paid study. Foreign secondary qualifications must be formally recognized. The current procedure directs applicants with education completed abroad through Bulgaria’s National Centre for Information and Documentation, known as NACID. Non-EU applicants also pass through Ministry of Education review and must apply personally for a Bulgarian type-D visa after receiving the required certificates. The university’s international FAQ lists 30 September for bachelor’s applications, 10 December for master’s applications and year-round submission for doctorates, but it does not label those dates specifically as 2026/2027. An admissions procedure page additionally says EU/EEA candidates seeking subsidized study should complete the process by the end of June, while paid-study applications may run to the end of October. Applicants should therefore confirm the controlling 2026/2027 deadline directly with the Foreign Students Division before relying on a general webpage. Master’s and PhD applicants with foreign university degrees must complete the university’s degree-recognition process.

UE–Varna awards bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Its 2026 official homepage presents undergraduate, graduate and PhD study, while its admissions pages give programme-level details for foreign applicants. The portfolio is concentrated in applied business and economic fields rather than the full range found at a broad multidisciplinary university. International bachelor’s applicants can find four-year degree options taught in English, including Business and Management. The wider undergraduate catalogue includes Bulgarian-taught subjects such as business economics, economics and trade, logistics, agricultural business, real estate and investment, and other specialized business fields. The College of Tourism also offers three-year professional bachelor programmes taught in Bulgarian. Applicants should confirm both the credential type and teaching language for their intended course rather than assume every programme is available in English. At master’s level, the international admissions catalogue lists English-taught choices including Intercultural Business, International Business and Management, Master of Business Administration, and Computer Science. Programme length varies, and some master’s courses last longer when the student’s previous bachelor’s field differs from the graduate subject. The doctoral catalogue covers fields such as management, economics, tourism, marketing, finance, statistics and informatics; only master’s graduates are eligible, and doctoral study may be full-time, part-time or individually organized. The institution also supports distance learning in selected programmes and participates in Erasmus+ mobility. A 2026/2027 course catalogue is available for incoming exchange students, but exchange-course availability should not be treated as proof that the same course is open within every full degree.

Key Highlights

• Institutional accreditation is valid through 6 June 2030.
• Founded in 1920 as a higher school of commerce.
• Specialized in economics, business, tourism and computing-related education.
• Operates across three identified university buildings in Varna.

Student Life & Environment

Student services are concentrated around the university’s central facilities. The official institutional overview identifies a library with an electronic catalogue, study resources and accessibility equipment for visually impaired users. It also describes a sports centre with five specialized halls, computer rooms, laboratories, departmental libraries and an auditorium used for performances, screenings and other events. A service area called Student Street brings together the university bookshop, Career Centre, Information Centre, International Relations office, Scholarships and Dormitories office, and Student Council office. This arrangement may make academic administration and international support easier to access, although the university does not provide a complete, current English-language list of student clubs on the researched pages. Students also have access to online systems including WebStudent, e-Learn and the electronic library. Accommodation information requires careful interpretation. The official incoming Erasmus+ page describes university dormitories about a 15-minute walk from the main campus, with single, double and triple rooms, shared kitchen and laundry facilities on the Erasmus+ floor. Places are limited and allocated under university criteria. Because this page addresses incoming Erasmus+ students, its room arrangements and quoted rents should not be assumed to apply automatically to full-degree students. Degree-seeking applicants should contact the Scholarships and Accommodation office for current eligibility, prices and availability.

Location & Surroundings

The university is based in Varna, a major Bulgarian city on the Black Sea. Its main building is at 77 Knyaz Boris I Boulevard, postcode 9002. The university identifies this central building as a protected heritage site and city landmark. Two additional locations serve distinct functions: the Academic and Research Centre at 24 Evlogi Georgiev Street and the College of Tourism at 158A Slivnitsa Boulevard. This multi-building arrangement means students should check where their programme, administrative office and classes are located instead of assuming all activity takes place at the main address. The central building contains major student-facing services, including information, careers, international relations, scholarship and accommodation offices. Incoming Erasmus+ accommodation is described as approximately a 15-minute walk from the university campus, though the institution does not guarantee rooms to every applicant. Varna’s coastal urban setting gives students access to the services and cultural institutions of a substantial city. The university’s own city guide highlights the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Cathedral, the Stoyan Bachvarov Theatre and Varna’s archaeological heritage. Applicants comparing locations should nevertheless plan around practical matters such as programme-building assignments, commuting and housing availability rather than treating the university as a single enclosed campus.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Tuition varies by citizenship, funding route, subject, programme and study format. The undergraduate fee page is headed 2026/2027, but its explanatory text labels the displayed state-funded and full-fee tables as 2025/2026. Those tables should therefore be treated as the latest clearly dated fee schedule rather than assumed to be final 2026/2027 pricing. For 2025/2026, listed state-funded undergraduate charges generally begin at €245 per term, with €280 for identified English-taught business programmes and €300 for IT and computer science. Full-fee rates are higher and differ by year and subject. The same official table lists non-EU international tuition under the relevant Bulgarian Higher Education Act provision at €1,350 per term for economics, administration and management, and tourism, and €1,500 per term for informatics and computer science. Students should verify which legal category applies to them and obtain a programme-specific invoice before making financial plans. The international FAQ also lists a BGN 120 application fee and BGN 70 enrollment fee, but the page does not identify an academic year for those charges. Housing costs cannot be generalized across the student body. An official Erasmus+ page quotes monthly dormitory rents of €110 for a triple-room bed, €130 for a double-room bed and €150 for a single room, plus a deposit equal to one month’s rent. These terms are specifically presented for incoming Erasmus+ students and places are limited. Career support includes a university Career Centre and the University of Economics – Varna Business Network, which connects students with business organizations. The site also routes students to internship, job and alumni resources. No verified graduate salary, placement rate or named-employer outcome was found, so career value should be assessed through programme content, language skills, internship access and the applicant’s intended labor market.