Bulgarian system of higher education is open to all students who have a diploma for completed secondary education. The system comprises the following three degrees:

FIRST DEGREE – the period of study according to the regular curriculum is four years. The students graduating according to the curriculum are awarded a Bachelor’s degree.

SECOND DEGREE – the period of study according to the regular curriculum is five years or at least one year after completing a Bachelor’s degree programme. The students graduating according to the curriculum are awarded a Master’s degree.

THIRD DEGREE – the period of study is three years after completing a Master’s degree programme. The students graduating according to the curriculum are awarded a Doctoral degree.

International students at higher educational institution have to choose full-time study programmes. The Doctoral programmes in higher educational institutions and scientific organizations in Republic of Bulgaria are full-time and unsupervised on an individual plan.

The full-time and unsupervised individual-plan doctoral programmes are three-year programmes. Applicants must have a Master’s degree.

Higher educational institutions in Bulgaria offer programmes for lifelong learning and further qualification. These programmes are organized according to the regulations and curriculum of each institution. The programmes for lifelong learning and further qualification do not lead to awarding a new degree, qualification or speciality. A specializing student is enrolled on a programme with a specialized curriculum, and does not receive a further degree, a new qualification or new specialization.