site.btaGovernment Increases Number of Students on Free Courses in Understaffed Sectors

Sofia, June 2 (BTA) - The caretaker government increased the
number of students who will study at State universities on
courses in fields that lack qualified manpower. During its
weekly sitting on Wednesday, the caretaker cabinet adopted a
resolution waiving tuition fees for 1,652 more students on
bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes at State-run higher
 education institutions for the next academic year.

A total of 118 nurses will be admitted to Bulgaria's higher
education institutions without tuition this year. In view of the
 insufficiency of specialists in the fields of public health and
 healthcare, the State is opening 397 more spots for students on
 related courses.

The acceptance rate of students in the fields of engineering and
 computer science (23 related courses) will also be increased,
most of all in the field of general engineering (by 37.2 per
cent).
  
This will be yet another year when acceptance rates will be
reduced for courses in social work, agriculture and law.
  
A total of 40,337 students in 38 State-run higher education
institutions will have their tuitions covered by the State. Some
 34,900 of them will be studying for postsecondary education
qualification degrees.
  
Another 15,345 students will be paying full tuition, including
9,016 in postsecondary education.

The number of tuition-free admissions for doctoral degrees will
be 2,266, including 1,647 on full time courses and 619 studying
part-time. Scientific organizations will accept 312 students:
180 at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and 53 at the
Agricultural Academy.
  
Another 2,000 applicants for bachelor's and master's degrees and
 40 aspiring PhDs of Bulgarian nationality abroad will study
tuition-free.
  
Once again, a hundred and fifty spots will be available to
students from North Macedonia.

LN/MT