site.btaThe Netherlands Remains Most Preferred Country for Bulgarian Prospective Students

Тhe Netherlands is still the most desired destination of Bulgarian prospective students, followed by Italy, Spain, Austria and Belgium, Integral Educational Programs Consultant Nikolay Hristanov said Wednesday during a press conference in Sofia. Integral has been the organizer of the World Education Forum for more than 20 years. Interest in Spain as a destination for higher education abroad has increased by 74% compared to the same period last year.

He noted that due to the high interest in Spain, there will be a separate booth for Spain at the World Education Spring 2025 to advise interested prospective students. The same will be true for Italy.

The Spring Educational Forum will start on March 22 at Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia. A total of 60 educational institutions will be represented by 40 participants from Bulgaria and abroad. The international educational organization Shorelight Education will represent more than 100 universities from the U.S., including universities in Chicago, Boston, Florida and Kansas. Eight UK universities will also be represented for the first time since Brexit, with three of them offering scholarships to students from the European Union.

The Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Austria and Belgium are the top 5 destinations with the most applications in the current application campaign, followed by the UK and Germany. 

The Netherlands has received 40% (compared to 51% last year) of applications so far, Italy 16% and Spain and Austria 10% each. After two years of strong growth, Belgium is maintaining the same levels compared to last spring in applicants' interest in studying in the country.

Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain and Belgium are the most affordable options. There, the annual cost of living is between EUR 8,500 and EUR 12,000, while fees at state universities range from EUR 40 to EUR 1,200. A quarter of prospective students combine several countries in the process of applying for higher education abroad. Of these, 18% choose two countries and 6% choose three. The most common combinations are Netherlands-Belgium, Netherlands-Italy, Spain-Italy.

Economics majors remain the top field of interest for applicants, followed by computer science and art design. For the most sought-after subjects, such as business and computer science, in addition to the diploma score and the language certificate, in some countries, such as the Netherlands and Spain, it is the final stage of upper secondary education and the baccalaureate that matter. 

The exhibition will also take place in Plovdiv, Burgas and Varna.