Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

The Netherlands remains the most attractive study destination for Bulgarian students

Photo: iStock

The interest of young Bulgarians in studying abroad has risen sharply, with a 30% increase compared to last year. In addition, the number of students leaving for the academic year 2024-2025 has increased by about 11%. This is what Kristina Bozhilova, head of the largest education consultancy in Southeast Europe, told BNR's Hristo Botev programme.

According to her, the Netherlands remains the top destination for Bulgarian students, accounting for 38 per cent of this year's departures. In 2023, some 5,300 Bulgarian students studied in the Netherlands. Bulgarians are among the top 5 most successful students in this country.

Belgium follows as the second most popular destination for higher education, with 12 per cent of all Bulgarian students abroad going there, followed by Italy and the UK with 10 per cent each.

Since Brexit, the number of Bulgarian students going to the UK has fallen from around 2,000 in 2014 to just 300-400 in 2021. 

The most attractive fields for Bulgarian students include innovation, artificial intelligence and digital media.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Almost 60% of workers in Bulgaria earn wages below the subsistence minimum

The necessary net monthly income for subsistence for a worker living alone in September 2025 is 1,547 leva (748 euros) . For a three-member family with a child under 14, 2,785 leva (1,346 euros) are needed. This was announced by Violeta Ivanova, deputy..

published on 10/29/25 2:32 PM

CEM has been reminded that communism in Bulgaria has been declared criminal by law

Prof. Vili Lilkov and lawyer Petar Slavov have notified the Council for Electronic Media (CEM) for illegal broadcasting of the 1969 series "Every Kilometer", the website of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists sbj-bg.eu reports. An..

published on 10/29/25 11:12 AM

Speaker of the Parliament from BSP gives the seat to Deputy Speaker from GERB

I have submitted an application to resign from the position of President of the National Assembly, Nataliya Kiselova announced after opening the plenary session on October 29. "Today I am resigning and in this way I am showing how..

published on 10/29/25 10:24 AM