Visits:

The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS)

A scientific research centre with 42 units – institutes, laboratories and specialised units – in all fields of natural, mathematical, engineering, social sciences and humanities. The units of the Academy correspond to faculties/departments of universities. BAS employs approx. 3,000 scientists and approx. 2,000 administrative and technical staff or a total of over 5,000 people. It is also the biggest PhD school in the country. It was founded in 1869, more than 150 years ago, and is the first institution of modern Bulgaria.

BAS has been participating in the Erasmus programme since 2009. The Academy teaches and accepts for studies only PhD students and hosts traineeships for all Bachelor, Master and PhD students. Application deadlines are flexible (year-round).

The Academy has approximately 250 Erasmus agreements with universities/HEIs abroad, and their number is growing.

Map of the Erasmus Agreements of BAS

Erasmus agreements between host and sending institutions are a prerequisite for mobility of PhD students for studies. For the mobility of Bachelor, Master or PhD students for traineeships, no prior agreement is necessary.

Students apply for exchange mobility at their home university. Deadlines and application requirements differ across HEIs. After selection, you should fill in our Application form.

Indicate whether you have any special needs: We can provide a screen reader for blind or visually impaired students. Deaf or hard-hearing students can get a sign language interpreter.

Attach also a short CV and a copy of identity card/passport. The latter could be done at a later stage.

Before your mobility, a mandatory document should be signed by the sending institution, the receiving institution (BAS) and you: Learning Agreement. Your Erasmus Office will provide the form for you. For studies, students have to make their choice of subjects from the

Course catalogue in English: https://www.bas.bg/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Erasmus-Course-Catalogue-2026-2027.pdf or in Bulgarian: http://edu.bas.bg/courses.html You may choose courses held by any institute of BAS as long as they correspond to your studies. Courses are held in Bulgarian or English. Level B1 of CEFR is recommended, a certificate is not required. Attending a Bulgarian language course along with your studies is free of charge for Erasmus students and brings 20 ECTS.

In most cases, an online version (OLA) of the Learning Agreement for studies will be signed. This means that the LA for studies is digital. The LA for traineeships is on paper (pdf). Your Erasmus Office will guide you through the process of preparing and signing them. They will need the following information:

Receiving Administrative Contact:
Tomina Galibova, Erasmus Coordinator
erasmus@cu.bas.bg, +35929795387

Receiving Responsible person is:
Prof. Evdokia Pasheva, Institutional Coordinator
eva@bio21.bas.bg, +35929795387

The Learning Agreement may be changed during the first two weeks after the arrival.

Accommodation

The Academy can provide accommodation in single rooms in student dormitories located in Bl. 60 in Studentski grad neighborhood. It is well connected to the institutes of BAS and to the centre by buses 280 and 94. Rooms and furniture are old, and there are no electric appliances at all. Public laundry against a fee is available in a different part of the same block. However, the monthly price is roughly 200-250 EUR only, and there is central heating so that it is warm in winter.

Public transport

Students should take out an ISIC card in their home countries before they arrive in order to use a discount for monthly public transport card.

Health Insurance

All incoming students are insured by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences for the period of their mobility, with Erasmus funds. You will be covered for 30,000 Euro and the policy will include Liability insurance as well.

Notwithstanding, students are advised to obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in their home country before arrival. It is free and gives access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare under the same conditions and at the same cost as Bulgarian people who are insured. It guarantees reimbursement of the medical costs on the spot or soon after return home. For more information, please visit: https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/moving-working-europe/eu-social-security-coordination/european-health-insurance-card_en

Visa

• For information about the visa procedure, please contact the Bulgarian Embassy or Consulate in your home country and/or our visa officer.
• Holders of valid Schengen visas have the right to enter and reside in the Republic of Bulgaria for a period of no more than three months in any six-month period from the date of the first entry without the need to have a Bulgarian short-stay visa.
• Most up-to-date information: https://www.mfa.bg/en/services-travel/consular-services/travel-bulgaria/visa-bulgaria
• EU citizens staying for a period longer than 3 months are obliged within 5 days after their entry in the country to declare in writing the address of their stay and every subsequent change of the address, if any, at the Regional Migration Unit within the Ministry of Interior. The address registration can be done by the hotel, company or physical person who provides the accommodation. Please keep the registration card until leaving the Republic of Bulgaria.
• Students who are not EU citizens and arrive to Bulgaria with a valid long-term visa type D must also register at the Regional Migration Unit and obtain a residence permit from the Migration Directorate.

Grading system

The grading system is based on numerals where 6 is the highest and 2 is the lowest grade a student can get. The grades are divided into 100 points and any mark over .50 is considered part of the upper bracket. For example, 5.50 is excellent, 5.75 is also excellent but 5.25 is very good. Generally, anything under 3.00 is considered a fail. Grades like “Very Good” (5-) and “Average” (3+) are also possible – these are ignored in calculations of Grade Point Average (GPA).

*Numeric value – grading scale
**Numeric value – grading scale used for examinations and tests