The University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski in Sofia, Bulgaria is one of a kind – only here you can apply for a university spot in the field of Mining and Geology if you choose to study abroad in Bulgaria! The study programs are in Bulgarian, but there is a preparatory year that will get you ready for admission! 

The University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski was founded in 1953. It is the only university in Bulgaria that offers study programs in this field – some of them are Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, Applied Geophysics, Geology and Study of Mineral and Energy Resources. More than 30 000 students from Bulgaria and countries around the world have graduated from this university – the diplomas are internationally recognized!

The University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski has three different faculties and the campus includes many high-tech labs as well as interesting museums. There are also sports facilities and student dormitories available to people who are enrolled in a study program at the university.

The campus is located in Sofia near G.M. Dimitrov metro station and several bus stops that connect the neighbourhood with the city centre. Nearby you will also find other prestigious universities like the Technical University of Sofia, the University of Forestry, the University of National and World Economy, so the area is very student-friendly.

The university offers Bachelor, Master and PhD programs. Bachelor programs take four years (8 semesters) and the duration of a Master course depends on your educational background.

Some Bachelor study programs offered by the University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski include Automation, Information and Control Technology; Biotechnology; Gas, Fuel and Purification Equipment and Technologies; Geology and Study of Mineral and Energy Resources; Geology and Geoinformatics; Electricity and Electricity Supply; Ecology and Environmental Protection. Some Master study programs available are Electric Vehicles, Safety Engineering, Engineering Geology, Waste Management.

Keep in mind that all courses are taught in Bulgarian and foreign students must present a Bulgarian language certificate or take part in a preparatory year. The tuition fees are set every year by the university and vary depending on the study program.

Students who do not speak Bulgarian but are interested in admission to the University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski must take part in a preparatory year. In addition, application documents must be submitted to the university and there may be further entry requirements, e.g. an entry test, depending on the study program you are interested in.

Our office is located in Sofia, Bulgaria so we offer full application and relocation services – if you need assistance when applying for admission in Bulgaria, we can help you! Just make sure to contact our team!

Student life in Sofia is really good! Students at the University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski get to meet a lot of locals and learn the local language. The university is located in the “Studentski grad” neighbourhood and this is where most universities in Sofia are – making friends with people from abroad has never been easier! Furthermore, there are many parks and outdoor sports facilities nearby – this way you can keep a healthy lifestyle during your studies. Of course, students at the university organize gatherings and Sofia also hosts many international events to keep you busy!

Commonly, foreigners wonder how expensive life in Sofia is. Of course, the living expenses in Sofia are high in comparison to other cities in Bulgaria, but also relatively low if you compare them to Western Europe. A taxi ride from the airport to the city centre costs around 10 EUR, whereas a one-way ticket for public transport – 1.60 BGN (0.80 EUR). Renting a nice modern apartment in the city centre is around 350 EUR per month. Bills are not high as well – for instance, the monthly Wi-Fi fee is around 7 EUR.

The University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski has four student dormitories and a student canteen. It is common to rent a room in one of the student dormitories. They are located in the “Studentski grad” neighbourhood. To apply for a room, students must submit several documents at the respective dormitory, following the deadlines which are set by the university.

Another option is to rent an apartment in Sofia. In this case, rent would be around 300 – 400 EUR per month. The main advantage is that you get to choose everything about the apartment – where it is located, how big it is, etc. Of course, most students are interested in renting an apartment in the city centre or the “Studentski grad” neighbourhood near the university campus.

Sofia is the capital city of Bulgaria and as such, it offers many leisure activities and job opportunities to people who live in it. In their free time, locals like to go to Borisova gradina park or Yuzhen (South) park, try tasty dishes at international restaurants in the city centre, hike or ski at Vitosha mountain, explore the latest trends at shopping malls as well as go to the cinema.

Sofia is the biggest and most international city in Bulgaria. There are around 2 million people who live in it and many of them come from abroad. Many universities offer study programs in English, including Sofia Medical University, New Bulgarian University and Technical University Sofia, and foreigners can easily find a job at international companies based in the capital city of Bulgaria.

Sofia is very rich in history, too – the city centre has many sightseeing places! Some of the most famous spots are Vitosha boulevard, St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, Banya Bashi mosque, the ancient Serdika Archaeological complex. Every day volunteers organize the Free Sofia Tour, which helps locals and foreigners explore the capital city of Bulgaria.