General information

The first Bulgarian schools were opened back in the IIX century by the Bulgarian rulers at that time – Tsar Boris I and Tsar Simeon, the Great. The first modern secular school in Bulgaria is the Aprilov National High School, in Gabrovo. It was opened in 1835. Sofia University, on the other hand is the oldest higher educational institution in Bulgaria – founded in 1888.
The kids in Bulgaria start school at the age of 5 with two years of preschool, then they go to primary school which includes grades from 1st to 7th. After that, there is the secondary education and High Schools (selective/comprehensive and vocational schools). Usually, the admission procedure is based upon grades from entry exams (in most cases literature and mathematics) as there are obligatory exams after 7th grade, called matura (matriculation). Students finish their secondary education at grade 12 with some obligatory exams – in Bulgarian language and a free elective one. Usually by the time the students graduate, they are 19 years old.
After that, they can choose whether to go to a university/college. The types of higher education institutions in Bulgaria are universities, colleges and specialized higher schools among which universities are the most popular among young people. The stages are as follows: Bachelor’s degree (undergraduate), Master’s degree (graduate) and Doctoral degree. Many of the colleges are former semi-higher institutes as some of them are part of big universities.
The grading system is based on numerals - 6 is the highest mark and 2 is the lowest. Said evaluation or grading system is being used both in schools and in universities.