Section 1
The Bulgarian education system
Understanding the structure before learning the words.
The Bulgarian education system has four main stages. Understanding these is useful both for conversation and for the citizenship exam context.
| Stage | Bulgarian | Ages | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-school | детска градина (ДГ) | 3–6 | Kindergarten — widespread and popular |
| Primary school | начално училище | 7–10 (grades 1–4) | Part of основно училище |
| Lower secondary | прогимназия | 11–14 (grades 5–7) | Part of основно училище |
| Upper secondary | гимназия / средно училище | 15–18 (grades 8–12) | Ends with матура (school-leaving exam) |
| Higher education | висше образование / университет | 18+ | Bachelor (бакалавър 4yr), Master (магистър), Doctorate (докторантура) |
💡 Матурата — the Bulgarian equivalent of A-Levels
The държавен зрелостен изпит (state maturity exam), commonly called матурата, is the Bulgarian school-leaving exam taken at age 17–18. Students must pass two compulsory exams (Bulgarian language, and one elective) to receive their diploma. It is a significant cultural milestone — results are published and widely discussed. The Bulgarian equivalent of UK A-Levels or the French baccalauréat.
Section 2
School subjects
Every subject from primary school to university.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| математика | matematika | mathematics |
| физика | fizika | physics |
| химия | khimiya | chemistry |
| биология | biologiya | biology |
| история | istoriya | history |
| география | geografiya | geography |
| литература | literatura | literature |
| български език | balgarski ezik | Bulgarian language |
| чужд език | chuzhd ezik | foreign language |
| музика | muzika | music |
| изобразително изкуство | izobrazitelno izkustvo | art / visual arts |
| физическо възпитание | fizichesko vazpitanie | physical education / PE |
| информационни технологии | informatsionni tekhnologii | IT / computer science |
| философия | filosofiya | philosophy |
| икономика | ikonomika | economics |
| право | pravo | law |
| медицина | meditsina | medicine |
| архитектура | arkhitektura | architecture |
Section 3
Academic vocabulary
The words of university and study life.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| студент / студентка | student / studentka | university student (M/F) |
| ученик / ученичка | uchenik / uchenichka | school pupil (M/F) |
| преподавател | prepodavatel | lecturer / teacher (university) |
| учител / учителка | uchitel / uchitelka | teacher (school, M/F) |
| декан | dekan | dean (of faculty) |
| ректор | rektor | rector (university head) |
| катедра | katedra | department / faculty |
| семестър | semestar | semester |
| изпит | izpit | exam |
| курсова работа | kursova rabota | coursework / term paper |
| дипломна работа | diplomna rabota | dissertation / thesis |
| оценка | otsenka | grade / mark |
| отличен | otlichen | excellent (grade 6 — top mark in Bulgaria) |
| слаб | slab | fail (grade 2 — bottom mark) |
| стипендия | stipendiya | scholarship / bursary |
| такса обучение | taksa obuchenie | tuition fee |
| специалност | spetsialnost | subject / specialisation / degree subject |
💡 Bulgarian grading — 2 to 6
Bulgarian schools and universities use a grading scale from 2 to 6: 6 (отличен = excellent), 5 (много добър = very good), 4 (добър = good), 3 (среден = average), 2 (слаб = weak/fail). Unlike many countries, 6 is the top grade. A student who gets a 2 has failed. This catches many international students and parents off guard.
Section 4
Qualifications and credentials
The certificates that matter in Bulgaria.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| диплома | diploma | diploma / degree certificate |
| свидетелство за зрелост | svidetelstvo za zrelost | school-leaving certificate (матура) |
| бакалавър | bakalavur | bachelor's degree |
| магистър | magistar | master's degree |
| доктор | doktor | doctorate / PhD |
| сертификат | sertifikat | certificate (professional/language) |
| професионална квалификация | profesionalna kvalifikatsiya | professional qualification |
| призната диплома | priznata diploma | recognised diploma |
| нострификация | nostrifikatsiya | recognition/equivalency of foreign qualifications |
Section 5
Talking about education
Phrases for discussing your studies and background.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| Учих в... | Uchih v... | I studied at... |
| Завърших специалност... | Zavurshih spetsialnost... | I graduated in... |
| Имам бакалавърска степен по... | Imam bakalavarska stepen po... | I have a bachelor's degree in... |
| Специализирах се в... | Spetsializirah se v... | I specialised in... |
| Уча в момента. | Ucha v momenta. | I am currently studying. |
| Ходя на курсове по... | Hodya na kursove po... | I attend courses in... |
| Самообучение | Samoobuchenie | Self-study / self-teaching |
| Любимият ми предмет беше... | Lyubimiyat mi predmet beshe... | My favourite subject was... |
| Силен/Слаб съм по... | Silen/Slab sam po... | I am strong/weak at... |
Section 6
Dialogue — comparing education systems
A rich B1-level discussion.
— Ти учи ли в България или в чужбина?
— Завърших основно и средно образование в България. После специализирах в Лондон.
— В коя специалност?
— Право. Имам магистърска степен от UCL. Но дипломата трябваше да се нострифицира за България.
— Сложно ли беше?
— Доста бюрократично. Трябваше да изпратя нотариално заверени документи и да чакам три месеца.
— Интересно. Как ти се стори британската система в сравнение с българската?
— Много по-независима. В България учителите очакват стриктна дисциплина. В Лондон беше по-дискусионно.
— Кое ти хареса повече?
— И двете са добри, но различни. Тук се учи повече наизуст. Там — повече критично мислене. Аз лично предпочитам смесения подход.
— Ti uchi li v Balgariya ili v chuzhbina?
— Zavurshih osnovno i sredno obrazovanie v Balgariya. Posle spetsializirah v London.
— V koya spetsialnost?
— Pravo. Imam magistarska stepen ot UCL. No diplomata tryabashe da se nostrifiitsira za Balgariya.
— Slozhno li beshe?
— Dosta byurokratichno. Tryabashe da izpratya notarialno zavereni dokumenti i da chakam tri mesетsa.
— Interesno. Kak ti se stori britanskata sistema v sravnenie s balgarskata?
— Mnogo po-nezavisima. V Balgariya uchitelite ochakvaт strikna distsiplina. V London beshe po-diskusionno.
— Koe ti haresa poveche?
— I dvete sa dobri, no razlichni. Tuk se uchi poveche naizust. Tam — poveche kritichno mislene. Az lichno predpochitam smesenia podhod.
— Did you study in Bulgaria or abroad?
— I completed primary and secondary education in Bulgaria. Then I specialised in London.
— In which subject?
— Law. I have a master's degree from UCL. But the diploma had to be recognised for Bulgaria.
— Was it complicated?
— Quite bureaucratic. I had to send notarised documents and wait three months.
— Interesting. How did you find the British system compared to the Bulgarian?
— Much more independent. In Bulgaria teachers expect strict discipline. In London it was more discussion-based.
— Which did you prefer?
— Both are good but different. Here more is learnt by rote. There — more critical thinking. Personally I prefer a mixed approach.
Section 7
Writing task
✏️ Writing task — Day 44
- Write a paragraph about your own educational background using vocabulary from today.
- What is the матура? How does it compare to qualifications in your country?
- What is нострификация and why is it important for people moving to Bulgaria?
- Translate: "I have a bachelor's degree in economics. I am currently attending Bulgarian language courses. My favourite subject at school was history."
Show answers
1. Free answer — use Учих в · Завърших специалност · Имам степен по · Силен/слаб съм по.
2. State school-leaving exam at 17-18; two compulsory papers. Compare to your country equivalent (UK A-Levels, French bac etc.).
3. Recognition/equivalency process for foreign qualifications — needed if you studied abroad and want your degree recognised in Bulgaria for work or further study.
4. Имам бакалавърска степен по икономика. В момента ходя на курсове по български език. Любимият ми предмет в училище беше история.
Day 44 Quiz
8 questions · score 6+ to mark day complete
Question 1 of 8
What is the top grade in the Bulgarian grading system?
Question 2 of 8
"University student" (female) in Bulgarian:
Question 3 of 8
What is the матура?
Question 4 of 8
"I graduated in history" in Bulgarian:
Question 5 of 8
"Scholarship" in Bulgarian:
Question 6 of 8
What does нострификация mean?
Question 7 of 8
"I am strong at mathematics" in Bulgarian:
Question 8 of 8
"Dissertation / thesis" in Bulgarian:
Day 44 Recap
Review before Day 45. Every point builds on the last.
| Topic | Key point | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Education stages | детска градина → начално → прогимназия → гимназия (матура) → университет | Know the full structure |
| Grading | 6 (отличен) · 5 (много добър) · 4 (добър) · 3 (среден) · 2 (слаб/fail) | 6 is best — opposite to many countries |
| Degrees | бакалавър (4yr) → магистър → доктор | Same as Bologna system |
| Key words | студент · преподавател · изпит · оценка · стипендия · дипломна работа | |
| Talking education | Завърших специалност · Имам степен по · Учих в · Ходя на курсове по | |
| Нострификация | Recognition of foreign qualifications — important for immigrants | Required for work in regulated professions |