National Academy of Arts Sofia

Application Process

We are happy to find you interested in the National Academy of Art. The professors at our Academy are distinguished artists, art critics, designers and experts, bearing a sense of responsibility for their work. The relation between theory and practice is a major element in our philosophy of education. We are offering a wide range of Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes for students sharing various fascinations.

Leading principles of the National Academy of Art

In its overall activity, the National Academy of Art has been following the principle of absolute equality of rights. In conformity with this principle, the Academy is following a policy of no discrimination based on race, sex, religion, ethnicity etc., nor toward disabled people, in case they prove to have the necessary qualifications and skills. The aforementioned principle ranges over all educational programmes, activities and appointments at the Academy, as well as the student admission process.

Foreign Students

Admission to the Academy is done on a competitive principle: the applicants are selected by an admission committee on the basis of creative competitions carried out by means of entrance exams.

Studying at educational and qualification degree “Bachelor” and “Master” for the Restoration major exclusively, is open for application to international citizens who hold a secondary education diploma that gives them access to university education in the country where they acquired secondary education.

Studying at educational and qualification degree “Master” is open for application to international citizens who hold a higher education diploma that gives them access to university education in the country.

PhD positions are open for application to individuals who hold an education and qualification degree “Master”. Those who graduated from universities abroad can apply after the higher education they acquired has been recognized by virtue of the Ordinance on the State Requirements for Recognition of University Education Acquired in Foreign Institutions of Higher Learning.

Foreign citizens can apply to the National Academy of Art:

• in pursuance of intergovernmental educational, scientific and cultural exchange agreements
• in accordance with Council of Ministers’ acts
• after payment of tuition fees.

Foreign citizens can apply for education under the conditions and regulations for admission of Bulgarian citizens in the institutions of higher education of the Republic of Bulgaria, if:

• They have a status of permanent residents on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria
• They have refugee status
• They are of Bulgarian nationality, as determined by virtue of Ordinance of the Council of Ministers № 103 of 1993 on carrying out educational activity among the Bulgarians abroad.

The applicants mentioned in item 3 are admitted within the number of students annually approved by the Ministerial council.

• Admission to the National Academy of Art of students, PhD and post-graduate students – citizens of countries that are member states of the European Union and the European Economic Area – should take place under the conditions and regulations of article 68, paragraph 6 of the Higher Education Act /Admission of students, PhD and post-graduate students - citizens of countries that are member states of the European Union and the European Economic Area is done under the conditions and regulations determined for Bulgarian citizens/.
• The applicants coming from countries that are member states of the European Union and the European Economic Area, who do not satisfy the requirements under article 68, paragraph 6 of the Higher Education Act, should pay a tuition fee amounting to 2500 EUR per year for educational and qualification degree “Bachelor” and 3000 EUR per year for educational and qualification degree “Master”.
• It is compulsory for foreigners who applied to the National Academy of Art to pass a preparatory course in Bulgarian language or to hold a document showing a successful result on a Bulgairan language exam. The National Academy of Art provide a possibility for the applicants studying at the preparatory department of Bulgarian language at the National Academy of Art to simultaneously receive information and preparation for their forthcoming application to the Academy.