Information for International Students
Student Facilities & Services
VSU gives access to all its students to:
library;
computer complex with computer halls for students with non-stop connection with the Internet;
specialized laboratories – for soil mechanics and founding; for construction materials and products testing, etc.;
student dormitories and student canteen;
sports facilities, fitness room, skiing and swimming outside VSU.
Arrival
Every foreign student will be met by a VSU representative at the place of arrival (airport, railway or bus station).
Please, inform the VSU’s International Relations Office by e-mail about:
- how you will get here (by airplane, train, car, etc.)
- date and time of arrival in Sofia
Upon your arrival, please visit the VSU’s International Relations Office in order to register yourself. The Office is open from Monday to Friday, 08,30h – 16,30h.
Important!
Prior to your arrival in Sofia, you must have taken a medical insurance policy in your country in advance.
Accommodation 
Sofia offers different possibilities for accommodation, each one having its advantages and shortcomings. There are in the city both relatively cheep hotels, offering less comfort and expensive hotels, capable of satisfying even the highest requirements. As a whole, hotel accommodation is the most expensive way of staying in Sofia.
Renting a room or apartment could be a good solution, which supposes considerably lower accommodation monthly costs. The inconvenience is that it is hard to find suitable accommodation for a period less than a year.
A reasonable solution is renting a room at the VSU students’ dormitories, which do not offer hotel comfort, but they still have their merits, because they are on campus, students are close to the study and any other facilities, costs of transport are considerably reduced, international students are given the opportunity to be incorporated in the School’s student life.
When the student has made his/her decision about the option which suits him/her best, the VSU Administration will assist him/her in its implementation.
Sports Facilities
Students can participate in the representative teams of VSU (in football, volleyball and basketball) which ate the present moment participate in student tournaments.
In the academic curriculums of all degree programs are included compulsory physical classes -sport by students' choice) The students choose by themselves the type of sport they want to practice: volleyball, tennis on table, aerobics, football, self-defense, basketball, swimming, skiing. At the end of each semester every student must receive a countersign by the teacher in the respective sport in the student record book.
Students Council
The authority that defend the common interests of the students is Students Council. It consists of representatives of the students and PhD students at teh General Assembly of the Higher Education School. The mandate of the students and PhD students in the General Assembly and in the Students Council is two years with right to be re-elected for another mandate.
Students Council helps the arriving in VSU foreign students in their welcome, orientation, their adaptation to the life conditions and education in Bulgaria and in VSU, as well as in relation to th organization of the cultural program, entertainments, etc.
Practical information
Requirements for stay in Bulgaria (entry visa regime)
According to the Bulgarian legislation every foreigner must have a valid passport or other document of identity upon entering the country.
No entry visas are required for citizens of the states - members of the European Union.
Prospective students from non-EU countries are advised to visit the Internet site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria (www.mfa.government.bg) in order to be sure whether entry visa is required in their case, or to apply directly to the respective Bulgarian Embassy or Consulate abroad. Within 24 hours from their arrival to Bulgaria foreign citizens must register at the Foreign Citizens Passport Office (48 Maria Louisa Blvd, Sofia) in case they have not been accommodated in a hotel.
Average cost of living in Sofia
Accommodation
Room in the students’ dormitories at VSU campus: BGN 100,00 per month;
Students, wishing to rent a flat in Sofia, will be directed to real estate agents.
Tentative rent prices, depending on the location, size and comfort offered:
* Individual accommodation: USD 1,86/m2 – 4,86/m2 per month
(costs of heating, electricity, hot and cold water excluded)
* Rented room: USD 50,00 – 150,00 per month
(costs of heating, electricity, hot and cold water excluded)
* Hotel: USD 55,00 – 180,00 per night,
depending on the location and category.
Transport
Public transport (trams, trolleybuses, buses, Metro): BGN 0,50 per ticket, valid from entering the transport vehicle to getting off, the travelled distance irrelevant.
The city transport also offers subscription cards with various price deductions.
Private carriers:
* Route taxi (minibuses, doing trips on specific routes, but the difference from public transport is that they have no fixed bus stops): BGN 1,00 per ticket, valid from entering the transport vehicle to getting off, the travelled distance irrelevant.
* Taxi: approx. BGN 0,30/km (day tariff) / 0,45/km (night tariff)
* In Bulgaria there are also offices of both international (Hertz) and Bulgarian companies for rent a car.
Food
* VSU offers lunch and dinner at the students’ canteen: on the average BGN 4,00 per day
The rooms at the students’ dormitories have no kitchen section for cooking your own meals.
Tentative prices of major foodstuffs for direct consumption, offered by the shops network:
| Bread: |
BGN 0,40 – 0,80 |
| Sausages: |
BGN 5,00/kg – 15,00/kg |
| Dairy products: |
BGN 2,00/kg – 8,00/kg |
| Milk/Yoghurt: |
BGN 0,60/litre – 3,00/litre |
| Fruits and vegetables: |
BGN 1,00/kg – 5,00/kg |
| Beer: |
BGN 0,60/bottle – 2,50/bottle |
Tentative prices of public catering facilities (according to categories):
| Main course: |
BGN 2,00 – 15,00 |
| Soft drink: |
BGN 0,60/200ml – 2,00/200ml |
| Beer/Glass of wine: |
BGN 0,80 – 3,00 |
Other expenses
| Cinema/Theatre/Concert: |
BGN 3,00/ticket – 15,00/ticket |
| Discotheque (Dance Club, Live music): |
BGN 3,00 entry fee
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Erasmus Programme
VSU offers to the incoming ERASMUS-students possibility for elaboration of course/diploma project or theme for PhD degree under the individual guidance of a Bulagarian teacher. Working languages can be English, French or German.
Further information you can find on International Relations Office.
For more information about application and admission procedures, please see in APPLICATION.
Career Opportunities
Graduates from VSU “L. Karavelov” have opportunities for realization in a great variety of activities in the construction sphere as practicing: construction engineers, managers of construction companies, managers at different levels in the public or private sector, teachers at Higher Schools or at Vocational Schools, scientists, etc.
For more details see the introductions of each Degree Program in Studies.
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