The 10 best universities in Bulgaria (2026)
Ranked by UNIREAL Score. For most universities the score currently reflects research activity — how much they publish — with international rankings and awards added where we have them. The list is rebuilt every day.
According to the UNIREAL Score, the top-ranked university in Bulgaria is Sofia University (74/100). It is followed by Sofia Medical University and Technical University of Sofia.
Top 10 by UNIREAL Score
- 1
Sofia University
Sofia, Bulgaria
74/100 Score - 2
Sofia Medical University
Triaditsa District, Bulgaria
68/100 Score€9,950 /year - 3
Technical University of Sofia
Studentski District, Bulgaria
68/100 Score€3,500 /year - 4
Plovdiv Medical University
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
64/100 Score€10,000 /year - 5
Medical University of Varna
Varna, Bulgaria
64/100 Score€10,000 /year - 6
University of Plovdiv
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
62/100 Score€3,000 /year - 7
Trakia University
Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
62/100 Score€7,000 /year - 8
University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy
Sofia, Bulgaria
60/100 Score€2,400 /year - 9
University of Ruse
Ruse, Bulgaria
59/100 Score€5,000 /year - 10
University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy
Sofia, Bulgaria
58/100 Score€7,400 /year
How this ranking works
Universities are ordered by their UNIREAL Score (0–100). For most universities the score reflects research activity — the number of publications indexed by OpenAlex — so large research universities rank above smaller, teaching-focused ones. International rankings, awards and student-competition results count where we have them. The score does not measure teaching quality or graduate outcomes. How the UNIREAL Score works →
Frequently asked questions
What is the best university in Bulgaria?
According to the UNIREAL Score, the top-ranked university in Bulgaria is Sofia University (74/100). It is followed by Sofia Medical University and Technical University of Sofia.
How are universities in Bulgaria ranked on UNIREAL?
Universities are ordered by their UNIREAL Score (0–100). For most universities the score reflects research activity — the number of publications indexed by OpenAlex — so large research universities rank above smaller, teaching-focused ones. International rankings, awards and student-competition results count where we have them. The score does not measure teaching quality or graduate outcomes.
How many universities in Bulgaria does UNIREAL cover?
UNIREAL has profiles for 37 universities in Bulgaria; this ranking shows the top 10 by UNIREAL Score.