Study Abroad
in Bulgaria

Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy is the oldest technical educational institution in the Republic of Bulgaria. Its history, past and present achievements establish the institution as the most prestigious centre for training maritime specialists in the country.

Founded: January 9, 1881, in Ruse, Bulgaria; relocated to Varna in 1900.
Naming: Named in 1949 after the prominent Bulgarian poet and alumnus Nikola Vaptsarov.
Accreditation: Received full university accreditation in 2001, is registered with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) since 1960, and is a member of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU).
Scope: Trains both military officers for the Bulgarian Navy and civilian officers for the merchant marine.
Faculties: Comprises the Faculty of Navigation (covering navigation, IT, logistics, and transport management) and the Faculty of Engineering (covering marine engineering, electrical equipment, ocean engineering, and radio electronics).
Programs & Degrees: Offers Bachelor's (4 years), Master's, and PhD degrees, including postgraduate tracks like Military Doctor and Military Nurse, with various courses available in English

Nikola Vaptsarov Maritime University is the most authoritative center of maritime science and marine technologies in the country, which prepares world-class mariners and engineers. The Academy provides both theoretical and practical training, using state-of-the-art methods and technologies. The training facilities comprise a planetarium (the biggest one on the Balkan Peninsula), polygons, simulators, summer camp, boat base, sail training vessels “Kaliakra”and “Royal Helena”, sea born training base 421 and auxiliary training ship 206. Also an R&D laboratory for practical navigation, a magnetic compass deviation laboratory, and other facilities for training in radio navigation systems, gyro-compasses, echo-sounders and logs, ship handing and maneuvering, rigging, shipping operation, etc.

Naval Academy employs 116 qualified lecturers – officers and civilians, 44 of which professors and associate professors and 21 lecturers with doctoral degree. They are responsible to train moral and commanding skills, as well as strong discipline, which are the key to success in the Academy.

Naval Academy has received accreditation by the National Agency for Assessment and Accreditation as tertiary educational institution. It offers many Bachelor and Master programs in English. The diplomas issued by the Academy are recognized worldwide, so after graduation you will be able to travel under any foreign flag.

Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy is a co-founder and an active member of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU). It maintains international contacts with similar schools and academies from the USA, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Ukraine, Romania, Poland, etc.

The Naval Academy offers 200 rooms in its dormitory, situated close to the university campus. The rent for a room is 70 EUR per month, including bills. This is the cheapest option for accommodation and a real advantage for the students.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PREPARATION COURSE

Degree: Preparation

Duration: 1 year (2 semesters)

Form of education: Full-time

Certification: Proficiency of English

Language — level B2

Access to: Bachelor degree

1. NAVIGATION PROGRAMME

• Degree: Bachelor
• Duration: 4 years (060 ECTS)
• Form of education: Full-time
• Qualification: Marine Navigation Engineer, BSC
• Access to: Ship Navigation Officer at Operation Level; Master degree

2.MARINE ENGINEERING PROGRAMME

• Degree: Bachelor
• Duration: 4 years (060 ECTS)
• Form of education: Full-time
• Qualification: Marine Engineer, BSC
• Access to: Ship Engineer Officer at Operation Level; Master degree

3. I & C TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAMME

• Degree: Bachelor
• Duration: 4 years (940 ECTS)
• Form of education: Full-time
• Qualification: IT Engineer, BSC
• Access to: Master degree

4. A1 & SMART TECH PROGRAMM

• Degree: Bachelor
• Duration: 4 years (940 ECTS)
• Form of education: Full-time
• Qualification: A1 Engineer, BSC
• Access to: Master degree

5 . DIGITAL BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME

• Degree: Master
• Duration: 2 years €120 ECTS)
• Form of education: Full-time
• Qualification: IT Engineer, BSC
• Access to: PhD degree

6. INTEGRATED MARITIME POLICY PROGRAMME

• Degree: Master
• Duration: 2 years €120 ECTS)
• Form of education: Part-time / Distant (e -platforms)
• Qualification: Master of Maritime Business Management
• Access to: PhD degree

7.PORT AND SHIP OPERATIONS PROGRAMME

• Degree: Master
• Duration: 2 years €120 ECTS)
• Form of education: Part-time / Distant (e -platforms)
• Qualification: Master of Maritime Business Management
• Access to: PhD degree

8.PORT MANAGEMENT AND LOGISTICS PROGRAMME

• Degree: Master
• Duration: 2 years €120 ECTS)
• Form of education: Part-time / Distant (e -platforms)
• Qualification: Master of Maritime Business Management
• Access to: PhD degre

In order to apply for studies to Naval Academy Varna, the minimum mean rating mark from specific subjects, taught at school SHOULD NOT be less than 62% out of the maximum value of the assessment system in the respective country. Admission requirements for the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy (NVNA) in Varna, Bulgaria, vary depending on the degree level and whether the program is taught in English or Bulgarian

Academic & General Criteria

• Undergraduate (Bachelor's) Degrees: A recognized secondary education (high school) diploma is required. Non-Bulgarian diplomas must be officially recognized by the Bulgarian Regional Inspectorate of Education
• Grade Requirements: For English-taught programs, average grades in overall school performance, mathematics, and English must exceed 62% of the maximum grading scale.
• Graduate & Doctoral Degrees: A relevant Bachelor’s degree is required for Master's programs, and a relevant Master’s degree is required for PhD programs.
• Medical & Physical Checks: Applicants must pass a color-blindness check and submit a medical/health certificate confirming physical and mental fitness. Non-EU applicants must also provide proof of financial support

Language Proficiency

• English-Taught Programs: Require B2+ level English certification, such as:
• IELTS: 5.5 or higher (or minimum 4.0–4.5 depending on specific master's/certificate criteria)
• TOEFL iBT: 65 or higher (or minimum 41 for specific tracks)
• Cambridge ESOL (FCE): Min grade requirements apply
• Alternative to Language Test: Applicants who do not meet the English requirement can enroll in a 9-month NVNA preparatory language course.

Bulgarian-Taught Programs: Proficiency in Bulgarian is mandatory.

• High school or university diploma and academic transcripts
• Higher-education eligibility certificate (certifying eligibility to continue university studies in the home country)
• Color-blindness and medical health certificates
• Financial support document (for non-EU applicants)
• Valid passport copy
• Completed application form and passport-sized photos (4 or 6 photos depending on program)
• Legalization & Translation: Foreign documents must feature notarization, legalization (Apostille or consular stamp), and an official sworn translation into Bulgarian