Trakia University

 
Trakia University, located in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, is one of the leading educational institutions in the country.

Academic Excellence: Trakia University offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across various fields, including medicine, agriculture & veterinary medicine.

Modern Facilities: Trakia University provides state-of-the-art facilities, including well-equipped laboratories, libraries, research centers, and computer facilities. Students have access to modern learning resources and technology to enhance their educational experience. 

Campus : Trakia University has a wonderful campus with libraries, sport facilities,  as well as a university hospital where students attend to for their clinical years.

Both the Medicine and Veterinary courses are thought in English. 

Medicine : 6 year course,  which is divided as follows - 

Years 1 & 2 are pre-clinical years, where subjects are mostly taught inside the university campus

Years 3 till 5 are clinical where students will start partaking in clinical subjects and be carrying out studies in the university hospitals. 

In the final year students complete an internship year and carry out all medical rotations.

Upon completion of all exams and rotations students receive the professional qualification of Physician / Doctor of Medicine (MD) which is a masters degree.

These qualifications are recognised internationally and most students tend to go back to their home countries where they can continue to work as a junior doctor.

Veterinary Trakia University offers a Veterinary Medicine program in English, which takes five and a half years to complete. Students pay 2550 EUR per semester (5100 EUR per academic year) for tuition. Upon graduation, students receive a Master's degree that is recognized internationally, enabling them to work abroad. 

Both the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine offer student dormitories. Typically, rent is around 50 EUR per month, but spots are limited, so sharing a room with a roommate is likely. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is located about 20 minutes away from Stara Zagora by bus, so staying in the on-campus dormitory might be more convenient. On the other hand, the Faculty of Medicine is in the city itself. Many foreign students choose to live in private or shared apartments in Stara Zagora, where rent ranges from 200 to 300 EUR per month depending on factors like apartment size and the number of occupants. 

Stara Zagora is Bulgaria's fifth-largest city, with a population of around 150,000 people in 2015. While most residents are Bulgarian, the city is becoming increasingly popular among foreigners due to its affordable living costs and the international study programs offered at Trakia University.

The city celebrates its official holiday on October 5th with numerous events for all ages. Stara Zagora's central location in Bulgaria makes it easily accessible, with three international airports nearby: Sofia Airport (3 hours away), Plovdiv Airport (1.5 hours away), and Burgas Airport (2 hours away).

Transportation to and from Stara Zagora is convenient, thanks to regular bus and train services connecting it to these airports and other cities. Known for its safety, students often spend their free time outdoors, enjoying activities like sports in parks or relaxing boat rides on Zagorka Lake.

Stara Zagora offers plenty of attractions, including the Regional Museum of History, the Neolithic Dwellings Museum, the Antique Forum, the Samara flag monument, the Museum of Religions, the main pedestrian street, the zoo, the Art Gallery, and Zagorka Park.

Making friends in Stara Zagora is easy, with many foreign students from countries like the United Kingdom, Greece, Germany, Sweden, and Norway. The city offers a variety of international restaurants, cozy study cafes, shopping malls, modern cinemas, beautiful parks, and sports facilities, allowing students to balance their university and social life.

Stara Zagora also boasts numerous museums and galleries, and getting around the city is simple, as many of its important spots are within walking distance. Alternatively, you can bike, take a taxi (usually around 3 EUR per ride), or use public transportation (about 0.50 EUR for a one-way ticket).

Living costs in Stara Zagora are affordable, with monthly rent ranging from 200 to 300 EUR, depending on factors like whether you live alone or with flatmates, the size and location of the apartment, etc. Typically, rental agreements are signed for a year, and bills are not included in the rent.