Varna University of Management (VUM) is a private university in Bulgaria focused on business, management, hospitality, tourism, culinary arts and software technologies. Its English-taught programmes attract international students looking for a practical degree, Erasmus+ opportunities and, on selected routes, the option to earn an additional British degree from Cardiff Metropolitan University.
For the 2026/27 academic year, VUM offers September and February intakes. The university’s main academic locations are Varna and Dobrich, while Sofia is listed by VUM as an Administrative Centre for Applicant and Learner Support rather than the main teaching campus.
Tuition for standard English-taught Bachelor’s programmes is currently listed at €1,500 per semester for EU/EEA students and €1,950 per semester for non-EU/EEA students. Admission normally includes an obligatory interview and, for applicants without an accepted English-language certificate, an online VUM English exam.
Varna University of Management (VUM) is a private higher education institution in Bulgaria. The university states that it has been developing leaders since 1996 and is accredited by Bulgaria’s National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency. VUM’s academic profile is centred on business and management, hospitality and tourism, culinary arts, and software technologies. Its official 2026/27 information lists teaching activity in Varna and Dobrich, with an Administrative Centre for Applicant and Learner Support in Sofia. Internationalisation is a major part of the VUM model. English is used across its international degree portfolio, students can participate in Erasmus+ mobility, and eligible students on selected programmes can pursue a second degree awarded by Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Varna, Bulgaria
Business, Hospitality & IT
€1,500-€1,950/semester*
Bachelor's degree required
Interview + English proof/test
€500-€800/month
Varna University of Management offers English-taught programmes at Bachelor’s and Master’s level with a strong practical and international orientation.
Depending on the programme, students follow either a Professional Bachelor route of 3 years / 6 semesters or a Bachelor route of 4 years / 8 semesters. February-intake students complete the same number of semesters over a slightly longer calendar period.
Important for 2026/27: VUM states that international first-year students admitted to programmes including International Business and Management and Hotel Management study their first year at the Dobrich campus, with subsequent years delivered in Varna.
The MBA normally follows a 3-semester or 4-semester route depending on the applicant’s previous degree. Selected Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes also provide eligible students with a route toward an additional British degree from Cardiff Metropolitan University, subject to the academic and administrative requirements of both institutions.
Studying at VUM combines academic study with practical projects, internships and international mobility. The university works with partner universities and employers across Europe, and eligible students can take part in Erasmus+ study or traineeship mobility.
Varna is Bulgaria’s largest city on the Black Sea and offers a very different student environment from Sofia: a compact centre, beaches and the Sea Garden, a large international summer economy, restaurants, cultural events and easy access to Bulgaria’s northern Black Sea coast.
For applicants comparing Varna University of Management tuition fees, the most important point is that the amount depends on the programme and citizenship category.
| Programme / fee type | EU/EEA | Non-EU/EEA |
|---|---|---|
| Standard English-taught Bachelor’s programmes | €1,500/semester | €1,950/semester |
| Hospitality and Culinary Arts / Gastronomy and Culinary Arts | €1,500/semester* | €2,400/semester |
| English preparatory year | €750/semester | €1,150/semester |
| Student status fee | €50/semester | €450/semester |
For standard Bachelor’s programmes, this means a base tuition of approximately €3,000 per academic year for EU/EEA students and €3,900 per academic year for non-EU/EEA students, before additional administrative or optional partner-university fees.
VUM’s fee regulations also provide separate rates for MBA and other Master’s programmes. Applicants who choose the Cardiff Metropolitan University degree route should expect an additional registration fee during the applicable semesters.
*Programme-specific rates and administrative fees can change. The figure shown in the quick-facts card refers to standard English-taught Bachelor’s tuition; culinary programmes have a higher non-EU rate.
For standard English-taught Bachelor’s programmes, tuition is €1,500 per semester for EU/EEA students and €1,950 per semester for non-EU/EEA students. Non-EU tuition for Hospitality and Culinary Arts and Gastronomy and Culinary Arts is listed at €2,400 per semester.
EU/EEA tuition is paid per semester. VUM’s fee rules state that non-EU/EEA students pay the first two semesters when they first enrol and can then pay semester by semester from the third semester onward.
VUM provides accommodation options in Varna and Dobrich and also lists partner student housing in Varna. For 2026/27, the university publishes separate prices by room type and length of stay rather than one flat monthly rate. Students should check the current accommodation price list for the exact room they want.
As an iGeneration planning estimate, a student in Varna can budget around €500-€800 per month for accommodation, food, local transport and personal expenses. Actual costs vary considerably by housing type and lifestyle.
VUM is accredited by Bulgaria’s National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency. The university also highlights international business-school rankings: Eduniversal awards VUM 4 Palmes of Excellence, placing it among its top 200 business schools globally and, according to VUM, making it the only Bulgarian institution at this level.
VUM also promotes international mobility, partnerships and British degree pathways with Cardiff Metropolitan University. Rankings are useful as one comparison point, but applicants should also consider accreditation, programme content, tuition, location, internships and the exact degree awarded on their chosen route.
Admission to Varna University of Management is based on the applicant’s previous education, academic record, motivation, English proficiency and the required application documents.
After document review, applicants complete an obligatory admission interview. Applicants without an accepted international English-language certificate then take the VUM online English exam.
There is therefore no general Biology, Chemistry or business-subject entrance exam for the standard VUM business, hospitality or IT routes. The selection process is based on the applicant’s profile, interview and English-language requirement.
VUM accepts recognised qualifications such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Cambridge certificates. Applicants without an accepted certificate can sit the university’s online English test. Applicants whose native language or previous language of instruction is English may be eligible for an exemption, subject to VUM’s decision.
VUM accepts new students for September and February intakes. The university currently states that applicants are informed about availability in their chosen programme after submitting the required documents rather than publishing one universal final date for every degree applicant. Non-EU applicants should apply early enough to complete recognition and visa procedures.
Applying to Varna University of Management involves choosing the correct programme and study route, preparing academic documents, meeting the English-language requirement and, for many international students, completing translation, recognition and visa steps.
iGeneration can help you organise the application, prepare the required documents and follow the correct process for the September or February intake.
The VUM admission interview can be arranged online. Applicants who do not hold an accepted English-language certificate are normally required to complete VUM’s online English proficiency exam after the interview.
The exact process may differ by programme and applicant status, so the current requirements should be confirmed before submission.
International Bachelor applicants normally submit a completed application form, ID/passport, secondary school certificate and transcript, proof of English proficiency if available, and the required declarations. Documents issued abroad may also require recognition, legalisation and translation depending on the applicant’s country and route.
VUM does not use a traditional subject entrance exam for all applicants. The standard admission process includes an obligatory interview and, if the applicant does not hold an accepted English certificate, an online English exam.
The admission interview can be conducted online, and applicants who need the VUM English exam complete it through the university’s online testing process. Applicants do not need to travel to Bulgaria solely for these steps unless VUM specifically requires otherwise for their case.
The VUM English exam assesses whether the applicant has sufficient English proficiency to study successfully in an English-taught degree. VUM’s current public Bachelor application page does not provide a detailed universal test syllabus, so applicants should request the latest test instructions from Admissions.
There is no single fixed test date published for every applicant. The admission interview and, where required, the English test are arranged as part of the individual application process.
VUM has September and February intakes. The current Bachelor admissions information does not publish one universal final deadline for every programme. Availability is confirmed after application, and non-EU candidates should apply early enough for document recognition and visa processing.
An internationally recognised English certificate is recommended. Applicants without an accepted certificate can normally take VUM’s online English exam. Depending on previous education and language background, some applicants may be exempt from testing subject to the university’s decision.
Foreign-issued documents may require recognition, legalisation and certified translation.
VUM is an accredited Bulgarian higher education institution. Recognition of a specific degree abroad depends on the destination country, employer, profession and, where applicable, the competent recognition or licensing authority. Students pursuing a Cardiff Metropolitan University pathway should also check the exact award attached to their selected route.
VUM’s international Bachelor’s and Master’s portfolio is delivered in English. The university also offers other formats and programmes, so applicants should confirm the language of instruction for the exact 2026/27 programme they choose.
Transfer and recognition of previous university study may be possible at VUM, but it is not automatic. The university evaluates previous coursework, transcripts and the requirements of the destination programme before deciding which credits or study periods can be recognised.
Applicants should request a formal assessment before assuming entry into a particular year or semester.
Varna University of Management is accredited by Bulgaria’s National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency. Students planning to use their degree for further study or employment abroad should separately check any country-specific recognition or professional requirements.
VUM provides student accommodation options in Varna and Dobrich and also publishes partner accommodation options in Varna, including Campus 90 Student House and Campus Oslo 4U.
For the period 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027, VUM has an official accommodation price list for its Student Dormitory at the Varna campus, 13A Oborishte Street. Prices vary by room type, whether the stay is short- or long-term, and whether the bathroom is private or shared.
Because there is no single flat dormitory price, students should use the current 2026/27 accommodation schedule for the exact room category they want rather than relying on the old €100/month figure previously shown on this page.
Varna is Bulgaria’s largest Black Sea city and combines a university environment with beaches, the Sea Garden, restaurants, shopping, cultural events and a large seasonal international community.
As an iGeneration planning estimate, international students can budget approximately €500-€800 per month for accommodation, food, local transport and personal expenses. Students living in lower-cost university accommodation may spend less, while private studios and a more active lifestyle can push the total higher.
VUM’s Varna campus is at 13A Oborishte Street, 9000 Varna. Varna has an extensive bus network, taxis and app-based transport options. Students living centrally can also reach many everyday services on foot.
For airport transfers or late-night travel, use established taxi operators and check the displayed tariff before travelling.
Varna has several major shopping centres and retail areas, including Grand Mall Varna, Delta Planet Mall and the central pedestrian shopping streets. Supermarkets and neighbourhood stores are widely available around the city.
Varna’s main attractions include the Sea Garden, the beach, the Archaeological Museum, the Roman Baths and a busy calendar of concerts, festivals and seasonal events. The city also provides easy access to resorts and coastal towns north and south of Varna.
Varna has a broad restaurant and nightlife scene, particularly around the city centre, Sea Garden and beachfront areas. Students can find Bulgarian cuisine, international restaurants, cafés, bars and seasonal beach venues across a wide range of budgets.
Varna University of Management (VUM) is a private Bulgarian university specialising in business, management, hospitality, tourism, culinary arts and software technologies. It offers English-taught Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes and international mobility opportunities.
Not exactly. VUM’s official website lists Campus Varna, International Campus Dobrich and an Administrative Centre for Applicant and Learner Support in Sofia. Sofia should therefore not be presented as the university’s main teaching campus.
For standard English-taught Bachelor’s programmes, tuition is €1,500 per semester for EU/EEA students and €1,950 per semester for non-EU/EEA students. Non-EU tuition for the two culinary programmes is listed at €2,400 per semester. Additional student-status and programme-specific fees may apply.
Yes. VUM participates in Erasmus+ and offers eligible students opportunities for study and traineeship mobility with partner institutions and employers abroad.
VUM is accredited by Bulgaria’s National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency. The university also reports a 4 Palmes of Excellence rating from Eduniversal, placing it among Eduniversal’s top 200 business schools globally. Rankings should be considered together with programme fit, accreditation, tuition, internships and the exact degree route.
Questions about studying in Bulgaria or your application? Our team is ready to help.
