site.btaEducation Minister Valchev: Legislative Changes to Address University Fee Increases

Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev met with university rectors at the Higher School of Telecommunications and Posts on Monday, where he said earlier warnings that increased state funding and legal changes would drive up paid tuition and fees had materialized. 

“No one here has acted to raise fees—neither universities nor the State are to blame. This is the other side of raising university subsidies,” Valchev said. MPs have submitted a bill in response, he noted.

Valchev explained that the proposed law will reduce the portion of state funding used to calculate paid tuition, aiming to prevent sharp hikes in fees. He added that discussions with university rectors have led to further suggested legislative changes to avoid sudden increases, and lawmakers could approve these amendments this week. If passed, they will apply immediately for the upcoming academic year and universities will be able to correct the published fees to prevent sharp increases.

He described how the largest increases affect paid education programmes, particularly where state-commissioned quotas are not filled. Valchev pointed out that the average annual fee for state-commissioned students is BGN 1,050, which has grown by 44% over the last ten years, while state funding for universities has more than doubled in the same period. A decade ago, an annual university tuition fee was equivalent to the average monthly gross salary, whereas now it represents about 46% of the average wage. Valchev said tuition remains broadly affordable for state-commissioned students, with most sharp increases found in paid education programmes.

He emphasized that public funds for students in state-commissioned places should not be used to subsidize those in paid education and confirmed that amendments to the law will ensure such cross-subsidies are not permitted. Conversations have been held with all parliamentary group leaders supporting the government to prioritize the bill, and Valchev expects that it could be approved in the plenary chamber within days.

Valchev also acknowledged that rising university costs are observed internationally, as institutions must pay higher salaries in all sectors.