Study for a Semester in Bulgaria!
Institution
AUBG offers American-style liberal arts education with English as the language of instruction. AUBG is a multicultural institution and provides an unrivaled cultural experience. Forty percent of the student body is non-Bulgarian from over 24 countries. The university promotes educational outreach programs to serve the wider community.
Founded in 1991, following the fall of communist governments across Eastern Europe, the American University in Bulgaria was established in order to educate future leaders committed to serving the needs of the region by promoting the values of an open democratic society.
Location
The Rough Guide to Bulgaria calls Blagoevgrad “the coolest place in southwest Bulgaria.” Undoubtedly a university town — with 20,000 of its 80,000 residents being students — it is also a vibrant economic and cultural center boasting a restored old quarter and quaint shopping plazas, along with dynamic clubs and cafes that are known as some of the most “stylish” in the country. Blagoevgrad is famous for its architecture and welcoming atmosphere, and the surrounding region abounds with natural beauty and tourist attractions such as the Rila Monastery, the ski resort of Bansko, the spa town of Sandanski and the Seven Lakes of Rila Mountain. Bulgaria’s capital of Sofia, only an hour away, offers access to cities all over Europe, and Istanbul and Greece can be easily reached by train or bus.
Students are able to apply for the ISEP Exchange or ISEP Direct program. The major different between these two programs is how fees are structure. On the ISEP Exchange program students pay Appalachian tuition and fees plus the ISEP Full Exchange Fee. On the ISEP Direct program students will be billed the ISEP Direct program fee. Non-resident students should check to see if the ISEP Direct cost will be less than Appalachian out of state tuition rates.
ISEP Chance of Placement - Very Good
Academic Calendar
- Fall Semester: Late August to Late December
- Spring Semester: Late January to Mid May
Housing
Students on the AUB program will stay at university arranged housing.
Students participating on the ISEP Exchange program option will pay the ISEP Full Exchange Program Fee to Appalachian and will not pay housing or meal costs to the Bulgarian university.
Financial
Program Costs
Paid to Appalachian State
1The OIED Program Development Fee will be placed on students’ accounts upon acceptance by the Education Abroad Office. The fee payment confirms your spot and is non-refundable.
Estimated Additional Costs
| |
Semester Exchange |
| ISEP Application Fee |
$100 |
| ISEP Placement Fee |
$375 |
| Airfare |
$1200 - $1800 |
| Additional Meals |
$100 - $200 |
| 1Personal Expenses |
$800 - $1200 |
| Books and Materials |
$100 - $200 |
| Local Transportation |
$50 - $200 |
| Visa (for US Citizens) |
$0 |
| Passport |
$150 |
| US Based Health Insurance |
Varies |
| 2Personal Travel and Spending |
$800 - $1200 |
1Personal expenses includes but is not limited to: toiletries, cell phone, emergency funds, laundry, basic travel and entertainment, etc.
2Personal Travel and Spending amounts will vary by student and will be affected by how often a student goes out, travels, and the items they purchase.
Please note that non-billable costs are estimates only and will be affected by personal spending habits, currency fluctuations, etc. Prices listed in USD unless otherwise noted.
Students are encouraged to start planning for their study abroad program costs well in advance. Please use the Student Financial Planning Worksheet to help estimate your anticipated expenses and your anticipated financial resources. When planning for estimated additional costs students are encouraged to research currency conversion rates.
Financial Aid
The majority of financial aid and scholarships can apply to semester and year-long study abroad programs. For more information please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid web page.
Scholarships
OIED Scholarships
Each semester OIED offers a variety of different scholarship opportunities for students. Scholarship awards range from $250 to $2000.
Benjamin A Gilman Scholarship
The Gilman Scholarship Program application is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Fund for Education Abroad
Applicants from groups underrepresented in study abroad and those destined for non-traditional locations are given preference, in an effort to make the demographics of U.S. undergraduates studying abroad reflect the rich diversity of the U.S. population.
For information about additional scholarships please visit our External Scholarships web page.
Academics
AUB offers courses across a range of disciplines. For more information about the course offerings please visit the ISEP AUB webpage.
All students are expected to maintain at least the equivalent of a full time course load according to Appalachian State and the host university while abroad (whichever is greater). Students participating on the ISEP program will be required to enroll in 12-18 credits per semester. For more information about study abroad enrollment policies, credit approval, and credit and grade conversions please visit the Academics section of our website.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and some programs may fill up before the listed deadline. Each year applications for Fall, Spring, and Summer will open up on August 1st. Once open the deadline will be listed below and an Apply Now button will be available at the top and bottom of this page. Most applications will have a 2 part application process so students are encouraged to complete their OIED application well before the listed deadline.
Students applying to an ISEP program should complete the
ISEP application while also completing the Appalachian application.
For more information about deadlines and how to apply please visit our
Guide Me web page.
