Bulgaria Facing Exodus of Young People

Sofia, Bulgaria | photo by: Anton Lefterov

The most popular overseas destination is the UK, where the number of Bulgarian students has tripled over the past three years, according to data provided by the daily newspaper “Bulgarian Standard”.

As many as 96 per cent of Bulgarians studying in the British Isles have taken out student loans. After completing their degrees and settling student loans, the majority are choosing not to return to Bulgaria.

Other European destinations popular among Bulgarian expats include Germany, where 12,500 Bulgarians are currently studying, and the Netherlands, where the cost of education is comparatively low and student loan programs are available.

One popular option for starting a career in the Netherlands involves applying for EU funding, through municipalities, to establish a student-operated company. This allows students to get business experience before graduating and Bulgarians currently working in such programmes are active in IT and robotics.

Over the past year, a total of 3,664 students have left Bulgaria for the US and Canada. Historically, 82 per cent of Bulgarian students graduating in these countries have not returned to live in Bulgaria.