VARNA FREE UNIVERSITY OPENED THE 2025/2026 ACADEMIC YEAR

29 September 2025

With a solemn ceremony in the Maxima Hall, Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" opened the new academic year. The university welcomed its first-year students on the eve of three important anniversaries - 35 years since the university's establishment, 30 years since the graduation of the first class and 30 years since the establishment of the Student Council. The university has its fifth consecutive institutional accreditation and a score of 9.01 out of 10 - among the highest in the country.

"The role of private educational institutions in Bulgaria is to provide an alternative for young people. They are initiators of innovations. Usually, new directions in the development of education appear for the first time in them. Proof of this is the fact that even in this year, burdened with many crises, difficulties and challenges, Varna Free University can boast of a successfully conducted student admissions campaign and, despite the crises and turmoil in state universities, to stand in one of the leading places in terms of the number of first-year students. This success is due to the fact that the university has high requirements, what has been achieved is upgraded and the process of transformation is continuous," the President of the university, Assoc. Prof. Krasimir Nedyalkov, PhD said at the opening of the new academic year.

A congratulatory address on behalf of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev was read by Ilin Dimitrov, PhD - Secretary for Culture, Education and Tourism of the Head of State. It states: "For more than thirty years, your university has been providing competitive educational training in a wide range of specialties, tailored to current economic and social needs... Dear first-year students, students, the progress of the Bulgarian economy and our society requires individuals like you - with innovative thinking and ambition for the heights of knowledge. I wish you inspiration and determination to follow your path to your chosen professional realization. I believe in the success of each of you! Good luck!"

The Deputy Mayor of Varna, Iliya Koev, also delivered congratulatory words, recalling that he is a graduate of Varna Free University. “I was a student at this university, it gave me a lot. What I received here gave me a boost for my professional path. Be healthy and good luck,” he said.

The Rector, Prof. Petar Hristov, PhD presented the student books to the first-year students, who were admitted with the highest score, and wished that their academic successes “may bring us as much joy as the victories of the national volleyball team.”

On behalf of the first-year students, Bianca Stavreva, a law student and a high-school graduate of the First Language School, delivered a greeting, wishing her fellow students to boldly walk the path of knowledge.

A particularly emotional moment was the festive water blessing, performed priest Stefan Nikolov - chairperson of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and priest Lyubomir Georgiev from the Varna and Veliko Preslav Bishopric. During the ritual, the power supply failed but the water blessing continued as a real prayer - the hall was illuminated by the light of the students' flashlights, who turned the unexpected ordeal into a symbol of faith and unity.

Among the official guests of the ceremony were Eng. Hristo Dimitrov - chairman of the Municipal Council - Varna, the deputy mayor of Varna Iliya Koev, the deputy chairman of the District Court - Varna Stoyan Popov, judge Rositsa Toncheva from the Varna Court of Appeal, representatives of higher and secondary schools, scientific institutes, industry organizations and business.

This autumn, nearly 1,000 first-year students will enter the university halls. The number of bachelor's degree applicants is higher than last year. About 40% of newly admitted students have chosen the full-time mode, nearly 50% - the part-time and 10% will study in a distance learning mode. The application score is increasing, the number of students starting a second higher education is growing, and more and more working people are choosing the part-time mode, which allows them to combine job and studies. Particularly indicative of the trust in the university is that graduates from the first classes are already entrusting their children to their Alma Mater.

Congratulatory addresses were sent by:

Prof. Miglena Temelkova, PhD – Chairperson of the Council of Rectors

Prof. Eliza Stefanova, PhD – Chairperson of the National Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation

Angel Stoykov – Chairperson of the National Representation of Student Councils

Rumen Radev – Chairperson of the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria

Irena Radeva, PhD – Head of the Regional Department of Education – Varna

Vladislav Bakalov – Chairperson of the Standing Committee onScience and Education at the Varna Municipal Council.

Flotilla admiral, Prof. Kalin Kalinov, PhD - Rector of Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy

Prof. Dr. Dimitar Raykov – Rector of the Medical University – Varna

Prof. Evgeni Stanimirov, PhD – Rector of the University of Economics – Varna

Prof. Dragomir Plamenov, PhD – Rector of the Technical University – Varna

Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov, PhD – Rector of the University of National and World Economy – Sofia

Judge Marin Marinov – Chairperson of the Court of Appeal – Varna

Judge Elena Yanakieva – Chairperson of the Administrative Court – Varna

Judge Tsveta Pavlova – Chairperson of the District Court – Varna

Arch. Marin Velchev – Chairperson of the Chamber of Architects – Varna Regional College

See more photos from the event at: