about university

About University 

AUBG is a premier university in Central and Eastern Europe offering outstanding American-style education recognized in both the U.S. and the EU. The American University in Bulgaria combines outstanding education accredited in both the U.S. and the EU with exceptional student experience on a modern campus. Upon graduation students will be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to begin a successful international career, launch their own business, or continue their studies at a top university. 

Located in the Balkans but with a broad international reach, AUBG will provide students with a compelling mix of curricular and co-curricular experiences that teach them the flexibility, curiosity, and versatility to meet the challenges of our fast-changing world. By emphasizing strong intercultural experiences, as well as an invigorating entrepreneurial spirit, AUBG will provide graduates with the tools to succeed personally and professionally, and ethically in whatever endeavors they choose to pursue. 

AUBG will expand its reach by taking advantage of new educational technologies and a strong distance-learning program, increasing enrollment, enhancing its public presence throughout the region and the world, and continuing to serve as a liberal arts beacon supporting democratic values, compelling teaching, engaged scholarship, and a welcoming, inclusive, diverse, and pluralistic community. 

America for Bulgaria Student Center is the jewel in the crown of our contemporary campus. The spacious, generously sunlit, multi-functional center was built in 2012 with the financial help of America for Bulgaria Foundation and embodies AUBG’s unparalleled energy and dynamics. It hosts our state-of-the-art theater, sports and dining halls, and the Student Services office, which are the next stops in this tour. Here you will also find the Admissions office, where the AUBG journey begins for future students. Admission advisors are available to assist you with useful information on how to get started, including scholarships and other financial aid widely available at AUBG. Other popular facilities inside the center are the workout gym, the bookstore, a trendy coffee shop, and lots of chill-out areas with wi-fi access.

Students from across the world can spend a semester or a year at AUBG and become a part of our unique and diverse community in Eastern Europe through the Erasmus+ program, ISEP Study Abroad, or our partnership with the University of Maine. The same programs give AUBGers the opportunity to visit hundreds of universities across the world. 

Degrees and Study Directions 

• Business Administration
• Computer Science
• Economics
• European Studies
• Executive MBA
• Finance
• History
• Languages
• Literature
• Marketing
• Mathematics
• Media
• Politics
• Psychology
• Sciences
• Theatre and Film

The Executive MBA

The first Executive MBA to be established in Bulgaria, the AUBG EMBA has successfully educated professionals in the region for 20 years. Upon graduation, students join a supportive alumni community of business leaders and global change-makers. Taught by world-renowned professors, the program will introduce you to both the latest academic theory and real-world business examples.

The program integrates the fundamentals of business with contemporary perspectives and tools. Students complete four academic courses each term, attend monthly leadership seminars and participate in a team business trip to a top global destination.

The AUBG Executive MBA Program is accredited both in the United States, by the New England Commission of Higher Education, and in Bulgaria, by the National Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation.

The AUBG EMBA Program is a member of the AMBA, the global standard for all MBA degrees, which is accrediting programs in the top 2% of Business Schools in over 75 countries. The program is also a member of the prestigious Business Graduates Association.

Accommodation

Living on campus is a big part of the Liberal arts education experience. Since our students come from over 40 countries, living in the AUBG halls, feels like being part of a mini-map of the world! Skaptopara I, II, and III, also known as the three Skaptos, are the first purpose-built residence halls in Bulgaria. In this safe environment, lifelong friendships are born and minds are opened amid diversity and mutual respect.

AUBG’s first residence hall has its own community feeling and has been adapted to create a unique living and learning experience. Right outside Skaptopara I, you will find benches, a barbeque grill, a swing, and an evergreen lawn. Students can stop by the Skapto I Cafeteria before leaving for classes or take advantage of the Skapto I Yard and organize concerts and picnics after the classes. In the basement of Skapto I you can find a multipurpose room, a fitness room, and laundry services. 

Skaptopara III is the newest of our Residence Halls. Each floor has its own personality and its own color – blue, red, and yellow. All kinds of amenities are found in the common areas to add to the comfort of the rooms – you have a TV, kitchen, and study areas available to students 24/7. In the basement of Skapto III, you can find a multipurpose room equipped with table tennis.

Student Life in Blagoevgrad 

If you’ve never heard of Blagoevgrad, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. The Rough Guide to Bulgaria named the town the ‘coolest place in southwest Bulgaria,’ and with good reason. It’s a small, vibrant university town (20,000 of the 80,000 residents are students!) within easy reach of the capital Sofia (a 1hr drive or easy bus ride away.)

There’s something for everyone in Blagoevgrad; the restored old quarter bustles with cafes and bars in a lively cultural scene set against beautiful architecture. In town, you’ll be spoilt with 2.5km of leafy park alley for strolling, a fascinating historical museum, and a rich program of events. Nightclubs, operas, restaurants, and over 100 theater performances per year keep the lively population entertained.

It’s easy to get away and experience some of Bulgaria’s most stunning natural attractions too: the spa town of Sandanski, the Seven Lakes of Rila, and two world-class ski resorts are close by. There are biking adventures to be had around town, and fans of hiking can take in some breathtaking views on foot. For those seeking adventures further afield, you’ll be happy to find North Macedonia on the doorstep (30km) and the delights of Greece only an hour’s drive away.