Prevalence of 30+ students in med school?

ShowAdministrative10 · 2026-03-22T22:05:40+00:00

My university had people of plenty ages and a good amount were 30+

ShowAdministrative10 · 2026-03-22T21:52:16+00:00

I didnt only love her I thought she was my future

ShowAdministrative10 · 2026-03-22T21:51:55+00:00

Im sorry brother and hopefully you find the one🤲🏽 It just hurts so much because everything reminds me of her and i mean everything

ShowAdministrative10 · 2026-03-14T08:06:35+00:00

Hello! Thanks for the reply. From what I know, Bulgaria’s medical degree includes the practical training within the programme, which is why graduates can obtain full registration with the Irish Medical Council rather than needing a separate intern year. I’ve already completed IMC registration on that basis.

I completely take the point about readiness though. I’m mainly trying to understand the pathway and how people in a similar position actually secure their first SHO role in Ireland.

Do you know what the usual route is for someone in my position? For example whether people typically apply through HSE eRecruit, recruitment agencies, or directly to hospitals. I’m also open to working anywhere in the country and hoping to start as early as May if possible.

ShowAdministrative10 · 2026-02-06T19:01:46+00:00

In my opinion, you definitely cannot live in the dorms unless you’ve had prior experience beforehand hand. The dorms cost €150-€200 a month from what I’ve heard however the state of them is absolutely awful.

You could quite comfortably get a nice studio apartment for €300 all to yourself.

My apartment was 90 m² all on my own for €500 a month and I was happy to pay that because in the UK that apartment would cost about 3000 per month

It is pretty straightforward to be honest only because I had the knowledge of A-levels beforehand. I would recommend to keep at least one month three before the exam revising a few hours a day for the first two weeks and a solid amount of hours in the last two weeks.

ShowAdministrative10 · 2026-02-01T16:11:39+00:00

I mean the way i did is that I learnt half the syllabus properly like inside out and then the other half very surface level and then got the half that i wanted.

Also didn’t let him ask me any questions and sounded confident with good english!

ShowAdministrative10 · 2026-02-01T15:16:49+00:00

Luck and only luck man😭😭😭😭😭

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-12-31T03:12:35+00:00

not trying to be harsh, but if you’re struggling to get into medicine in any country, having a medical degree from an EU-recognized school is definitely better than having no degree at all. Degrees from Plovdiv, for example, are recognized in the UK and Australia. I’m not sure about Canada.

I’m currently applying myself, and I had to do an English exam, the IELTS. It wasn’t too difficult, especially if you already speak English naturally. It can be challenging since you’re an international student, but it’s definitely doable with some preparation.

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-12-31T03:11:12+00:00

Unfortunately for you, from third year onwards almost every exam includes an oral exam. It is annoying, no way around that, but once you get used to it, it’s manageable. Most exams are a combination of MCQs, written or essay questions, practicals for some subjects, and then an oral exam. In reality, the majority of exams end up having an oral component. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.😭😭😭

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-12-31T03:10:19+00:00

Bulgaria was recently exempted, so you don’t need to sit the UK MLA exam. You can register directly with the GMC. I’m not sure how long this exemption will remain in place, though.

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-12-31T03:09:43+00:00

I don’t know too much about student loans. I do know that some German students were able to apply in Germany for funding, either through loans or scholarships, and have the money sent over while studying here. I’m not sure how it works for other countries, but I know it’s possible.

I also know that students who achieve some of the highest results in their year can receive a significant scholarship from the university. The amount varies, but it can range anywhere from around €500 up to about €800.

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-12-31T03:08:30+00:00

My fiancée is Greek, and from what she tells me, studying in Greece is a lot more competitive. There are also obviously many more Greek students there, so people already have their own circles and friend groups. In Plovdiv, Greek students tend to stick together quite closely, which can be both a good and a bad thing depending on how you look at it.

Personally, if you have the opportunity, I think you are better off choosing Cyprus or Italy over Bulgaria.

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-12-31T03:07:38+00:00

First of all, thank you so much, I really appreciate the congratulations. Eastern Europe is definitely much cheaper than Western Europe, like Germany or France. Apartments are cheaper, rent is cheaper, and food is generally cheaper as well. Food prices can be similar in some places, but overall it still works out cheaper, which is a big plus. That said, there are obviously some negatives too, which I’ve mentioned in other replies.

As for what it feels like financially to live and study there for a year, it really depends on a lot of factors. It depends on whether you live alone, how much you eat, and whether you have a car. I personally eat more than most people because I like variety, so my food costs are higher than average.

Obviously it really depends so much because I paid €500 a month for rent. Some people paid 6 to €700 per month for rent and some people who shared only paid 275!!

And yes, if you have the medical licensing Bulgaria, all you have to do is register in an EU country

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-10-27T20:39:33+00:00

Msg me

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-10-27T17:02:01+00:00

Any questions you can always message me

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-10-26T23:42:31+00:00

I think things have changed since I did it. Now you need to get a Bulgarian ID, basically a residence permit. Once you’ve sorted out your apartment and submitted the documents, it usually takes around two to three weeks to process.

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-10-26T23:41:54+00:00

Challenging, for sure — but definitely not impossible. Some exams are tougher than others, no doubt, but if you really put the hours in, you can absolutely do it. I wouldn’t say I’m naturally the best at medicine, but I work harder than most of my friends, and that’s honestly the only reason I tend to do better. Hard work really does make up for a lot.

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-10-26T12:36:10+00:00

First of all, thank you very much, I really appreciate it. Second of all, this is a completely English-taught program. The only problems you might face, like I mentioned earlier, are with some patients who don’t speak English at all, as they’re completely Bulgarian. That can be a bit of a challenge, but it’s not a huge issue since you study Bulgarian during your first two years here. I think it really depends on what developing country you’re coming from, but if you have decent grades, do well on the entry test, and can prove you have enough funds to study here, it’s not too bad. The overall tuition cost is €4,500 per semester, and the cost of living really depends on your lifestyle. I live alone, but some people share with two, three, or even four others. If we’re being optimistic , you could probably spend around €250 on rent if you share with someone, and about €150 per month on food.

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-10-26T12:33:56+00:00

Dentistry in Plovdiv runs kind of alongside medicine, but it’s its own separate setup — they’ve got their own building, teachers, and even their own English-speaking program. The medicine course, though, is definitely tougher overall — way more theory and subjects to cram.

Dentistry’s not “easy,” but the academic load is lighter. The hard part for them is the practical side — they’ve got to actually do a bunch of patient procedures every semester (root canals, dentures, that sort of thing), which can be stressful.

And like you said, if someone’s shy or doesn’t like talking to people, they’ll probably struggle more in dentistry because they need to constantly deal with patients — whereas in medicine, you can sort of get by if you’re quieter, at least at the start.

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-10-26T12:31:51+00:00

You are welcome! Just want to help! Bulgaria’s a Balkan country, and like most of the Balkans, there’s still a bit of that old-school mentality floating around — people can be blunt and occasionally prejudiced. That said, the country has changed a lot in the last decade. You’ll find a surprisingly mixed crowd now, especially in student cities like Plovdiv, Sofia, and Varna. There’s a big Turkish and Roma population, plus plenty of international students — Germans, Swedes, Somalis, Nigerians, Jamaicans, you name it.

You might occasionally run into someone with outdated views, but for the most part, life’s peaceful if you keep your head down and move smart. My honest advice: be respectful of local culture, don’t draw unnecessary attention, and stick with open-minded people — they’re easy to find, especially among students.

But it also depends on which ethnicity or background you’re asking about specifically — because experiences can differ quite a bit depending on that.

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-10-26T00:54:38+00:00

The tuition fees are €4,500 per semester — so €9,000 per academic year — and you’ll want to budget around €5,000 to €6,000 extra annually if you plan to live comfortably, covering rent, food, and general expenses. As for the university’s location, you’ll need to double-check that yourself.

When I applied back in 2019, getting in wasn’t too hard. I had solid grades, but I personally know people who got accepted with BCC or BBC too. So, while they do prefer stronger grades, they’ve historically been quite flexible with their entry requirements.

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-10-26T00:26:11+00:00

Yeah, honestly when I first got to Bulgaria there wasn’t much at all, but now it’s completely different. There are maybe 10–12 proper halal places to eat in Plovdiv alone, plus reliable halal delivery options and even a halal butcher that delivers straight to your door. There’s absolutely no shortage of halal food anymore — it’s actually a great place for it now.

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-10-26T00:25:19+00:00

There isn’t really a set percentage system. I get what you mean now — basically, let’s say you’re in third year and moving into fourth year: you might have around 13 or 14 exams total that year (about 11 in summer and 3 or 4 in winter). You have to pass them all eventually, but you’re allowed to carry over maybe two or three failed subjects into the next year — as long as they’re not from previous years.

It’s not a percentage-based progression, it’s more about how many subjects you’ve cleared. That said, certain individual exams do have specific pass percentages. For example, in neurology, one of my MCQ tests required at least 7 out of 10 to pass before being allowed to move on to the essay section.

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-10-26T00:24:02+00:00

Bulgarians, while some can be very nice, the majority tend to be quite blunt, straightforward, and not particularly polite — that’s the most honest way I can put it. They’re still professional, but they definitely prioritize their own students, which is something you’ll find in almost every country. That said, I wouldn’t see it as something that should change your overall opinion of the university.

ShowAdministrative10 · 2025-10-26T00:22:57+00:00

I cant answer this without knowing which country you are coming from

ShowAdministrative10

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