About the Program
Located in a country known to have one of the richest cultures in Europe, you’ll have the opportunity to witness the changing of the world on your study abroad to Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. You’ll be situated between in Southeastern and Western Europe with ample places to travel to and visit during your program whether in country or out.
With a dynamic environment of cafes, recreational facilities, and movie theaters, you’ll be able to grasp and maintain a life full of both education and adventure. At the American University in Bulgaria, you’ll choose from nine different majors and eleven minors, spanning traditional core liberal arts subjects as well as computer science and business programs.
Deadline to Apply for Spring 2026
October 15, 2025
Deadline to Apply for Fall 2025
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Academics
The American University in Bulgaria offers an American-style liberal arts education with English as the language of instruction to students from countries of South Eastern Europe and beyond. Presently, AUBG offers ten major and eleven minor programs. Education abroad students usually take 4-5 courses at 3 credit hours each.
- Majors and minors
- Academic Resources
- Academic Catalog – academic calendar and course descriptions
- Departments – for quick access to course descriptions, select the appropriate department (e.g. Business) from the left-side menu, then select Courses
- Schedule of courses for each semester
AUBG uses the same credit and grading scale as UMaine.
Transfer Credits:
3 AUBG credits = 3 UMaine credits
Best Suited Majors
Other Majors
AUBG follows the US academic calendar. See the detailed AUBG Academic Calendar.
Fall 2025:
- Orientation: August 31-September 8
- Classes begin: September 9
- Fall Break: October 27 – November 2
- Classes end: December 12
- Final Exams: December 15-19
Spring 2026:
- Orientation: January 15-19
- Classes begin: January 20
- Spring Break: March 10-17
- Classes end: May 2
- Final Exams: May 4-9
Minimum GPA Requirement: 3.0
Full-Time Enrollment: UMaine students must be registered for at least 12 credits each semester. Students are not encouraged to register for more than 15 credits each semester.
Estimated costs for a semester at the American University in Bulgaria. The visa application for Bulgaria for exchange students has no visa fee but students must travel to apply in person at the Bulgarian consulate in NYC.
| RMIT Grade | Points | Description | UMaine Grade |
| HD | 80 – 100 | High Distinction | A |
| DI | 70 – 79 | Distinction | A |
| CR | 60 – 69 | Credit | B |
| PA | 50 – 59 | Pass | C |
| NPC | Pass Conceded | D (doesn’t transfer) | |
| NN | Fail | F |
Exchange students are required to arrange Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) before arrival in Australia and to maintain cover throughout their course.
Students on a Bulgarian study visa can work part-time for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and full-time during official holidays, without the need for a separate work permit.
AUBG has brand new residential halls. Exchange students will live in double or single rooms in one of three residence halls. AUBG provides a smoke-free environment and are disability accessible. The residence halls include aerobic rooms, two weight rooms, music practice rooms, a multipurpose room, billiard and ping pong areas, several television lounges, outside decks, and cafes. Each building has a token-operated laundry facility in the basement for student use that contains washing and drying machines. Read more at Residence Life.
Campuses
The AUBG campus is located in South-East Europe just an hour outside of the capital, Sofia. With a small community of 1200 students. Students have the option of choosing from over 30 student clubs and a never-ending array of events and conferences to attend.
Blagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad boasts many small cafes and restaurants, hiking trails and even a historical district for students to explore. Over school breaks and the weekend, students can explore neighboring European countries that are just a short flight away from the capital while Greece, North Macedonia and Serbia are just around the corner.
Student Favorites
Learn More About an Education Abroad at AUBG
Erika Clement
Assistant Director of Education Abroad
5713 Chadbourne Hall RM 122
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469
207. 581.3437 | studyabroad@maine.edu
Yijie Ren
Education Abroad Advisor
5713 Chadbourne Hall RM 122
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469
207. 581.3437 | studyabroad@maine.edu