Burgas Free University

What Burgas Free University does

Burgas Free University (Бургаски свободен университет) is a private higher education institution in Burgas, Bulgaria, established on 18 September 1991 by decision of the Great National Assembly as one of the country's first private universities. It delivers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs through four academic centers covering law, economics and management, informatics and technical sciences, and humanities, and is accredited by the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (NAOA) with the maximum six-year institutional term awarded in 2024.

The university operates a digital infrastructure stack that supports the full student lifecycle: a Moodle-based e-learning platform (e-learn.bfu.bg), an electronic student services portal (e-services.bfu.bg), an online admissions system (e-priem.bfu.bg), an institutional research repository, a career center, and an alumni association portal. A university hotel (Hotel BFU) functions as a training facility for hospitality students. Technology procurement relies on standard SaaS and open-source tools; no proprietary AI/ML platform is disclosed.

BFU's revenue model is primarily tuition-driven from individual students across all three degree levels, supplemented by income from a new municipal 'Successful Students' free-tuition programme, EU/Erasmus+ mobility and project funding, and the Hotel BFU. Distribution is direct through on-campus enrollment and distance learning, with international recruitment supported by Erasmus+, EUNICoast alliance activities, UNESCO UNITWIN networks, and partnerships with 74 universities and 270+ project collaborators across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Pricing is publicly disclosed only for doctoral programs (€3,800-5,000 per year depending on modality), while undergraduate and master's fee schedules are referenced but not detailed in available sources.

Name

Burgas Free University

Legal name

Бургаски свободен университет

Website

https://bfu.bg

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Burgas Free University is a private Bulgarian higher education institution in Burgas, founded in 1991, offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs across law, economics, informatics, and humanities to domestic and international students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• University degree programs
• Distance learning programs
• Doctoral research programs
• Professional qualification courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Burgas

HQ country

Bulgaria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Burgas Free University is a private higher education institution that delivers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs across four academic centers: Law, Economics and Management, Informatics and Technical Sciences, and Humanities. It supplements on-campus instruction with distance and online learning programs, supported by an integrated digital ecosystem (Moodle-based e-learning platform, electronic student services portal, online admissions, career center, alumni portal, and research repository). A university-run hotel provides practical training for hospitality students.

Product overview

Burgas Free University (BFU) is a private higher education institution organized as a multi-faculty university offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs across four centers: Law, Economics and Management, Computer Science and Engineering, and Humanities. The university's product portfolio centers on its educational programs (bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and distance learning) supported by a suite of digital platforms — the Moodle-based E-learning Platform for online course delivery, the Electronic Services Portal for student administration, the Publications Repository for research output, the Career Center for employment support, the Alumni Association Portal, and the Online Application System for admissions. A university hotel operates as a hands-on training facility. The offering functions as an integrated educational ecosystem combining physical campuses with digital infrastructure rather than a discrete software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor's Degree Programs Undergraduate higher education programs delivered across four academic centers, covering Legal, Social and Economic Sciences, Humanities, and Technical and Computer Sciences, leading to a Bachelor's degree and professional qualification for high school graduates and mature students.
• Master's Degree Programs Graduate-level degree programs for bachelor's degree holders seeking advanced specialization, career advancement, or preparation for doctoral studies, offered across the four academic centers in full-time, part-time, and distance modes.
• Doctoral Programs (PhD/DSc) Doctoral research programs leading to PhD/DSc degrees across multiple scientific fields, offered in full-time (3 years), part-time (4 years), and individual/self-study modes. Published fees include €5,000/year for full-time, €3,800/year for part-time, plus €600 admission fee, €800 preliminary discussion, €2,800 dissertation defense, and €600 foreign-language instruction surcharge.
• Distance and Online Learning Programs Flexible online and distance degree programs delivered via the Moodle-based E-learning Platform (e-learn.bfu.bg), enabling students who cannot attend regular on-campus classes to complete bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs remotely.
• Erasmus+ International Mobility Program Student and staff exchange program providing international academic mobility through bilateral Erasmus+ agreements with 65 universities across Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa, enabling cross-border study, research, and teaching opportunities.
• Hotel BFU (Хотел БСУ) University-run hotel facility operated as a hands-on training and practical environment for hospitality and tourism students, also serving external guests.
• Career Center Services Career guidance and employment support center connecting students and graduates with job opportunities, internships, and professional development resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• Maximum 6-year institutional accreditation from NAOA (highest possible under Bulgarian law)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• European Universities Association (EUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBFU is a member of EUA, the leading voice of the European university community advocating for higher education policy and collaboration across Europe.
• UNESCO (UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBFU is a partner of UNESCO under the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme and serves as host institution for UNESCO Chair on Culture of Peace and Human Rights, contributing to international academic cooperation in human rights education.
• EUNICoast (European University of Islands, Ports and Coastal Territories)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBFU is part of EUNICoast, a European university alliance focused on blue economy, coastal infrastructure, and maritime territories, conducting joint international projects, webinars, and summer schools.
• 74 International Partner UniversitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBFU has signed cooperation agreements with 74 universities and organizations across Europe, America, Asia, and Africa, with active student/staff exchange programs with 65 universities.
• ISO (International Organization for Standardization)coreOthersBFU is in the process of ISO 9001:2015 certification covering all main activities: bachelor's, master's and doctoral education, qualification activities, research and international activities.
• Eurodesk European Information NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBFU hosts a Eurodesk information point providing European youth information services on mobility, education, and training opportunities.
• EURAXESS - Researchers in MotionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBFU participates in EURAXESS network supporting researcher mobility and career development across Europe with free information and assistance services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Technical University of Sofia: Largest public technical university in Bulgaria, offering programs in informatics, electrical engineering, and computer engineering. Competes with BFU's Center for Informatics and Technical Sciences at greater scale and with state-subsidized tuition.
• D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics: Public specialized economics and management university in Svishtov, Bulgaria. Comparable as a regional public institution overlapping BFU's economics and management programs but with significantly larger enrollment and lower tuition.
• University of National and World Economy (UNWE): Public university in Sofia specializing in economics, management, and administrative sciences. Overlaps directly with BFU's Center for Economic and Management Sciences and represents a state-subsidized alternative for the same student segment.
• Sofia University 'St. Kliment Ohridski': Bulgaria's largest and oldest public university, offering comprehensive multi-disciplinary programs with strong research output. A broader incumbent that competes with BFU across most of its academic fields but at significantly greater scale and lower tuition.

Direct peers

• American University in Bulgaria (AUBG): Private, English-language liberal arts university in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, offering bachelor's degree programs with strong international focus. Directly comparable as a private university in Bulgaria targeting international and domestic fee-paying students.
• Varna Free University 'Chernorizets Hrabar': Private university in Varna, Bulgaria's other major Black Sea coastal city, offering multi-disciplinary programs. Directly comparable to BFU as a peer private university in a regional Bulgarian city with overlapping student demographics and similar coastal-region positioning.
• New Bulgarian University: Sofia-based private university and the largest private higher-education institution in Bulgaria, offering multi-disciplinary bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs. Directly comparable to BFU as a private, multi-disciplinary Bulgarian university competing for the same domestic and international student pools.

Emerging players

• European Polytechnical University: Smaller private university in Bulgaria offering technical and economic programs. Comparable as another private higher-education competitor in Bulgaria, though with a narrower disciplinary focus and smaller scale than BFU.

Regional players

• Burgas University 'Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov': Public technical university located in Burgas, sharing BFU's home city. Direct regional competitor for students in technical and informatics fields, though operating as a public institution with lower tuition.
• Plovdiv University 'Paisii Hilendarski': Major public multi-disciplinary university in Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second-largest city. Comparable in multi-disciplinary scope to BFU but operating in a different regional market with public funding advantages and larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BurgasFreeUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/Burgas.Free.University.Burgas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/bfu

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Burgas Free University