Home / Education

🎓 Top Research Universities in Bulgaria

Universities and colleges in Bulgaria ranked by the total citations their research has received (OpenAlex).

📅 2026📏 citations50 entries🇧🇬 See all of this country’s rankings →
Every dot is one entry, placed by its value (citations, logarithmic scale); the vertical bar marks each row’s median.
1
Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"32,655 papers
1,514,928
2
Medical University of Sofia12,973 papers
515,980
3
Medical University Plovdiv6,960 papers
162,147
4
Plovdiv University6,887 papers
121,143
5
Technical University of Sofia12,504 papers
106,020
6
Medical University of Varna7,902 papers
103,104
7
University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy3,965 papers
93,806
8
Trakia University5,713 papers
82,992
9
University of Food Technologies2,271 papers
60,309
10
Prof. Assen Zlatarov University2,002 papers
54,428
11
National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases1,153 papers
47,567
12
Angel Kanchev University of Ruse4,541 papers
40,991
13
Medical University Pleven2,813 papers
32,397
14
New Bulgarian University2,368 papers
31,521
15
University of Forestry2,446 papers
28,783
16
Agricultural University Plovdiv2,008 papers
23,593
17
South-West University "Neofit Rilski"2,876 papers
22,924
18
Shumen University2,229 papers
19,031
19
Technical University of Varna2,663 papers
18,064
20
University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy1,857 papers
18,008
21
Varna University of Management400 papers
15,653
22
Technical University of Gabrovo1,327 papers
13,988
23
University of National and World Economy3,488 papers
11,954
24
University of Mining and Geology "Saint Ivan Rilski"1,059 papers
10,828
25
St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo1,560 papers
6,013
26
American University in Bulgaria698 papers
5,928
27
Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy734 papers
4,951
28
University of Economics Varna1,638 papers
4,724
29
Vasil Levski National Military University1,282 papers
4,677
30
University of Library Studies and Information Technologies1,013 papers
4,664
31
Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography "Acad. Ivan Kostov" Bulgarian Academy of Sciences328 papers
4,049
32
Plant Protection Institute161 papers
3,441
33
National Sports Academy Vassil Levski1,026 papers
3,375
34
D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics749 papers
3,279
35
University of Telecommunications and Post407 papers
2,966
36
Burgas Free University642 papers
2,492
37
Todor Kableshkov University of Transport575 papers
2,264
38
Big Data for Smart Society (GATE) Institute221 papers
2,164
39
Varna Free University468 papers
1,880
40
University of Agribusiness and Rural Development668 papers
1,764
41
G. S. Rakovski National Defence College1,036 papers
1,458
42
Food Research and Development Institute79 papers
1,095
43
International Business School88 papers
1,065
44
University of Security and Economics156 papers
804
45
Bulgarian Air Force Academy127 papers
629
46
Institute for Bulgarian Language559 papers
605
47
European Polytechnical University81 papers
454
48
University of Finance, Business and Entrepreneurship176 papers
426
49
University of Structural Engineering and Architecture Lyuben Karavelov137 papers
415
50
National Academy of Arts58 papers
175

Highlights

Within Bulgaria, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" ranks first in 2026 with 1,514,928, followed by Medical University of Sofia (515,980) and Medical University Plovdiv (162,147).

Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" is 2.9 times higher than Medical University of Sofia, the runner-up.

Across 50 entries, values run from 1,514,928 (Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski") to 175 (National Academy of Arts), with a median of 5,971.

Source: OpenAlex, citations received by each institution's papers, 2026. Unit: citations.

Source: OpenAlex, citations received by each institution's papers · CC0 1.0 (OpenAlex) · fetched Oct 13, 2026 — Counts every citation to papers by authors affiliated with the institution, so large and old universities score high. It measures research impact, not teaching quality.