EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Sources used for data on enrolments
ISCED 020	Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Kindergartens From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020/2021: Survey From 2021/2022: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 100, 244, 254, 344, 351, 354 and 453	Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Schools From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020/2021: Survey From 2021/2022: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 251, 351 and 453	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Vocational training against payment; Administrative data from the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training	Survey / Administrative data	UOE data provider
ISCED 6 and 7	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Professional Bachelor's, Bachelor's and Master's educational-qualification degrees	Survey	UOE data provider
ISCED 8	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Doctor's educational and scientific degree	Survey	UOE data provider

Sources used for data on entrants
ISCED 344, 354, 351 and 453	Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Schools From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020/2021: Survey From 2021/2022: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 351 and 453	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Vocational training against payment	Survey	UOE data provider
ISCED 6 and 7	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Professional Bachelor's, Bachelor's and Master's educational-qualification degrees	Survey	UOE data provider
ISCED 8	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Doctor's educational and scientific degree	Survey	UOE data provider

Sources used for data on personnel
ISCED 020	Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Kindergartens From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020/2021: Survey From 2021/2022: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 100, 244, 254, 344, 351, 354 and 453	Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Schools From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020/2021: Survey From 2021/2022: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 6 and 7	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Professional Bachelor's, Bachelor's and Master's educational-qualification degrees	Survey	UOE data provider

Sources used for data on enrolments at regional level
ISCED 020	Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Kindergartens From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020/2021: Survey From 2021/2022: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 100, 244, 254, 344, 351, 354 and 453	Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Schools From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020/2021: Survey From 2021/2022: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 251, 351 and 453	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Vocational training against payment; Administrative data from the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training	Survey / Administrative data	UOE data provider
ISCED 6 and 7	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Professional Bachelor's, Bachelor's and Master's educational-qualification degrees	Survey	UOE data provider
ISCED 8	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Doctor's educational and scientific degree	Survey	UOE data provider

Sources used for data on foreign languages learning
ISCED 100, 244, 254, 344, 354 and 351	Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Schools From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020/2021: Survey From 2021/2022: Register	UOE data provider

Sources used for data on graduates
ISCED 020	Until 2020: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Kindergartens From 2021: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020: Survey From 2021: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 100, 244, 254, 344, 351, 354 and 453	Until 2020: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Schools From 2021: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020: Survey From 2021: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 351 and 453	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Vocational training against payment	Survey	UOE data provider
ISCED 6 and 7	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Professional Bachelor's, Bachelor's and Master's educational-qualification degrees	Survey	UOE data provider
ISCED 8	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Doctor's educational and scientific degree	Survey	UOE data provider

Sources used for data on education expenditure
Government expenditure	Financial budgetary documents from the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Education and Science.	Administrative data	MF, MES
Expenditure in private institutions	National accounts data on GDP.	Administrative data	NSI
Expenditure on R&D	Report on R&D statistics.	Survey	NSI
Household expenditure	Household budget survey.	Survey	NSI
General	Annual Census on educational institutions/ Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Survey/ Register	UOE data provider

Vocational training	Programmes shorter than one semester (or Implementation of the semester rule)
No		No		Not applicable

Early childhood education programmes
NO		YES	In accordance with Decree 5 from 03 June 2016 for the Pre-school education, issued by the Minister of education and science: At the discretion of the parent and/or in the absence of a crèche group in the respective settlement, as well as in the presence of vacant places in kindergartens, children who have reached the age of two by the beginning of the school year of enrollment may enter Pre-primary education.	YES		ISCED 6	ISCED 3	Children shall enrol in Primary education from the school year which begins in the year in which they turn seven years of age. School education may start also in the school year which begins in the year in which child turn six years of age at the parents' choice and provided that the child is ready for school.

Special education needs (SNE) programmes
YES

Adult education programmes and "continuing education"
YES		Yes. Those programmes are specially designed for adults and leading to similar qualifications as a corresponding regular educational programme.

Students enrolled in educational institutions organised by ministries other than ministry of education
YES. The Department of Church Affairs approves educational programmes provided by spiritual higher education institutions under the regulation of the Religious Denominations Act. So far, there are only 3 spiritual higher education institutions with an insignificant number of students enrolled, which conduct such educational programmes.	Until 2021/2022 academic year (2021 for graduates) these programmes are included in the UOE data collection. From 2022/2023 academic year (2022 for graduates) due to a change in the Religious Denominations Act, the three spiritual higher schools are out of the scope of the tertiary education survey respectively their students/ academic staff will not be included in the UOE data collection.	Not relevant.

Domestic educational activities	Distance learning / e-learning programmes
Yes		Yes			Yes, the national distance learners in programmes organised by external institutions are not included. There are not any data available on those students.

Students participating in exchange programmes (credit mobile students)	Foreign languages learning
Yes. Incoming students from exchange programmes are excluded.	Educational institutions who are reporting data on enrolments have to exclude short term postings.		Yes	No	Enrolments in the programmes specially designed for adults (adults' education).

National programmes not covered by the UOE data collection, by ISCED level - Reasons why they are not covered
Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable

Graduates: unduplicated count
Yes	Tertiary education According to the survey methodology, each graduate should be counted once only. The respondents are asked to provide data on graduates and not graduations. If students graduate from more than one programme during the data collection reference period, they should be reported only once. If a student has graduated from more than one programme during the reference period but in different higher education institutions, double counting cannot be avoided.

Tertiary educational programme ISCED levels (5-8)
Yes	A programme for obtaining a Professional Bachelor's educational and qualification degree (ISCED 655) The programme is conducted in colleges and provides specialised professional training in the respective professional areas and specialties. It gives limited access to higher education level ISCED 767 – students may continue their education in master’s degree only in the same professional area under terms and conditions set out in the rules of the higher school or the state requirements. All other tertiary education programmes are considered and reported as unspecified.	NO

Type of data reviewed	Detailed variables concerned	Reference time period	Year when the revision was made	Reason having led to the revision	Consequences on accuracy
Regional data.	Enrollments	2005-2007	2009	Introduction of a new classification of the statistical regions for national and international use (NUTS2 revision).	Insured comparability over time on the regional data.

Information related to the latest reference year (academic year t-t+1, or financial year t)
ISCED 0 - administrative register data			end of February	end of March	beginning of April year t + 1	end of April year t + 1
ISCED 100, 244, 254, 344, 351, 354 - administrative register data			end of February	end of March	beginning of April year t + 1	end of April year t + 1
ISCED 251, 351 and 453 (Vocational training against payment for obtaining a professional qualification from centres for vocational education, vocational gymnasiums, vocational colleges and vocational schools)	beginning of January year t + 1	end of January year t + 1	end of January year t + 1	end of March year t + 1	beginning of April year t + 1	end of April year t + 1
ISCED 6 and 7 (Tertiary education for acquiring professional bachelor's, bachelor's and master's degrees from colleges, universities and equivalent higher schools)	mid November year t	beginning of December year t	beginning of December year t	mid February year t + 1	beginning of April year t + 1	end of April year t + 1
ISCED 8	beginning of January year t + 1	end of January year t + 1	end of January year t + 1	end of March year t + 1	beginning of April year t + 1	end of April year t + 1

Submission dates for the latest reference year (academic year t-t+1, or financial year t)
29/09 / t+2	29/09 / t+2	29/09 / t+2	29/09 / t+2	29/09 / t+2	29/11 / t+1	22/12 / t+2

Reference period	Data collection period	Reference date for student and personnel ages
No deviations. School/academic year t, t+1 is used.	No deviations. Data collection periods vary according to the different education levels and programmes.	No deviations - 1st January

Enrolment: data collection period	Enrolment in multiple fields of education	Count of students: if relevant, detailed list of variables for which double counting are significant and why.	Regional enrolment	Foreign languages learning
Only count once per year. A gradual inflow of the students enrolled does not exist.	The enrolments are not pro-rated if they are studying in multiple fields of education.	Not relevant.	No deviations.	No deviations, except the exclusion of adult education programmes.

Entrants	New entrants by field of education	Graduates from specific programmes	Graduates by field of education
No deviations.	The new entrants are not pro-rated in case of entering into multiple fields of education.	No deviations.	The number of graduates is introduced, instead of number of graduations. Graduating in multiple fields of education is not multiple counted if it is from one educational institution

Educational personnel in work- and school-based combined programmes	Educational personnel taxonomy: classroom teachers (ISCED 0-4) and academic staff (ISCED 5-8)	Educational staff at ISCED level 0	Educational personnel at ISCED levels 5-8	Educational personnel and temporary replacements
Not applicable	No deviations from the UOE manual.	No deviations from the UOE manual.	No deviations from the UOE manual.	No deviations from the UOE manual.

Expenditure at the pre-primary level - the childcare component
No deviations from the UOE manual.	Yes	Only related to the the pre-primary educational programme articles (allocations) are included in the expenditure.	No deviations.	No deviations. Indeterminate expenditure are classified as ancillary services.	No deviations. Educational institutions do not provide evening child care.

Cost of a dual-system programme to the employer.	Adjustment of enrolments in case there is no data on expenditure at the workplace	Expenditure for contributions on pension schemes	Households' payments for private tutering	Student living costs	Ancillary services coverage
Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable

	Main changes compared to data transmitted for the previous reference period
Changes in the educational system	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Changes in the coverage	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Changes in the methodology	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Other changes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Main changes over time
All tables (questionnaires)	ISCED 2 and 3	Since 2017/2018 school year (UOE 2019).	According to the new national regulation (Pre-school and School Education Act), years spent in lower secondary education are reduced from 4 to 3. Thus basic education is acquired after 3 years of study after primary education (7 years in total). Upper secondary education is divided in two stages - first stage (3 years; 8, 9 and 10 grade), which cannot grant access to ISCED 4 or tertiary education; and second stage (2 years; 11 and 12 grade) with access to higher education levels (ISCED 4, 6, 766). It is possible a transition from/to vocational and general programmes between the two stages. Data are impacted as follows: Foundation of new educational programmes - 342 (General - Sufficient for partial level completion, without access to tertiary) and 352 (Vocational - Sufficient for partial level completion, without access to tertiary); Decreased number of enrollments in ISCED 2 and inncreased number of enrollments in ISCED 3 in comparison to the previous year; Increased number of new entrants in ISCED 3; Increased number of graduates in ISCED 2 for school year 2017; Decreased number of personnel in ISCED 2 and increased number of personnel in ISCED 3 in comparison to the previous year; Decreased number of grades (classes) in ISCED 2 and increased number of grades (classes) in ISCED 3 in comparison to the previous year. Break in time series.
Graduates	ISCED 1 to 4	since 2020/2021 school year (UOE 2022)	From the academic year 2020/2021 there is a break in the time series due to a change of the data source and the reference date. The data are partially comparable with previous school years. New reference date - December, 1. New data source: The National Electronic System for Preschool and School Education maintained by the Ministry of Education and Science.	New reference date - December, 1.	New data source - administrative data
Enrolments, entrants, personnel, enrolments at regional level, foreign languages learning	ISCED 0 to 4	since 2021/2022 school year (UOE 2023)	From the academic year 2021/2022 there is a break in the time series due to: For ISCED level 0: - a change of the data source. New data source: The National Electronic System for Preschool and School Education maintained by the Ministry of Education and Science. For ISCED levels 1 to 4: - a change of the data source. New data source: The National Electronic System for Preschool and School Education maintained by the Ministry of Education and Science. - a change of the reference date. New reference date - December, 1.	New reference date - December, 1 (for ISCED levels 1 to 4 only).	New data source - administrative data

Name of the national publication	Coherence issues
Not applicable	NSI is in charge of providing and publishing official education data. There are not any other official data sources outside NSI.

Calculation method	Scope of education
Data from National accounts are used for private education expenditure (Finance tables).	There are differnces between National accounts and UOE methodology.

Time spent (in working days)	Comments
150 working days in full time equivalent	Non-finance data
75 working days in full time equivalent	Finance data

A general description of the statistical process and its outputs, and their evolution over time.

NATIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEM
The following documents provide general information on the educational system; please add the relevant links for your country.

General link to Eurydice:

National system broad overview:

National Education System Description:

See the link above.

National Education System - Provisions regarding language learning:

State education standards according to the Article 22 of Pre-school and School Education Act (promulgated SG No.79 of 13 October 2015).

Annex 1 - Provisions for language learning 2021 – Bulgaria

Structure of Education and Training Systems:

New education structure was launched according to the Pre-school and School Education Act (promulgated SG No.79 of 13 October 2015). The new structure impacts gradually on school education, as in 2016/2017 school year only I and V grades were affected and until the 2021/2022 school year all grades (I - XII) have gradually moved in line with the new regulation. For more information about the impact on the UOE data see 8.2. Comparability - over time and ANNEX 2 (ISCED mapping).

Please, use the box below if you wish to complement or amend the information provided by Eurydice:

Early childhood education and care is not part of the education system, as children visiting crèches receive only child care and are not considered as part of the education system.
ISCED 8 (doctoral programmes) is missing from the structure.
Professional Bachelor programmes (ISCED level 655) are wrongly presented at ISCED level 5. In Bulgaria there are no programmes at ISCED level 5.
Vocational programmes in vocational schools are missing from the structure.
Vocational training programmes for adults are missing from the structure.

Link to the ISCMAP programme and qualification:

Annex 2 - ISCED Mapping for school year 2021/2022 (UOE2023) – Bulgaria

National link to programmes and qualifications:

n/a

Further information on data flagged ‘d’ in the database is available to download from the Annex of the Metadata page for Education administrative data from 2013 onwards (ISCED 2011):

Not Applicable

1. Pre-primary, primary and secondary education:

A pupil/student is every person enrolled in an educational program of formal education according to ISCED irrespective of the mode of attendance. Formal education includes the educational programmes implemented in legitimate educational institutions created according to the existing legal order.

Newly enrolled - pupils/students who enter for the first time in the initial grade or course of the respective education level are considered newly enrolled. This means that those who was enrolled in the same education level previous years are not included in the number of the newly enrolled.

Graduates are those pupils/students who have received a document for a completed level from a legitimate educational institution, containing all the necessary records and stamps according to the law.

Teachers are officials who directly conduct the training sessions according to curriculum irrespective of whether they are full or part time employees. Directors and deputy directors are observed separately although a great part of them may have lecturing functions as well.

Management personnel includes officials who perform management functions at the level of the educational institution.

2. Tertiary education:

A student is every person enrolled in an educational program of formal education according to ISCED irrespective of the mode of attendance. Formal education includes the educational programmes implemented in the legitimate educational institutions created according to the existing legal order.

Foreign students are those students who are not citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria as well as those who have dual citizenship and have been enrolled under the regulations for foreign citizens.

The student mobility is measured by country of prior education which means that mobile student is a student who has graduated secondary education abroad.

Graduates are those students who have received a document for a completed level from a legitimate educational institution, containing all the necessary records and stamps according to the law.

The academic staff are officials who directly conduct the training sessions according to curriculum irrespective of whether they are full or part time employees. The academic staff in tertiary education (ISCED - 6 and 7) includes persons whose main engagement is teaching and research work. This staff includes the officials such as rectors, vice rectors, deans, heads of departments, etc. if they have teaching activity.

Pupils/students (incl. newly enrolled and graduates), education personnel and education expenditure by ISCED levels.

Enrollments and graduates in formal education. Education personnel in formal education. Public and private education expenditure.

National and Regional area.

BG	БЪЛГАРИЯ (BULGARIA)
BG3	СЕВЕРНА И ЮГОИЗТОЧНА БЪЛГАРИЯ (SEVERNA I YUGOIZTOCHNA BULGARIA)
BG31	Северозападен (Severozapaden)
BG32	Северен централен (Severen tsentralen)
BG33	Североизточен (Severoiztochen)
BG34	Югоизточен (Yugoiztochen)
BG4	ЮГОЗАПАДНА И ЮЖНА ЦЕНТРАЛНА БЪЛГАРИЯ (YUGOZAPADNA I YUZHNA TSENTRALNA BULGARIA)
BG41	Югозападен (Yugozapaden)
BG42	Южен централен (Yuzhen tsentralen)
BGZ	EXTRA-REGIO NUTS 1
BGZZ	Extra-Regio NUTS 2

Not Applicable

Not applicable.

Not Applicable

Operations performed on data to derive new information according to a given set of rules.

Weighting methods
Weighted figures for differing reference periods	Weighted figures for differing theoretical ages	Conversion factors from part-time to full-time equivalent (FTE) data
Not applicable	Not applicable	It is considered that the Full-time Equivalent (FTE) of a student of a regular mode of attendance is equal to one unit of FTE. The number of the part timers is reduced in FTE by dividing it by the so called converting factor which is equal to the ratio of the yearly length (in school hours) of the ‘regular’ program and the length of the correspondence or other respective programme. Thus if the regular program is twice the length of the correspondence, the converting factor is K = 2. If the students in the regular type are 200 and those in the correspondence are 100 then the FTE = 200 + 100/K = 250.
Not applicable	Not applicable	The FTE for teachers is calculated in similar way, with the converting factor for the part timers being determined as a ratio of the number of hours of the teachers working on a labour contract and the average number of hours of the part timers. For tertiary education FTE is calculated separately for every scientific title (professors, associate professors, senior lecturers, lecturers, assistants).

Estimation methods used in the UOE questionnaires

Type of data

Detailed variables concerned

ISCED level

Reference year(s)

Data source (internal to UOE or not)

Data type (sample-based or not)

Data source name in English

Reason

Description of the estimation method

Enrolments

Number of full- and part-time students (ISCED 2011 levels 0 to 8) by age and sex

ISCED 100, 244, 254, 344, 351, 354 and 453

1997-2021

External to UOE

Population-based value

Expert evaluation

Only the total number of students aged 25 and over at each ISCED level is available

Estimations are made on the basis of additional information provided by the Ministry of Education and Science and data from National Census 2011. Total number of males and females is preserved unchanged, and was also taken into account the decrease of enrolments with the increase of the age. Same procedures are applied to the regional data by single ages.

Enrolments

Number of mobile students (ISCED 5 to 8) by field of education and sex

ISCED 6 to 8

2016-

Internal to UOE

Population-based value

Annual census on educational institutions

Data on mobile students is not available by field of education

Number of mobile students by fields of education is distributed according to the distribution of all students enrolled by fields of education, sex and nationality (citizenship).

For the ‘programmes following a Bachelor’s or equivalent’ the definition used for country of origin is citizenship and respectively data about foreign students by fields of education is presented and no estimates was used.

Enrolments

Number of students in initial primary and lower secondary education (ISCED 1 and 2) by grade, sex and age

ISCED 1 to 2

2013-2021

Internal to UOE

Population-based value

Expert evaluation

Breakdown simultaneously by age, sex and grade is not available

Only the total number per each grade is available by sex. The sex breakdown is therefore estimated by using the proportion of males and females by age at the whole ISCED level.

Entrants

Number of new entrants (ISCED 3 to 8) by age and sex

ISCED 3 and 4

1997-2021

Internal to UOE

Population-based value

Expert evaluation

Age breakdown of the entrants at ISCED 3 and ISCED 4 for ages 25 and overis not available

Data about ages of the new entrants at ISCED 3 and ISCED 4 are available up to the age of 24. The number for those 25 and over by gender is available only as a total. The number of new entrants old over 24 years is estimated as the total is distributed according to the distribution of students enrolled by age and sex.

Entrants

Number of new entrants (ISCED 5 to 8) by age and sex and by field of education and sex

ISCED 6 to 8

2013-

Internal to UOE

Population-based value

Annual census on educational institutions

Distributions by age and by field of education are not available for the different new entrant’s categories

ISCED 6 and 7

Only the total number of new entrants 'into an academic/professional programme', 'to the ISCED level' and 'first time to tertiary education' is available. Breakdown by age and by field of education is available totally for all newly enrolled students (first year of study). The breakdowns by age and by field of education for the different new entrant’s categories are estimated as follows:

Bulgarian citizens:

On the base of the distribution of all newly enrolled Bulgarian students by age and by field of education and by sex.

Foreign citizens:

The information for the first time new entrants is partially available for the foreigners (only for master programmes following a Bachelor's or equivalent) and respectively only the total number. The breakdowns for this programme are estimated analogically as for the Bulgarian students. For the rest of the programmes, because the information is missing, it is assumed that all foreign citizens are enrolled for the first time into the respective new entrant’s category and the distribution of all newly enrolled foreigners (first year of study) is presented.

ISCED 8

Information on first time new entrants to ISCED 8 level is not available. Information is available for all newly enrolled PhD students. It is assumed that all students are enrolled for the first time to ISCED 8 level and data are presented totally for all newly enrolled PhD students (first year of study).

Entrants

Number of new entrants, who are mobile (ISCED 5 to 8) by age and sex

ISCED 6 to 8

2016-

Internal to UOE

Population-based value

Annual census on educational institutions

Number of new entrants, who are mobile is not available

The number of new entrants who are mobile is estimated. Respectively the distribution by age and sex is estimated. The calculations are based on the estimated figures for the different new entrant’s categories in ENTR1 table. The ratio of mobile students enrolled to all students enrolled is used and applied to the ENTR1 table estimated figures.

Graduates

Number of graduates (ISCED 3 to 8) by age and sex

ISCED 3 vocational

2004-2020

Internal to UOE

Population-based value

Expert evaluation

Age breakdown of male and female graduates from ISCED 3 vocational programmes is not available

For pupils obtained second and third level of professional qualification from vocational gymnasiums and vocational schools at ISCED 3, only the total is available by sex, not the age breakdown of each sex. The age of boys and girls is therefore estimated by using the proportion of male and female by age of the total ISCED 3 graduates.

Graduates

Number of graduates (ISCED 3 to 8) by age and sex

ISCED 3 and 4

1997-2020

External to UOE

Population-based value

Expert evaluation

Only the total number of graduates aged 26 and over at each ISCED level is available

Estimations are on the basis of additional information provided by the Ministry of Education and Science and data from the National Census 2011. Total numbers of males and females are preserved unchanged, and was taken into account the decrease of the graduates with the increase of their age.

Graduates

Number of first-time graduates by age and sex

ISCED 3 and 4

2005-2020

External to UOE

Population-based value

Expert evaluation

Information not available

Number of graduates is reduced with the share of second-time graduates, which is based on information from Census 2011.

Graduates

First-time graduates

ISCED 6 to 8

2013-

Internal to UOE

Population-based value

Annual census on educational institutions

Data on first time graduates is not available (only graduates totally)

ISCED 6 and 7

Bulgarian citizens

All tertiary programmes

Data on students by levels of prior education obtained and by sex is available for the new entrants - Bulgarian citizens when they enter into tertiary programmes (only totals). Therefore, the ratios of new entrants for the first time to the ISCED level and for the first time to tertiary level to all new entrants by sex are available. It is assumed that these ratios are also valid for the graduates (ratios of first-time graduates from the ISCED level and first-time graduates at the tertiary level to all graduates). The average values of these ratios for the last five years are used to calculate the missing figures. They are applied to the data on graduates that are available by different breakdowns. The calculation is made for each tertiary programme separately by sex. The dropouts are not taken into account.

Regarding the breakdown by age - it is available totally for all graduates. For the first-time graduates it is estimated on the base of the distribution of all graduates by age and sex. The theoretical starting and ending age for each programme is taken into account in terms of age distribution.

Foreign citizens

All tertiary programmes with the exception of Master programmes following a Bachelor’s programme

Data on students by levels of prior education obtained is not available for foreign citizens. It is assumed that all foreign students graduate for the first time from the ISCED level and at the tertiary level at all.

Master programmes following a Bachelor’s programme

Data on students by levels of prior education obtained and by sex is available for the new entrants - foreign citizens when they enter into Master programmes following a Bachelor’s programme. The same estimation method is applied as for the data on Bulgarian citizens (regarding the totals and the breakdowns).

ISCED 8

It is assumed that all PhD students graduates for the first time from that ISCED level.

Graduates

Number of mobile graduates

Degree mobile graduates

By age

By field of education

First-time degree mobile graduates

ISCED 6 to 8

2013-

Internal to UOE

Population-based value

Annual census on educational institutions

Data on mobile graduates is not available

Degree mobile graduates

ISCED 6 and 7

Data on mobile students is available for the enrolled students. Therefore, the ratios of mobile students to all students enrolled by citizenship and by sex are available (only the totals). It is assumed that the same ratios are valid for the graduates (ratios of mobile graduates to all graduates). These ratios are used to calculate the missing figures. They are applied to the data on graduates which are available by different breakdowns. The calculation is made for each tertiary programme separately by citizenship and sex. The dropouts are not taken into account.

Regarding the breakdown by age and by field of education - it is available totally for all graduates. For the degree mobile graduates it is estimated on the base of the distribution of all graduates by citizenship, sex and age and by citizenship, sex and field of education for each tertiary programme separately.

ISCED 8

Data on mobile students is available for the enrolled PhD students. Therefore, the ratios of mobile students to all students enrolled by mode of attendance, citizenship and by sex are available (only the totals). It is assumed that the same ratios are valid for the graduates (ratios of mobile graduates to all graduates). The average values of these ratios for the last three, four or five years (depending on the mode of attendance) are used to calculate the missing figures. They are applied to the data on graduates that are available by different breakdowns. The calculation is made separately by citizenship and sex. The dropouts are not taken into account.

Regarding the breakdown by age and by field of education - it is available totally for all PhD graduates. For the degree mobile graduates it is estimated on the base of the distribution of all graduates by citizenship, sex and age and by citizenship, sex and field of education.

First-time degree mobile graduates

ISCED 6 and 7

Data on mobile students is available for the enrolled students. Therefore, the ratios of mobile students to all students enrolled by citizenship and by sex are available. It is assumed that the same ratios are valid for the graduates. These ratios are used to calculate the missing figures. They are applied to the data on first-time graduates from the ISCED level and first-time graduates at the tertiary level that are available already by estimations. The calculation is made for each tertiary programme separately by citizenship and sex.

The breakdown by age is estimated on the base of the distribution of first-time graduates by age.

Graduates

Number of degree mobile graduates by country of origin and sex

ISCED 6 to 8

2013-

Internal to UOE

Population-based value

Annual census on educational institutions

Data on mobile graduates is not available

Data on mobile students in ISCED 6 to 8 is available for the enrolled students by country of origin and sex. The definition used for country of origin is as follows:

- ISCED 6 and 766 – country of upper secondary diploma

- ISCED 767 – citizenship

- ISCED 8 – country of prior education

Data on mobile graduates in ISCED 6 to 8 are estimated as described above regarding the total numbers. The distribution by country of origin is estimated by using the structure of mobile students enrolled by country of origin separately for each tertiary programme and by sex. In addition, the lists of enrolled mobile student’s countries of origin for the last 2 to 5 years (depending on the tertiary programme duration) are analysed before applying the structure and the number of students that can be assumed as graduates for sure is extracted and reported directly as mobile graduates with the respective countries of origin. The assumed number of dropouts is not taken into account.

Personnel

Classroom teachers (ISCED 0-4) and academic staff (ISCED 5-8) by level of education, programme orientation, sex and age

ISCED 0

1997-2021

Internal to UOE

Population-based value

Annual Census on educational institutions

The gender structure for teaching staff at ISCED 0 is not available

For teaching staff there is available data for all pedagogical personnel (including teachers and school level management) by age and gender. The distribution of teachers and school level management personnel by gender is therefore estimated by using the structure of all pedagogical personnel. The number of male personnel at ISCED 0 is insignificant.

Education expenditure by source and type of transaction

Payments of households to public and independent private institutions, fees paid to institutions for ancillary services, payments for educational goods and services other than to educational institutions

All ISCED levels

1999-

External to UOE

Sample-based estimation

Household Budget Survey

The data about households expenditure for education is not available by ISCED levels

Using data about households expenditure (provided by the National Household Budget Survey), the share of the education expenditure is estimated according to the Eurostat’s pilot recommendations. The estimated expenditure is distributed by ISCED levels on the base of the proportion of the enrolments by ISCED levels.

Education expenditure by source and type of transaction

Expenditure of central government and local government: Direct expenditure for public institutions, direct expenditure designated for capital, scholarships and grants to students/households and student loans.

All ISCED levels

1999-

External to UOE

Mixed

Ministry of Finance and NSI

The data about public expenditure for education is not available by ISCED levels

Public expenditure (data provided by the Ministry of Finance) and private expenditure (data provided by the Ministry of Finance and the National Accounts) are distributed by ISCED levels on the base of the proportion of the enrolments by ISCED levels.

Education expenditure by source and type of transaction

Expenditure of private entities other than households: Direct expenditure for public and independent private institutions, scholarships and grants to students/households and student loans.

All ISCED levels

1999-

External to UOE

Mixed

Ministry of Finance and NSI

The data about private expenditure for education is not available by ISCED levels

Education expenditure by nature and resource category

Expenditure in independent private institutions (public and private sources): current expenditure (for compensation of personnel and other), capital expenditure and expenditure for ancillary services

ISCED 1 to 4

1999-

External to UOE

Mixed

Ministry of Finance and NSI

The data about expenditure for compensation of educational personnel is total for ISCED1-4 levels

Public expenditure for compensation of the educational personnel for ISCED 1-4 is distributed on the base of the proportion of the educational personnel by ISCED levels.

For each UOE table, please list the source(s) used to compile information: UOE table, name, type, date of availability and responsibility.

Sources used for data on enrolments
Detailed variables concerned	Name of the source	Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)	Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)
ISCED 020	Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Kindergartens From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020/2021: Survey From 2021/2022: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 100, 244, 254, 344, 351, 354 and 453	Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Schools From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020/2021: Survey From 2021/2022: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 251, 351 and 453	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Vocational training against payment; Administrative data from the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training	Survey / Administrative data	UOE data provider
ISCED 6 and 7	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Professional Bachelor's, Bachelor's and Master's educational-qualification degrees	Survey	UOE data provider
ISCED 8	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Doctor's educational and scientific degree	Survey	UOE data provider

Detailed variables concerned	Name of the source	Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)	Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)
Sources used for data on entrants
ISCED 344, 354, 351 and 453	Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Schools From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020/2021: Survey From 2021/2022: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 351 and 453	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Vocational training against payment	Survey	UOE data provider
ISCED 6 and 7	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Professional Bachelor's, Bachelor's and Master's educational-qualification degrees	Survey	UOE data provider
ISCED 8	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Doctor's educational and scientific degree	Survey	UOE data provider

Detailed variables concerned	Name of the source	Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)	Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)
Sources used for data on personnel
ISCED 020	Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Kindergartens From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020/2021: Survey From 2021/2022: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 100, 244, 254, 344, 351, 354 and 453	Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Schools From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020/2021: Survey From 2021/2022: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 6 and 7	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Professional Bachelor's, Bachelor's and Master's educational-qualification degrees	Survey	UOE data provider

Detailed variables concerned	Name of the source	Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)	Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)
Sources used for data on enrolments at regional level
ISCED 020	Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Kindergartens From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020/2021: Survey From 2021/2022: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 100, 244, 254, 344, 351, 354 and 453	Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Schools From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020/2021: Survey From 2021/2022: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 251, 351 and 453	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Vocational training against payment; Administrative data from the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training	Survey / Administrative data	UOE data provider
ISCED 6 and 7	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Professional Bachelor's, Bachelor's and Master's educational-qualification degrees	Survey	UOE data provider
ISCED 8	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Doctor's educational and scientific degree	Survey	UOE data provider

Sources used for data on foreign languages learning

Detailed variables concerned

Name of the source

Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)

Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)

ISCED 100, 244, 254, 344, 354 and 351

Until 2020/2021: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Schools

From 2021/2022: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science

Until 2020/2021: Survey

From 2021/2022: Register

UOE data provider

Detailed variables concerned	Name of the source	Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)	Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)
Sources used for data on graduates
ISCED 020	Until 2020: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Kindergartens From 2021: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020: Survey From 2021: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 100, 244, 254, 344, 351, 354 and 453	Until 2020: Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Schools From 2021: Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Until 2020: Survey From 2021: Register	UOE data provider
ISCED 351 and 453	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Vocational training against payment	Survey	UOE data provider
ISCED 6 and 7	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Professional Bachelor's, Bachelor's and Master's educational-qualification degrees	Survey	UOE data provider
ISCED 8	Annual Census on educational institutions: Report on Tertiary education – Doctor's educational and scientific degree	Survey	UOE data provider

Sources used for data on education expenditure
Detailed variables concerned	Name of the source	Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other)	Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)
Government expenditure	Financial budgetary documents from the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Education and Science.	Administrative data	MF, MES
Expenditure in private institutions	National accounts data on GDP.	Administrative data	NSI
Expenditure on R&D	Report on R&D statistics.	Survey	NSI
Household expenditure	Household budget survey.	Survey	NSI
General	Annual Census on educational institutions/ Administrative registers of the Ministry of Education and Science	Survey/ Register	UOE data provider

Not Applicable

Length of time between data availability and the event or phenomenon they describe. Typically includes:

Data collection			Post-collection phase		Dissemination/publication in your country		Additional comments on deadlines and timeliness
Information related to the latest reference year (academic year t-t+1, or financial year t)
Type of data	Start date	End date	Start date	End date	Start date	End date	Additional comments on deadlines and timeliness
ISCED 0 - administrative register data			end of February	end of March	beginning of April year t + 1	end of April year t + 1
ISCED 100, 244, 254, 344, 351, 354 - administrative register data			end of February	end of March	beginning of April year t + 1	end of April year t + 1
ISCED 251, 351 and 453 (Vocational training against payment for obtaining a professional qualification from centres for vocational education, vocational gymnasiums, vocational colleges and vocational schools)	beginning of January year t + 1	end of January year t + 1	end of January year t + 1	end of March year t + 1	beginning of April year t + 1	end of April year t + 1
ISCED 6 and 7 (Tertiary education for acquiring professional bachelor's, bachelor's and master's degrees from colleges, universities and equivalent higher schools)	mid November year t	beginning of December year t	beginning of December year t	mid February year t + 1	beginning of April year t + 1	end of April year t + 1
ISCED 8	beginning of January year t + 1	end of January year t + 1	end of January year t + 1	end of March year t + 1	beginning of April year t + 1	end of April year t + 1

The extent to which statistics are comparable between countries.

A. Deviations between the national methodology and the UOE Manual: non financial data

Reference period	Data collection period	Reference date for student and personnel ages
No deviations. School/academic year t, t+1 is used.	No deviations. Data collection periods vary according to the different education levels and programmes.	No deviations - 1st January

Enrolment: data collection period	Enrolment in multiple fields of education	Count of students: if relevant, detailed list of variables for which double counting are significant and why.	Regional enrolment	Foreign languages learning
Only count once per year. A gradual inflow of the students enrolled does not exist.	The enrolments are not pro-rated if they are studying in multiple fields of education.	Not relevant.	No deviations.	No deviations, except the exclusion of adult education programmes.

Entrants	New entrants by field of education	Graduates from specific programmes	Graduates by field of education
No deviations.	The new entrants are not pro-rated in case of entering into multiple fields of education.	No deviations.	The number of graduates is introduced, instead of number of graduations. Graduating in multiple fields of education is not multiple counted if it is from one educational institution

Educational personnel in work- and school-based combined programmes	Educational personnel taxonomy: classroom teachers (ISCED 0-4) and academic staff (ISCED 5-8)	Educational staff at ISCED level 0	Educational personnel at ISCED levels 5-8	Educational personnel and temporary replacements
Not applicable	No deviations from the UOE manual.	No deviations from the UOE manual.	No deviations from the UOE manual.	No deviations from the UOE manual.

B. Deviations between the national methodology and the UOE Manual: financial data

Expenditure at the pre-primary level - the childcare component
Reference period	Expenditure at the pre-primary level: is the childcare component excluded (yes/no/partially)?	If yes, which is exactly the share of "day care component" to be excluded from the data on the pre-primary level? If no, which estimation method is used to determine the share?	Expenditure for teaching/academic hospitals	Ancillary services expenditure	Evening child care
No deviations from the UOE manual.	Yes	Only related to the the pre-primary educational programme articles (allocations) are included in the expenditure.	No deviations.	No deviations. Indeterminate expenditure are classified as ancillary services.	No deviations. Educational institutions do not provide evening child care.

Cost of a dual-system programme to the employer.	Adjustment of enrolments in case there is no data on expenditure at the workplace	Expenditure for contributions on pension schemes	Households' payments for private tutering	Student living costs	Ancillary services coverage
Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable

The extent to which statistics are comparable or reconcilable over time.

	Enrolments	Entrants	Personnel	Foreign languages learning	Regional data	Graduates	Education expenditure
	Main changes compared to data transmitted for the previous reference period
Changes in the educational system	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Changes in the coverage	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Changes in the methodology	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Other changes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Type of data	Detailed variables concerned	Reference year(s)	Changes	Changes in the methodology	Other changes
Main changes over time
All tables (questionnaires)	ISCED 2 and 3	Since 2017/2018 school year (UOE 2019).	According to the new national regulation (Pre-school and School Education Act), years spent in lower secondary education are reduced from 4 to 3. Thus basic education is acquired after 3 years of study after primary education (7 years in total). Upper secondary education is divided in two stages - first stage (3 years; 8, 9 and 10 grade), which cannot grant access to ISCED 4 or tertiary education; and second stage (2 years; 11 and 12 grade) with access to higher education levels (ISCED 4, 6, 766). It is possible a transition from/to vocational and general programmes between the two stages. Data are impacted as follows: Foundation of new educational programmes - 342 (General - Sufficient for partial level completion, without access to tertiary) and 352 (Vocational - Sufficient for partial level completion, without access to tertiary); Decreased number of enrollments in ISCED 2 and inncreased number of enrollments in ISCED 3 in comparison to the previous year; Increased number of new entrants in ISCED 3; Increased number of graduates in ISCED 2 for school year 2017; Decreased number of personnel in ISCED 2 and increased number of personnel in ISCED 3 in comparison to the previous year; Decreased number of grades (classes) in ISCED 2 and increased number of grades (classes) in ISCED 3 in comparison to the previous year. Break in time series.
Graduates	ISCED 1 to 4	since 2020/2021 school year (UOE 2022)	From the academic year 2020/2021 there is a break in the time series due to a change of the data source and the reference date. The data are partially comparable with previous school years. New reference date - December, 1. New data source: The National Electronic System for Preschool and School Education maintained by the Ministry of Education and Science.	New reference date - December, 1.	New data source - administrative data
Enrolments, entrants, personnel, enrolments at regional level, foreign languages learning	ISCED 0 to 4	since 2021/2022 school year (UOE 2023)	From the academic year 2021/2022 there is a break in the time series due to: For ISCED level 0: - a change of the data source. New data source: The National Electronic System for Preschool and School Education maintained by the Ministry of Education and Science. For ISCED levels 1 to 4: - a change of the data source. New data source: The National Electronic System for Preschool and School Education maintained by the Ministry of Education and Science. - a change of the reference date. New reference date - December, 1.	New reference date - December, 1 (for ISCED levels 1 to 4 only).	New data source - administrative data

Are vocational and technical training programmes in enterprises included in the UOE data collection (YES/NO)?	If Yes, how is the 10% school based component over the whole length of the programme assessed?	Do (formal) programmes of shorter duration than one semester, full time equivalent duration as defined nationally, exist (YES/NO)?	If Yes, how their duration (shorter than one semester) is assessed?	Are all programmes of shorter duration than one semester, full time equivalent duration as defined nationally excluded from the UOE data collection (YES/NO)?	If NO, how does the coverage deviate from the UOE Manual recommendation?
Vocational training		Programmes shorter than one semester (or Implementation of the semester rule)
No		No		Not applicable

Adult education programmes and "continuing education"
Are adult education programmes included in the data? (YES/NO)	If NO, why?	If YES, does the national definition of “adult” or “continuing” education fully comply with the category as defined by the UOE manual?	If the national definition of “adult” or “continuing” education programmes does not fully comply with the category as defined by the UOE manual, how it is assessed that the national “adult” or “continuing” programmes are similar or equivalent to corresponding initial education?
YES		Yes. Those programmes are specially designed for adults and leading to similar qualifications as a corresponding regular educational programme.

Domestic educational activities		Distance learning / e-learning programmes
Are all country’s domestic educational activities reported in the UOE data collection (YES/NO)?	If NO, which domestic educational activity (e.g. for example Distance learning/e-learning involving two countries, commuting students, foreign campus, European administration schools, etc.) are not reported and why?	Are distance learning programmes data reported in the UOE questionnaires? (YES / NO / Partially / Not relevant)	If NO, please explain why.	If Partially, which ones are excluded and for what reasons?	If distance students are included in the data, are national distance learners in programmes organised by institutions outside your country excluded?
Yes		Yes			Yes, the national distance learners in programmes organised by external institutions are not included. There are not any data available on those students.

Special education needs (SNE) programmes
Are students in special education included in the data provided on enrolments, entrants, graduates and regional data (YES/NO)?	If NO, could you please specify for which questionnaires and explain why?
YES

Enrolments	Entrants	Personnel	Foreign languages learning	Regional data	Graduates	Education expenditure
If relevant,reasons for late delivery and action taken or planned for improving punctuality

1.1. Contact organisation

1.2. Contact organisation unit

1.3. Contact name

1.4. Contact person function

1.5. Contact mail address

1.6. Contact email address

1.7. Contact phone number

1.8. Contact fax number

2.1. Data description

2.2. Classification system

2.3. Coverage - sector

2.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

2.5. Statistical unit

2.6. Statistical population

2.7. Reference area

2.8. Coverage - Time

2.9. Base period

3.1. Source data

3.2. Frequency of data collection

3.3. Data collection

3.4. Data validation

3.5. Data compilation

3.6. Adjustment

4.1. Quality assurance

4.2. Quality management - assessment

5.1. Relevance - User Needs

5.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

5.3. Completeness

5.3.1. Data completeness - rate

6.1. Accuracy - overall

6.2. Sampling error

6.2.1. Sampling error - indicators

6.3. Non-sampling error

6.3.1. Coverage error

6.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate

6.3.1.2. Common units - proportion

6.3.2. Measurement error

6.3.3. Non response error

6.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate

6.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate

6.3.4. Processing error

6.3.4.1. Imputation - rate

6.3.5. Model assumption error

6.4. Seasonal adjustment

6.5. Data revision - policy

6.6. Data revision - practice

6.6.1. Data revision - average size

7.1. Timeliness

7.1.1. Time lag - first result

7.1.2. Time lag - final result

7.2. Punctuality

7.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication

8.1. Comparability - geographical

8.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient

8.2. Comparability - over time

8.2.1. Length of comparable time series

8.3. Coherence - cross domain

8.4. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics

8.5. Coherence - National Accounts

8.6. Coherence - internal

9.1. Dissemination format - News release

9.2. Dissemination format - Publications

9.3. Dissemination format - online database

9.3.1. Data tables - consultations

9.4. Dissemination format - microdata access

9.5. Dissemination format - other

9.6. Documentation on methodology

9.7. Quality management - documentation

9.7.1. Metadata completeness - rate

9.7.2. Metadata - consultations

11.1. Confidentiality - policy

11.2. Confidentiality - data treatment