Compare French Curriculum International Schools in Bulgaria

Sofia, Vitosha district, with a Plovdiv campus. WonderWorld Kindergarten is at 15 Ivan Radoev Street for 2–9-year-olds, and British School and College is at 20 Georgi Raichev Street for 10–18-year-olds. Plovdiv campus is at 45 Tsar Ivan Asen II Street.

WonderWorld - Kindergarten; Grades 1-4 (2–9 years). British School and College (10–18 years).

British international day school with three campuses (Sofia two campuses and Plovdiv) and IB World School status.

EAL (English as an Additional Language) classes are offered. Additional language classes in Spanish, French, German, and Chinese are available. Learning support includes extra Maths and Science lessons; digital tools such as Fast ForWord and Clear Fluency support language and literacy development.

British international school located in Bulgaria (Sofia and Plovdiv campuses).

Kindergarten day runs 8:00–16:00, with Welcome and breakfast 8:00–9:00; Story Time 9:00–9:15; breaks 10:00–11:30 and 12:00–12:40; nap/quiet time 13:00–15:00; 16:00–17:00 free play and pick-up. Young Engineers (6–14) day runs 8:00–17:00 with breaks at 10:20–10:50 and 12:10–13:10, and a 16:00–17:00 pick-up window.

Door-to-door transport in Sofia with either round-trip or one-way options; three zones: Zone 1 Inner Ring, Zone 2 Middle Ring, Zone 3 Outer Ring. 2024–2025 transport fees apply. Admissions: +359 886 510 510; office@bssofia.bg.

Uniforms are ordered directly from the official supplier's online store. Kindergarten-Grade 6 and Grades 7-12 have separate ordering pages.

The canteen offers a monthly menu aligned with the needs of growing children and provides hot meals at lunchtime with vegetarian options, salads, and fruit. Kindergarten meals occur three times a day: 10:00 fruit breakfast, 12:45 lunch, and 15:00 afternoon snack. In School & College, meals occur twice daily: 10:00 fruit breakfast and 13:00 lunch, and there is a cafeteria snack shop available for purchases.

The school has a house system with four houses (Dragon, Phoenix, Kraken, Centaur). Pupils wear house membership T‑shirts and house competitions encourage social activities and teamwork.

The proprietor and principal is Mrs. Teodora Nenova; The chair of the board of governors is Mrs. Teodora Nenova.

IEYC is used in the Early Years, Cambridge Primary Programme for ages 5–11, Cambridge Secondary, IPC, and IMYC. The school is licensed to offer the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and provides the IB Diploma Programme (DP) and the IB Career Programme (CP). Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) courses are taught, and IGCSE revision courses are offered in the summer. Art & Design is offered in IGCSE, and Visual Arts is offered in the IB Diploma Programme. English is the language of instruction with EAL support; Bulgarian is offered as a native language option, and there are IB language options including English, Bulgarian, and French among others.

Student to teacher ratio 5:1; average class size 15 students, maximum 20.

IB Diploma is widely recognized by universities. Some IB students can receive university credits before enrolling; high IB scores can be accepted for credit or advanced standing by some universities. For example, Oxford commonly requires 38–40 points with 18 at Higher Level; Yale and New York University have accepted IB results as alternatives to certain standardized tests. Universities across Europe and the UK set various IB score expectations (e.g., University of Amsterdam 36, ETH Zurich 38, University of Copenhagen 30, Université PSL 33, Sorbonne University 33). Graduates from BSS have been admitted to universities such as Charles University, Bocconi University, University of Amsterdam, Warwick Business School, University of Manchester, and Concordia University, with many progressing to master's programs. The IB diploma is associated with enhanced access to scholarships and financial aid in some cases.

The school delivers social-emotional learning through planned Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHEE) lessons as part of the curriculum. It includes the Youth Effectiveness Programme (YET), circle time, and themed assemblies linked to the school's values and the informal curriculum. The approach emphasizes developing social skills, collaboration, ethical understanding, and the ability to work with others. The school fosters holistic development with social and emotional learning integrated across formal teaching and everyday school life.

Pastoral care focuses on the physical and emotional welfare of each student and aims to promote mental wellbeing. It supports personal and social development, with a counsellor and a network of staff across the school. The welfare of every pupil is safeguarded as part of daily teaching and school life, ensuring they feel safe, happy, and able to learn. SMSC development is a core expectation and is supported by relationships among staff and the pastoral programme.

Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of every student underpins everything we do. The school aims to create the safest environment within which each pupil can achieve their potential. Pastoral care supports physical and emotional welfare and helps monitor progress to keep students safe and supported. The school has a counsellor and a strong network of staff who work together to identify and address concerns, ensuring students are happy, safe, and learning.

The Admissions section provides access to Financial Terms 2025 - 2026, Entry Requirements, FAQ and Book a Visit. Financial Terms cover the Enrolment Fee and multiple payment options (Annual, Two Payments, Three Payments) for Kindergarten, School and College, with specific payment deadlines. School meals and door-to-door transport are available for an additional fee, and a Resources fee applies to learning materials; external examination fees may apply for Cambridge and IB assessments. English proficiency support is available via Fast ForWord at €100 per month if required, and a family discount reduces fees for a second (5%) and a third or subsequent child (10%). Fees are quoted in euros for a 10-month academic year and can be paid in one, two, or three instalments with deadlines such as 30 June 2025, 30 January 2026, 28 November 2025 and 27 February 2026. Entry Requirements describe documents and steps for Kindergarten, School and College enrolment (online apply, birth certificates, parent IDs; medical documents for younger children; placement tests in English and Maths for older cohorts; English-language level targets and use of Fast ForWord if needed). For College, entrance exams in English and Maths and an interview are arranged during trial days. The FAQ confirms BSS covers ages 2–18, outlines curriculum pathways (British National Curriculum, IEYC, Cambridge Primary/Lower Secondary/IMYC, IGCSE, IB DP), notes English as the language of instruction, and describes school meals and transport, uniform expectations, application timing (January–June, with summer entry possible), and how to apply (contact the Admissions team by email or phone). It also notes the school is the only accredited British School Overseas in Bulgaria, and provides details on nationalities, class sizes, and student body as part of the FAQs.

The school is located in Sofia, Bulgaria. The address is 1700 Simeonovsko shose 110. It is part of the AEFE network of French international schools and operates under the supervision of the Embassy of France in Sofia.

Preschool (2-5 years); Elementary (6-11 years); Middle School (12-16 years); High School.

French international school; AEFE-conventionné under the Embassy of France in Sofia.

Personalized Learning Support (AP) to help students learn and progress while developing autonomy.

France; AEFE-conventionné under the Embassy of France in Sofia.

The school has no uniform.

The school restaurant is provided by Furisto (ZELEO) since 2020. Furisto uses selected products and Green Farm organic dairy. The menus are balanced and varied, built around a starter (two options – soup or salad), a main course with garnish (at least one meat or fish dish and one vegetarian dish), a dairy product, a dessert and bread. Portions and weights follow age-appropriate standards. In nursery and CP meals are served at tables, while in elementary, middle and high school service is self-service with educational assistants. Contacts: vhugo@furisto.com; 0882 513 352.

The school is governed by the Victor Hugo Association, consisting of a Board of Directors (10 parents elected for 2-year terms), a Management Committee (the Board plus 3 members from the diplomatic post with voting rights, including the Principal, the Primary School Director, the financial and administrative director, and staff or schooling representatives with advisory capacity), and the General Assembly (all parents). The Board meets as needed. The school is a member of the AEFE network.

The high school follows the French national system with a three-year lycée (the 'nouveau lycée'). The class of 2nde leads to the terminal cycle. After 2nde, students follow a two-year program to prepare for the general baccalaureate, consisting of 1ère and terminale, organized into common teachings, specialty teachings and optional teachings to prepare for higher education. With the nouveau lycée, students choose three specialty subjects in 1ère and retain two in terminale. The three-year curriculum culminates in the Baccalauréat, with a progression through common, specialty and optional teachings.

The school reports a 100% pass rate for the Baccalauréat, with around 95% of results classified as excellent.

Most graduates continue their studies in French higher education institutions and top international universities.

Admission to LVH is for the 2026-2027 school year. Enrollment in a French establishment homologated by the French Ministry of National Education implies full adherence by both parents and the student to its educational objectives, its principles and operating rules, and the cohesion and mobilization of the educational community around LVH's values. As parents, you participate in LVH's consultative bodies by electing your representatives. The school council and the council for the establishment involve school partners, particularly parents, in reflection on the life of the establishment, and it is essential that you are a participant in these bodies.

Registration conditions: Depending on nationality or academic background, students are admitted to Lycée Victor Hugo within the limit of available places. Admissions are granted according to the criteria defined below. Rules of admission: Children are admitted to the class level corresponding to their year of birth (table below for the 2026-2027 year).

Registration calendar for 2026

Registration procedure:
1. Pre-registration online on Skolengo and submission of complete admission dossiers before March 12, 2026. Beyond this date, contact the lycée directly. (Tel. +359 (0)2 963 29 64)
2. Entrance tests for admissions to Grande Section de maternelle (for pupils coming from non-homologated establishments) between March and May.
3. Admission or admission refusal notification by email.
4. Family response by email to accept or refuse admission.
5. If admitted, payment of the first registration rights. For the registration to be definitively validated, the dossier must be complete and the first registration rights paid.

List of documents to provide for the application dossier: download here. Additional documents to download: Medical form; Enrollment contract signed by both parents; Data protection consent declaration signed by both parents; Internal regulations signed by both parents; Financial regulations signed by both parents.

Tuition fees: click here.

Scholarships are available to children of French families residing in Bulgaria and enrolled at Lycée Victor Hugo Sofia (from kindergarten through high school) through the AEFE program. The awarding of these aid packages is subject to several conditions: submission of an application file, French nationality, enrollment with the consular section of the Embassy, and financial resources. The Consular Council meets twice a year, in spring and autumn, to review scholarship applications. The scholarship campaign concerns children already enrolled or registered for the September start of the current calendar year. The second scholarship campaign for the 2025-2026 school year is open. Application deadline: September 21, 2025 (updated September 12, 2025).

NEW: online submission is now in use via the SCOLAIDE portal, allowing families to submit their application and upload all supporting documents directly. Tutorials are available to help you:
- Creating a family account
- Submitting an application
- Submitting an AESH application (if applicable)

If difficulties arise, a paper file with all required documents can still be submitted to the French Embassy in Bulgaria before September 19, 2025. Details and information are available on the Embassy site. For further information, contact the Consular Services of the Embassy at bourses-scolaires.sofia-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr. Additional information on the AEFE site.

AESH requests: contact the school first, which will orient the process.

The LVH is a non-profit institution with revenue used solely for school expenses; no dividends are paid.