The Financial Struggles of AUBG Students

University life is usually filled with many new experiences, parties, and, of course, studying. However, one main hurdle that all university students face is the new level of financial responsibility they have.

Many students encounter difficulties in managing their budget, which affects many aspects of their life. I conducted a survey among 25 students from different standings and backgrounds. In this article, I have collected the most common financial struggles AUBG students experience.

 

High Tuition and Insufficient Scholarships

According to the Academic Catalogue, “tuition is set annually, and students may anticipate some increase over the four years of study.” At the same time, scholarships keep shrinking (Board Book October 2025, p. 35: “Less releases from restrictions and released scholarships. These were below the budgeted numbers since fewer contributions were received in the past years, and this impacted the scholarships awarded in FY2025.”) When these two factors are combined, students face serious challenges with the payment of their tuition.

Many respondents who receive scholarships mentioned that the scholarships do not significantly relieve their financial pressure. With other yearly student fees adding up, such as an activity fee of €630, €100 for books, and approximately €1,800 for food, students feel stressed about paying for their future semesters.

 

The Hidden Burden of Work & Travel and Student Loans

“Work & Travel is not a choice – it’s survival” is something many of the surveyed students mentioned. They outline that going to the USA feels mandatory for them to afford the tuition and living costs for the next academic year, yet even those earnings are sometimes not enough to cover their second semester living costs.

Another notable highlight is that Work & Travel programs deprive university students from internship programs and career growth during summers.

25% of the participants in the survey shared that they have taken out a student loan. However, the majority are optimistic about finding a stable job post-graduation that will allow them to pay off their debt.

 

The Biggest Daily Expense

All the participants in the survey mentioned that food has become a daily hardship for them. Some of them share that canteen prices are high, and the mandatory 300 leva meal plan lasts only for two to three weeks. This opens the door for cooking on your own, but here comes the problem with the dorm kitchens. They may not always be available at a time that suits the students. When they are, students still must be mindful of what they buy, usually opting for easy to cook meals, not necessarily nutritious ones.

Off-campus students face similar pressures as grocery costs keep rising, but their main challenge is compromising on food choices while trying to stay healthy.

Takeaway food is not a common choice, with only 14% of the respondents mentioning they occasionally make use of it.

 

On-Campus Versus Off-Campus

While it does matter where students live, neither of these two options are affordable.

Although the Skapto dorms offer safety, a fixed cost, and are close to all university buildings, they hide a few hurdles for students. For example, the meal plan costs, laundry, and other small fees add up. Many of the interviewed participants also feel the price differences between room types are minimal and not reflective of actual conditions.

Living off campus provides a personal kitchen, more privacy, and bigger control over daily life, with rent prices being more affordable than dorm costs. However, off-campus students mention they also struggle with groceries and rent.

 

Budgeting and Sacrifices

Budgeting feels necessary for most students, who mention that they usually plan essentials first and then allocate their remaining money for parties or events, where possible. However, some of the interviewed freshmen acknowledged that they were overspending in the first few weeks of the semester, which has now caught up to them. Students of higher standing tended to have stricter routines for their budget.

The weekly spending of most participants is around 150 leva, though for some this goes up to 300 leva due to meal plans. When asked to rate their overall financial situation on a scale of one to five, most gave a three, pointing to a constant, but manageable struggle.

 

Lack of Transparency and Support from the University

Scholarships, financial aid process, hidden offices, and lack of guidance – all of these are the main complaints of the surveyed students. They share that they do not feel financially supported or understood by the university.

Many mention that scholarships have decreased over the last few years, while others highlight that the process of receiving financial aid is very unclear. The student loan office is not easy to find, students admit. Many also feel there is a lack of financial guidance and budgeting support. 

 

Impact on Mental Health

Financial stress affects students both emotionally and socially – even if they do not always show it. The constant anxiety of trying to fit into a certain budget, as well as the guilt some experience after overspending, often lead to overthinking and burnout from trying to balance academic, personal, and financial pressures. 40% of the students admit that financial stress does bring some kind of negativity in their daily lives.

 

Edited by: Toma Krumov & Hary Dikov