Paper short abstract:

The paper aims to examine the role of cultural background and heritage in the process of adaptation of foreign students in Bulgaria. We consider three cases: students of Bulgarian ethnic origin, students from Southeastern and Eastern Europe and students from more distant societies and cultures.

Paper long abstract:

In the paper proposed, we aim to examine the role of cultural background and heritage in the process of adaptation of foreign students in Bulgaria. The subject of our interest are students who are non-Bulgarian citizens and are currently enrolled in higher education courses in the country; the so-called “credit-mobile students” on short exchange or study-abroad trips (such as Erasmus+ students) are not considered.

We suggest using the notion of “sociocultural distance” as a tool by means of which we can look at the students’ strategies and practices in their adaptation in the educational environment as well as in daily life beyond their university occupation. We intend to consider three particular cases:

– students of Bulgarian ethnic origin but coming from other countries (Moldova, Ukraine, Serbia, R. North Macedonia, Albania ets.). The sense of common origin intertwines with their affiliation to the society and culture of these countries;

– students from Southeastern and Eastern Europe (e.g. Greeks, Albanians, Russians etc.) who find similarities in the social and cultural environment between their countries and Bulgaria based on the similar sociocultural, political and economic processes in the near past and the present.

– students from more distant societies and cultures – we will focus particularly on the British students, moreover among them we find people of various origins (Britons, Indians, Pakistanis etc.).

The research was conducted within the project “Cultural Adaptation and Integration of Immigrants in Bulgaria” (Contract No: DN 20/8), supported by the National Science Fund of Bulgaria.