For many aspiring doctors, the decision to study medicine abroad is life-changing. For Shahzain Baig, choosing Sofia Medical University in Bulgaria through MedConnect Europe became one of the best decisions he has ever made.
Now in his second year of medical school, Shahzain reflects on his experience of relocating from the UK, settling into a new country, adapting to university life, and building a future in medicine.
His story highlights not only the academic opportunities available in Bulgaria but also the importance of having the right support network from day one.
“Genuinely, coming here has been the best decision I’ve made.”
A Smooth Transition to Bulgaria with MedConnect Europe
Moving to another country can be intimidating, especially for first-year medical students.
However, Shahzain credits MedConnect Europe with making the transition significantly easier by ensuring students arrived and settled together.
Rather than arriving alone, he was placed into a group of fellow students travelling through MedConnect.
“We applied via MedConnect and what happened was that we got grouped together. From the airport we were all together, we stayed in the same hotel, went out together, and everyone was in the same boat.”
The support continued beyond arrival.
MedConnect also helped organise students into the same university groups, allowing friendships and support systems to develop immediately.
“One thing MedConnect did was group us together in the university as well, so all of us were together from the beginning.”
For Shahzain, this made adapting to life in Bulgaria far less stressful.
Settling Into Life in Sofia
According to Shahzain, Sofia is one of Europe’s most underrated cities.
While many students focus purely on academics, he believes the quality of life in the Bulgarian capital deserves more recognition.
“Sofia is an underrated city. The people are good, the food’s good and the mountains are amazing.”
Although the Bulgarian language presents an initial challenge, he found that learning the basics quickly makes everyday life much easier.
Like many international students, he views language learning as part of the experience rather than an obstacle.
What Is It Like Studying Medicine at Sofia Medical University?
As a second-year medical student, Shahzain explains that the curriculum places significant emphasis on building strong scientific foundations.
His subjects include:
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Histology
- Biochemistry
- Biophysics
He particularly appreciates the university’s focus on chemistry and physics alongside medicine.
“When you have a good command of all the sciences, you can perform and practise medicine much better.”
This comprehensive approach helps students develop the knowledge needed for future clinical practice.
Shahzain’s Study Advice for Future Medical Students
Having successfully completed his first year, Shahzain offers straightforward advice to incoming students.
His biggest recommendation is consistency.
“Medicine is one thing that you can’t really cram at the end.”
Instead of leaving revision until exam season, he encourages students to:
- Attend every seminar and lecture.
- Create simple and organised notes.
- Focus more on memorisation than excessive note-taking.
- Use YouTube and online educational resources.
- Study from digital textbooks and PDFs to stay organised.
“Don’t waste time writing. Spend time on memorisation.”
For students coming from GCSE or A-Level backgrounds where last-minute revision is common, he believes adapting to steady daily study habits is essential.
Is Sofia Affordable for International Students?
One of the biggest concerns prospective students have is the cost of living.
While Sofia is Bulgaria’s capital city, Shahzain believes it remains highly affordable compared to cities like London.
“Considering that Sofia is still a very cheap place to live.”
He shares his own living costs as an example:
- Apartment rent: approximately €600 per month shared with a roommate.
- Personal rent contribution: around €300 monthly.
- Walking distance to university: roughly six minutes.
- Utility bills: around £20 per month.
- Monthly groceries: approximately £100 depending on spending habits.
His advice is simple: budgeting makes life much easier.
A Clever Way to Save Money While Studying Abroad
Shahzain also recommends bringing homemade food back from family visits whenever possible.
By returning with prepared meals and ingredients from home, students can save money while also enjoying familiar comfort food.
It is a strategy he regularly uses alongside affordable local grocery shopping.
Travelling Home While Studying in Bulgaria
One surprising part of Shahzain’s experience is how frequently he returns home.
“I fly back every three weeks.”
Thanks to flexible timetables and supportive professors, he is often able to plan long weekends or short visits without falling behind academically.
He communicates with lecturers in advance, completes work where necessary, and finds that professors are understanding of international students living away from home.
“The teachers are very accommodating. They understand we are international students and have left home to come here.”
Advice for First-Year Medical Students
When asked what matters most for success, Shahzain focuses on purpose rather than study techniques alone.
He believes students should always remember why they chose medicine.
“If you have a set goal in your mind why you’re doing medicine, then everything becomes much easier.”
Using a memorable analogy, he explains:
“When you have a target, it’s just like an archer. When he knows where to point his arrow, the arrow will always end up at the target.”
His message is clear: motivation provides direction during difficult periods.
Are the Professors at Sofia Medical University Good?
Shahzain speaks very positively about the academic staff.
He points out that many professors hold both MD and PhD qualifications and have experience teaching internationally.
Some have even taught at prestigious institutions including Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge.
“They’re incredibly educated professors.”
He also appreciates the university’s teaching format.
Rather than placing entire year groups into one large lecture hall, students are divided into much smaller seminar groups.
This creates:
- More personalised teaching.
- Greater interaction with lecturers.
- Better opportunities to ask questions.
- Stronger practical learning experiences.
Early Clinical Exposure Across Multiple Hospitals
Another aspect Shahzain values is exposure to multiple teaching hospitals.
Instead of remaining in a single institution throughout training, students rotate through different clinical environments including:
- Public hospitals.
- Private hospitals.
- Military hospitals.
He believes this broadens students’ medical experience and exposes them to different healthcare settings and teaching styles much earlier in their education.
How Sofia Medical University Helped Shahzain Grow
For Shahzain, studying abroad has delivered far more than an MD degree.
Living independently in another country has helped him mature both personally and professionally.
“Coming here has made me grow as a man, grow as an individual and grow as a human being.”
He describes the experience using a powerful metaphor.
“We’re like a block of rock, but slowly this university has sculptured me. Maybe at the end I’ll be the statue.”
Final Thoughts
Shahzain’s experience demonstrates that studying medicine abroad is about much more than lectures and exams.
With the support of MedConnect Europe, he found an instant community, settled comfortably into life in Bulgaria, developed effective study habits, and gained access to high-quality medical education in a welcoming international environment.
For students considering Sofia Medical University, his story offers reassurance that with the right preparation and mindset, the move abroad can become one of the most rewarding decisions of their lives.