Universities in Bulgaria Universities in Bulgaria
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UniversitiesUniversities inin BulgariaBulgaria Human Resource Development Centre 15 Graf Ignatiev Str., fl.3, 1000 Sofia tel.: (+359 2) 915 50 10; fax: (+359 2) 915 50 49 e-mail: [email protected]; http://euroguidance.hrdc.bg ©2007. Human Resource Development Centre HRDC is certified according to the standard ISO 9001:2000 This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication (com- munication) reflects the views only of the author and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of information contained therein. UNIVERSITIES IN BULGARIA Content: 1. Higher Education in Bulgaria ..............................................2 • General overview • Higher education system 2. Admissions ........................................................................3 • How to apply for a Bulgarian university • Application documents • University residence opportunities 3. Universities in Bulgaria .......................................................7 • Humanitarian Universities • Economic Universities • Technical and Vocational Universities • Art Universities • Sport Universities • Medical Universities • Military Universities 4. Policies and Procedures for the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications ......................................................11 5. Erasmus Programme ........................................................13 6. Europass .........................................................................15 7. Useful links ......................................................................16 HIGHER EDUCATION IN BULGARIA General overview The system of higher education includes 51 higher education institutions – uni- versities, specialized higher schools and colleges, 37 of which are public and the rest - private. Since 1995 in accordance with the Higher Education Act there are 3 stages in Bulgarian Higher Education System, namely - Bachelor (four years of educa- tion), Master (at least one year after Bachelor’s) and Doctoral degrees (at least 3 years after a Master’s). Colleges offer higher education degree Specialist which requires 3 years of education and training. This degree study provides opportunities for the de- sign of programmes in partnership with employers and learning in the work place. In addition, a number of postgraduate courses, certified with an educational certificate other than a Diploma, are offered at every higher education insti- tution. They last from several days to one year and are intended to provide preparation for specific professional activities, usually following completion of a general degree. Within the system there are about 1000 degree and non- degree courses. Access to all of them is determined through national and/or institutional regulations. Tertiary qualifications are linked to skills needed for analytical, leadership and management positions. The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) has been adopted under the nec- essary legislation (Higher Education Act) and it is implemented since 2004. Higher Education Institutions in Bulgaria are autonomous. They are respon- sible for programme design and quality assurance of the education provided. In all institutions a quality management system for internal monitoring and evaluation is introduced due to legislation requirements. The external monitoring and evaluation is under responsibilities of the Nation- al Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation. The Agency has been established through Higher Education Act as a statutory body for evaluation, accreditation and monitoring of the quality in higher education institutions and scientific organizations aimed at the enhancement of their teaching and research. Higher education system UPPER College After completed Vocational SECONDARY Education Secondary colleges NON- Education Art colleges TERTIARY 9- Medical Colleges Diploma for completed education as Specialist HIGHER Bachelor After completed Humanitarian Continuing EDUCATION Secondary Universities training in or College Technical University’s Education Universities Departments for additional Master After completed Art Universities Bachelor degree qualification Sport Doctor After completed Universities Master degree Medical Universities Diploma for completed respected degree level of higher education (bachelor, master, doctor) ADMISSIONS How to apply for a Bulgarian university? Bulgarian higher education institutions are open to all foreign nationals who hold a secondary education certificate that makes them eligible for higher education in the country in which they have received their secondary educa- tion. Foreign nationals can apply for doctoral programmes if they hold a Master’s degree. Students who have graduated from foreign higher education institu- tions can apply for doctoral programmes if their higher education degree has been officially recognized. Foreign students can be admitted only to full-time study programmes in Bul- garia. 3 Foreign nationals can apply to study in higher education institutions in the Republic of Bulgaria: • pursuant to intergovernmental agreements on educational, cultural and academic exchange; • in compliance with Council of Ministers Ordinances; • after paying the full tuition fee. Foreign nationals can apply to study at Bulgarian higher education institu- tions under the same terms and conditions as those for Bulgarian nationals, provided that they: • hold a permanent residence permit; • have a refugee status; • are of Bulgarian origin, certified in accordance with the 1993 Council of Ministers Decree No. 103 regulating the education of Bulgarian expatriates. Applicants under intergovernmental agreements submit their application documents to the Ministry of Education and Science via the competent insti- tutions in the countries they apply from. Applicants are admitted under the terms and conditions and to the specific higher education institution defined in the intergovernmental agreement. All documents must be translated and certified by the authorities in the ap- plicant’s country (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), by the Bulgarian Consular Of- fice in the applicant’s country (if the translation of the documents was made there), or by the Consular Office of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sofia. All degrees and education certificates must be legalized at the Bul- garian Ministry of Education and Science. The University authorities forward approved applicants’ documents to the Ministry of Education and Science, so that a D-type visa can be issued. The deadline to submit documents is st October for under-graduate stu- dents, and 3st May for post-graduate students. Annual tuition fees for foreign students are determined with a Decree of the Council of Ministers. Each university sets its fees, which may vary between €900 and €6000, depending on the specific major. Application documents . Application form or letter of application (with a CV attached), specifying the higher education institution and majors the applicant is applying for, as 4 well as the form and term of training (educational degree). In the letter of ap- plication applicants should also specify their level of proficiency in Bulgarian. Official translation of secondary education certificate (including academic transcript), if an application is made for a complete degree programme, or an official translation of university degree (including academic transcript and any supplement specifying numbers of training hours) and/or an academic transcript if an application is being made only for a part of a degree pro- gramme or for a higher-ranking degree (e.g. a BA applying for a Master’s programme). A document issued by a competent authority certifying the applicant’s right to continue his/her education at the tertiary level in the country where he/ she acquired secondary education. 3. Health certificate, issued no more than one month prior to the date of application, and verified by the competent authorities of the home country. 4. The education certificate/degree and health certificate must be legalized, translated into Bulgarian, and certified pursuant to the international agree- ments between the Republic of Bulgaria and the country issuing the said documents. In the absence of an international agreement, the general pro- cedure for legalization, translation and certification of documents is followed. Secondary education certificates from foreign schools are legalized at the Ministry of Education and Science. 5. Photocopy of personal ID document. Dual citizenship holders apply with both their IDs. In the case of inconsistency in applicant’s names in the dif- ferent IDs, a certified declaration of name identity or a certificate from a municipality must be enclosed. 6. Declaration of applicant’s financial support for the period of his/her studies. 7. Copy of personal ID document with applicant’s name printed in the Ro- man script and his/her date and place of birth. 8. 4 photographs. According to the Higher Education Act each higher education establishment is an autonomous institution and may adopt its own requirements concern- ing application documents and deadlines. University authorities forward approved applicants’ documents to the Minis- try of Education and Science, so that a long-term visa is issued. The application deadline is 1st October for BA/BSc and MA/MSc appli- cants, and 3st May for PhD applicants. 5 In most universities in Bulgaria the academic year begins on 1st October and ends on 30th June. In some universities classes start on 15th September and end on