The South-West University is a state institution that offers training in Bulgarian and English in 67 Bachelor's, 86 Master's and 43 specialized PhD programmes.
With its 36-year history the South-West University "Neophyte Rilsky" has subjugated a leading position in the scientific and educational space both in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe. Located in Blagoevgrad, the economic, cultural and educational centre of South-Western Bulgaria, it is situated only 90 kilometers southwards from Sofia, 20 kilometers from the border with Macedonia and 80 kilometers from the Greek border. This strategic location naturally facilitates the academic cooperation with a number of Universities in the Balkan region. It also allows a direct and easy access to numerous attractive destinations among which Bansko, Sandanski, the Medieval Rilsky Monastery, Melnik, the Rila and Pirin National parks, Thessaloniki, Serres, Shtip, Bitola are only a few worth mentioning.
With its two universities and two colleges, with its theatres, cinemas, libraries, discotheques and restaurants, the city combines the opportunities and the advantages offered by the big city, on the one hand, and, on the other, it is branded with the cosy atmosphere of any small Bulgarian town.
On 26 July 2012 the National Assessment and Accreditation Agency at the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria granted the South-West University "Neophyte Rilsky" the highest assessment grade with the maximum duration validity of 6 years, which is effective until 2018.
The basic structures of the University:
- The Faculty of Law and History
- The Faculty of Natural Science and Mathematics
- The Faculty of Economics
- The Faculty of Public Health and Sport
- The Faculty of Pedagogy
- The Philological Faculty
- The Faculty of Philosophy
- The Faculty of Arts
- The Technical College
employ over 800 lecturers including professors, associate professors and assistant professors. They provide modern modes of training following the Bulgarian traditions in education and research on the one hand, and meeting the contemporary European standards in the fields of science, arts and sports, on the other.
The South -West University provides training in different scientific fields for about 14 000 students of whom 700 are international students coming from various countries such as Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Serbia, Albania, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Japan, Pakistan, Yemen etc. The University provides board and accommodation in three canteens and two renovated dormitories. Its library possesses over 200 000 volumes, an e-reading room with free access to the data bases of EBSCO Publishing, Science Direct, SCOPUS, Benham Sciece and ProQuest Central. The Career Centre provides quality aid and services to help the South-West University students obtain adequate professional advice as well as support for the university graduates in finding suitable positions at the labour market.
The South-West University "Neophyte Rilsky" implements scientific research that is funded by European Regional Cooperation programmes such as 'Greece - Bulgaria' and 'Bulgaria - Macedonia', the Sixth and Seventh framework programmes, the Scientific Research Programme, the World Bank, the Open Society Foundation, CEEPUS, DAAD, PHARE, DAPHNE III, INTAS, COST, the Human Resources Development programme and the Life-long Learning programme. Within the last two years under the Cross-border cooperation programme 'Bulgaria-Greece' alone, the South-West University participated in projects worth over 11 000 000 BGN. There are over 30 laboratories and research centres available at the University. The University implements pro-active international policies involving the cooperation of training and research institutions from all around Europe, the USA and Russia. The University has signed contracts with about 30 universities in Europe under the Erasmus mobility program, which is extremely attractive for the students.
The Faculty of Arts provides opportunities for their students to exchange ideas and to co-work in the spheres of the cinema making, music, choreography, fine arts and culture studies.
The students of Kinesitherapy, Sports, Logopedics and Social Activities at the Faculty of Public Health and Sport are provided with excellent facilities for maintaing training and sports activities as well as rehabilitation procedures.
The South-West University owns one of the best sports centres in Bulgaria. It comprises of a multifunctional indoors sports complex, a centre for functional testing, a laboratory for physiotherapy, a spa and rehabilitation centre, stadiums and outdoors sports grounds. The university sports club 'Academic' teams participates in the national students sports contests as well as in the national sports championships in basketball, men handball and women grass hockey.
The University Training Centre 'Bachonovo' is situated only 3 kilometers from the city centre. It is near the Bachinovo Park and the city Aqua-park, and is only 30 kilometers from the ski zone 'Bodrost'. It provides excellent conditions for conducting seminars, conferences, summer schools etc. The UC 'Bachinovo' proves to be the ideal place for both work and recreation with its well-equipped halls, Wi-Fi access, and with its newly opened spa centre with a gym, a table tennis hall, a sauna, a steam bath, physiotherapy halls and premises for aromatherapy and massage.
Foreign Students
The duration of studies for foreign students depends on the
educational qualification degree. Bachelor's degree programmes last
a minimum of 4 years of training. Master's degree programmes last
at least 5 years of training or at least 1 year after the Bachelor
degree. Doctor's degree studies last a minimum of 4 years of
training after the Bachelor degree or 3 years after a Master's
degree.
The studies in each Bachelor's and
Master's degree programmes end with a state exam or defense of a
diploma thesis. Doctorates are based on individual curricula and
include training and examinations, teaching hours and defense of a
dissertation thesis. The University offers also specialization
courses in all fields of science to foreign students holding a
university degree. The tuition fee is 3000 Euros per year for
the full-time courses and 2000 Euros per year for the
part-time education. The University issues Certificates according
to the governmental requirements.
Foreign citizens pay for their studies the following fees:- Preparatory year - 2000 Euros
- Academic year - 3000 Euros
Under the Article 95 (8) of the
Bulgarian Higher Education Act students with a double citizenship
(Bulgarian and a foreign one) pay a half (50%) from the educational
tuition fees.
Citizens of Republic of Macedonia
may apply under Regulation No 228/1997 (without contest for
scholarships) and Regulation ? 103/1993. In this case they have to
submit their documents at the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and
Science in the first half of August.
The fees are payable in the beginning of each semester.
The best university for foreign students. Great students life in Blagoevgrad. Party all the time :)
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