- Admission procedures for PhD students
Bulgarian and foreign citizens who have acquired an educational and qualification degree “Master” are eligible to apply for a PhD programme at the Medical University- Sofia.
The scientific specialty, for which candidates may apply, must be in the same professional field as the obtained Master’s degree.
The Medical Faculty- Sofia at the Medical University- Sofia offers the following modes of study:
• Full-time
• Part-time
• Independent mode of study
If you have not yet chosen a topic and a scientific specialty, a full-time or part-time mode of study is suitable for you.
If you have chosen your topic, scientific specialty and PhD supervisor, as well as if you work under an employment contract, the independent mode of study is more suitable for you.
• Admission of full-time and part-time PhD students
• Admission of PhD students- independent mode of study
2. Admission of full-time and part-time PhD students
The procedures for admission of full-time and part-time PhD students for the places approved by the Ministry of Education are opened by a decision of the Academic Council for conducting a competition. The competition shall be announced in the State Gazette as well as on the website of the Medical University – Sofia on the day of the publication of the announcement in the State Gazette.
The deadline for submission of documents is 2 months after the publication of the announcement in the State Gazette. Applicants for participation in the PhD competition shall submit to the Scientific Research and Academic Staff Career Development Sector a set of documents as follows:
1. Request to the Dean (model form);
2. European CV format bearing the signature of the applicant;
3. Notarised copy of a Diploma for the acquired educational and qualification degree “Master” together with the Diploma Supplement or assurance of successfully passed state exams and academic transcript;
If the applicant has acquired a Master’s degree abroad, he/she may apply after his/her degree has been recognized in accordance with the Ordinance on the state requirements for recognition of the acquired educational degree and completed certain periods of studies in foreign higher schools and shall submit a translated and legalised copy of the Diploma as well as a certificate of its recognition.
4. Copy of an employment contract – for the applicants in the part-time PhD competition;
5. Certificate from an organization stating that it will finance the training as well as the dissertation defence (for PhD students who do not work at the main units of the Medical University – Sofia or at university hospitals which have concluded a contract with the Medical University – Sofia);
6. Other documents certifying interests and achievements in the relevant scientific field.
The set of documents shall be submitted to the Registrar’s office. Applicants will receive a reference number upon submission of the application documents.
The admission of applicants to the competition is carried out by a Commission appointed by order of the Rector. The Commission shall examine the documents and take a decision on admission/non-admission within 20 days after the expiry of the deadline for submission of the documents as well as inform the applicants in writing.
PhD applicants are required to sit an exam in the chosen specialty as well as in one foreign language which they have chosen (English/French/German/Russian). The specialty exam is conducted in two parts – written and oral, with separate grades for each part. Applicants who have obtained an average score from the written and oral tests at least Very Good (5.00) are classified as successful candidates.
Only candidates who have successfully passed the exam in the chosen specialty are admitted to a foreign language exam. Candidates who have obtained a score not lower than Good (4.00) in a foreign language exam are classified as successful candidates.
The results from each exam shall be recorded in an examination board assessment protocol and communicated to the candidates.
Full-time/ part-time PhD students (state-funded training) are assigned by order of the Rector of the Medical University – Sofia, on the basis of a decision of the respective Faculty Council. PhD students pay a state fee upon admission.
The amount of tuition and application fees for the state higher education institutions for the respective academic year is approved by a Decree of the Council of Ministers.
Tuition fees for PhD students, full-time/part-time mode of study at the Medical University – Sofia:
Tuition fee for Bulgarian citizens and citizens of the EU and EEA (full-time mode of study)– 900 BGN
The fee shall be paid in one instalment at the beginning of the training, within one month after the issuance of the order. The PhD student is exempt from the fee for the next two years of study.
Tuition fee for Bulgarian citizens and citizens of the EU and EEA (part-time mode of study) – 450 BGN.
The fee shall be paid for two consecutive years. In the first year of training, the fee shall be paid within one month after the issuance of the order. The PhD student is exempt from fees for the third and fourth years of study.
The fees shall be paid by bank transfer to the account of the of the Medical Faculty- Sofia at the Medical University- Sofia:
Bank: Eurobank EFG Bulgaria
Address: 1, Bulgaria Sq., Sofia
Postal code: 1000
Faculty of Medicine at the Medical University – Sofia
IBAN: EN 63 BPBI 7940 3163 9822 01
BIC code: BPBIBGSF
Reference for payment: tuition fee – full-time/part-time PhD studies, full name of the candidate (on the basis of an identity document).
Full-time PhD students are entitled to:
• Scholarship which they receive throughout the year
• Health insurance
If you have any questions, you can contact us at the Scientific Research and Academic Staff Career Development Sector:
Address: 1, St. Georgi Sofiyski" St., Sofia
Postal code: 1431
Phone: 02/952 05 21 – Yasna Stoycheva, Head of the Scientific Research and Academic Staff Career Development Sector
Phone: 02/917 27 87 – Anna Angelova and Yoana Kirilova – experts in the Scientific Research and Academic Staff Career Development Sector
3. Admission of PhD students- independent mode of study
Admission of PhD students (independent mode of study) is carried out without sitting an exam throughout the academic year.
Applicants for PhD studies (independent mode of study) shall submit to the receiving unit (department) a project of their dissertation and bibliography, as well as the following documents:
1. Application form;
2. European CV format;
3. Notarised copy of a Diploma for the acquired educational and qualification degree “Master” together with the Diploma Supplement in the professional field of the doctorate;
4. Certificate from your employer and a copy of your employment record book;
5. Part of your dissertation, representing not less than 2/3 of the same work;
6. List of scientific publications and developments;
7. Certificate from an organization stating that it will finance the training as well as the dissertation defence of your doctorate (independent mode of study)- for PhD students who do not work at the main units of the Medical University – Sofia or at university hospitals which have concluded a contract with the Medical University – Sofia);
The submitted project of dissertation as well as the bibliography shall be discussed by the Departmental Council/Council of the Clinical Centre in the presence of the applicant within 30 days of the submission of the documents to the receiving unit. In the event of a positive assessment within 14 days after the discussion, the Head of the Departmental Council/Clinical Centre shall make a written proposal to the Head of the receiving unit for the results of the discussion and the opinion of the Council, which shall include the following:
1. Full name of the applicant (on the basis of an identity document);
2. Form of assignment;
3. Subject of the dissertation;
4. Scientific field;
5. Professional field;
6. PhD programme;
7. Scientific supervisor/advisor;
8. Deadline for completion of the project dissertation (up to 3 years);
9. Main place of work;
10. Organisation, which is responsible for financing the training as well as the dissertation defence (if any);
In case of a positive decision of the Departmental Council, the Head of the Department submits a report to the Dean, accompanied by a copy of the Protocol from the Departmental Council in relation to the assignment of the PhD student to an independent mode of study.
By open voting and simple majority voting, the Faculty Council shall take a decision on the assignment of the PhD student, confirming the topic of the dissertation work as well as the scientific supervisor/ scientific advisor (if any).
On the basis of the proposal of the Faculty Council, the Rector shall issue an order for the assignment of the PhD student. If the PhD student (independent mode of study) is an external PhD candidate, e.g. not employed by the Medical University – Sofia, he/ she shall pay a fee determined by the Academic Council of the Medical University – Sofia. PhD students (independent mode of study) who are employed by the Medical University – Sofia do not pay a fee for their studies.
The fees shall be paid by bank transfer to the account of the Medical Faculty- Sofia at the Medical University- Sofia:
Bank: Eurobank EFG Bulgaria
Address: 1, Bulgaria Sq., Sofia
Postal code: 1000
Faculty of Medicine at the Medical University – Sofia
IBAN: EN 63 BPBI 7940 3163 9822 01
BIC code: BPBIBGSF
If you have any questions, you can contact us at the Scientific Research and Academic Staff Career Development Sector.
Address: 1, St. Georgi Sofiyski" St., Sofia
Postal code: 1431
Phone: 02/952 05 21 – Yasna Stoycheva, Head of the Scientific Research and Academic Staff Career Development Sector
Phone: 02/917 27 87 – Anna Angelova and Yoana Kirilova – experts in the Scientific Research and Academic Staff Career Development Sector
4. Required documents for dissertation defence
LIST OF DOCUMENTS FOR DISSERTATION DEFENCE:
• Educational and Scientific Degree “Doctor”
• Scientific Degree “Doctor of Sciences” – medico- clinical field
• Scientific Degree “Doctor of Sciences” – medico- biological field
• Requirements for the list of scientific work
REFERENCE FORM FOR DISSERTATION DEFENCE (MODEL FORM):
• Educational and Scientific Degree “Doctor”
• Scientific Degree “Doctor of Sciences”
PROCEDURES FOR ACQUIRING SCIENTIFIC DEGREES
• Educational and Scientific Degree “Doctor”– current procedures
• Scientific Degree “Doctor of Sciences”– current procedures