ERASMUS STUDENTS GUIDE

OF SOFIA UNIVERSITY ST. KLIMENT OHRIDSKI

Full legal name of institution St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia

ERASMUS Code BG SOFIA 06
Head of Institution Rector Prof. Ivan Ilchev, Dr. Habil.
Address Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski
15, Tzar Osvoboditel Blvd.
Sofia 1504; BULGARIA
General Web-site www.uni-sofia.bg

International Relations Department /IRD/

Address of IRD Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski
15, Tzar Osvoboditel, Blvd.
Sofia 1504; BULGARIA
ERASMUS Incoming Students Tatyana Tsaneva, Head of IRD
Erasmus Coordinators:
Application/Admission/Registration:
Mira Georgieva (Belgium, France,
Switzerland )
Stanislava Stojanova (Austria, Estonia,
Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia)
Vessa Draganova (Czech Republic, Poland,
Portugal, Spain, Austria, Germany, Italy)
Tsvetan Bogdanov (Denmark, Finland,
Ireland, Hungary, Netherlands, Norway,
Sweden, Turkey )
Room 5, University’s Main Building
Phone/Fax: (+359 2) 986 15 97; 930 8220 ;
9308700
e-mail: [email protected]
When and how do we get in contact After official nomination of the Erasmus
with the incoming students? coordinator at home university, the incoming
student receives an application and an
accommodation form, which has to be filled
 in and send to the relevant contact person at
the host university
Academic Calendar Winter semester: beginning of October –
mid of February
Summer semester: end of February – mid of
July
Application Deadlines Winter semester: not later than
30th June
Summer semester: not later than
30th November

ACADEMIC INFORMATION

• Study programmes

The study at Sofia University is divided into Bachelor’s Degree Programmes,

Master’s Degree Programmes and PhD Programmes.

For more information:

http://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/education/bachelor_s_degree_programmes

http://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/education/phd_students

• Course offer

Bachelor’s Degree Programmes:

http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/education/bachelor_s_degree_programmes/bachelor_s_de
gree_programmes

Master’s Degree Programmes:

http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/education/master_s_degree_programmes/master_s_degre
e_programmes

The academic year at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski is divided into two
terms (winter semester and summer semester). Both semesters have relatively
equal lengths – 15 weeks. The academic year begins in autumn (beginning of

2
October) and ends during the next summer (in July). Exams are held in
January/February and June/July (exams also in August/September). The academic
calendar is the same for all faculties and can be found at the following web page:
http://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/students/academic_calendar

• Some explanations about the types of study programmes offered and the
grading system used

Grading system:

(1) Description of the institutional grading system:

6 = Excellent - outstanding performance

5 = Very good - above the average standard but with some errors
4 = Good - generally sound work with notable errors
3 = Satisfactory - fair but with significant shortcomings
2 = Fail - considerable further work is required

(2) ECTS grading scale:

A = Excellent - outstanding performance with only minor errors

B = Very good - above the average standard but with some errors
C = Good - generally sound work with a number of notable errors
D = Satisfactory - fair but with significant shortcomings
E = Sufficient - performance meets the minimum criteria
FX = Fail - some more work required before the credit can be awarded
F = Fail - considerable further work is required

• Bulgarian system of higher education

Bulgarian system of higher education is open to all candidates who have a diploma
for completed secondary education. The system comprises the following three
degrees:

• FIRST DEGREE – the period of study according to the regular curriculum is

four years. The students graduating according to the curriculum are awarded a
Bachelor’s degree.
• SECOND DEGREE – the period of study according to the regular curriculum
is five years or at least one year after completing a Bachelor’s degree

3
 programme. The students graduating according to the curriculum are awarded a
Master’s degree.
• THIRD DEGREE – the period of study is three years after completing a
Master’s degree programme. The students graduating according to the
curriculum are awarded a Doctoral degree.

Students at higher educational institutions can choose full-time, part-time, or

distance courses. The Doctoral programmes in higher educational institutions and
scientific organizations in Republic of Bulgaria are full-time, part-time, distance,
and unsupervised on an individual plan.
The full-time and unsupervised individual-plan doctoral programmes are three-
year programmes. Applicants must have a Master’s degree.
Part-time Doctoral programmes last four years. Applicants must have a Master’s
degree. The Doctoral degree study is organized in subject areas.
Higher educational institutions in Bulgaria offer programmes for lifelong learning
and further qualification. These programmes are organized according to the
regulations and curriculum of each institution.

• Lecture Timetable:

Please contact our faculty coordinators as follows:

- Faculty of History
Assoc. Prof. Mira Markova: [email protected]
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_history/degree_programmes

- Faculty of Philosophy
Assoc. Prof. Maria Stoicheva: [email protected]
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_philosophy/degree_programmes

Departments:
Department of Library and Information Studies and Cultural Policy:
Assist. Ilko Penelov: [email protected]
General, Experimental and Genetic Psychology:
Assist. Prof. Daniel Petroff: [email protected]

- Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology

Assoc. Prof. Galina Russeva-Sokolova: [email protected]

4
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_classical_and_modern_philology/degr
ee_programmes

Departments:
English Studies: Emilia Slavova: [email protected]
Spanish Studies: Petar Mollov: [email protected]
Scandinavian Studies: Elena Lutskanova: [email protected]

- Faculty of Slavic Studies

Assoc. Prof. Reneta Bozhankova: [email protected]
Assoc. Prof. Amelia Licheva: [email protected]
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_slavic_studies/degree_programmes

- Faculty of Law
Prof. Maryana Karagyozova: [email protected]
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_law/degree_programmes

- Faculty of Education
Assoc. Prof. Sijka Chavdarova-Kostova: [email protected],
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_education/degree_programmes

- Faculty of Preschool and Primary School Education

Assoc. Prof. Iliana Mirtshewa: [email protected]
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_preschool_and_primary_school_educ
ation/degree_programmes

- Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication

Assoc. prof. Efrem Efremov: [email protected]
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_journalism_and_mass_communication
/degree_programmes

- Faculty of Theology
Assist. Svetoslav Ribolov: [email protected]
Assist. Ivaylo Naydenov: [email protected]
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_theology2/degree_programmes

5
 - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
Ivanka Djakova: [email protected]
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_economics_and_business_administrat
ion/degree_programmes

- Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics

Assoc. Prof. Nadya Zlateva: [email protected]
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_mathematics_and_informatics2/degr
ee_programmes

- Faculty of Physics
Prof. Nikolay Vitanov: [email protected]
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_physics2/degree_programmes

- Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy

Assoc. Prof. Ivayla Pancheva: [email protected] ,
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_chemistry2/degree_programmes

- Faculty of Biology
Assoc. Prof. Veneta Grudeva: [email protected]
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_biology2/degree_programmes

- Faculty of Geology and Geography

Assoc. Prof. Stelian Dimitrov: [email protected]
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_geology_and_geography/degree_prog
rammes

- Faculty of Medicine
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_medicine2/degree_programmes

- Accommodation

6
As an Erasmus Incoming Students you have the opportunity to stay in
building/block number 8 in the student dormitory campus. A room is guaranteed for
all ERASMUS students for the entire period of their stay. If you want to live
there please fill the Accommodation form. You can move before the start of the
semester (i.e. if you participate in the EILC).

Rooms in the student dormitory are furnished with desk, bed, wardrobe, lamps,
chair and shelves. There are only two-bed rooms. There is a cable internet in each
room. Bedding is available. The monthly price is about 50 EURO (appr. 100 LV.) with
CONSUMPTIONS (water, central heating and electricity included in price).
You could make use of fitness hall, hair-dresser’s, solarium, launderette and a café.
For your accommodation you must pay a deposit of one month in case of any
damages.

The objectives of The Social and Public Services Department(SBOD) are

connected with the support of the functional and operational state of the
Students’ campus and canteens, designed to cater for the needs of the students.
The department has at its disposal 6,300 beds and 3 students’ canteens, where
about 3,000 people on average eat daily.

The central office of SBO Department for registration after arrival is at:
Studentski grad, block 42 B.

Address for contacts: Sofia 1700, Studentski grad, block 42 B, Phone/Fax: (+359
2) 963 42 38; E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.uni-campus.net
The central office of SBO Department is in Stidentski grad, block 42 B.

7
 - Average Living Expenses:

Expect approx. 250 Euro per month.

- Transport to the University

Campus 1 - Lozenets

Address: 1, 5 James Bourchier Blvd.

Faculties: FC, FPs, FMI
Transport: Buses 67, 88, 94, 102, 120
Trams 9, 18

Campus 2 - Rectorat

Address: 15, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd.

Faculties: FCML, FE, FH, GGF, FPh, FSlSt, FL
Transport: Buses 9, 84, 94, 280, 306
Trolley Buses 1, 2, 4, 11

Campus 3 - IV km

Address: 125 Tzarigradsko Shose Blvd.

Faculties: FPh, FEBA
Transport: Bus 280 Trams 20, 22 Trolley Buses 4, 5, 8, 11

8
Campus 4 - Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication

Address: 49, Moskovska Str.

Faculties: FJMC
Transport: Trams 20, 22 Trolley Buses 1, 2, 4, 11

Campus 5 - Faculty of Biology

Address: 8, Dragan Tzankov Blvd.

Faculties: FB
Transport: Buses 72, 76, 204, 604
Trams 2, 9, 10, 12, 18

Campus 6 - Faculty of Pre-school and Primary School Education

Address: 69а, Shipchenski prohod Blvd.

Faculties: FPPE
Transport: Buses 1, 3, 5 , 6, 9, 11, 75 Tram 20

Campus 7 - Faculty of Theology

Address: place St. Nedelia

Faculties: Faculty of Theology

9
Transport: Trams 1, 2, 7, 18

- Language Requirements:

There are no language requirements for ERASMUS students. As the courses are in
Bulgarian please check the list of courses for your corresponding department and
ask the department coordinators regarding the language skill in advance!

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

• Visa

Unless you are student from the EU or from a country with different regulations
concerning visas you will need a visa in order to live and study in Bulgaria. Please
apply for a visa at Bulgarian embassy in your home country well ahead of your
planned arrival. For the moment it is not necessity to apply the visa for Schengen
Countries. Do not arrive in Bulgaria with a tourist visa since it is not possible to
convert into a residence permit.

• Registration or enrollment

After your arrival you need to register at the relevant Faculty where you will have
your student mobility. The document you need for your registration is the
Enrollment Order (Заповед), prepared by the International Relations Department.

• Welcome Activities

During the first days after arriving in Sofia you can rely on the support of the
students from the Erasmus club and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) at Sofia
University. You are met at the airport/bus station etc. and are accompanied to the
student campus where you are accommodated. A welcome meeting organized by the
International Relations Department and ESN with all of the exchange Erasmus
incoming students is organized during the first week after the beginning of the
academic year. A welcome package and necessary documents for enrolment are
given to the students. Organizing a great variety of activities during the whole
academic year, the ESN helps the foreign students to integrate in the social and
cultural life in Bulgaria.

• Language Courses

10
Within its exchange programs Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski offers the
students the opportunity to take part in a Bulgarian language course before the
beginning of the study period in September. It is organized by the Foreign
Language Department and the guest students have the same financial obligations as
regular Sofia University’s students.

• The city
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia
http://www.sofia-life.com/

• Facilities for students:

1. Internet - Free Internet devices is placed in the lobbies of the University
2. Student organizations
http://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/students
- Student Council
- Students Diplomatic Club – http://sdc.uni-sofia.bg
- Business Club – www.bisclub.org
- Club Bio Vision – http://bio.topvisia.net
- UNECO – http://uneco.info
- ISHA Sofia – http://isha-sofiabg.blogspot.com
- ELSA – http://www.elsabulgaria.org/index.php
- Sociology Students Association – http://www.asssu.eu
- Balkan Youth Club – http://ww.balkan-youth-club.org

3. Student jobs - information and assistance in finding part-time job you can get
from Student Council of Sofia University – www.students.uni-sofia.bg
Student Council is an organization existing under the Higher Education Act and
funded from the budget of the University. Members of the Student Council are
generally 60 - 52 students and 8 PhD students. All of them are directly elected by
the students. Each department, depending on their size, has a different number of
representatives.
The main purpose of the existence of this organization is to help the students and
anybody can approach the Student Council for advice or assistance within its remit.
Office: Main building - Centre for Information and Advertising
e-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://students.uni-sofia.bg/
Chairman: Tsveta Georgieva

4. Libraries
University Library “St.Kliment Ohridski”
http://www.libsu.uni-sofia.bg/

11
Each department has got a specialized library.

5. Sofia University has a department of Sports

http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/the_university/faculties_and_departments/departments/s
ports_department/about_the_department

6. Medical services - in Students Clinic /in Studentski grad/ – 8 “Arso Pandurski”

Str., tel. 862 91 56/
If you have a European health card and/or medical insurance, you can refer to any
medical facility in Sofia.

7. Student restaurants – Sofia University has 3 canteens located at the following

addresses:
- canteen 1 – Main building – serves lunch and dinner
- canteen 4 – Studentski grad, near block 35 - serves lunch and dinner
- canteen 35 – 69A Shipchenski Prohod Str. /in the building of the Faculty of Pre-
school and Primary school education/ - serves lunch

8. Other:
The SU Mass Media:
- Alma Mater Radio
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/the_university/additional_structures/the_su_mass_
media/alma_mater_radio
- Alma Mater TV –
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/the_university/additional_structures/the_su_mass_
media/alma_mater_tv2
- The SU Arts –
http://www.uni-
sofia.bg/index.php/eng/the_university/additional_structures/su_arts

• Other useful links:

Weather
Sofia's southern European location means milder winter and scorching summer, so
if you like moderate temperatures you have it here; spring and autumn are the best
seasons to visit. In the summer, the temperatures regularly break 30 degrees, so
tank tops and shorts are must-haves, though an umbrella can always come in handy
as well. Despite its location, winters can still be chilly, with snowfalls being regular
between November and March or so. It's always best to check the forecast

12
regularly before your trip, for you to know what to expect - and then pack an extra
jacket or raincoat just in case!

Important information web-sites for Bulgaria:

http://www.discover-bulgaria.com/
http://www.novinite.com/
http://www.bgmaps.com/

Mobile operators:
- Mobiltel – http://www.mtel.bg/en
- Globul – http://globul.bg/eng/
- Vivatel - http://www.vivacom.bg/en

Emergency numbers :
- Universal emergency number – 112
- Fire brigade – 160
- Police – 166
- Emergency – 150

Other :
- Road service – 146, 91146
- Mountain rescue service – 9632000
- Central Bus Station – 0900 21000,
http://www.centralnaavtogara.bg/index.php
- Central Railway Station – 9324190,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Railway_Station,_Sofia
- Airport
http://www.sofia-airport.bg/default.aspx

13