CONTACT
For more information, please contact Stanislava Andonova, Foreign Students Officer,
Tel. : . +359-73-588 598, + 359 882 484 866
e-mail: fsoffice@swu.bg
The South-West University "Neofit Rilski" was founded in 1976 in Blagoevgrad. With a history of over 40 years, the University has gained a reputation as a leader in the sphere of science and education in Bulgaria and on the Balkans. At present it is recognized as one of the forefront classical universities in South - Eastern Europe.
The University is accredited with maximum assessment grade by the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency, which guarantees the quality of the educational service in 75 Bachelor's and Master's programs after secondary education, 120 Master's programs after completion of higher education and 88 Doctoral programs. The training is conducted in 30 professional areas in the fields of the humanities, the technical, management, social, pedagogical, legal and economic sciences, the arts, health care, public health and sports, security and defense, etc. According to this criterion, the university holds a top position in the country ranking.
Currently, over 11,500 students", of whom more than 500 foreign students from over 20 countries around the world, are receiving training in different areas of education and science at SWU “Neofit Rilski”.
The Erasmus + mobility option is especially attractive for the students. On the basis of signed bilateral contracts they can choose from over 60 universities in Europe and other countries worldwide. This allows the students to study abroad for at least one semester and put into practice the knowledge acquired in foreign scientific and educational institutions.
The South-West University possesses its own library with a rich collection of over 200,000 volumes of scientific literature and access to various international databases.
The University offers accommodation for its graduate and post graduate students in two renovated dormitories. There is a university canteen where students can have both lunch and dinner.
The University possesses some of the most modern sports facilities in Bulgaria such as a multifunctional indoor sports complex, a center for functional research, physiotherapy laboratories, a sports-recreation center, stadiums, outdoor sports grounds etc.
The graduates of the South-West University "Neofit Rilski" go on to pursue successful careers in different spheres of the social, educational, cultural and political life in Bulgaria and worldwide.
Blagoevgrad is a unique place for living and learning. With its two universities and two colleges, the city combines the opportunities and advantages of the big city with its cinema, opera, theaters, libraries, discos and restaurants, on the one hand, and the cozy atmosphere of the small town, on the other.
The town is located only 90 km south of the capital of Bulgaria - Sofia, 20 km from the border with Northern Macedonia and 80 km from the border with Greece. This allows a quick and easy access to many interesting destinations both in Bulgaria and the neighbouring countries such as Bansko, Sandanski, the ancient Rila Monastery, Melnik, the national parks Pirin and Rila, Thessaloniki, Serres, Shtip, Bitola etc.
Foreign citizens applying for training in a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD programme can obtain competence in general and special Bulgarian language at the University as follows:
Foreign citizens applying for training in a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD programme can obtain competence in general and special Bulgarian language at the University as follows:
The full course in General Bulgarian and special training in Bulgarian has duration of no less than 9 months. The course finishes with an exam in Bulgarian language, both written and oral which is administered by a special commission. The individuals, who have passed the final language exam both in general and special Bulgarian, are awarded a Language Certificate, which is recognized by other Bulgarian universities. The full course fee is 3000 €. The deadline for submitting the application is 10 of September of the current academic year.
A short course in Bulgarian for individuals who have command of Bulgarian. The course involves training in specialized terminology corresponding to the major chosen and has 6-month duration. The short course finishes with an exam held by a commission. A Language Certificate in Bulgarian, which is valid for other Bulgarian universities, is issued. The tuition fee for the short course is 1000 € payable in one installment. The deadline for submitting the application is 1st of March of the current academic year.
Those candidates, who have a good competence in Bulgarian language and specialized terminology but cannot present a lawful proof, can sit the final exam conducted by a commission in order to verify their language competence. The successful candidates are awarded a Language Certificate in Bulgarian, which is valid for applying to other Bulgarian universities. The exam fee is 300 €. The exam can be taken at any time of the academic year.
List with Bachelor programmes: http://www.swu.bg/academic-activities/academic-programmes.aspx?lang=en
Admission requirements:
The candidates should present a Certificate of Secondary Education allowing them to continue their studies in the state that issued the certificate. The certificates issued in foreign countries should undergo a procedure of official recognition held by the Blagoevgrad Regional Inspectorate of Education.
Duration of studies:
4 academic years.
Deadline for submitting the application:
10 of September of the current academic year.
Modes of education:
- full-time and part-time for citizens of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA).
- only full-time for citizens outside the European Union and the European Economic Area. The University provides the opportunity for individual training.
Tuition fees for citizens of the EU and EEA countries:
The EU and EEA citizens can apply under the following possible conditions:
- Variant 1 on the terms and conditions for Bulgarian citizens – training is subsidized by the Bulgarian state. The fees per semester are from 150 € up to 260 € depending on the major chosen. The training is conducted in Bulgarian only.
- Variant 22on the terms and conditions for Bulgarian citizens – the tuition is paid. The fees per semester are between 370 € and 1360 € depending on the major chosen. The training is conducted in Bulgarian only.
*Note: The candidates for training under Variant 1 and Variant 2 are required to present a certificate of language competence in Bulgarian language.
*Note: The tuition fee for the semester is payable at the beginning of each semester.
Tuition fees for citizens outside the EU and the EU economic area:
Citizens of non-EU countries or coming from outside the EU economic area can apply for and be trained in full-time BA programmes only. The tuition fee per semester is 1700 €. The training is conducted in Bulgarian. The tuition fee per semester for “Nursing” and “Midwife” is 2225 €.
*Note: The tuition fee for the semester is payable at the beginning of each semester.
The candidates with double citizenship, one of which is Bulgarian, pay a tuition fee amounting to 50% of the fee for international students.
The students can take a simultaneous training in more than one BA programmes.
1. Application form addressed to the Rector;
2. A validated copy and a certified translation of a Diploma for completed secondary education including a supplement specifying the period of attendance and the grades;
3. A document issued by a competent body certifying the applicant’s eligibility to continue his/her studies in higher educational institutions in the country in which he/she has completed his/her secondary education.
*Notes:
- The copy of the Diploma, the record of the student’s grades and the document under article 3 should contain an original apostil from a country that has signed the Hague’s Convention, or to be sealed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of a country that has signed a bilateral agreement of “legal aid” with Bulgaria.
- The apostil or the seal should be laid out in the country that has issued the certificate and the grade supplement.
- In case the copy of the Diploma, the record of the student’s grades and the document under article 3 have been translated in Bulgarian in the issuing country, the translated copies with the original apostil or a seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be officially legalized by the Bulgarian Embassy (Consulate) in the corresponding country.
- In case the translation in Bulgarian has been conducted in Bulgaria the legalization of the translation should be done by the Consular Office of the Bulgarian Ministry of the Foreign Affairs.
- In case the copy of the Diploma, the record of the student’s grades and the document under article 3 have been issued by a country that has not signed the Hague’s Convention or has not signed a bilateral agreement of “legal aid” with Bulgaria, the conventional procedure for legalization and certification of translations is applied.
4. Medical certificate issued no later than 30 days before submission of the application pack;
5. Copy of the ID;
6. 4 photos (4/3 format);
The documents under articles 2, 3. and 4 should be translated in Bulgarian and legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the respective country and the Bulgarian Embassy.
Application fee – 105 €.
The submission of the documents is done personally by the applicant or by a person authorized by him in the university.
*Note: Tuition fees are updated annually by a Decree of the Council of Ministers.
Training is offered in the following Bachelor’s programmes:
• Pedagogy (Pre-School and Primary School Pedagogy, Primary School Pedagogy and a Foreign Language, Pedagogy and Management in Education, Pre-School Pedagogy and a Foreign Language, Social Pedagogy, Special Pedagogy).
• Pedagogy of Teaching in...: Mathematics and Informatics, Pedagogy of Teaching Bulgarian and Foreign Languages, Pedagogy of Teaching Fine Arts, Pedagogy of Teaching Music, Pedagogy of Teaching Technical Sciences and Technologies, Pedagogy of Teaching Physics and Mathematics, Pedagogy of Teaching Chemistry and Physics, Pedagogy of Teaching Geography and History, Pedagogy of Teaching Physical Education)
• History and Archeology(History, Archivistics and information security)
• Philosophy
• Philology (Bulgarian Philology, English Philology, Applied Linguistics, English and Ethnology, Linguistics)
• Sociology, Anthropology and Cultural Studies (Sociology, Cultural Studies, Culture and Media Studies)
• Psychology
• Political Sciences (European Studies; International Relations; Political Sciences)
• Social Work
• Public Communications and Information Sciences (Public Relations)
• Administration and Management (Public Administration, Economic Management)
• Economics (Accounting and Auditing; Finance; Economics in public sphere; Marketing; International Economic Realtions)
• Tourism
• Physics (Applied optical technilogies; Metrology)
• Chemistry (Chemistry, Medical Chemistry)
• Earth Sciences (Geography, Ecology and Environmental Protection)
• Informatics and Computer Sciences (Informatics; Information systems and technilogies)
• Communication and Computer Technologies (Communication Systems and Technologies, Computer Systems and Technologies)
• Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Automation (Electronics)
• Mechanical Engineering (Design, technologies and management in the sewing industry)
• Public Health (Kinezitherapy; Logopedics)
• Fine Arts (Industrial design - Fashion)
• Musical and Dancing Arts (Bulgarian Folk Choreography, Modern Choreography, Performance Arts /traditional folk instruments or folk singing, pop and jazz singing/, Musical Theatre)
• Theatre and Film Art (Film and TV Editing, Film and TV Directing, Film and TV Cinematography, Acting)
• National Security (National security)
List with Masters programmes: http://www.swu.bg/academic-activities/academic-programmes/masters-programmes.aspx
The candidates should present a BA or an MA Diploma of higher education that should be officially recognized by the Academic Council of SWU “Neofit Rilski”. Recognition fee – 105 €.
Duration of studies:
- 1 academic year (two semesters) if the BA’s major is in the same area of studies;
- 2 academic years (four semesters) if the BA’s major is in a different area of studies.
Deadlines for enrollment in MA programmes:
- 10 of October for the programmes starting in the fall semester
- 10 of February for the programmes starting in the spring semester
Modes of education:
- Full-time and part-time education for EU citizens and the EU economic area;
- Only full-time education for citizens and states outside the EU and the EU economic area. The University provides the opportunity for individual training.
Tuition fees for citizens of the EU and the EEA countries
The citizens of EU and EEA countries may apply and be trained under the following possible conditions:
- Variant 1 - on the terms and conditions for Bulgarian citizens – training is subsidized by the Bulgarian state. The fees per semester are between 150 € and 260 € depending on the major chosen. The training is conducted in Bulgarian only.
- Variant 2 - on the terms and conditions for Bulgarian citizens – the tuition is paid. The fees per semester are between 370 € and 1360 € depending on the major chosen The training is conducted in Bulgarian only.
*Note: The candidates for training under Variant 1 and Variant 2 are required to present a certificate of language competence in Bulgarian.
- Variant 3: Training in English language. The fee per semester is 1700 € for part-time education and 1750 € for full-time education.
*Note: The tuition fee for the semester is payable at the beginning of each semester.
The candidates with double citizenship, one of which is Bulgarian, who are accepted for training under Variant 3 /training in a foreign language for EU and EEA citizens/ pay a tuition fee amounting to 50% of the fee for international students.
Tuition fees for citizens outside the EU and the EU economic area:
Citizens of non-EU and non-EEA countries can apply for and be trained in full-time MA programmes only. The tuition fee per semester is 1750 €. The training is conducted in Bulgarian or under the conditions of Variant 3 /training in English language for EU and EEA citizens/.
*Note: The tuition fee for the semester is payable at the beginning of each semester.
The candidates with double citizenship, one of which is Bulgarian, pay a tuition fee amounting to 50% of the fee for international students.
The students can choose to be trained in more than one MA programmes simultaneously.
1. Application form addressed to the Rector;
2. Copy of the University Diploma and a record of the student’s grades for the whole duration of their education;
*Notes:
- The copy of the University Diploma and the record of the student’s grades should contain an original apostil from a country that has signed the Hague’s Convention, or to be sealed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of a country that has signed a bilateral agreement of “legal aid” with Bulgaria
- The apostil or the seal should be laid out in the country that has issued the Diploma and the grade supplement.
- In case the University Diploma and the grade supplement have been translated in Bulgarian in the issuing country, the translated copies with the original apostil or a seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be officially legalized by the Bulgarian Embassy (Consulate) in the corresponding country.
- In case the translation in Bulgarian has been conducted in Bulgaria the legalization of the translation should be done by the Consular Office of the Bulgarian Ministry of the Foreign Affairs.
- In case the University Diploma and the grade supplement have been issued by a country that has not signed the Hague’s Convention or has not signed a bilateral agreement of “legal aid” with Bulgaria, the conventional procedure for legalization and certification of translations is applied.
3. Certificate for English language;
4. Copy of a Diploma of Secondary school;
5. Medical certificate issued no later than 30 days before submission of the application pack;
6. Copy of the ID;
7. 4 photos (4/3 format);
8. CV
The documents under articles 2, 4 and 5 should be translated in Bulgarian and legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the respective country and the Bulgarian Embassy.
• Application fee – 105 €.
The submission of the documents is done personally by the applicant or by a person authorized by him in the university.
*Note: Tuition fees are updated annually by a Decree of the Council of Ministers.
The Master’s programme training is offered in the following professional fields:
• Educational Management
• Pedagogy
• Pedagogy of Teaching in... (Informatics, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, History, Geography, Foreign Language etc.)
• History and Archeology
• Philosophy
• Philology
• Sociology, Anthropology and Cultural Studies
• Psychology
• Political Sciences
• Social Work
• Public Communications and Information Sciences
• Administration and Management
• Economics
• Tourism
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Earth Sciences
• Informatics and Computer Sciences
• Communication and Computer Technologies
• Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Automation
• Mechanical Engineering
• Public Health
• Fine Arts
• Musical and Dancing Arts
• Theatre and Film Arts
• National Security
(The full list of MA programmes is available at
http://www.swu.bg/academic-activities/academic-programmes/masters-programmes.aspx?lang=en )
Admission requirements:
The candidates should present a Certificate of Secondary Education allowing them to continue their studies in the state that issued the certificate. The certificates issued in foreign countries should undergo a procedure of official recognition held by the Blagoevgrad Regional Inspectorate of Education.
Duration of studies:
- 5 years.
Deadline for submitting the application:
- 10 of September of the current academic year.
Modes of education:
- full-time and part-time for citizens of the European Union and the European Economic Area.
- only full-time for citizens outside the European Union and the European Economic Area.
The University provides the opportunity for individual training with a class attendance reduced to 50 %.
Tuition fees for citizens of the EU and EEA countries:
The EU and EEA citizens can apply under the following possible conditions:
- Variant 1 - on the terms and conditions for Bulgarian citizens – training is subsidized by the Bulgarian state. The fee per semester is 185 €. The training is conducted in Bulgarian only.
- Variant 2 - on the terms and conditions for Bulgarian citizens – the tuition is paid. The fee per semester is 515 €. . The training is conducted in Bulgarian only.
*Note: The candidates for training under Variant 1 and Variant 2 are required to present a certificate of language competence in Bulgarian.
* Note: The tuition fee for the semester is payable at the beginning of each semester.
Tuition fees for citizens outside the EU and the EEA:
Citizens of non-EU and non-EEA countries can apply for and be trained in full-time MA programmes only. The semester fee is 1700 €.
*Note: The tuition fee for the semester is payable at the beginning of each semester.
The candidates with double citizenship, one of which is Bulgarian, pay a tuition fee amounting to 50% of the fee for international students.
The students can choose to be trained in more than one MA programmes simultaneously.
1. Application form addressed to the Rector;
2. A validated copy and a certified translation of a Diploma for completed secondary education including a supplement specifying the period of attendance and the grades;
3. A document issued by a competent body certifying the applicant’s eligibility to continue his/her studies in higher educational institutions in the country in which he/she has completed his/her secondary education.
*Note:
- The copy of the Diploma, the record of the student’s grades and the document under article 3. should contain an original apostil from a country that has signed the Hague’s Convention, or to be sealed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of a country that has signed a bilateral agreement of “legal aid” with Bulgaria.
- The apostil or the seal should be laid out in the country that has issued the certificate and the grade supplement.
- In case the Diploma, the grade supplement and the document under article 3. have been translated in Bulgarian in the issuing country, the translated copies with the original apostil or a seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be officially legalized by the Bulgarian Embassy (Consulate) in the corresponding country.
- In case the translation in Bulgarian has been conducted in Bulgaria the legalization of the translation should be done by the Consular Office of the Bulgarian Ministry of the Foreign Affairs.
- In case the Diploma, the grade supplement and the document under article 3.have been issued by a country that has not signed the Hague’s Convention or has not signed a bilateral agreement of “legal aid” with Bulgaria, the conventional procedure for legalization and certification of translations is applied.
4. Medical certificate issued no later than 30 days before submission of the application pack;
5. Copy of the ID;
6. 4 photos (4/3 format);
The documents under articles 2., 3. and 4 should be translated in Bulgarian and legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the respective country and the Bulgarian Embassy.
• Application fee – 105 €.
The submission of the documents is done personally by the applicant or by a person authorized by him in the university.
*Note: Tuition fees are updated annually according to a Decree of the Council of Ministers.
The training is offered in the following MA programmes:
○ Law
List with accredited PhD programmes (http://www.swu.bg/university-profile/accreditation/accredited-phd-programmes.aspx)
Admission requirements:
The candidates should present an MA Diploma of higher education that should be officially recognized by the Academic Council of SWU “Neofit Rilski”.
Recognition fee – 105 €.
Modes of training: full-time, part-time and individual.
Full-time training – fee per semester – 1750 €. Duration of studies – 3 years, minimal duration – 2 years. The fees are payable for full 3 year education. Admission is allowed after examination and approval of the required set of documents.
Part-time training – fee per semester 1250 €. Duration of studies – 4 years, minimal duration – 3 years. The fees are payable for full 4 year education. Admission is allowed after examination and approval of the required set of documents.
*Note:Citizens of EU and EEA are bound to pass an exam connected with the specialty they apply for and foreign language exam.
Individual training – fee per semester 1250 €. Duration of studies – 3 years, minimal duration – 2 years. The fees are payable for full 3 year education. Admission is allowed after presenting and approving of a PhD thesis project.
*Note: The tuition fee for the semester is payable at the beginning of each semester.
The candidates with double citizenship, one of which is Bulgarian, pay a tuition fee amounting to 50% of the fee for international students. If the Ph Degree is awarded within 5 years after admission, the expenses for the official defense are covered by the University. After this period an additional fee of 1200 € is paid. In all PhD programmes and modes of education the language of education is Bulgarian language or English language.
1. Application form addressed to the Rector;
2. Copy of the University Diploma and a record of the student’s grades for the whole duration of their education or a Certificate for completed university education;
*Notes:
- The copy of the University Diploma and the record of the student’s grades or the Certificate for completed university education should contain an original apostil from a country that has signed the Hague’s Convention, or to be sealed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of a country that has signed a bilateral agreement of “legal aid” with Bulgaria.
- The apostil or the seal should be laid out in the country that has issued the Diploma and the grade supplement.
- In case the University Diploma and the grade supplement or the Certificate for completed university education have been translated in Bulgarian in the issuing country, the translated copies with the original apostil or a seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be officially legalized by the Bulgarian Embassy (Consulate) in the corresponding country.
- In case the translation in Bulgarian has been conducted in Bulgaria the legalization of the translation should be done by the Consular Office of the Bulgarian Ministry of the Foreign Affairs.
- In case the University Diploma and the grade supplement or the Certificate of completed university education have been issued by a country that has not signed the Hague’s Convention or has not signed a bilateral agreement of “legal aid” with Bulgaria, the conventional procedure for legalization and certification of translations is applied.
3. Medical certificate issued no later than 30 days before submission of the application pack;
4. Certificate for English language level B2 according to the Common European Framework;
5. List of publications if applicable
6. Copy of the citizenship documents
7. 2 photos (4/3 format);
8. CV
9. Motivation letter
*Notes:The documents under articles 2 and 3 should be translated in Bulgarian and legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the respective country and the Bulgarian Embassy.
• Application fee – 105 €.
PhD Programmes:
1. Educational Management.
2. Theory of Education and Didactics
3. Special Pedagogy
4. History of Pedagogy and Bulgarian Education
5. Methodology of Education in Primary Classes
6. Pedagogical Technologies in Cinder Garden
7. Theory and Methodology of Physical Education (incl. Methodology of Remedial PE)
8. Methodology of Education ( in different scientific fields: nature and environment, nature and history, natural sciences, mathematics and informatics, Bulgarian language and literature, technical devices and technologies, fine arts, performance arts and theatre arts)
9. Theory and History of Literature
10. History of Bulgarian Literature
11. Russian Literature
12. Literature of the Peoples of Europe, America, Africa, Asia and Australia
13. Bulgarian Language
14. General and Comparative Linguistics
15. Slavonic Languages
16. German language
17. English language
18. Folkloristics and Ethnology
19. Theory and Practice of Translation
20. General Medieval History
21. General Modern and Recent History
22. History of Bulgaria
23. Archeology (incl. Numismatics and Epygraphy)
24. Documents recording, Archiving, Paleography (including Historiography and Source Studies)
25. Ancient History and Thracian Studies
26. History of Philosophy
27. Social Philosophy
28. Contemporary Theories of Philosophy
29. Sociology
30. Theory and History of Culture
31. Labour Psychology and Professional Psychological Diagnostics
32. Pedagogic and Age Psychology
33. Political Sciences
34. Organization and Management in social work
35. Public Relations
36. Information Technologies Application in PR
37. Administrative Law and Administrative Process
38. Civil and Family Law
39. Labour Law and Social Security
40. International Law and International Relations
41. Criminal Law
42. Criminal Process
43. Finance, Money flow, Crediting and Insurance
44. Economics and Management (Industry)
45. Organization and Management of Social Work and Culture
46. Economics and Management (Tourism)
47. Inorganic Chemistry
48. Organic Chemistry
49. Ecology and Environmental Protection
50. Cartography and Thematic Mapping
51. Physical Geography
52. Economic and Social Geography
53. Mathematical Analysis
54. Operational Research
55. Mathematical Modelling and Applications
56. Informatics
57. Computer Systems, Technologies and Networks
58. Logopedics
59. Kinezitherapy
60. Choreography
61. Theory and Practice of Arts Performing
62. Film theory, Film arts and Television
Other accommodation in Blagoevgrad:
Hotels:
Housing to rent:
For more information, please contact Stanislava Andonova, Foreign Students Officer,
Tel. : . +359-73-588 598, + 359 882 484 866
e-mail: fsoffice@swu.bg