Higher education system

The higher education system in Bulgaria comprises various forms of education and post- secondary qualification. The new Higher Education Act, which came into force as of 1995 laid down the grounds for an overall change, its organisation is in a process of reform.

At present, the higher education establishments are divided into universities, specialised higher schools (academies, institutes) and colleges:

Universities are those higher education institutions, which provide training in a wide range of specialities at least in three out of the four major fields of science (the humanities, natural, social and technical sciences). The universities have their own research potential and facilities and with their research work advance the main fields of science and culture. These higher education institutions are entitled to train their students for all degrees.

Specialised higher education institutions engage in training and scientific research in (a) major field(s) of science, arts and sports. These specialised higher schools, which possess the characteristics of the universities (barring the range of fields in which they organise training), can be also called "universities", including their specific field of studies in their name (for instance, Technical University, Medical University, University of National and World Economy, etc.)

Colleges offer a relatively shorter-term vocationally oriented training. They are mainly incorporated in the structure of the universities and use their facilities, but may also be independent, provided they possess the necessary academic and material preconditions.

The Higher Education Act provides for setting up a number of colleges offering three-year programmes for vocationally oriented education in various fields with a view of obtaining the educational and qualification degree of Specialist in... These actually are the former semihigher institutes, which are subject to various changes. Some of them will be closed down, the majority will be transformed into colleges integrated within the system of the respective universities, while a small number will remain operative as independent colleges.

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