International Relations Office

The University of Medicine - Pleven offers a six-year course in medicine, and graduates are awarded a diploma of completed higher medical education with a MD (master's degree).

Enrollment procedures for citizens of other countries.
Foreign citizens are enrolled for training as self-paid students. They should apply at the students' department by August 20, presenting:

An application form alongwith a short CV;
A diploma certifying successful completion of high school/college, translated into one of the officially recognized international languages and certified at the Bulgarian embassy/consulate in the country of applicant;
A medical certificate issued one month prior to application date, translated into one of the officially recognized international languages and certified at the Bulgarian embassy/consulate in the country of applicant;
Two 4/6 cm (passport size) recent color photos.

ACADEMIC CURRICULUM AND TRAINING PROGRAMS

       The full-time course in medicine for the qualification degree "Doctor of Medicine" lasts 6 years. It is realized in three consequent modules: pre-clinical training - 2 years, clinical training - 3 years, and pre-graduation clinical practice - 1 year Pre- graduation clinical practice is meant to provide the trainee doctors with highly qualified knowledge in the field of medicine and to further the development of their practical skills, thus enabling them to enter the medical profession and be ready to approach problems such as organization, prophylactics, diagnosis, treatment, etc. in their future practice. Pre-graduation linical practice is conducted at the Institute Hospital.
Foto of rector with students        The University of Medicine - Pleven offers a six-year English medium course in medicine, which includes a course in Bulgarian language. The course of instruction includes 10 semesters of theoretical and clinical training and 10 months of pre-graduate clinical practice in the following disciplines: internal diseases, surgery, obstetrics & gynecology, pediatrics, hygiene and infectious diseases including epidemiology, parasitology and tropical diseases. After completing each course in clinical practice, students sit for their state final examination in the respective discipline. Students who pass their state examinations successfully are awarded a diploma of completed higher medical education with a degree "Doctor of Medicine" (master's degree) with the right to practice general medicine. The tuition fee is 3,800 Euro for each of the academic years.
       University of Medicine - Pleven also offers a course of instruction in Bulgarian for foreign students, which lasts 7 years. During the first academic year, international students take an intensive course in Bulgarian language: general and specific for medical purposes, including a ground course in the terminology of biology, physics and chemistry. The tuition fee for the preparatory year is 2,500 Euro, and hostel facilities are provided. The students, who pass the examination at the end of year, are enlisted for the six-year training course in medicine. Students are expected to pay 50 % of the fee at the beginning of the respective academic year, and 50 % - within one month after the beginning of the second semester.
       The University of Medicine - Pleven offers accommodation in the students hostel, for which students are additionally charged.

Postgraduate specialization courses

The graduates from the University of Medicine obtain a qualification of "general practitioner". After an additional training in the corresponding specialty they can obtain a qualification of "doctor specialist in..." . These are four-year courses and can be taken by graduates of higher medical schools in Bulgaria and abroad. The working language is Bulgarian, and applicants who have not graduated from a Bulgarian medical higher school are offered an intensive course in Bulgarian at the University of Medicine, which takes six to eight months and is planned to suit both parties. Successful applicants are then allowed to follow the program designed by the respective tutor. The tuition fee for foreign citizens is 4,000 Euro per year.

Postgraduate studies for PhD Degree

Postgraduate studies for foreign citizens are designed for graduates of higher medical schools. They have to defend a thesis to be awarded a PhD degree. The tuition fee is to be paid by either the applicant or the sending country. The regular course takes three years. The applicants who have not graduated from a Bulgarian higher medical school are offered a course in Bulgarian language.
The topic of the thesis is approved by the Academic Council of the Institute, and an individual program for the stages to be followed in the preparation of the thesis is designed for 3 years and six months ahead.

The program is designed to meet the European standards in the area of management of nursing care. The frame of the program was elaborated in the PHARE Project BG 9301/02/05/L002 "Development of higher education for paramedics in Bulgaria" with technical assistance from Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris.

Main characteristics of the specialty: Foto6

Education level: Bachelor of Science;
Professional qualifications: 1. Manager in nursing care. 2. Lecturer in practice in a medical college;
Duration of studies: 4 semesters for full-time students and 6 semesters for the part-time students alternating study periods and work; the last semester includes 15 days of practical assignment in health institutions and 15 days - in a medical college.
Admission requirements: 1. Previous training in a medical college and a diploma for a nurse, midwife, laboratory technician, medical assistant, etc.; 2. A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in health institutions required for part-time students;
Admission exams: a multiple choice test in public health, analyses and synthesis of primary information and an interview;
Curriculum: 17 obligatory modules: History of Medicine and Nursing Care; Medical Ethics and Deontology; Health Economics; Principles in Health Care Management; Management of Nursing Care; Epidemiology; Statistics; Law; General and Medical Psychology; General and Medical Pedagogy; Public Health; Hygiene and Ecology; Ergonomics; Disaster Medicine; Introduction to Research, and some additional and optional subjects.
Certification:two final theoretical state exams - the first one in medico-social sciences, economics and law and the second one - in pedagogy and psychology. Practical assignment is certified by two practical state exams.
Areas of activity: Graduates will be eligible candidates for the position of head nurses and nursing directors in hospitals, primary health care centers, nursing homes, managers of nursing care in hospital wards, etc., and qualify for teaching positions at nursing colleges.

The tuition fees for foreign citizens for the Specialty are as follows: 2,500 Euro per academic year for Bachelor degree, regular form of training, 1,800 Euro for Bachelor degree part-time training; 2,000 Euro for Master's degree, part-time training; 2,500 Euro for preparatory year of language course.

The nursing colleges affiliated to the University of Medicine in Pleven offer a 3-year course of instruction, completed with an associate degree.
Instruction is offered in the following specialties:

Nurse - nursing colleges in Pleven, Rouse, Veliko Turnovo,
Midwife - nursing colleges in Pleven and Rouse,
Clinical laboratory assistants - nursing colleges in Pleven and Rouse
Radiographer - nursing college in Veliko Turnovo,
Physiotherapist - nursing college in Pleven,
Social worker nursing college in Veliko Turnovo.
All facilities and privileges offered to medical students are offered to the students of nursing colleges.
       The Colleges are situated in Pleven, Rousse and Veliko Turnovo. Duration of studies is three years. They are an acknowledged institutions providing students with the educational qualification of "Specialist" and the professional qualification of Nurse, Obstetrician, Laboratory Assistant and Physiotherapist.
       The major educational objectives and mission of the Colleges are the training of highly qualified paramedical specialists according to curricula and schedules, answering the Common state requirements and European educational standards, who will be able to meet the demands of the contemporary medical care immediately after their graduation.
       The new academic programs guarantee successful realization in all spheres of public and private sector in terms of medical care, as well as in all countries - members of the European Union, as they are developed with the help of Assistance public - hospitals of Paris and Marseilles, and school of paramedical specialists in Brussels.
       The tuition fees for foreign citizens in the Nursing Colleges are 2,600 Euro per academic year for a Specialist degree, regular form of training; 2,500 Euro for a preparatory year of language course.