ADMISSION TO DOCTORAL STUDIES IN INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAMME

Admission to the Independent Study Programme is granted on application, without a preliminary examination, throughout the academic year, according to the following procedure:

The applicant shall submit the following documents to the Office of ULSIT:

1. Application form for an independent PhD should be submitted to the Rector (Sample of the Application form).
2. A professional curriculum vitae accompanied by a photograph of the candidate and their signature.
3. Original Diploma of Master's degree , along with a copy thereof (the original to be returned upon comparison with the copy by a civil servant), is to be submitted.
4. In the event that the diploma is issued by a foreign higher education institution, a Certificate of Recognised Higher Education will be required.
5. Medical certificate.
6. Criminal record certificate.
7. In the event there are any other documents attesting the candidate's interests and achievements within their relevant scientific field, these should also be submitted.
8. In the event that certificates and documents evidencing language proficiency in a foreign language are available, these should be submitted.
9. Three copies of a pivotal component of the dissertation should be submitted, encompassing the primary body of the work and the relevant bibliography.
10. Concept of the dissertation.

The PhD candidate in the independent form of study presents a conceptual project exposition/presentation to a temporary working group within the primary unit (department). The group is appointed by Order of the Rector of ULSIT. The project is then discussed in the candidate's presence. Following the favourable decision of the relevant teaching unit (department) and the subsequent ratification of this decision in accordance with the prescribed protocol, the candidate is formally enrolled as a PhD student in the independent form of study.

Individuals who have successfully completed their higher education at foreign institutions are eligible to apply for doctoral programmes at ULSIT, provided that their qualifications are recognised in accordance with the Ordinance on the State Requirements for Recognition of Acquired Higher Education and Completed Periods of Study in Foreign Higher Education Institutions. This Ordinance was adopted by Decree No. 168 of the Council of Ministers in 2000 (State Gazette No. 69 of 2000). The application process and conditions are in accordance with the requirements of the Law on the Development of Academic Staff in the Republic of Bulgaria and the Rules for Implementation of this Law as well as the Regulations of ULSIT for the Implementation of the Law on the Development of Academic Staff in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Individuals who are not citizens of Bulgaria or another Member State of the European Union, of another State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, or of the Swiss Confederation, are permitted to apply for and undertake a doctoral programme in an independent form of study, in accordance with the established procedures and requirements stipulated in the Regulations of ULSIT for the Implementation of the Law on the Development of Academic Staff in the Republic of Bulgaria.

The tuition fees for independent doctoral students of Bulgarian and foreign citizens are determined by the Decision of the Academic Council of the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies.

TRAINING OF DOCTORAL STUDENTS

Doctoral students are offered training in a variety of modes, including full-time, part-time (for Bulgarian citizens only) and independent study.

Doctoral training encompasses the following activities:

1. academic research;
2. attendance and participation in courses (seminars, lectures, practical classes, etc. of doctoral level);
3. lecturing;
4. expert activity and/or participation in academic forums (national and/or international);
5. examinations in order to fulfil the minimum requirements for obtaining a doctorate;
6. production of a doctoral thesis.

The distribution of the work of the PhD students by types of activities for the duration of the training is unified and is approved by the Academic Council of UniBIT, in compliance with all mandatory requirements established in the current regulations of the school. / The allocation of PhD students' work is standardised according to activity types and duration of training. This distribution has been ratified by ULSIT's Academic Council, ensuring adherence to all stipulated regulations as outlined in the institution's prevailing policies:

1. academic research – 45%;
2. attendance at lectures, participation in seminars, practical classes and examinations in the subjects of the curriculum for doctoral students at ULSIT – 10%.
3. examinations in order to fulfil the minimum requirements for obtaining a doctorate – 10%;
4. lecturing– 10%
5. expert activity and/or participation in academic forums (national and/or international) – 5%;
6. doctoral thesis defence – 20%.

Doctoral students receive training in accordance with an individual study plan, which is prepared by the doctoral student and their supervisor using a template that has been approved by the Faculty Council. Approval of the PhD student's individual study plan is granted by the Faculty Board. This study plan delineates the orientation of the doctoral programme, comprising a comprehensive study plan for the entire duration, along with a yearly work plan. The yearly work plan stipulates activities that ensure compliance with the minimum requirements stipulated by the Law on the Development of Academic Staff in the Republic of Bulgaria, categorised into groups of indicators. The individual study plan incorporates a comprehensive study plan specific to doctoral students at ULSIT, which is implemented at the Institute for Scientific Research and Doctoral Studies (ISRDS).

CONTACTS

Sofia, 119 Tsarigradsko Shose Blvrd
fl. 2, Room 215 (ISRDS Office)
Telephone number: + 359 878 220 451
E-mail: iniod@unibit.bg

Prof. Gosho Petkov, DSc – Director of ISRDS
g.petkov@unibit.bg

Senior Asst. Prof. Bella Tetevenska, PhD – Foreign Doctoral students
b.tetevenska@unibit.bg

Assoc. Prof. Ralitza Yotova, PhD – Research Secretary
r.yotova@unibit.bg

Pamela Deleva – Senior Expert
p.deleva@unibit.bg

Gabriela Krastanova – Technical Assistant
g.krastanova@unibit.bg