Incoming Erasmus students
- General information
- About the University
- Academic calendar
- List of Bachelor courses offered in a foreign language
- List of Master courses offered in a foreign language
- Grading system
- ECTS
- Application deadlines
- Application procedures
- Application documents
- Visa and Visa formalities
- Accommodation
- Registration
- Student services
- Map of TU - Sofia
- Useful information
- Contacts
Erasmus mobility – Is it an undertaking or a challenge, you are free to decide.
These guidelines are addressed to university Incoming students of all levels (B, M, Ph.D. students), selected under the EU Erasmus + Program for a mobility period, within inter-institutional Erasmus Agreements, signed between their institution and TU - Sofia, in thematic areas indicated in the agreements.
Incoming Erasmus students are accepted for thesis preparation/work or for studies of course units (integrated in a group of students). They will not pay any tuition fees or taxes for studies.
TU – Sofia doesn't require a certificate of language knowledge, it is in charge of sending institution to verify that the candidates have the B1 level, as stated in the Inter institutional agreement.
EU citizens or citizens from EEA countries enter TU – Sofia without a visa. Erasmus Incoming students from Turkey and other non-European country must apply for a student visa in advance, before departure to Bulgaria.
In this guide one can find answers of the most urgent questions of international students concerning degree programmes in foreign languages, grading system, accommodation, university life, student facilities and many other issues related to your stay in TU - Sofia. Should you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Erasmus Office. We will do our best to meet your kind request.
Technical University of Sofia (TU-Sofia) is an autonomous institution, funded by the state. TU-Sofia is accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Agency (NAAA). The training in various Professional Bachelor’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degree programmes is carried out in professional areas and specialities accredited by the NAAA.
Technical University of Sofia (TU-Sofia), set up in 1945, is a major educational and research institution of higher learning, employing highly qualified and committed staff, researchers and engineers and technical staff, equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories.
Technical University of Sofia is the largest Higher Institute of Technology in the country with a 70-year-long tradition in the training of engineers. TU-Sofia currently trains 15 000 students, of which 1400 are international students; 500 Ph.D. students. Over 100 000 are the engineers who have graduated from the Technical University and have contributed to the development of the Bulgarian industry with the knowledge and skills obtained in the course of their university education. There is hardly any enterprise, company or industrial plant in the country, which has not employed graduates of the Technical University of Sofia.
Technical University of Sofia trains specialists in engineering degree courses, which are essential for the development of economy. Modern engineering specialities are taught in the spheres of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Power Generation, Transport, Automatics, Computer Science and Telecommunication Technology, Textile Engineering, Industrial Management.
Technical University of Sofia offers its students the opportunity to study in Engineering degree programmes in a foreign language (German, English and French), as well as education in a second degree programme at the respective faculty. There are available also a lot of additional options for further qualifications at the Centres for Continuous, Postgraduate and Lifelong Learning.
Technical University of Sofia carries out dynamic research activities, whose scientific products are highly competitive on the world market.
Technical University of Sofia maintains intensive internation relations with many renowned universities worldwide.
Accreditaion results: The Technical University is awarded institutional accreditation with a total grade on all criteria of 9.50/10 (nine point five).
The accreditation is awarded for a period of 6 years as from 2012 year till 2018 year, according to the Law on Higher Education in Bulgaria
|
Educational Process |
Weeks |
Period the dates are approximate |
|
Classes for the winter semester |
13 |
26.09.2022 - 23.12.2022 |
|
Christmas holidays |
2 |
24.12.2022 - 07.01.2023 |
|
Winter examination session |
3 |
09.01.2023 - 28.01.2023 |
|
Winter retake session |
1 |
30.01.2023 - 04.02.2023 |
|
Classes for the summer semester |
13 |
06.02.2023 - 13.04.2023 |
|
Easter holidays |
1 |
14.04.2023 - 22.04.2023 |
|
Summer examination session |
4 |
15.05.2023 - 10.06.2023 |
|
Annual retake session |
4 |
12.06.2023 - 08.07.2023 |
|
Educational Process |
Weeks |
Period the dates are approximate |
|
Classes for the winter semester |
13 |
10.10.2022 - 22.12.2022 |
|
Christmas holidays |
2 |
24.12.2022 - 07.01.2023 |
|
Winter examination session |
3 |
23.01.2023 - 11.02.2023 |
|
Winter retake session |
one date for every month from March to May incl. |
01.03.2023 - 31.05.2023 |
|
Classes for the summer semester |
15 |
13.02.2023 - 13.04.2023 |
|
Easter holidays |
1 |
14.04.2023 - 22.04.202 |
|
Summer examination session |
8 |
29.05.2023 - 22.07.2023 |
|
ECTS grade |
points |
mark* |
Bulgarian-in words |
English-in words |
|
A |
100-90 |
6.0 |
ОТЛИЧЕН |
EXCELLENT |
|
B |
89-80 |
5.0 |
МНОГО ДОБЪР |
VERY GOOD |
|
C |
79-70 |
4.0 |
ДОБЪР |
GOOD |
|
D |
69-60 |
3.5 |
ЗАДОВОЛИТЕЛЕН |
SATISFACTORY |
|
E |
59-50 |
3 |
ДОСТАТЪЧЕН |
SUFFICIENT |
|
F |
49-0 |
2 |
СЛАБ |
FAILED |
Rank of grading: from 2 to 6
Top possible mark: 6
Lowest possible mark: 2
Pass mark: 3
Average mark: 4
It is a standard for comparing the study attainment and performance of students of higher education across the European Union and other collaborating European countries during Erasmus mobility period. For successfully completed studies, ECTS credits are awarded.
Students will receive full recognition for all academic work successfully carried out at the ECTS partner institution.
Based on that standard, students can transfer these academic credits from one participating country to another.
One academic year corresponds to 60 ECTS credits, one semester to 30 credits. The preparation of thesis Bachelor degree is evaluated with 10 credits and of Master degree – with 15 credits.
Credits are allocated to all educational components of a study program (such as modules, courses, placements, dissertation work etc.)They reflect the quantity of work, each component requires to achieve its specific objectives or learning outcomes.
The performance of student is documented by a local/national grade. It is a good practice to add an ECTS grade, next to the national one.
|
Winter semester : TU – Sofia needs to receive the signed & complete application package by 20 August. |
|
Summer semester: TU – Sofia needs to receive the signed & complete application package by 20 December. |
The selection of candidates became at sending institution.
TU - Sofia accepts students from universities studying in EU countries and the EEA on the basis of Inter institutional Erasmus+ agreements. Administrative formalities in arranging the stay be carried out by the "Erasmus +office ".
Educational issues are solved in the faculty, signed the Erasmus+ contract in collaboration with other departments, if necessary. The final program for studies of students at the Technical University - Sofia is clarified within 25 days of arrival of the student and signed by the faculty Erasmus coordinator/Dean of the faculty.
The specific period of mobility is regulated by the Inter institutional agreement between partner-universities.
Mobility period officially starts from the first day that the applicant needs to be present at TU – Sofia and ends on the last day, that the participant needs to be present at TU – Sofia.
Once selected their students, each partner university will communicate their nomination, by e-mail, to the Erasmus Office of Technical University - Sofia.
Students discuss with the home university and indicate study courses in Learning Agreement, according to courses taught in the home university and the list of offered degree courses at TU- Sofia.
N.B.
1/ All selected non-European citizens must have entry visa for Bulgaria, prior arrival in TU – Sofia and valid for the entire mobility period.
2/ All selected students must have insurance policy or European Health insurance card prior arrival in TU – Sofia and valid for the entire mobility period.
3/ Upon Finishing the Mobility period, Incoming students are kindly requested to arrange the deregistration procedures at least 1 week before departure date.
Before Mobility (at the Home University)
1/ Application at TU- Sofia, submitting all required documents: Application form, Learning agreement, Transcript of Records and Housing Application form (optional).
2/ Receive a confirmation for acceptance of TU- Sofia by E-mail or as separate Invitation/Acceptance letter.
During Mobility (at the Host University)
Upon arrival at TU- Sofia, incoming students receive preliminary information on studies, on accommodation in a hostel, payment of fees and details of faculty registration in building 2, Floor 4, Room 2423-G.
3/ Submit to Erasmus office of TU- Sofia following documents:
a/ all application documents
b/ copy of International passport/ID card
c/ 2 recent photos (passport size)
4/ Get registered in the faculty, concluded the Erasmus+ contract according to order of the Rector, issued on the basis of Inter Institutional agreement and personal data of the student.
5/ o Join a group of students of the faculty, signed the Erasmus contracts (when matching the curriculum of the Learning Agreement) or start working on thesis preparation with individual supervisor.
o Join a group of students of another faculty, (when mismatch curriculum of the Learning Agreement, with the faculty signed the contract) or start working on thesis preparation/work with individual supervisor.
6/ Make final arrangements of the study plan, (indicated courses in the Learning Agreement), within 5 weeks after arrival at TU – Sofia and get confirmed by home university (2 weeks) .
7/ Register at the Migration office of Ministry of Interior (if the mobility period is exceeding 90 days).
Before Departure (at the Host University)
8/ Students take all exams or make project presentation/defense before examination board of TU – Sofia and take the final grades.
9/ Receive the Transcript of Records (part 3 of the Learning Agreement) of the completed studies and grades achieved.
10/ Pay the rent and final bills for the dormitory (if applicable).
11/ Deregistrate from the faculty at TU – Sofia, the library, etc.
12/ Come to the Erasmus office for final Erasmus documents with all receipts of paid bills and exmatriculation.
13/ If the documents of foreign students are not prepared by the faculty of studies, student transmit to the “Erasmus” office detailed list of subjects studied, the names of teachers and dates of exams/topic and date of official defense in English to generate the missing documents.
14/ Erasmus office procure all documents from the faculty of studies and faculty of registration and send them by post at the University of foreign student.
1. Application form attached hereto (obligatory) - template (3 copies)
2. Learning agreement with study subjects or thematic area of the project (obligatory) - template (3 copies)
3. Transcript of records (certificate about previous and current higher education studies at the home university prior to mobility period, (obligatory) - template (3 copies)
4. Housing application (optional) - template (2 copies).
Participants in Erasmus+ projects may need to obtain a visa for staying abroad in the Programme or Partner Country hosting the activity. Participating organisations are responsible for ensuring that all required authorisations (short or long-term stay visas or residence permits) are in order before the planned activity takes place. These should be requested in good time, since the process may take several weeks or even months. The EU Immigration Portal contains general information on visa and residence permits, for both short-term and long-term stays. NAs may also provide advice and support concerning visas, residence permits, social security, and so on.
HEIs must provide assistance, when required, in securing visas for incoming and outgoing participants. Information and documentation should be available on their website. Where possible, the HEI should provide a contact person who may assist with visa-related issues, with a description of the services offered and the support that can be provided.
In cases in which it is difficult to obtain visas (e.g. where diplomatic missions are not located in the countries of residence or if postal applications are not accepted), institutions should attempt to help by providing assistance in contacting diplomatic representatives. The European Commision encourages institutions to use their OS grant to offset participants' visa expenses, where possible. Participants themselves remain responsible for their visa application.
Note that higher education students from third countries who come to the EU for a period of study or for a traineeship are covered in almost all EU Member States40 by Directive (EU) 2016/801 of 11 May 2016 for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au pairing.
Generally speaking, participants in Erasmus+ projects staying in the destination country for more than three months will need a long-stay visa and/or a residence permit before travelling. A short-stay visa is never an appropriate authorisation when the stay exceeds three months. Several documents are needed when applying for the necessary authorisation. The exact type of documents that are required will depend on the purpose of the stay and on the rules of the destination country.
The following table provides general guidelines on the issuing of visas and residence permits to Erasmus+ participants coming from Partner Countries:
|
Destination Programme Country |
If short stay – three months or less |
If long stay – over three months |
|
Erasmus+ Programme Countries which are members of the Schengen Area: Austria |
Non-EU nationals may need a short-stay visa (or 'Schengen visa') depending on their nationality. Check if a visa is needed.
|
Non-EU national participants will need a long-stay visa or a residence permit issued by destination country they will reside in. A short-stay visa is never an appropriate authorisation when the stay exceeds three months.
Sometimes the destination country issues a residence permit replacing the long-stay visa once the non-EU national arrives in its territory. The rules differ depending on the length of the stay and on the country of destination. The EU Immigration Portal contains links to the national authorities of the Programme Countries which are members of the EU.
If participants hold a residence permit or a long-stay visa issued by a Schengen area country, they can move freely within the Schengen area.
Non-EU nationals travelling to a Schengen area country via another Schengen area country must make sure that they have a long-stay visa or residence permit issued by the destination country.
Higher education institutions should cover fees, insurance and bank transfer costs (or part of these) using Erasmus+ organisational support funds, i.e. not deducting these from the participant's individual support grant. Any cost charged to the participant's individual support grant should be clearly understood by the participant and agreed, in advance, by both parties. |
|
Destination Programme Country |
If short stay – three months or less |
If long stay – over three months |
|
Erasmus+ Programme Countries which are not members of the Schengen Area:
Bulgaria The Former Yugoslav |
Non-EU national participants will need a national short-stay visa or not, depending on the rules of the country of destination. Holders of Schengen visas valid for multiple entries can enter Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania without an additional national visa. |
As above |
The student hostels of TUS are located close to the main buildings of the University. They provide accommodation to over 6,000 students about 1,000 student families- practically non Sofia residents.
The campus is situated in area called “Student town”, 25-30 minutes drive from the city center. The rooms (mainly double rooms) have running hot water, Internet access a private WC and a shower. The furniture is quite economic, but still enough.
No preliminary deposits and monthly rents are required. The deposit (about EUR 50) and monthly rent about EUR 50-60 and are paid upon arrival. Bills are paid additionally. You can reach the student dormitories from the University by bus or walking (15 minutes).
The Students Town has a well developed infrastructure of shopping centers, sport facilities, childcare establishments, discotheques, restaurants, etc.
Having accommodation in the student hostels, you can study and relax on same spot.
Enclosure: Accommodation request ( 2 copies)
All Erasmus+ incoming students are encoded for TU- Sofia (the International Integration dept. and the Faculty, signed the Erasmus + Inter-institutional agreement). and EC register( Mobility tool), after arrival.
Required documents:
N.B.
Upon Finishing the Mobility period, Incoming students are kindly requested to arrange the deregistration procedures at least 1 week before departure date.
1/ BULGARIAN LANGUAGE COURSE
All Incoming Erasmus students could benefit from Bulgarian Language course.
It organized by high qualified teachers for 100 academic hours for free.
The lessons take place 2 times a week in the university premises.
The days are agreed according the study schedule of the students.
Students, who attend classes and finish the exam, are awarded 6 ECTS.
2/ ISIC CARD FOR INCOMING STUDENTS
Incoming Erasmus+ students can get ISIC card from the Technical University - Sofia to facilitate the training and stay in Bulgaria as receive special offers in various categories of public life:
2. Entertainments
3. Health care
4. Culture and Tourism
5. Accommdation
6. Shopping
7. Sport
8. Events
9. Services
10. Foods and drinks
ISIC TU card serves as ID card, ISIC card preferences in Bulgaria and abroad, discount card in the Bulgarian State Railways, document issuance and recharge card for public transport in Sofia, card access to dorms, canteen /Mensa/ and library of the university.
How is issued TU student ISIC card?
Foreign students fill in application form for issuing ISIC TU student card online at http://isic.bg/tu, print it and sign it. Pay a fee for issuance of ISIC card TU of BGN 7 (about EUR 4) to the cash desks of the Department Student dormitories and canteens. Transmit the form, fee payment and a passport size photograph in Student Council, Hall 1154B. TU finished ISIC card is obtained from the Student Council.
Incoming Erasmus+ students can rely on the assistance of the Erasmus office for all procedures by filling in the application form to obtain finished TU student ISIC card.
3/ LIBRARY SERVICES
The three storey building is one of the last modern facilities of the university. It has a digitalization room, a video room, a copy center, 2 reading rooms, a classroom for group-work of students and lecturers (with 40 seats) a conference hall with 60 seats etc. The library has a total of 215 work-seats, 126 of them are equipped with computers.
Incoming students can read books and magazines inside and use the electronic data base and resources of the library, even with private computers.
Students who would like to benefit of library services need a specific library card.
One can receive the library card, submitting documents as follows:
1/ Personal ID card/ international passport or ISIC card
2/ Pay the lump sum for library fee BGN 2 (about EUR 1) for the hall academic year.
Link to: Map of TU - Sofia
Telephone numbers in Bulgaria are under an open dialing plan, similar to those of Germany and Austria. Area codes should only be dialed when necessary. Area codes are prefixed with a trunk code of 0 when dialled domestically.
To call a number in Sofia:
-
xxx xxxx in Sofia
-
02 xxx xxxx outside Sofia, but in Bulgaria
-
+359 2 xxx xxxx outside Bulgaria
European SOS 112
The number 112 can be dialled to reach emergency services - medical, fire and police - from anywhere in Europe. This Pan-European emergency number 112 can be called from any telephone (landline, pay phone or mobile cellular phone). Calls are free. It can be used for any life-threatening situation, including:
Serious medical problems (accident, unconscious person, severe injuries, chest pain, seizure)
1. Any type of fire (house, car)
2. Life-threatening situations (crimes)
3.Information on the 112 number from the European Commission website
See more at:
https://www.angloinfo.com/bulgaria/how-to/bulgaria-healthcare-emergencies
|
Single European Emmergency Number |
112 |
|
Ambulance |
112, 150 , 02/983 52 24, or |
|
Hospital “Pirogov” (University Hospital for Active Treatment and Emergency Medicine) |
112, 02/915 44 11 |
|
Civil Defense |
112, 0800 20112, 02/862 60 75, 02/962 04 39, 02/962 04 41 |
|
Traffic Police – road accidents |
112, 165, 02/982 49 01, 02/982 49 02 |
|
Police |
112, 166 |
|
Montain rescue service |
112, 02/963 20 00, 0887 100 237 |
|
Fire safety |
112, 160 |
|
Auto technical assistance |
112, 1286 (Sofia), 146 (outside Sofia) |
|
Business directory enquiries for Sofia |
144 |
|
Private directory enquiries for Sofia |
145 |
|
Sofia Airport |
02/937 22 11, 937 22 12, 937 22 13 |
|
Central Railway Station - Sofia |
02/ 9324190, 02 931 11 11, |
|
Cental Bus Station - Sofia |
0900 63 099 |
|
Taxis |
02/ 9 12 80, 02/973 21 21, |
|
Electricity Distribution – Emergency Service |
0700 10 010 |
|
Hotline for victims of abuse |
0800 18 676 |
Foe further information, please contact:
http://www.all4sofia.com/emergency-phone-numbers-in-sofia/
Contact persons:
Kirilka Ivanova
Chief Expert
Erasmus Exchange Coordinator
Building 2, room No. 2423-Г
Phone: +359 2 965 3436
Email: k.ivanova@tu-sofia.bg
Hristina Nikova
Chief Expert
Erasmus Exchange Coordinator
Building 2, room No. 2423-Г
Phone: +359 2 965 3434
Email: hnikova@tu-sofia.bg
University Erasmus+ coordinator:
Prof. Dr. – Eng. Tasho Tashev
Building 2, room No. 2316
Tel. +359 /0/2 965 2324
E mail: t_tashev@tu-sofia.bg