The acquisition of scientific degrees and scientific titles in Bulgaria is regulated by a number of regulations, among which the key one is the Act on the Development of Academic Personnel in the Republic of Bulgaria. For each academic field, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria sets the minimum national requirements that a candidate must fulfil. In this article we will look at the requirements for applicants for degrees and scientific titles in the field of agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine.
Which sciences are categorised as agricultural sciences and veterinary science in Bulgaria?
According to the Act on the Development of Academics in the Republic of Bulgaria the category of agricultural sciences and veterinary sciences includes:
- Plant Production
- Plant protection
- Animal husbandry
- Veterinary medicine
- Forestry.
How to obtain a scientific degree or academic title in the field of agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine?
The main regulatory document governing the procedure for awarding scientific degrees and academic titles in Bulgaria is the Act on the Development of Academic Personnel in the Republic of Bulgaria. This Act entered into force in 2010 with subsequent amendments (the latest version was adopted on 18 March 2025). The document establishes both general principles of academic certification and specific minimum national requirements for various scientific fields, including agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine.
In order to obtain a doctoral degree, an applicant must complete doctoral studies, successfully pass mandatory examinations, defend a thesis and confirm scientific qualifications through additional scientific achievements. These include: publications in peer-reviewed publications indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, publication of scientific monographs and books, availability of registered patents and copyrights, as well as a high level of citation reflected in the candidate's H-index.
Awarding of scientific degrees (Doctor, Doctor of Science) and scientific titles (Principal Assistant, Associate Professor, Professor) is carried out on a competitive basis. Candidates are evaluated according to a point system: the higher the academic productivity and the number of points scored, the higher the probability of a favourable decision to award the degree/title.
In the previous article, we detailed the minimum national requirements for degrees and titles in educational sciences. Below is a table with the minimum point requirements for applicants in agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine.
Minimum number of points required for degrees and scientific titles in agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine
Number of points by indicators:
|
Group of indicators |
Indicator |
Number of points |
|
А |
1. Defence of a thesis for the degree of "Doctor". |
50 |
|
B |
2. Defence of a thesis for the scientific degree "Doctor of Science". |
100 |
|
C |
3. Monograph on the dissertation for the scientific doctoral degree. |
100 |
|
4. Scientific publications (not less than 10) on the dissertation for the scientific degree "Doctor of Sciences" in the editions that are indexed in the international databases Scopus or Web of Science (*n - number of co-authors). |
60/n for each publication |
|
|
D |
5. Publication of a monograph not submitted as a major thesis. |
100 |
|
6. Publication of a book based on a defended dissertation for the scientific degree of "doctor" or "doctor of sciences". |
40 |
|
|
7. Scientific publications in journals reviewed in the international databases Scopus or Web of Science (*n - number of co-authors). |
30/n or distribution depending on the contribution |
|
|
8. Scientific publications in non-peer-reviewed scientific journals or collective collections (*n - number of co-authors). |
10/n or distribution depending on the contribution |
|
|
9. Studies published and cited in scientific journals indexed in Scopus or Web of Science (*n - number of co-authors). |
45/n or distribution depending on the contribution |
|
|
10. Studies published in non-peer-reviewed scientific journals or collective collections (*n - number of co-authors). |
15/n or distribution depending on the contribution |
|
|
11. Published chapter in a collective monograph (*n - number of co-authors). |
20/n |
|
|
12. Creation of a line and variety, breed/race of animals with the participation of n co-authors (*n - number of co-authors). |
50/n |
|
|
E
|
13. Citation in scientific publications that are indexed in international databases Scopus/Web of Science or in monographs and collective collections. |
15 |
|
14. Citation in monographs and peer-reviewed collective collections. |
10 |
|
|
15. Citation in non-peer-reviewed scientific journals. |
5 |
|
|
F
|
16. Obtaining the scientific degree "Doctor of Science". |
40 |
|
17. Scientific supervision of a successfully defended doctoral student (*n - number of co-supervisorsof the corresponding doctoral student). |
40/n |
|
|
18. Participation in a national research or educational project. |
15 |
|
|
19. Participation in an international scientific or educational project. |
20 |
|
|
20. Manage a national research or education project. |
30 |
|
|
21. Management of an international scientific or educational project. |
40 |
|
|
22. Published university or school textbook (*n - number of co-authors). |
40/n |
|
|
23. Published university textbook or school textbook (*n - number of co-authors). |
20/n |
|
|
24. Patents, inventions, technologies with n co-authors. |
50/n |
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