Obtaining academic degrees and scientific titles in Bulgaria is a strictly regulated and competitive process. In this article we will review the minimum national requirements for candidates for academic positions in the field of health sciences and sports. The analysis is based on the provisions of the Academic Staff Development Act in the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as on the relevant by-laws.
Which disciplines are categorised as health and sports sciences in Bulgaria?
According to the Academic Development Act in the Republic of Bulgaria the following disciplines belong to the health and sports sciences:
- Medicine
- Dentistry
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
- Medical care
- Sports.
How to obtain a scientific degree or academic title in the field of health and sports sciences?
The procedure for awarding academic degrees and scientific titles in Bulgaria is regulated by the provisions of the Academic Personnel Development Act in the Republic of Bulgaria. This Act was adopted in 2010 and has been amended and updated several times since then. The latest version entered into force on 18 March 2025. The law establishes both the basic principles of the academic certification system and specific minimum national requirements, differentiated by scientific fields, including health and sports sciences.
In order to obtain a scientific degree or academic title in the field of health and sports sciences, a candidate must complete doctoral studies, successfully pass the examinations stipulated in the curriculum, defend a thesis and achieve the established minimum points required for the respective academic position. The awarding of academic degrees - such as PhD and MD – as well as academic titles (Principal Assistant, Associate Professor, Professor) is carried out through a competitive procedure.
Candidates are evaluated on the basis of a point system that takes into account both quantitative and qualitative characteristics of their scientific and professional activities. Scores are allocated according to groups of indicators covering different areas of academic activity and corresponding indicators.
The list of these indicators can be found in the table below.
Minimum number of points required for academic degrees and scientific titles in health and sport sciences
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 degree of scientific doctor of sciences. |
100 |
|
4. Dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Sciences: scientific publications (at least 10) in the publications, peer-reviewed and indexed in the international databases Scopus or Web of Science (*n - number of co-authors). |
60/n for each scientific 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). |
60/n or distribution depending on the contribution |
|
|
8. Scientific publications in non-peer-reviewed scientific journals or collective collections (*n - number of co-authors). |
30/n or distribution depending on the contribution |
|
|
9. Published chapter in a collective monograph (*n - number of co-authors). |
20/n |
|
|
E
|
10. Citation in scientific publications that are indexed in international databases Scopus/Web of Science or in monographs and collective collections. |
15 |
|
11. Citation in monographs and peer-reviewed collective collections. |
10 |
|
|
12. Citation in non-peer-reviewed scientific journals. |
5 |
|
|
F
|
13. Obtaining the scientific degree "Doctor of Science". |
40 |
|
14. Scientific supervision of a successfully defended doctoral student (*n - number of co-supervisor of the corresponding doctoral student). |
40/n |
|
|
15. Acquisition of a medical speciality. |
40 |
|
|
16. Participation in a national scientific or educational project. |
15 |
|
|
17. Participation in an international scientific or educational project. |
20 |
|
|
18. Directing a national research or educational project. |
30 |
|
|
19. Management of an international scientific or educational project. |
40 |
|
|
20. Published university or school textbook (*n - number of co-authors). |
40/n |
|
|
21. Published university textbook or school textbook (*n - number of co-authors). |
20/n |
|
|
22. Training of trainees, residents and doctoral students (seminars and practical classes). |
30 |
|
|
23. Awards received at national sports competitions (direction "sport"). |
10 |
|
|
24. Awards received at international sports competitions (direction "sport"). |
20 |
In the previous article, we looked in detail at the minimum national requirements for applicants for scientific degrees and scientific titles in the humanities.
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