The procedure for awarding academic degrees and academic titles in Bulgaria is regulated by the Academic Personnel Development Act in the Republic of Bulgaria and the relevant by-laws. In this article we will review the minimum national requirements for candidates for academic positions in the humanities.
Which sciences are categorised as humanities in Bulgaria?
According to the Academic Development Act in the Republic of Bulgaria the following fields belong to the humanities:
- Philology
- History and Archaeology
- Philosophy
- Religion and Theology.
How to obtain a scientific degree or academic title in the field of humanities?
The procedure for awarding academic degrees and academic titles in Bulgaria is regulated by the Academic Personnel Development Act in the Republic of Bulgaria. This normative act was adopted in 2010 and has been repeatedly updated since then, the latest version coming into force on 18 March 2025. The law defines both general principles of academic certification and specific minimum national requirements for different academic fields, including the humanities.
In order to successfully obtain a scientific degree or academic title in the humanities, an applicant must complete doctoral studies, successfully pass the compulsory examinations, defend the thesis and achieve the established minimum number of points stipulated for the respective academic position. The awarding of academic degrees (Doctor, Doctor of Science) and academic titles (Principal Assistant, Associate Professor, Professor) is carried out on a competitive basis. Candidates are evaluated according to a point system, taking into account the volume and quality of their academic achievements. Points are awarded for academic achievements and professional activities and are allocated to groups of indicators and corresponding indicators.
You can familiarise yourself with these indicators in the table below.
Minimum number of points required for academic degrees and titles in the humanities
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 the thesis for the scientific degree "Doctor of Science". |
100 |
|
C |
3. Monograph on the dissertation for the scientific doctoral degree. |
100 |
|
D |
4. Publication of a monograph not submitted as a major thesis. |
100 |
|
5. Publication of a book based on a defended dissertation for the degree of "doctor" or "doctor of sciences". |
75 |
|
|
6. Scientific publications in journals reviewed in the international databases Scopus or Web of Science (*n - number of co-authors). |
30/n |
|
|
7. Scientific publications in non-peer-reviewed scientific journals or collective collections (*n - number of co-authors). |
10/n |
|
|
8. Studies published and cited in scientific journals indexed in Scopus or Web of Science (*n - number of co-authors). |
45/n |
|
|
9. Studies published in non-peer-reviewed scientific journals or collective collections (*n - number of co-authors). |
15/n |
|
|
10. Published chapter in a collective monograph (*n - number of co-authors). |
20/n |
|
|
11. Dictionary compilation (only for the direction "philology"). *n - number of co-authors |
40/n |
|
|
E
|
12. Citation in scientific publications that are indexed in international databases Scopus/Web of Science or in monographs and collective collections. |
15 |
|
13. Citation in monographs and peer-reviewed collective collections. |
10 |
|
|
14. Citation in non-peer-reviewed scientific journals. |
5 |
|
|
F
|
15. Obtaining the scientific degree "Doctor of Science". |
40 |
|
16. Scientific supervision of a successfully defended doctoral student (*n - number of co-supervisor of the corresponding doctoral student). |
40/n |
|
|
17. Participation in a national scientific or educational project. |
15 |
|
|
18. Participation in an international scientific or educational project. |
20 |
|
|
19. Directing a national research or educational project. |
30 |
|
|
20. Management of an international scientific or educational project. |
40 |
|
|
21. Published university or school textbook (*n - number of co-authors). |
40/n |
|
|
22. Published university textbook or school textbook (*n - number of co-authors). |
20/n |
|
In the previous article, we detailed the minimum national requirements for applicants for scientific degrees and scientific titles in agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine.
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