The awarding of academic degrees in Bulgaria is regulated by the Academic Personnel Development Act in the Republic of Bulgaria and relevant regulations. The country's higher education system provides for two main scientific degrees: "Doctor" and "Doctor of Science". The process of obtaining them includes several compulsory stages, such as training, research activities, preparation of a thesis and its defence.
Obtaining the scientific degree "Doctor"
1. Requirements for candidates for the scientific degree "doctor"
The educational and academic degree "doctor" is awarded to an applicant who has a master's degree and has successfully defended a thesis. Candidates for the academic degree and the academic position of "doctor" must fulfil the minimum national requirements for their academic performance as defined in the Act on the Development of Academic Personnel in the Republic of Bulgaria.
The minimum national requirements represent the necessary minimum of scientific achievements required to obtain the scientific degree "doctor".
Bulgaria has a point system for evaluating the scientific achievements of scientists. The point criteria may differ depending on the subject area and the academic institution. Academic degrees and academic appointments are awarded on a competitive basis depending on the points achieved.
The minimum number of points required to obtain the scientific degree "Doctor": 50+30
|
1. Defence of a thesis for the scientific degree of "doctor" |
50 |
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2. Indicators reflecting academic results in scientific activity:
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30 |
The minimum national requirements for obtaining a scientific doctoral degree differ depending on the category of sciences and are determined by the Act on the Development of Academic Personnel in the Republic of Bulgaria.
2. Study process
Study for the educational and scientific degree "doctor" is conducted in full-time, part-time, independent or distance learning. The study period is up to 3 years for full-time and independent forms and up to 4 years for part-time and distance learning.
Doctoral students are trained according to an individual study plan, which includes:
- Research and development activities.
- Attendance at classes and seminars.
- Teaching activities.
- Participation in international and national conferences.
- Passing the speciality examinations.
- Preparation of a doctoral thesis.
3. Research activity
Doctoral study implies research activity, which includes publication of scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals Scopus or Web of Science. A doctoral student can receive up to 45 points for a single publication in these scientific journals, provided that he/she publishes independently in a journal with a high quartile (Q1, Q2). When publishing research in co-authorship, the number of points is shared between all authors.
4. Preparation of the thesis
The dissertation should include scientific or applied research results representing an original contribution to science. The research work should testify to the applicant's deep theoretical knowledge of the relevant speciality, as well as his/her ability to conduct independent scientific research.
The dissertation must be presented in a form and volume that meets the specific requirements of the educational institution.
The dissertation must contain:
- title page
- content
- introduction
- main part
- conclusions
- bibliography.
The actual requirements for the thesis defence can be found in our previous material.
5. Thesis defence
A doctoral student is eligible for defence after completion of the study programme, successful passing of the examinations stipulated in the individual study plan, and upon positive assessment of the applicant's readiness to defend the dissertation by the supervisor. Candidates who have been released with the right of defence and who meet the minimum national requirements are allowed to defend the thesis for the scientific degree "Doctor".
After approval by the Department Council of readiness for defence, the candidate draws up and submits the documents for the defence of the thesis in accordance with the established procedure, according to the regulations of the higher education institution or scientific organisation.
Standard list of documents for the scientific degree "Doctor" for the defence of the dissertation:
- Application to the rector for admission to public defence.
- CV in European format.
- Diploma (with an appendix) for the acquisition of a Master's degree.
- Dissertation.
- Abstract with abstract in English.
- List of scientific publications for the thesis defence and their hard copies.
- Declaration of originality of the results and contribution.
The jury is composed of five qualified persons who have a scientific degree relevant to the topic of the thesis. At least one of the jury members is a professor. Three of the five jury members must not be employees of an educational institution or scientific organisation. A supervisor cannot be appointed as a member of the jury. The jury members prepare two reviews and three conclusions, which are submitted to the Human Resources Department within two months.
The procedure of defence of the dissertation by a doctoral candidate includes the following stages:
- The President of the scientific jury introduces the doctoral candidate.
- The doctoral student summarises the main results of the thesis.
- The President of the Scientific Jury announces the reviews and expert opinions of the Jury members.
- The doctoral student answers the questions of the jury members and those present at the public defence.
- Each member of the scientific jury publicly announces his/her assessment — positive or negative.
- The President of the Scientific Jury announces the results of the defence. The dissertation is considered to be successfully defended if there are at least three positive evaluations.
The educational and scientific degree "Doctor" is awarded on the day of successful defence of the thesis.
Obtaining the scientific degree "Doctor of Sciences"
1. Requirements for candidates for the scientific degree "Doctor of Sciences"
The scientific degree "Doctor of Science" is awarded to an applicant who has an educational and scientific degree "Doctor of Science" and who fulfils the minimum national requirements and has successfully defended a thesis in accordance with the procedure regulated by the Act on the Development of Academic Personnel in the Republic of Bulgaria and the requirements of a higher education institution or scientific organisation.
The minimum national requirements represent the necessary minimum of scientific achievements required for the scientific degree "Doctor of Science".
The award of the scientific doctoral degree and appointment to an academic post is competitive, depending on the points scored. The point criteria differ according to subject area and institution.
The minimum number of points required to obtain a research degree of "Doctor of Science": 50+100+100+100
|
1. Defence of a thesis for the scientific degree of "doctor" |
50 |
|
2. Defence of a thesis for the scientific degree "Doctor of Sciences" |
100 |
|
3. Indicators reflecting academic results in scientific activity:
|
100 |
|
4. Citation:
|
100 |
The minimum national requirements for obtaining the scientific doctoral degree differ depending on the category of sciences and are determined by the Act on the Development of Academic Personnel in the Republic of Bulgaria.
2. Research activity
Obtaining the scientific degree "Doctor of Science" involves research activity, which includes the publication of at least three scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals Scopus or Web of Science.
For admission to defence, a doctoral student must score at least 100 points for publications. A doctoral student can receive a maximum of 45 points for a single publication in these scientific publications, provided that he/she has published independently in highly ranked journals of the first and second quartile (Q1, Q2). When publishing research in co-authorship, the number of points is shared between all authors.
3. Preparation of the thesis
The dissertation for the degree of "Doctor of Science" must include theoretical justifications and solutions of the most important scientific or scientific-applied problems, corresponding to the current level of scientific research and representing a significant and original contribution to science.
The dissertation for the scientific degree "Doctor of Science" must be prepared independently and may not repeat verbatim the topic or a significant part of the content of the research work submitted for the educational and scientific degree "Doctor".
The actual requirements for the thesis defence can be found in our previous material.
4. Thesis defence
Preliminary Discussion
The doctoral student submits his/her dissertation to the departmental advisory board. In case of a favourable evaluation, the head of the extended council recommends to the faculty or the Academic Council to initiate a preliminary discussion procedure. In this procedure, the candidate presents his/her thesis and abstract for discussion. The Council of the primary unit decides on the readiness of the work for defence before the scientific jury. After a positive verdict, the applicant submits the necessary documents for the thesis defence in accordance with the established regulations of the higher education institution or scientific organisation.
Formation of the scientific jury
The defence of the thesis is conducted publicly before a scientific jury consisting of seven members who hold academic degrees. At least three of them are professors, and at least four are not employees of the given higher education institution or scientific organisation. Candidates for the degree "Doctor of Sciences" who fulfil the minimum national requirements are admitted to the thesis defence.
Three members of the scientific jury, two of whom are professors, prepare the reviews.
At least one of the reviews must be written by an expert not affiliated to the institution or scientific organisation. The other members of the scientific jury provide opinions. The reviews and opinions include a positive or negative assessment and are submitted to the primary unit within three months of the formation of the scientific jury.
Awarding of the scientific degree "Doctor of Sciences"
The dissertation is considered to be successfully defended if at least four positive evaluations have been received, with each member of the jury publicly announcing his/her decision. The academic degree "Doctor of Science" is awarded from the day of successful defence of the dissertation.
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