Writing a monograph is an important stage in the scientific activity of researchers. It not only enables the author’s research to be presented in a high-quality manner, but also enhances their academic visibility, level of scholarly recognition, and competitiveness within the professional environment. However, researchers often do not even consider this type of scientific work due to a lack of understanding of the principles of its preparation and its significance within the academic system of Bulgaria. That is why, in this article, we will examine the key requirements for writing a monograph and also clarify for which purposes it can be used.
Monograph: what are its characteristics?
Monograph – is a published scholarly work that contains a comprehensive and in-depth study of a particular topic, problem, or scientific object, carried out by one or several authors who adhere to a unified research concept. Such a work should not be reduced to a simple summary of existing knowledge; it must contain an original scientific contribution.
Furthermore, according to the provisions of the Law on the Development of the Academic Staff in the Republic of Bulgaria, a monograph must meet a number of requirements, including:
- the presence of scientific peer review and/or a scientific editor
- assignment of an International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
- a minimum volume of not less than 100 standard pages (1,800 characters per page)
- the presence of a detailed table of contents, a systematised structure, and a complete bibliography
- mandatory references to other scientific sources within the text
In general, there are two main types of monographs: individual and collective. Their key difference lies in the number of authors.
The writing of an individual monograph is undertaken by a single scholar, who must perform the entire range of tasks, including: formulating a hypothesis, analysing the literature, conducting the research itself, and structuring the text.
In contrast, a collective monograph allows the workload to be evenly distributed among co-authors and increases the scientific value of the work. Since it is written by researchers from different disciplines, they are able to combine their expertise and experience and examine the topic in a more comprehensive manner.
For what purposes can Bulgarian scientists use a monograph?
Within the academic system of Bulgaria, in order to obtain academic degrees and hold academic positions, a researcher must accumulate a specified number of points in accordance with established minimum requirements. Depending on the level of the academic degree or academic position, a fixed minimum threshold is set, which the researcher must meet.
| Category | Degree / Title | Minimum requirements (total across categories A–E) |
|---|---|---|
| Academic degrees | Doctor | ≥ 80 points (sum of different categories) |
| Academic degrees | Doctor of Science | ≥ 350 points (sum of different categories) |
| Academic positions | Senior Assistant | ≥ 50 points |
| Academic positions | Associate Professor | ≥ 400 points |
| Academic positions | Professor | ≥ 550 points |
Note: The values presented reflect the minimum points formed as a sum of results across different groups of indicators (categories A–E), in accordance with the national system for assessing scientific activity in Bulgaria.
Each category (from A to E) of points is awarded for a specific type of scientific activity of the researcher. Part of the indicators is related to scientific publications, in particular articles in journals indexed in international databases. At the same time, researchers may also receive points for monographs, which in certain cases may serve as an alternative to a set of scientific publications.
This type of scientific work may be taken into account in different categories of indicators depending on its function. For example, if a researcher aims to obtain the academic position of Associate Professor or Professor, the monograph will be considered as a habilitation work and will fall under Category C. In cases where the monograph is submitted as additional material for obtaining a scientific degree, it will be considered Category D.
| Category | Role of the monograph | Context of use | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category C | Habilitation monograph | main work for Associate Professor / Professor | 100 |
| Category D | Additional monograph | additional scientific result (for obtaining a scientific degree) | 100 |
Recommendations for writing a monograph
It should be noted that in Bulgaria there are no universal requirements for writing a monograph, as this aspect is mainly regulated separately by each university or publishing house. However, if we analyse the most common structure, it usually includes the following elements:
1. Introductory part
- title page (author, title, publisher, year, ISBN)
- abstract in Bulgarian
- table of contents
- preface or introduction – justification of the topic, relevance, aim, objectives, methodology, literature review
2. Main part
- theoretical section
- analytical chapters (usually 2–4) – the actual research divided into subsections; each chapter may end with brief conclusions
3. Concluding part
- conclusions – generalisation, main statements, contribution to science
- summary (may also appear at the beginning after the table of contents) – an extended abstract of 2–3 pages in which the author briefly presents the aim, methods, main results and conclusions
- list of references
- notes
4. Supplementary materials (if necessary)
- appendices – documents, tables, diagrams
- name / subject index – alphabetical lists of all names (authors, historical figures, etc.) or key concepts, terms, geographical names with page references
- list of illustrations or tables
- short biography of the author
This structure may serve as a general guideline in the process of work. However, it is important to remember that your priority should be the requirements of universities or publishing houses. It is they who define the rules that must be followed: from the sections of the monograph to the technical formatting requirements.
A monograph is an important element of the scientific activity of Bulgarian researchers. It not only serves as confirmation of your expertise and competence but also helps you obtain the necessary points for acquiring a scientific degree or academic position.
However, authors often encounter difficulties in the process of preparing a monograph. In order to overcome them and produce a high-quality scholarly work, contact the Scientific Publications company. Our specialists will help you properly structure and format your monograph in accordance with the established requirements. We also assist with the revision of work based on your research. If you would like to learn more and receive a free consultation, fill in the form below and our manager will contact you shortly. Together towards new scientific achievements!
