European Integration and Bilateral Cooperation Department - Министерство на образованието, младежта и науката

European Integration and Bilateral Cooperation Department

Policies and Procedures for the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications

In compliance with the Lisbon Recognition Convention amendments to several acts of the secondary legislation regarding recognition of documents certifying secondary and higher education acquired as well as periods of education completed were promulgated. The Council of Ministers Decree No. 168 of 14 August 2000 adopted an Ordinance on the State Requirements for recognition of higher education acquired or periods of education completed in foreign higher schools..
The active procedure applied to the recognition of higher education qualification awarded abroad follows Art. 10, Par. 2, P. 4 of the Higher Education Act (1995) and Art. 8, Par. 7 of the Higher Education Act (1999) in respect of general terms and conditions. Furthermore, following Order No. RD–09–594 of 16 October 2000, of the Minister of Education and Science in compliance with Art. 31 of the active Higher Education Act a special commission (State Commission for Recognition – SCR) was constituted to implement the provisions of the law. The State Commission for Recognition shall be composed by representatives of different universities holding high academic ranks as well as by experts from the Ministry of Education and Science. The Commission issues a Certificate identifying the speciality in accordance with the State Register approved by the Council of Ministers.

Recognition of a study period of higher education is accomplished by the respective higher school where the student has submitted his/her application forms. Though the Higher Education Act /1995/ provides for the introduction of modular structure for the study programmes and of the credit system, the implementation of these provisions experience relatively slow progress. Most often, institutions decide on the recognition of credits earned in a different institution on a case by case basis. There is, however, a strong tendency towards accepting the EU directives, the Council of Europe/UNESCO guiding documents /for example the Diploma Supplement/ referring to the recognition of qualifications and credits transfer. The Diploma Supplement has been successfully promoted and its further implementation is foreseen as medium-term objective.
The National Academic Assessment Commission shall recognize doctoral degrees awarded by foreign institutions.

Usually, recognition of foreign qualifications is formally required in order to apply for further education or for appointments to research positions. Under the recent market conditions employers accept diplomas and degrees on a basis of the prestige of the respective foreign institution.

Acting Procedures

Upon signing the Bologna Declaration the national legal framework related to academic recognition of diplomas and qualifications was updated following the principles approved by the 29 European ministers of education.

The procedure for recognition of higher education acquired in foreign higher school is organized and carried out by the Ministry of Education and Science (Art. 7, Par. 1). The Ordinance on the State Requirements for recognition of higher education acquired or periods of education undertaken abroad (Council of Ministers Decree No. 168 of 14 August 2000) is the major secondary legislation document, regulating the recognition procedure.

According to Article 11 of the Ordinance:

(1) The recognition of higher education acquired in foreign higher schools shall be accomplished upon comparing the data of the documents presented and of the requirements approved for obtaining higher education in the same and/or in a similar speciality in Bulgarian higher schools.

(2) The following indicators are taken into consideration in recognising higher education:

1. enrolment;
2. duration of the studies;
3. total horary of the studied subjects;
4. proportion between the horary of the studied subjects that provide the fundamental, the special, and the specialized education;
5. theoretical/practical horary ration;
6. graduation requirements.

Furthermore, in compliance with Art. 17, Par. 1 and 2 of the same document, the National Information Centre for Academic Recognition and Mobility ENIC/NARIC shall support the activities on recognition of higher education. The Centre is officially positioned with an Ordinance No. RD–14–189 of the Minister of Education and Science dated 12 September 2000.