The history of SWU ‘Neofit Rilski’ started in 1976 when the higher school opened its doors for students as a part of Sofia University ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’. Only 6 years later, SWU became an autonomous educational institution in the field of Pedagogy. In 1995, it officially transformed into South-West University ‘Neofit Rilski’. Ever since then, the university has been providing high quality education and offering numerous bachelor, master and PhD programmes both in English and in Bulgarian.
SWU is divided into nine faculties – Faculty of Pedagogy, Faculty of Philology, Faculty of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Law and History, Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and Faculty of Public Health, Health Care and Sport. Moreover, the university has well-developed international connections and offers various Erasmus+ exchanges. In its modern campuses, students are trained and educated by qualified specialists and lecturers.
There are two options for the foreign students who wish to apply at SWU. They can either start with a foundation year and continue their studies in Bulgarian language or can directly submit their documents to one of the English-taught programmes listed below.
Master’s Programmes in English (3500 EUR per academic year)
- International Economic Relations
- International Tourism
- Southeastern Europe in Contemporary International Relations
- Regional Development
- Resources and Sustainable Development
- Computer Systems and Technologies
- Educational Management
- Hearing-Speech Therapy After Cochlear Implantation
- Sociology and Anthropology of Religion
- Logopaedic Management in Voice Smooth Disturbances
- Sociological Studies and Political Marketing
- English Philology
- Cultural Management and Visual Communications
- Ecology and Environment Protection
- Biologically Active Substances and Drugs
- Metrology in Chemistry
- Physics
The univeristy is located in one of the most amiable cities for students – Blagoevgrad. Close to the capital city of Sofia, to the Greek and Macedonian borders and to a few ski resorts, Blagoevgrad provides many opportunities for the foreign students it welcomes. The living costs there are quite low both for Bulgaria and for Europe. Nonetheless, the city has a lot to offer – international restaurants, pleasant parks and walking streets and a friendly atmosphere.
