Pleven Medical University- Bulgaria

• The Medical University of Pleven was founded in 1974 and is generally regarded as one of the best institutions in Bulgaria for studying medicine.
• Students who come from non-English speaking countries can do an English language course to prepare for their studies.
• The academic hospital associated with the university boasts state of the art equipment and research facilities.
• 60 highly trained professors and 300 adjunct and assistant professors are employed at the university, many being members of renowned scientific and medical communities worldwide.
• The institution’s library open in 1974 and has already collected over 74,000 volumes of medical bibliographies in both English and Bulgarian.
• The university campus is a welcoming and vibrant place for students and comes with top of the range accommodation on campus.
• It is also home to fantastic sports facilities and has its own soccer pitches, basketball courts, and volleyball courts.

• The medicine course lasts for six years and is taught in English.
• The first two years of the course focus on pre-clinical study and theory, with the next three focus primarily on clinical study.
• The programme finishes with a year internship prior to graduation during which students are required to take state exams for licensing.
• Summer practical internships are compulsory in years two, three and four of the programme.
• All course work is aligned to European Union requirements.
• When all academic and practical requirements are completed students receive the professional qualification of Physician or Doctor of Medicine (MD) and are awarded a master's degree.
• Students have the option to continue with their chosen specialisation in Bulgaria or return to their home country or anywhere around the world to continue their practice.
• Thousands of graduates from Bulgarian medical universities have gone on to practice medicine internationally.

Applicants should submit the following:

1. An application form and a CV.
2. A secondary school certificate including results. The certificate should be translated into Bulgarian and authorised at the Bulgarian embassy.
3. A medical certificate issued less than one month prior to the application date. This certificate must also be translated and authorised by the Bulgarian embassy.
4. A certificate stating that the applicant has the right to pursue education at a higher educational institution in their own country. Again, this will need to translated and confirmed by the embassy.
5. Four recently-taken colour photos in passport size.
6. Copy of international passport.

• Pleven is the seventh biggest city in Bulgaria with an estimated population of 106,000.
• In the Middle Ages, the region was inhabited by the Slavs and it was at this time (13th century) that the name Pleven was born.
• The events that transpired at Pleven (1877-78) were decisive in the liberation of Bulgaria and Romania from the Ottoman Empire.
• Pleven’s key role during the wars is reflected in some 200 monuments erected in memory of the Russians and Romanians who lost their lives during the siege.
• Pleven is often regarded as a sports centre in Bulgaria with a lot of passion for soccer particularly.
• Pleven was always considered an important strategic location in Bulgaria and this helped to create the modern fast-paced economic development the city enjoys today.

• Bulgaria is in the Southeast of Europe and has a population in the region of 7.5 million.
• It is well regarded for its strong industrial and agricultural market economy. Its capital, Sofia, enjoys a thriving economy with a population close to 1.2 million.
• Bulgaria has a rich 2,400-year history and this is reflected in the many monuments, statues, and churches in the country.
• From 1946 to 1990, Bulgaria was under communist influence, but today the country has a system of parliamentary democracy and is a free market economy.
• Bulgaria’s progress was reinforced when they became a member of the EU in January 2007.
• Efforts to modernise the country’s economy and educational system have been the focus in recent times and this is now evident in the blossoming architecture and growing economy.
• This has greatly benefited Bulgarian universities, some of which are counted as the best in Eastern Europe.
• Bulgaria also has a cheaper cost of living than other EU countries making it an extremely popular destination for students from countries in all parts of the world.
• Modern Bulgaria is extremely open country and with an ever-increasing number of students in the area, a vibrant social life is guaranteed.