Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” (SU) is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria. It was founded in 1888 and since then provides high level education in humanities and sciences. With more than 25000 students, SU is the largest Bulgarian university with 104 degree programmes, offered by 16 faculties. SU is actively involved in several international programs promoting students mobility at undergraduate and postgraduate levels (ERASMUS+, ERASMUS MUNDUS).

In order to develop the university-business collaboration, the Technology Transfer Office under a Phare project was established at Sofia University at the end of 2007. The role of the Office is to support the university-industry collaboration and facilitate the technology transfer process between private, public and academic sectors (http://tto.bg/Default_en.aspx).

The Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics (FMI) at Sofia University was created in the autumn of 1889. Currently, the number of full-time students, studying in Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degree programs at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, is about 2500.

The Faculty has 14 departments and an academic staff of 155 lecturers. Guest-lecturers from the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Institute of Mechanics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) as well as from abroad are also involved in training.

Educational programs at FMI

FMI offers 8-semester (240 ECTS credits) BSc programs in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Informatics, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, High School Education in Mathematics and Informatics. Currently, there are 2200 students involved in the BSc programs.

The MSc degrees, with 90 ECTS taken in 3 semesters (including a Master thesis for 30 ECTS), have specialization profiles in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Informatics and Computer Sciences and also in teaching Mathematics and Informatics. There are 250 students following the MSc programs.

PhD degrees in all Mathematics and Computer Science fields are available. Doctoral programs consist of qualifying exams and a thesis, the results of which should be publishable in refereed international journals. Currently, 60 students are involved in the PhD programs.

FMI has signed ERASMUS bilateral agreements with 37 universities from 15 European countries. This gives students and staff many opportunities for international collaboration.

A Career Centre was officially established at FMI in 2008 (http://www.fmi.uni-sofia.bg/en/university-life/career-centre/). It is designed to provide students career guidance, to assist their successful career development and to be an effective mediator between academia and business. Internships in Informatics and Mathematics are offered every year by 57 companies and 4 institutes of the BAS, which have signed a cooperation agreement with FMI. A every year tradition, organized by the Carrier Centre, is the Forum of career development, where 50-60 companies participate. This year, it will be held on June, 3–4.