The Erasmus+ Programme

The Erasmus+ Programme The Erasmus Programme (European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) is a European Union (EU) student exchange programme established in 1987. Erasmus+ (Erasmus Plus) is a new programme that combines all EU current schemes for education, training, and youth and sports started in January 2014. Merging seven prior programmes Erasmus+ provides opportunities for a wide variety of individuals and organisations. More information on the programme can be found here: https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/node_en 1

Briefly about Bulgaria Bulgaria is a small and beautiful country located in South-Eastern Europe. To the West are Serbia and Macedonia, to the North separated by the Danube River is Romania and to the South are Greece and Turkey. We also have the Black sea to the East. The national currency is Lev or BGN. 1 is about 1.96 BGN. The national language is Bulgarian and the alphabet used is Cyrillic. The population is just over 7 million people. With the admission of Bulgaria to the EU on January 1, 2007, Cyrillic became the third official alphabet of the EU. Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and it is the largest city in the country. Its population is approximately 1.2 million. Sofia is a city of diversity which offers plenty of interesting activities (see Facebook pages Free Sofia Tour, Balkan Bites, English speaking book club, etc.). Bulgarians shake their heads to mean yes and nod for no. Basic costs in Bulgaria A single trip transport ticket: 1.60 BGN; One month city transport card for students: 21.50 BGN; Lunch at the NBU cafeterias: 2.00 6.00 BGN; Flat rent: 300 600 BGN. 2

New Bulgarian University (NBU) NBU was established on September 18, 1991; NBU is the first and the biggest private university in Bulgaria; NBU mission as a liberal academic institution is: - to build entrepreneurial socially responsible individuals prepared for life in a modern democratic Bulgaria, United Europe and a globalizing world; - to contribute for the advancement of the university education through accessible interdisciplinary education and specialized training and research up to the international standards; - to put its academic potential in the service of society and to respond with its projects to the social and economic changes. NBU s core philosophy is based on the liberal idea of education, connecting knowledge acquisition and professional specialization with general personal development. 3

NBU determines its academic profile as: - Social Sciences and Humanities; - Natural Sciences and New Technologies; - Arts. Its campus is located in the Ovcha Kupel district (Western Sofia), known for its proximity to the beautiful Vitosha mountain; Over the past 25 years the University has expanded its area to provide suitable facilities for students with special needs such as elevators and ramps for the physically disabled and a readers place with specialized equipment and software for the visually impaired; NBU actively participates in EU educational and research programmes like Horizon 2020, ERASMUS+, EOARD, WB etc. NBU has established contacts with over 90 European Universities. The average number of enrolled students studying at NBU per academic year is around 10000. There are 31 departments and centres at NBU. Main degrees covered by the university are: Bachelor, Masters and Doctoral. There is also a vocational programme called Hotel and Restaurant Management. NBU offers the following programmes: 57 Bachelor programmes; 105 Masters programmes; 34 PhD programmes. For further information go to http://www.nbu.bg/en/programs-of-study/programs. 4

NBU and the Arts NBU is the only university in Bulgaria which has an art gallery with a permanent exhibition of the art works of Bulgarian and foreign artists. The aim of the university s museum is to provide practical education to students and every semester students set up a new exhibition. In February 2010 NBU opened its University Theatre which is the newest theatre in Sofia. The theatre s hall is used for theatre performances, film shows, concerts, seminars etc. Master Classes of Raina Kabaivanska, Ludmil Angelov, Georgi Dulgerov etc. are another interactive way for students to learn and to obtain experience from the practice as well as to witness the transformation from studying to acting on the stage. Academic calendar The academic calendar for the students can be found on NBU website: http://www.nbu.bg/en/students/calendar The academic year is divided into two semesters (autumn and spring). The average length of the semester is 4.5 months. The Autumn semester starts on October 1st and the Spring semester in February. 5

Online platforms of NBU One of the most successful forms of study at NBU is the on-line platform for e-learning MOODLE (https://e-edu.nbu.bg/). The student logs in and has an access to the curriculum, the academic literature, the assignments etc. of all the courses they follow. E-student (https://student.nbu.bg/) is the platform that contains information about the schedule/time-table, the rooms where classes are held, the exam session dates, rooms etc. 6

NBU Library Resources The Cultural and Information Centre of NBU Library organizes exhibitions and promotions of new books and maintains a permanent exhibition of NBU publications; The Library complex consists of a free-access library, open-stack reading halls, an audio-visual studio, exhibition spaces, a conference hall, a copy centre etc. In it also functions a sophisticated computer centre providing free access to Internet for its users; NBU Library offers a wide range of Bulgarian, Russian, English, French, Italian and German newspapers and periodicals; NBU Library collection contains approximately 100,000 books and paper documents. 7

BEING AN ERASMUS+ STUDENT AT NBU 8

What should I do before my arrival? The sending university should send a Nomination Letter to the following e-mail address: erasmus.nbu@gmail.com; The student should send the following application package: an Application Form, Transcript of Records in English (this paper includes all the courses with marks and credits studied by the student at their home university by the time they apply at NBU) and Language Certificate (of the language of instruction at NBU - English/French/Bulgarian B1 level). The package should be sent to erasmus.nbu@gmail.com; Nomination and Application Deadlines: - for the autumn (winter) semester and for the whole academic year: June 1 st ; - for the spring (summer) semester: December 1 st. After being accepted at NBU the student should prepare and send a Learning Agreement Before the Mobility to erasmus.nbu@gmail.com. NBU does not offer nor provide dormitory accommodation to its students. However the Erasmus office works closely with the ESN NBU team in assisting students to: - find accommodation; - meet them at their arrival point in the city; - help them to adjust socially and culturally: nbu.esn@gmail.com; NBU offers to its visiting students wishing to learn Bulgarian language a three-week Intensive course with 40 hours language practice in an authentic environment. The course is usually organized three weeks before the beginning of each semester and is relevant to 9 ECTS. 9

Study Programmes and Credits In general the language of instruction at NBU is Bulgarian with the exception of the following programmes: Bachelor Programmes Network Technologies (in English) International Politics (in French) Politics and Society (in English) Psychology (in English) Masters Programmes South East European studies (in English) American and British Studies. Comparative Approaches (in English) Brand Management (in English) Cognitive Science (in English) International Business Communications (in English) International Relations and Public Administration (in French) Public Management (in English) Strategic Leadership (in English) Management and Development of Human Resources (in Bulgarian and English) Tourism Management (in Bulgarian and a foreign language) Desktop and Mobile Computers (in English) Music Performance (in English) Doctoral Programmes German Studies; Romance Studies; Russian Studies. In case students are interested in following courses in Bulgarian they may be given the option of individual/tutorial learning. In general each course at NBU gives 3 credits. The maximum number of credits a student can receive for one semester is 30 ECTS. 1 credit = 10 academic hours. 10

Description of NBU Grading System ECTS Grade A = 5.50 6 excellent ECTS Grade B = 5.20 5.49 very good ECTS Grade C = 4.40 5.19 good ECTS Grade D = 3.60 4.39 satisfactory ECTS Grade E = 2.80 3.59 sufficient ECTS Grade F = 2.00 2.79 fail What should I do upon my arrival? At the beginning of each semester the Erasmus office organizes a Welcome/Orientation day; The Erasmus office enrolls the student and every student receives a student number and an access to our online platforms; Students will have the opportunity to meet the Academic coordinator of the Department that they are enrolled in to discuss their curriculum for the semester. 11

Important documents for my Erasmus+ stay Learning Agreement for Studies (LA) LA Before the Mobility; LA During the Mobility from the beginning of the semester students have one month to decide if they want to change/substitute their courses. In case such changes are necessary the student has to prepare LA During the Mobility; LA After the Mobility this is the paper containing the real dates of the student s Erasmus+ stay at NBU along with all the courses that the student has taken with the grades and the ECTS credits. It is prepared by the Erasmus office 4 weeks after the end of the semester. Original hard copies can be posted to the university upon request while the scanned version is sent by e-mail both to the university and to the student. 12

Erasmus Student Network NBU (ESN NBU) Erasmus Student Network International is a voluntary non-governmental organization. ESN is one of the main partners of the European Commission in promoting the programmes of student mobility and protection of international students rights. ESN functions in 36 countries, 442 Universities and works with more than 12 000 volunteers. Main objective of the organization is to assist cultural and social integration of the students participating in educational programmes abroad. ESN principle is Students help students. Bulgaria is a member of ESN since 2008 and currently works through 10 local sections in 6 cities connected to the universities in the whole country. One of the main activities of the section is assisting the students arriving in Bulgaria for an Erasmus+ mobility. ESN NBU helps the students find accommodation upon arrival and begin their academic process in the universities. Volunteers assist students coming from non EU countries to process their documents and registration. ESN NBU assists students to get to know the country, its traditions, culture, natural and architectural landmarks; to integrate them amongst Bulgarian students and create new contacts and friendships. ESN NBU organizes different events, tours and initiatives to help the Erasmus+ students feel at home. 13

NBU Academic Coordinators Department Coordinator Contacts Administration and Management Anthropology Archeology Architecture Arts Studies and History of Culture Cinema, Advertising and Show Business Cognitive Science and Psychology Computer Sciences Design Economics English Studies Fine Arts Health Care and Social Work History Assoc. Prof. Ninel Kyoseva, PhD Assoc. Prof. Maria Nikolova, PhD Chief Assist. Rositsa Guentcheva, PhD Assoc. Prof. Iliyan Boyanov, PhD Miryana Yordanova Petrova, PhD, Architect Assoc. Prof. Oksana Minaeva, PhD Chief Assist. Boyan Koutevski, PhD Chief Assist. Penka Hristova, PhD Chief Assist. Yoana Minkova, PhD Teodora Momekova Assist. Prof. Elena Spasova, PhD Chief Assist. Prof. Andrei Andreev Chief Assist. Prof. Kalina Hristova, PhD Chief Assist. Prof. Polina Mihova, PhD Assist. Prof. Metodi Metodiev, PhD nkioseva@nbu.bg office 620, building ІІ mnikolova@nbu.bg office 211, building ІІ guentcheva@nbu.bg office 615, building ІІ ilianboyanov@nbu.bg office 219, building ІІ myordanova@nbu.bg office 508, building ІІ ominaeva@nbu.bg office 612, building ІІ koutevski@gmail.com office 408, building ІІ phristova@cogs.nbu.bg office 401, building І yminkova@nbu.bg office 611, building ІІ momekova@gmail.com office 509, building ІІ elenaspasova@nbu.bg office 605, building ІІ aandreev@nbu.bg office 221, building ІІ k_hristova@nbu.bg office 511, building ІІ pmihova@nbu.bg office 213, building ІІ mmetodiev@nbu.bg office 206, building ІІ Library Vera Lyubenova vlyubenova@nbu.bg Mass Communications Chief Assist. Prof. Stoyko Petkov, PhD spetkov@nbu.bg office 710, building ІІ 14

Mediterranean and Eastern Studies Music Natural Sciences New Bulgarian Studies Philosophy and Sociology Political Sciences Romance and Germanic Studies South-East European Centre for Semiotic studies Telecommunications Theatre Assoc. Prof. Maya Ilieva, PhD Assoc. Prof. Georgi Arnaoudov, PhD Ermila Schweizer, PhD Assoc. Prof. Galina Satchanska, PhD Assoc. Prof. Moris Fadel, PhD Chief Assist. Prof Teodora Karamelska, PhD Chief Assist. Prof. Petya Georgieva, PhD Assist. Prof. Maria Spassova Chief Assist. Ivo Velinov, PhD Assoc. Prof. Georgi Iliev, PhD Chief Assist. Assia Ivanova lavagetas@hotmail.com office 406, building І garnaoudov@nbu.bg eschweizer@nbu.bg office 504А, building І gsatchanska@nbu.bg office 606, building II mfadel@nbu.bg office 112, building І teodora_karamelska@abv.bg office 110, building І pgeorgieva@nbu.bg office 601, building ІІ mspassova@nbu.bg office 221, building ІІ velinov.ivo@gmail.com office 110, building І giliev_7@hotmail.com office 609, building ІІ assiaivanova@nbu.bg office 513, building І 15

Contact Details Address: New Bulgarian University 21, Montevideo Str., Erasmus office: 707, building 2 1618 Sofia, Bulgaria tel. 0035928110647; 0035928110687 e-mail: erasmus.nbu@gmail.com Web site for Erasmus Incoming Students: http://www.nbu.bg/en Facebook group: ESN-New Bulgarian University Skype: erasmus.nbu 16