Admission: +359 52 355 106

Advertising and Public Relations in Business Management

Faculty of International Economics and Administration
Department: Administration and Management and Political Sciences
Professional Area: Administration and Management

 

Speciality: Business administration and Management

Master's Degree Programme: Advertising and Public Relations in Business Management

Educational-and-qualification Degree: Master

 

Awarded qualification: Master in Business Administration – Communication Management

 

Level of qualification: Educational-and-qualification Degree "Master"

 

Length of programme:

1 year (2 semesters) – for Bachelors in the major "Business Administration";

1,5 years (3 semesters) – for Bachelors in other majors.

 

Number of credits:

60 credits – for Bachelors in the major "Business Administration";

90 credits – for Bachelors in other majors.

 

Field of study (ISCED-F): 0414 Marketing and advertising.

 

Specific admission requirements: Bachelor's Degree, average performance not less than Good 3.50 according to the Bulgarian system of grades; entrance examination – a discussion.

 

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning:

Formal: recognition of credits based on a university diploma (Bachelor's Degree).
Informal: foreign language and computer certificates and other type of competency in line with the study plan of the specialty.
Unofficial: certification exam in foreign language, IT skills or other competency before a commission at Varna Free University.
Procedures for informal and unofficial recognition of competencies from previous study:
1. Allocation of credits on the basis of submitted papers: academic transcript or a diploma for higher degree from previous study; 
- International diplomas and foreign language certificates (English- Cambridge FCE, TOEFL; German - Zertifikat Deutsch, Sprahdiplom, Zweite Stufe; Russian – ТРКИ; French- DELF; Spanish - DELE);
- International diplomas and ECDL (The European Computer Driving Licence) certificates.
2. Certification of knowledge and skills by means of taking exams in: 
- foreign languages at the Department of Foreign Language Teaching;
- IT skills at the Department of Computer Studies.

 

Qualification requirements and regulations:

In order to be awarded the qualification 90 credits are necessary for Bachelors in other majors, (60 credits for Bachelors in the major "Business Administration"); 30 of the credits come from equivalency courses for specialists from other professional areas, 28,5 credits from compulsory courses, 12 credits from elective courses; 4,5 credits from optional courses and 15 credits from state exam.

 

Profile of the programme:

    The Master's degree programme is designed for managers who are actively involved in the management of contemporary processes for creating and managing business organizations. The highly competitive environment, both in Bulgaria and abroad, requires a more active implementation of modern social technologies, part of which are public relations and advertising. Without the skillful use of their technological characteristics, it is no longer possible to create a favourable business environment. These technologies are used to build confidence in business organizations and to establish personal and corporate image that enhances the sought end effect. No less important in business management is the establishment of harmonious relationships with the target groups, partners, local communities. International prestige is also among the fundamental necessities for the prosperity of each economic unit.

 

Programme learning outcomes:

The Master's degree programme offers a range of economic, legal and managerial knowledge and skills. Postgraduates will enrich their professional culture and will expand their opportunities for active public behaviour, both in typical and specific situations. Therefore, Bachelors and Masters in different majors can join the programme. A positive feature for the success of the programme is the fact that so far similar majors have not been opened at other Bulgarian universities. Bulgarian experts, most of them engaged at VFU 'Chernorizets Hrabar', are invited as lecturers.

 

Programme structure diagram with credits*:

 

ECTS code

Course Title

Lectures and seminars

 

Out-of-class workload

 

Number of credits

1

MAR1005

Marketing Research

30

60

3

2

ECO3150

Global Problems of the Present Days

30

60

3

3

PCI1068

Theory of Advertising and PR in Business

30

60

3

4

FIN1020

Corporate and Personal Image

30

60

3

5

MAN1008

Information Technology and Communication

30

60

3

6

PCI1070

Legal Regulations in Advertising and Public Relations

30

60

3

7

 

Elective course1

30

60

3

8

 

Elective course 2

30

60

3

9

 

Elective course 3

30

60

3

10

 

Elective course 4

30

60

3

Total for semester  I

300

600

30

1

MAN2050

European Management in Advertising and Public Relations

15

30

1,5

2

PSY2035

Communication Culture

30

60

3

3

MAN3255

E-management

30

60

3

4

 

Optional course 1

30

60

3

5

 

Optional course 2

15

30

1,5

 

 

Module practice training and graduation

6

 

Internship

 

90

3

7

 

Preparation and defense of Master's thesis

 

450

15

Total for semester II

120

780

30

Total for the whole course of study:

420

1380

60

 

 

Equivalency courses for Bachelors from other majors

1

MAN2040

Entrepreneurship Activity

60

120

6

2

MAN2035

Human Resources Management

60

120

6

3

ECO1047

Micro and Macroeconomics

60

120

6

4

MAR2025

International Marketing

60

120

6

5

MAN1010

Advertising Communication

60

120

6

Total for the equivalency semester

300

600

30

TOTAL FOR THE ENTIRE COURSE OF TRAINING FOR BACHELORS FROM OTHER MAJORS:

750

1950

90

 

 

Elective courses (choose 4 from 9) 

1

MAN3054

Public Project Management

30

60

3

2

MAN1045

Organization and management of Small and Medium Business

30

60

3

3

LAW1011

Right to Information Access and Information Protection

30

60

3

4

ECO1035

Management and Marketing of the Territorial Communities

30

60

3

5

MAN3225

Leadership and Business Communication

30

60

3

6

PCI3039

Media and Conflicts

30

60

3

7

PCI3035

Media and Impact on Social Structures

30

60

3

8

MAR3127

Branding in Business Management

30

60

3

9

MAR3159

Creative Communication

30

60

3

 

 

Optional courses (choose 2 out of 4) 

1

 SOC3020

Social Interactions and Teamwork

30

60

3

2

PSY1090

Communication in Extreme Situations

15

30

1,5

3

SOC1010

Communication Skills

30

60

3

4

PSY3143

Communication Strategies

15

30

1,5

 

* In Varna Free University, a credit equals 30 lessons, of which 10 contact hours (lectures and seminars) and 20 hours independent work.

 

 

Mode of study: full-time; part-time.

 

Examination regulations and grading scale:

During training – tests, project assignment; written and oral exams at the end of each course.

 

Obligatory or optional mobility windows:

Students can participate in Erasmus student mobility for placements which enables them to know better the European business and to have successful professional realization in an intercultural environment. They can join additional placements and internships annually which are organized in:

  • Germany – the Province of North Rein Westphalia and Baden-Wurttemberg in business organizations, commercial and industrial chambers, municipal and regional administrations;
  • Russian federation – Moscow, St Petersburg;
  • Brussels – in European institutions, etc.

                                                                                  

Work-placement:

Pre-graduation placement is held in the PR departments of the Presidency, Parliament, Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria and other prestigious public institutions, national public media and leading institutions.

The students gain real insight into the practice of the profession, as well as valuable practical advice straight from professionals in the fields of Public Relations and Advertising, related to Business Management. After completion of the learning experience the students take a defense exam of the pre-graduate practice at a commission.

 

Work-based learning:

Students do placements in national and regional PR and Advertising agencies.

 

Occupational profiles of the graduates:

The graduates from the master's degree programme in Advertising and Public Relations in Business Management can work as specialists in the field of public relations and advertising in business organizations or public administration.

 

Access to further studies: Graduates can enter PhD programmes.

 

Programme Director: Assoc. Prof. Georgi Kalaglarsky, PhD

VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" Room A-106

Phone number: +359 52 359 617

e-mail: kalaglarsky@yahoo.com

 

ECTS-coordinator: Eng. Pavleta Krasteva

VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" Room D-8

Phone number: +359 52 359 572; mobile: +359 878 417 494

e-mail:  pavleta.krasteva@vfu.bg

pavleta.krasteva@gmail.com