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International Relations

Faculty of International Economics and Administration 
Department of International Economics and Politics

 

Speciality: International Relations

Awarded qualification: International Relations

Level of qualification: Bachelor

 

Specific admission requirements: Successfully completed secondary/higher education.

 

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning :
Formal: diplomas and academic transcripts from secondary schools and accredited universities.
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 get their qualification students must be allocated 240 credits - 194 credits from compulsory courses, 30 from elective courses, 6 credits from optional courses and 10 credits from State Examinations.

 

Profile of the programme: Courses in "International Relations" programme offer students training as a required set of knowledge and skills in diplomacy, foreign policy and all other spheres and institutions of the political process. Training in "International Relations" in the context of globalization and dynamic foreign policy situation aims at the learners’ acquisition of knowledge of political, legal, economic, managerial and humanitarian nature. This is an important condition for approval, career development and business stability for young people with an affinity for political and diplomatic theory and practice, government and international integration.
The full-right EU membership of the Republic of Bulgaria creates additional opportunities and options for each young person with knowledge in the field of foreign policy to fulfill their worldly ideas and options for career development both in Europe and globally.

 

Key learning outcomes
The range of subjects taught with fundamental and specialized nature and the possibility of achieving a high level of language skills are a prerequisite for introduction to and mastering of important national and international innovative methods and practices of planning and communication by students, who have selected "International Relations" major.
Graduates majoring in "International Relations" should know the principles in the field of history, law, economics and management that are necessary for their general and specific qualifications, know the past and the trends of foreign policy state of affairs on micro, macro regional and global levels, have a good grasp of the legal foundations of international order and the protocol of the diplomatic and consular service, having a direct connection to the realization of various projects and practices in the field of foreign affairs and the range of forms of international communication.
At the same time they must be able to fit into the requirements for adequate and effective implementation of regional policies and strategies, to maintain professionally and competently the interests of the Republic of Bulgaria as representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomatic and consular service abroad, plan integration strategies relevant to the foreign policy and the international economic situation, consistent with the dominant political, economic and military priorities of our country, to organize and coordinate the interaction of foreign institutions in the country with the security authorities, local authorities, media and civil society.
Specialists who graduate from 'International relations' should be able to manage diplomatic and consular sections abroad and Foreign Affairs departments, as well as to improve their foreign language training, and their research skills and project expertise in political science, the main theoretical schools of international relations and the integration processes; to orient themselves correctly in the dynamically changing aspects of the global environment and international situation. Another important skill that is developed in the course of training in "International Relations" is the creation of skills and attitudes for administrative and creative work in various national and international institutions and NGOs.

 

Occupational profiles of graduates
Graduates from 'International Relations' successfully and adequately meet the requirements for career development in accordance with the job descriptions of currently and permanently sought after specialists in different fields:
• the sphere of diplomatic and consular offices and missions abroad;
• foreign policy, security and integration - with the respective ministries;
• the field of media and political marketing;
• the area of research and design units, related to foreign policy, international economic relations and European integration;
• education and training in political science and international relations;
• branches and structures of foreign companies operating in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;
• opportunity for realization in overseas non-governmental organizations and business structures.

 

Access to further studies: Bachelor degree graduates of the programme can continue in the Master level of similar specialty full time or part time education; bachelor degree graduates in "International relations" with wider interests may continue in Master's degree in other professional fields in VFU, in accordance with the current conditions and requirements.

 
№ ECTS code Course Contact hours Independent work Credits*
1. POL1084 History of International relations part I 60 120 6
2. LAW1052 Fundamentals of Law 45 90 4,5
3.   Second Foreign Language 80 160 8
4. SPO1007 Sport 40 80 4
5.   Elective course 1 45 90 4,5
6.   Elective course 2 30 60 3
Total for semester I 300 600 30
1. POL1088 History of International relations part ІІ 60 120 6
2. POL1070 Foreign Policy of Bulgaria 60 120 6
3. POL1085 History of Political Ideas part І 45 90 4,5
4.   Elective course 3 30 60 3
5.   Second Foreign Language 65 130 6,5
6. SPO1007 Sport 40 80 4
Total for semester II 300 600 30
Total for the first year 600 1200 60
1. POL1086 History of Political Ideas  part ІІ 45 90 4,5
2. POL1113 Theory of International relations part І 45 90 4,5
3. ECO1064 International Economics 45 90 4,5
4. SEC1011 Theory of International Security 45 90 4,5
5.   Optional Course 1 30 60 3
6.   First Foreign Language 45 90 4,5
7.   Second Foreign Language 45 90 4,5
Total for semester III 300 600 30
1. POL1109 Theory of Foreign policy part І 45 90 4,5
2. POL1113 Theory of International Relations part ІІ 45 90 4,5
3. ECO3007 European Economic Integration 30 60 3
4. ECO1010 Globalization of Economy and Development 60 120 6
5. LAW2022 International Public Law 30 60 3
6.   First Foreign Language 45 90 4,5
7.   Second Foreign Language 45 90 4,5
Total for semester IV 300 600 30
Total for the second year 600 1200 60
1. POL1041 Southeast Europe 60 120 6
2. POL1109 Theory of Foreign policy part ІІ 45 90 4,5
3. POL1072 Foreign policy of the USA 30 60 3
4. POL1130 Russia in International Relations 30 60 3
5. LAW2009 Diplomatic and Consular Law 30 60 3
6.   Elective course 4 (only one is selected) 30 60 3
7.   First Foreign Language 30 60 3
8.   Second Foreign Language 45 90 4,5
Total for semester V 300 600 30
1. POL1001 Near East and Central Asia 30 60 3
2. POL1040 Political Anthropology 30 60 3
3. POL1017 European Political Cooperation 60 120 6
4. POL1087 International Organizations and Minority Issues 60 120 6
5.   Optional course 2 (one course is selected) 30 60 3
6.   First Foreign Language 45 90 4,5
7.   Second Foreign Language 45 90 4,5
Total for semester VI 300 600 30
Total for the third year 600 1200 60
1. MAR1014 International Marketing 60 120 6
2. POL1028 Diplomatic Service and Protocol 30 60 3
3.   Elective course 5 (one course is selected) 30 60 3
4. POL1032 Energy Security 45 90 4,5
5. POL1108 Theory and Practice of International Negotiations 45 90 4,5
6.   First Foreign Language 45 90 4,5
7.   Second Foreign Language 45 90 4,5
Total for semester VII 300 600 30
1. POL1064 Islam in Europe 45 90 4,5
2.   Elective course 6 45 90 4,5
3.   Elective course 7 30 60 3
4.   Elective course 8 60 120 6
5.   Internship 20 40 2
6.   State examination – theoretical     5
7.   State examination – first foreign language     3
8.   State examination – second foreign language     2
Total for semester VIII 200 400 30
Total for the fourth year 600 1200 60
Total for the entire course of study 2400 4800 240
Elective courses
1. INF1022 Informatics - Part 1 45 60 3
INF1090 Information Systems
2. PHI1006 Philosophy 30 60 3
PHI1003 Ethics
3. INF1023 Informatics - Part 2 30 60 3
INF1091 Software products
4. POL1051 Regional Relations and Conflicts 30 60 3
POL1089 NATO and Europe
5. POL1047 Political Organizations and Institutions 30 60 3
  POL1010 European International Organizations      
6. POL1089 International Disputes and Conflicts 30 60 3
7. POL1056 Political Geography 30 60 3
8. SEC1067 Security Policy of the EU 30 60 3
Optional courses
1. POL1049 Politics and Aesthetics 30 60 3
POL1050 European Modernity
2. POL1053 European Policies of Neighbourship 30 60 3
POL1054 Policy of Cooperation for Development
Foreign Languages
Semester I
1. NE-1 sem Second Foreign Language - German  80 160 8
FLR 1001 Second Foreign Language - Russian 80 160 8
Semester II
2. FLG 1001 Second Foreign Language - German 65 130 6,5
FLR 1001 Second Foreign Language - Russian 65 130 6,5
Semester III
3. FLE 1004 First Foreign Language - English  45 90 4,5
FLG 1002 Second Foreign Language - German 45 90 4,5
FLR 1002 Second Foreign Language - Russian 45 90 4,5
Semester IV
4. FLE 1004 First Foreign Language - English 45 90 4,5
FLG 1002 Second Foreign Language - German 45 90 4,5
FLR 1002 Second Foreign Language - Russian 45 90 4,5
Semester V
5. FLE 1005 First Foreign Language - English 30 60 3
FLG 1003 Second Foreign Language - German 45 90 4,5
FLR 1003 Second Foreign Language - Russian 45 90 4,5
Semester VI
6. FLE 1005 First Foreign Language - English 45 90 4,5
FLG 1003 Second Foreign Language - German 45 90 4,5
FLR 1003 Second Foreign Language - Russian 45 90 4,5
Semester VII
7. FLE 1005 First Foreign Language - English 45 90 4,5
FLG 1004 Second Foreign Language - German 45 90 4,5
FLR 1004 Second Foreign Language - Russian 45 90 4,5
* In Varna Free University, a credit equals 30 lessons, of which 10 contact hours (lectures and seminars) and 20 hours independent work.

 

 

Graduation requirements: Students who have successfully passed all examinations of the "International Relations" speciality curriculum for the "Bachelor" degree, have successfully defended their graduation internship, and have paid all required fees: semester fees and the fee for the state examination (thesis defence), are admitted to the state examination (defence of diploma thesis). The total number of credits collected by students in both VFU and in other Erasmus Program partners of VFU (universities and higher schools) before the state examination (thesis defence) must be at least 230 credits. Successful passing of the state examination yields additional 10 credits to the 230 credits from the previous study, supplementing the number of credits to a total of 240, needed for "Bachelor" degree according to the requirements of the Act on Higher Education.
Only students who meet the above requirements and have an average grading from the training in the previous seven semesters equal or higher than "Very Good - 5" are admitted to thesis defence.

 

Mode of study: full time, part time, distance learning

 

Head of Department: Assoc. Prof. Snezhanka Ovcharova
tel: +359 52 359 576
е-mail: sn.ovcharova@gmail.com