Faculty: International Economics and Administration
Department: Administration, Management and Political Science
Professional area: Administration and Management

Specialty: Business Administration and Management
 
Master’s degree programme: Management of Cultural Tourism
 
Title of qualification awarded: Master of Cultural Tourism Management
 
Level of qualification: educational - qualification master’s degree
 
Programme duration: 1, 5 years (3 semesters)
 
ECTS credits allocated: 90 credits
 
Field of study (ISCED-F): 0413
 
Specific admissions requirements: Applicants need at least a 4 (four) higher education GPA; entrance exam - interview.
 
Specific order for recognition of prior studies:
• formal: recognition of bachelor's degree credits.
• non-formal: language and computer literacy certificates and other key competences, in accordance with the curriculum of the specialty;
• informal: by passing a certification exam in language, computer science or other type of competence before a VFU committee;
Procedures for non-formal and informal recognition of prior competencies:
1. Recognition of credits on the basis of submitted documents:
- Transcript or diploma from prior studies;
- International foreign language diplomas and certificates (Cambridge English FCE, TOEFEL; German - Zertifikat Deutsch, Sprahdiplom, Zweite Stufe; Russian - TRKI; French - DELF; Spanish - DELE);
- International diplomas and certificates of computer skills complying with ECDL (The European Computer Driving License).
2. It is also possible to certify knowledge and skills by passing exams in:
- foreign language at the Foreign Language Teaching Department;
- computer skills at the Department of Informatics.
 
Qualification requirements and rules:
90 credits are required to qualify; of these, 46.5 credits for compulsory courses; 18 credits for elective courses; 6 credits for optional courses; 4.5 credits for a placement and 15 credits for the state exam.
 
Profile of the specialty: 
The master's degree programme in Cultural Tourism Management is intended for bachelors and masters of various professional areas. It is suitable for managers who are actively involved in organizing and managing cultural tourism. It offers the opportunity for high professional training to all who wish to qualify as specialists in this particular segment of the tourism industry. It is also a real and attractive opportunity for those who seek to gain broad knowledge of cultural and historical sites of global and national importance.
 
Key learning outcomes:
The master's degree programme provides a rich array of knowledge and competencies for the use of modern management and the implementation of management strategies; it acquaints with the successful and desirable effects of social technologies to motivate priority social environments and to influence public attitudes. The educational process goes beyond the canons of known and insufficiently effective practices for organizing the training of modern managers. The classic lecture model, which, according to the thematic orientation, is held in different places in the country, partners with a wealth of forms of practical training: a practical course abroad; academic happenings; university workshop; photo safari; master class; academic apostrophe. Outstanding and internationally respected Bulgarian scientists and artists are among the lecturers.
 
The model for conducting the educational process has no alternative in the university practice in the country. The carried out analyses of the current world and national practice show that there is already a strong tendency for increasing consumer interest in cultural tourism. Global processes intensify interest not only in the most striking achievements of ancient and modern human civilization, but also in identical cultures, in their preservation and transmission to future generations.
 
 
 
Structural diagram of the courses with credits*:

 

ECTS code

№	Course	Lectures and seminars	Out-of-class workload	Credits
1	TUR3151	Global problems of the present	45	90	4,5
2	MAN3501	Strategies and concepts for tourism development	45	90	4,5
3	LAW3365	Normative and legal frameworks	30	60	3
		Elective courses (4 out of 6)
1	PCI3100	Advertising communication of tourist cultural sites – practicum – practical course	45	90	4,5
2	TUR3152	Creative cultural tourism - practical course	45	90	4,5
3	MAN3497	Brand and branding management - practical course	45	90	4,5
4	INF3495	Online positioning of tourist sites	45	90	4,5
5	PCI3101	Communication in extreme situations	45	90	4,5
6	PCI3097	Media policies of travel agencies and the impact of public structures	45	90	4,5
Total for the 1st semester			300	600	30
1	PCI3098	Management of cultural heritage communication strategies	45	90	4,5
2	MAN3500	Management of tourist cultural structures	45	90	4,5
3	TUR3153	Cultural tourism of open spaces	30	60	3
4	SOC3087	Socialising of tourist attractions	30	60	3
5	MAN3498	Building and management of corporate image and reputation	30	60	3
6	MAR3402	Marketing research and analysis	30	60	3
7	TUR3154	Academic happening "Culinary Tourism"	45	90	4,5
8	TUR3155	Academic workshop: Photo safari entitled "Photographic Art and Presentation of Tourist Cultural Sites"	45	90	4,5
Total for the 2nd semester			300	600	30
1	PCI3099	PR communication of tourist cultural destinations	45	90	4,5
2		Defence of traineeship		135	4,5
		Optional courses (2 out of 4)
1	SOC3088	Mythologisation of  realities and cultural tourism	30	60	3
2	PCI3102	Intercultural interactions in tourism	30	60	3
3	TUR3156	Cultural tourism and stratification of human resources	30	60	3
4	MAN3499	Management of a tourist complex	30	60	3
		Preparation and defence of a master’s thesis		450	15
Total for the 3rd semester			75	735	30
Total for the entire course of study:			675	1935	90

 
* At Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar", one credit corresponds to 30 hours of student workload, which includes 10 hours of classroom work (lectures and seminars) and 20 hours of out-of-class workload.
 
Mode of study: full time; part time  
 
Rules for semester exams, assessment and grades: During the course of studies – tests, course assignments; at the end of each course – written and oral exams
 
Optional or compulsory mobility windows:
Students can also participate in mobility under Erasmus programme, which gives them the opportunity to explore European business and give successful performance in an intercultural environment. They have the opportunity to enroll in additional internships and placements organized annually in:

• Germany - the provinces of North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg in business organizations, chambers of commerce and industry, municipal and regional administrations;
•  Russian Federation: Moscow, St. Petersburg;
• Brussels - in the European institutions and others.

Internship:
The pre-graduate internship is conducted at the Ministry of Tourism, in the PR departments of the Presidency, the Parliament, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria and other prestigious state institutions, national public media, tourist information centres and leading cultural and public institutions. The students gain a real understanding of the practice in the profession, and receive valuable practical advice by tourism management professionals in the field of tourism management. Upon completion of the internship, students will defend their pre-graduate internship before a committee.
 
Apprenticeship:
Students are sent out on placement for training in national and regional tourism institutions.
 
Professional profiles of the graduates:
Successful graduates receive the degree "Master" with professional qualification Master of Cultural Tourism Management.
 
Access to further studies: in scientific – educational doctorate degree
 
Programme director: Assoc. Prof. Georgi Kalaglarski, PhD
VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar", office А-106
telephone - 052/359 617;
e-mail: kalaglarsky@yahoo.com
 
ECTS Coordinator: Eng. Pavleta Krusteva
VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar", office G-3
telephone - 052/359 564; 0878 417 494
e-mail: pavleta.krasteva@vfu.bg
pavleta.krasteva@gmail.com