The Doctoral programmes in higher educational institutions and scientific organizations in the Republic of Bulgaria can be full-time, part-time, distant (only for a programme of the University Center for Analysis and Conflict, Faculty of Philosophy, and the PhD programme in Philosophy (taught in English)) and unsupervised on an individual plan.
The full-time and unsupervised, individual-plan doctoral programmes are with a period of study three years. Part-time doctoral programmes last four years.
The successful applicants must have completed a Master’s Degree.
Education in the Doctoral Degree Programmes is organized according to subject areas, defined in the classification of the scientific workers' specialties in Bulgaria (Official Journal: (in Bulgarian) (ДВ бр.34/1990)). According to the Higher Education Act, Doctoral Studies can be completed only in specialties that have received assessment at “Very good” during the accreditation procedure.