Joint Master Programme in “Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer”, offered by the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria, taught in English, in cooperation with the European Patent Office (EPO), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), and the Centre for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI).
Duration of study: 1 academic year (2 semesters)
Form of study: full-time
Director: Chief Assist. Prof. Kiril Velitchkov, PhD
E-mail: kiril.velitchkov@feb.uni-sofia.bg
Administrator: Chief Assist. Prof. Nikoleta Voynova, PhD
email: n.voynova@feb.uni-sofia.bg
Presentation of the MP IPTT
Author: Alma Mater TV
For admission to the Master's program, you must apply with a document of completion of the bachelor’s or master’s degree and an oral interview with a committee. The score is formed by the average grade in the diploma, the success in the state exam (thesis defense) and the interview grade, which is a “yes” and “no”.
Candidates for admission to the programme from the winter semester of the academic year 2026/2027 can submit their applications through the platform https://feba.kmk.uni-sofia.bg/ (for Bulgarian and EU citizens) from 1 July 2026 to 30 September 2026 or via the central non-EU applicants procedure at Sofia University.
The training is only in English. No document is required, but an objective prerequisite for applying and successfully studying at the IPT is fluency in English (minimum level B2 of the European Framework of Reference for Languages).
Recognition of higher education acquired at a foreign higher education institution
How to apply for a student visa and a Bulgarian ID card for a long-term residence
The Master's Program “Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer in English” is a joint program of the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, and the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria. It is one of the 29 joint programs of the World Intellectual Property Organization at the global level and the only one in Bulgaria.
The program follows the classical approach of MBA program, where the training is based on the diverse life and practical experience of the trainees in this case, the practice of the World Intellectual Property Organization, the European Patent Office (EPO), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), and the Center for International Intellectual Property Studies in Strasbourg (CEIPI).
The aim of the program is to prepare highly qualified specialists in the field of intellectual property and technology transfer.
In the Master's Program, students acquire knowledge of inventions, utility models, integrated circuits, and know-how related to technological development and innovation, as well as trademarks, industrial designs, and geographical indications. In addition, methods for the protection of intellectual property under conditions of unfair competition, technology transfer, and commercialization are covered. The study of the new field “IP-Backed Finance” is also included.
Students have the opportunity to pursue additional specialization in areas of their choice by participating in guest lectures, тематic online courses, seminars, discussions, workshops, and practical case-study sessions led by professionals and experts in the field of intellectual property from the programme's national and international partner institutions.
The programme is taught in English, making it accessible to both Bulgarian and international students. It provides a multicultural learning environment with lecturers, academics, professionals, and experts from Bulgaria and abroad. The programme's international partners include WIPO, EPO, EUIPO, the University of Strasbourg, CEIPI, and Rutgers University (USA).
Trainees have the opportunity to participate for a period of 1 year in an internship program (Pan-European Seal Program) at the European Patent Office (EPO) or the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), which also provides the opportunity for future professional realization in European Institutions.
Those who successfully complete the program receive a European Diploma with 240 credits, in one with certificates from the additional special courses taken at the relevant international organizations.
Graduates of the MP in Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer with the qualification “MANAGER OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER”.
The Master program is suitable for:
- bachelors with economic, legal and technical education;
- professionals from practice (business representatives, lawyers, startup companies, venture capital funds, technology companies, public administration)
- entrepreneurs and consultants;
Eligibility:
- have a basic management, economic or legal education, or have acquired a degree in the natural and technical sciences;
- have completed a 4-year training course and have completed 240 credits;
- have a minimum grade point average in their undergraduate studies.
The program provides students with the opportunity to pursue expert and managerial positions in the field of intellectual property and technology transfer in business, startup companies, venture capital funds, technology companies, consultancy, and industrial property representatives, as well as experts in the public administration and employees of the World Intellectual Property Organization, the European Patent Office, the European Union Intellectual Property Office, the World Trade Organization, and others.
The duration of the study is 1 year (2 semesters), which includes:
- Basic compulsory training – courses that build the professional specialization of a Master in Management with an emphasis on the protection and management of intellectual property, primarily in the field of patents and the innovations related to them.
- Elective training – courses that students may choose according to their personal career development plans.
- There is an opportunity to study additional courses on an optional basis. The workload and credits for these courses are not counted toward the completion of the curriculum.
The education to the program starts from the winter semester.
The method of completion – Master's thesis defense (November/March).
Educating in the program is only in paid form.
Curriculum archive: