Varna University of Management

About Varna University of Management (VUM):

Varna University of Management (VUM) is a private not-for-profit university located in Varna, one of the largest cities in Bulgaria and a popular tourist destination on the Black Sea coast.

VUM also has campuses in Dobrich and in Sofia, Bulgaria. The university if among the leading business universities in Eastern Europe.

Established in 1996, today the university is internationally recognized for education in undergraduate and postgraduate programs in the fields of Business and Management, IT, Hospitality and Tourism, and Culinary Arts. All VUM study programs are delivered exclusively in English.

VUM is accredited by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science, as well as by the British Accreditation Council (BAC), member of European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education.

VUM is deeply committed to the principles of internationalization and high quality of education. Thanks to its internationally recognized programs, VUM has one of the highest international students’ rates in Bulgaria.

Today, full-time students from nearly 50 countries across the globe are studying at VUM, and more than 1/3 of all VUM students are international. VUM has an extensive and sophisticated network of active academic partners of more than 200 universities on five continents.

The strategic academic partnership with Cadiff Metropolitan University in the UK provides opportunity for students to complete their higher education with two degrees – Bulgarian from Varna University of Management and British from the partner university.

Programs at VUM:

Bachelor Programs:

International Business Management:

this program is offered at the Varna and Sofia campuses. Students have the option to choose the duration of the program, namely:

3 years – Bulgarian diploma for professional bachelor in “International Business and
Management” issued by VUM and British bachelor’s diploma from Cardiff Metropolitan
University, UK.
4 years – Bulgarian diploma for bachelors in “International Business and Management”
issued by VUM and British diploma for bachelor from Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK.

Students acquire important theoretical knowledge in the fields of Economics, Management and Behavioral Sciences, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Information Technology, Business Innovation, Business ethics, Administrative culture and others.

The problem-based and case-based learning techniques applied throughout the training course are linked to actual business practice and lead to the building of creativity and innovative thinking in solving practical cases.

International Hospitality Management:

This program is offered at the Varna campus. The International Hospitality Management program at VUM has more than 25 years of history. Hundreds of graduates have entered the hospitality industry in Bulgaria and more than 50 other countries around the globe.

Students have the option to choose the duration of the program, namely:

3 years – Bulgarian diploma for a professional bachelor in “Hotel Management” issued by VUM and a British diploma for bachelor in “International Hotel Management” from Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK.
4 years – Bulgarian diploma for bachelor in “Hotel Management” issued by VUM and British diploma for bachelor in “International Hotel Management” from Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK.

Students acquire important theoretical knowledge in the fields of Economics, Management and Behavioral Sciences, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Information Technology, Business Communications and others.

The problem-based and case-based learning techniques that are applied during the training course are related to actual hotel practice and lead to building creativity and innovative thinking in solving practical cases, teamwork skills, communication, planning, organizing, decision making, and conflict management.

Business Administration (with pathways):

Offered at the Dobrich campus, BBA is a 4 year full-time programs. Upon successful graduation, students receive two diplomas – A Bulgarian diploma from VUM and a British diploma BA(Hons) Business and Management from our strategic academic partner Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK.

The program prepares specialists in the field of Administration, Management, Organizing and Leading teams, planning, and controlling processes, tasks and projects.

Students acquire important theoretical knowledge in Economics, Management, Marketing, Law, Finance and Accounting, as well as practical skills such as Leadership, Conflict Management, Organizational Behavior, working with modern Information Systems and many others.

Software Systems and Technologies:

Offered at the Varna campus, this is a 3 year full-time bachelor program. Upon successful graduation, students are awarded two diplomas – A Bulgarian degree from VUM and a British degree from our strategic academic partner, Cardiff Metropolitan University in the UK.

The program emphasizes programming languages, operating systems, and advanced data structures. It combines theoretical and practical training by providing full industrial simulation which helps graduates become highly qualified Software Engineers possessing all the necessary knowledge and skills for successful implementation.

Gastronomy and Culinary Arts:

This program is offered at the Varna campus, and is a 3 year (6 semesters) program. Upon successful graduation, students receive two diplomas – A Bulgarian diploma from VUM and a British diploma BA(Hons) Culinary Arts Management from our strategic academic partner Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK.

Students acquire important theoretical knowledge in the fields of accounting, pricing, marketing, business communications, human resource management, while also studying specialized modules such as Culinary Arts Technology, Innovation and Creativity in Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, International Restaurant Management, Management of Special events and more.

The practical training takes place in the professional environment of the Institute of Culinary Arts at VUM under the leadership of an international team of chef-instructors with extensive practical experience in high-end restaurants in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America.

Hospitality and Culinary Arts:

This program is offered at the Varna campus. Upon successful graduation, students receive two diplomas – A Bulgarian one from VUM and a British BA(Hons) International Hospitality Management degree from our strategic academic partner Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK.

Students acquire important theoretical knowledge in the fields of Accounting, Pricing, Marketing, Business Communication and Human Resource Management while also studying specialized modules such as Culinary Arts Technology, Innovation and Creativity in Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, International Restaurant Management, Management of Special events and more.

Master Programs:

Master of Business Administration (MBA):

This is a 3-4 semester program offered at the Varna and Sofia campuses. Upon successful graduation, students receive two diplomas – A Bulgarian diploma from VUM and British diploma from our strategic academic partner Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK.

The Master’s program is ranked 3rd in Central and Eastern Europe according to the prestigious international Eduniversal Best Masters ranking.

Master in International Hospitality and Tourism Management:

This is a 3-4 semester program offered at the Varna campus. Upon successful graduation, students receive two diplomas – A Bulgarian degree from VUM and a British degree from our strategic academic partner Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK.

The Master’s program is ranked 14th in the world according to the prestigious Eduniversal Best Masters international ranking.

PhD Programs:

PhD Program in Tourism:

Place of study – Varna
Language of teaching – Bulgarian, English
Duration of study – 3 years for regular and independent form of study and 4 years for part-time form of study
Form of education – full-time, part-time and independent

Admission Requirements at VUM:

Bachelor Program Admission Requirements:

Required Documents:

Scanned copy of Application form for VUM.
Scanned copy of international passport.
Scanned copy of secondary school diploma* & transcript with grades.
- Originals or notarized copies of diploma for completed secondary education along
  with the transcript with the grade
- Each applicant needs to have 62% or higher out of the maximum possible grade in two general (non-local
  languages and non-religious) subjects
4 passport size photos.
Original Health Certificate stating that you are healthy and you can travel.
Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, SAT or equivalent English language test)
- preferred but not a must.
Declaration of Personal Data Collection

English Proficiency Requirements:

In order to start the first year of study in a 4-year Bachelor’s program of Business Administration (with pathways), the prospective candidates must have at least IELTS 4.5 (or equivalent score from other internationally recognized testing system).

In order to join any of the other English taught Bachelor’s programs, the prospective candidates must have at least IELTS 6.0 (or an equivalent score from other internationally recognized testing system).

Application review, interview and English exam

Once you have submitted all requested documents our admissions team will review them and you will be contacted for further application process – admission interview. It will be scheduled for the time and date suitable for both sides.

Admission interview is obligatory. After the interview, those who do not possess an internationally recognized English language certificate, undertake the online English exam of VUM. The minimum required result for acceptance in a Bachelor’s program is 60 %.

Master Program Admission Requirements:

Required Documents:

Scanned copy of Varna University of Management and Cardiff Metropolitan University applications.
Scanned copy of international passport.
4 passport size photos.
Original Health Certificate stating that you are healthy and you can travel.
Scanned copy of secondary school diploma & transcript with grades.
High school diploma with marksheets (original or notarized copy).
Scanned copy of higher education (university) diploma with grades transcript.
- Originals or notarized copies of university degree along with the transcript with the grade
- The applicant’s higher education (university) degree has to be a Lower Second class 2:2 (50% – 59%) at least. Third class degrees (49 % and below) do not meet the requirements for acceptance at university.
Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, SAT or equivalent English language test) –preferred but not a must
2 letters of recommendation (in English, containing recommendations from the teacher and / or employer, contacts, signature and seal of the recommender).
Curriculum vitae in English.
Cover letter, addressed to both Varna University of Management and Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Declaration of Personal Data Collection
An Eligibility letter – a document stating that you have the right to continue your education in any college or university in the country where you graduated or abroad. It could be issued by your school or Ministry of Education (or other accredited state educational institution) in the country where you obtained your secondary certificate (not required for students graduated from Bulgarian high schools)

English Proficiency Requirements:

For entry into Master programs, an IELTS score of 6.5 (or an equivalent score from other internationally recognized testing system) is required.

Application review, interview and English exam

Tuition and Fees at VUM:

Tuition:

Tuition Fee for Bachelor Programs: 2400 EUR per semester

Additional fee of 900 EUR due in the last year of education for registration for the second (British) degree

Tuition Fee for Master Programs: 2850 EUR per semester

Fees:

Application Fee (non-refundable): 100 €

Document Translation Fee:

For Bachelor Programs: 200 €
For Master Programs: 250 €

VUM Student Status Fee: 450 € per semester

Scholarships:

Scholarships for Newly Admitted Students:

Newly enrolled students on a Bachelor’s degree program are eligible to apply for a scholarship for the first academic year of their education in English language programs.

The applicants who are eligible for a scholarship up to €250 for the first academic year shall undergo a motivational interview at VUM and shall have successfully passed an English language exam at VUM with a score over 75%.
The newly enrolled students can also apply for scholarships provided in collaboration with University’s partnering organizations amounting from €250 up to €1000 for the first academic year. The students applying for this type of scholarship should have acquired English language certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, CAE, SAT) or should have scored high at the state matriculation exam in English.

Scholarships After the First Academic Year:

After the first academic year, all the students, who have successfully passed their exams during the examination sessions as per the approved exam schedule for the respective academic year by the start of the due academic year, are eligible for an Academic Performance Scholarship (merit-based). This scholarship is calculated based on the exam results from the previous two semesters.

The students on the “Hospitality and Culinary Arts” and “Gastronomy and Culinary Arts” programs who have successfully passed their exams within the examination sessions as per the approved exam schedule for the respective academic year by the start of the due academic year are eligible for an Academic performance scholarship as of the third year of their studies.

Scholarships for Master Students:

Every newly enrolled Master’s degree student is eligible to apply for a scholarship during the admission process.

The applicants who are eligible for a scholarship up to €250 shall undergo a motivational interview at VUM and an shall have successfully passed an English language exam with a score over 80%. The newly enrolled students may apply for scholarships provided by the University’s partnering companies amounting from €250 up to €1000 for the whole period of education only if they present a valid English language certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and CAE) and have submitted the full set of required documents for the particular Program.
Students with a Bachelor’s Degree in English language from VUM continuing their education in a double-degree Master’s Program are eligible for a Scholarship amounting from €500 up to €1000.

Facilities at VUM:

Campus Infrastructure:

This includes classrooms, lecture halls, and administrative offices.

Library:

Library and information complex (BIC) is the main resource center of VUM for library and information provision of the educational, scientific, research, and cultural activities of students, teachers and employees, as well as external users, through the application and full use of the possibilities of traditional and information and communication technologies.

VUM also has a student portal (DEC system), which is a web-based database for all students, accessible through any internet browser. It stores all study materials for the various disciplines, as well as supporting materials, case studies, presentations and others, announces exam grades, project assignments and exchanges knowledge between teachers and students.

Internship Opportunities:

VUM offers diverse internship opportunities across many programs which allows the students to gain hands on experience in their field of study.

Student Welfare and Service Center:

The Student Welfare and Service Center assists all non-academic issues of all students of the Varna University of Management. It provides social support to all students throughout their studies at VUM.

The Center for Student Welfare and Services works together on the physical and mental health and well-being of students, with all staff from the academic and administrative departments.

Common reasons for seeking help include: low motivation, poor concentration, feelings of anxiety, conflict, insecurity or isolation, personal emotional challenges, cultural problems, and more.

Accommodation:

Varna Campus Dormitory: The housing facility in Varna is situated on the highest floor of the building. It features well-appointed rooms complete with private bathrooms and wireless internet access. Both the Student Welfare and Dormitory Departments ensure comprehensive support for all students, regardless of whether they opt for on-campus housing or choose private accommodation.
Dobrich Campus Dormitory: The student residence in Dobrich is strategically positioned in close proximity to VUM’s training base. Sports enthusiasts can easily access the charming “St. George” city park nearby. The dormitory provides spacious apartments featuring both single and double rooms, ideal for students, equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, and Wi-Fi. Additionally, there’s a communal space for social interactions. Furthermore, VUM provides alternative housing options within the city, either on the upper floor of the school building or in one of the wings of our “Summer Theater” complex.

Research:

All professors at Varna University of Management actively endorse, promote, and contribute to research endeavors in various domains. These include:

Arranging an annual International Scientific Research Conference
Organizing and engaging in youth events featuring distinguished scholars from the European academic community
Launching the inaugural Bulgarian scientific journal, “European Journal of Tourism Research,” dedicated to research in the tourism field
Publishing the Journal of Pedagogy and Educational Management
Introducing VUM Management Review
Establishing a Bulgarian-Romanian center focused on sustainable tourism development
Creating software packages and educational manuals
Numerous research projects initiated by the academic faculty at VUM, with students actively encouraged to participate. The Bulgarian University Ranking System consistently acknowledges VUM with high ratings for student involvement in scientific research, particularly in Tourism, Economics, and Business Administration.

Our Services:

Considering that we are an official representative of the Varna University of Management (VUM), we provide all admission services, student visas, and university entrance exam registrations for VUM completely free of charge.

We offer pre-evaluation of your documents including transcripts and English language proficiency results prior to applying to your program of choice.

Additionally, we offer assistance and provide guidance in constructing optimal resumes and personal statements if required for admission.

lastly, we provide a checklist of all the required documents for admission and assist you with applying for residency as well.