Medical University ‘Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov’ Varna Faculty of Medicine, Bulgaria

The Medical University of Varna (MU-Varna) is a Bulgarian state school for higher education dedicated to training specialists in the fields of medicine and healthcare who graduate with the educational and qualification degrees of Master, Bachelor and Professional Bachelor. The University has a legal entity status with the following scope of business activities: training of cadres and professional qualification; training of PhD students; postgraduate education for medical and non-medical cadres; conducting medical diagnosis, prevention, consultation, rehabilitation, and expert services at the university hospitals; scientific research and applied sciences; international cooperation in the field of education and science; administrative, social, sport, publishing, information, and other activities.

The Medical University of Varna is the first university in Bulgaria to implement the EFQM® model for Business Excellence of the European Foundation for Quality Management in 2008. The diplomas issued by the University are recognised in all the European Union countries.

The University was founded as a Higher Medical Institute by a Decree No. 414 from November 12, 1960 of the Presidium of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria and Order No. 208 from January 19, 1961 of the Ministry of Health. October 1, 1961 is considered its birthdate – the first school day of the first academic year at the first higher education medical school in Northeastern Bulgaria.

During the first 10 years all departments and basic clinics were developed. Facilities for education and scientific research were created. During the 1970s the new Surgery Clinic and the Dermatology Clinic were built. In the 1980s the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, the Psychiatric Hospital, the Eye Hospital, the Therapeutic Hospital (the current University Hospital “St. Marina” – Varna) were also established.

In 1995, by a decree of the National Assembly, the Higher Medical Institute of Varna was renamed to Medical University of Varna. In 2002 the University accepted as its name the name of its patron – Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov. The university auditoria are traditionally named after prominent professors from the Medical University of Varna.

The Medical University of Varna is among the first members of the Black Sea Universities Network (BSUN) and is full member of the European University Association (EUA). From 2006 the graduating doctors receive a European supplement to their diplomas which is valid for their professional realisation in the EU countries. Faculty of Medicine is a main part of the University structure uniting 20 departments and 18 teaching and research sectors. Its purpose is to train staff with a higher education degree in medicine, graduating with educational qualification degree Master and professional qualification Master in Medicine.

In November, 2015, 4500 students were studying at the Medical University of Varna, of whom 3400 Bulgarian citizens and 1100 foreign students from around 40 different countries, 900 of which are studying in the English language programmes in “Medicine” and “Dental Medicine”. The students are studying in 26 different programmes – 987 disciplines; 80 courses (incl. 12 English language courses and 1 Russian language course). Every year the students of the Medical University of Varna take part in the traditional sport tournaments “Varna Universiade”, “The Cup of the Rector”, “Summer University” and “Winter Universiade”.

The library of the Medical University of Varna was founded in 1961. The library possesses around 160 000 volumes of booksand periodicals. In the library fund there are also around 500 old books on medicine, pharmacology and dental medicine, printed in the period 1830–1950. A digital catalogue was created and has been maintained since 1995.