Doctoral Studies Step by Step
The Institute of Chemical Engineering of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IChE-BAS) holds programme accreditation for the doctoral programme “Processes and Equipment in Chemical and Biochemical Technology” in the professional field 4.2 Chemical Sciences, within the higher education area 4. Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Informatics.
State-funded full-time and part-time PhD students are enrolled after decision of the Scientific Council (SC) of the IChE-BAS and by order of the director, following successful completion of the admissions process.
PhD students in independent study are enrolled after a discussion of the SC of the IChE-BAS and by order of the director, following submission of a project of the dissertation. Before being submitted to the SC, the nomination is discussed at a meeting of the Colloquium on Chemical Engineering at the IChE-BAS.
After enrolment of the PhD students in independent study, all requirements of the educational and research programme for PhD students at the BAS apply to them. If an enrolled PhD student is not an employee of the BAS and there is no agreement in place with the organization where the student works, a contract must be signed between the director of the IChE-BAS and the student, specifying the tuition fee.
Foreign nationals are enrolled and trained in compliance with Bulgarian legislation and the “Regulations on the Activities of the Training Centre and the Academic Council of the BAS”.
The period of doctoral study is up to 3 years for full-time PhD students, up to 4 year for part-time PhD students, up to 5 years for PhD students in independent study and in connection with a research project pursuant to Article 21, paragraph 7, of the Higher Education Act.
Training follows an individual study plan (download), prepared by the PhD student and the scientific supervisor and approved by the SC of the IChE-BAS. The plan consists of a general study plan for the entire period and a work plan by years. It includes:
The educational programme covers three types of training:
Reporting: full-time PhD students submit quarterly reports (download), approved by the SC of the IChE-BAS. All PhD students submit an annual report (download), which is discussed by the General Assembly of the IChE-BAS and approved by the SC.
During their studies, PhD students take:
PhD students take part in laboratory seminars and in the Colloquium on Chemical Engineering, in research projects, and in national and international conferences. The IChE-BAS encourages their participation in mobility programmes (Erasmus+) and in the national programmes for young scientists. An annual meeting of PhD students with the Institute’s management is held, and their opinion on the quality of training is surveyed through a questionnaire (download).
The training program concludes with the PhD student’s dismissal, which is carried out by order of the director of the IChE-BAS following a decision by the SC.
A PhD student is dismissed with the right to defend his dissertation, when he has completed his individual study plan, passed the required exams, and earned the necessary credits. A PhD student may be dismissed with the right to defend his dissertation if he has completed the educational program included in his individual study plan in accordance with the requirements of the TC-BAS and has conducted a substantial portion of the research included in the individual plan. Dismissal with the right to defend a dissertation may also occur before the end of the study period. The research advisor submits a reasoned proposal, which is discussed within the laboratory and submitted to the SC of the IChE-BAS.
The defence is preceded by a preliminary discussion in the laboratory. Upon a positive decision, the SC appoints the scientific jury and opens the procedure.
Upon successful completion of the coursework and to initiate the preliminary review (pre-defence) procedure, the doctoral student submits (before the end of the study period) a set of documents to the director of the Institute:
If a dissertation is not submitted for defence within the study period for independent doctoral students and those covered by Article 21, paragraph 7 of the Higher Education Act, the IChE-BAS has no financial obligations regarding the defence procedure.
Payment for the defence (in full or in part) of independent doctoral candidates who are employees of the BAS is made only if the Institute has the financial means to do so and upon a decision by its management. The defence of independent doctoral candidates who are not employees of the BAS is paid for by the candidates themselves.
The defence is held publicly before a scientific jury. The abstract, reviews, and opinions of the members of the scientific jury are published on the website of the IChE- BAS prior to the defence, within the timeframes specified by the regulations. The date, time, and location of the defence are announced in advance on the BAS website and the Institute’s website.
The academic and scientific degree of “Doctor” is conferred on the day of the successful defence and is certified by a diploma issued by the BAS.
Following a successful defence, the dissertation and the details of the degree awarded are entered into the registry of the National Center for Information and Documentation as required by the regulations.
Graduates of the IChE-BAS doctoral programme continue their careers as researchers at the Institute and other research organisations, as university lecturers, or as specialists in the chemical, biotechnology and energy industries.
