Faculty of International Economics and Administration
Department: Administration and Management and Political Sciences
Professional Area: Administration and Management

Speciality: Business administration and Management

Master's Degree Programme: Advertising and Public Relations in Business Management

Educational-and-qualification Degree: Master

 

Awarded qualification: Master in Business Administration – Communication Management

 

Level of qualification: Educational-and-qualification Degree "Master"

 

Length of programme:

1 year (2 semesters) – for Bachelors in the major "Business Administration";

1,5 years (3 semesters) – for Bachelors in other majors.

 

Number of credits:

60 credits – for Bachelors in the major "Business Administration";

90 credits – for Bachelors in other majors.

 

Field of study (ISCED-F): 0414 Marketing and advertising.

 

Specific admission requirements: Bachelor's Degree, average performance not less than Good 3.50 according to the Bulgarian system of grades; entrance examination – a discussion.

 

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning:

Formal: recognition of credits based on a university diploma (Bachelor's Degree).
Informal: foreign language and computer certificates and other type of competency in line with the study plan of the specialty.
Unofficial: certification exam in foreign language, IT skills or other competency before a commission at Varna Free University.
Procedures for informal and unofficial recognition of competencies from previous study:
1. Allocation of credits on the basis of submitted papers: academic transcript or a diploma for higher degree from previous study; 
- International diplomas and foreign language certificates (English- Cambridge FCE, TOEFL; German - Zertifikat Deutsch, Sprahdiplom, Zweite Stufe; Russian – ТРКИ; French- DELF; Spanish - DELE);
- International diplomas and ECDL (The European Computer Driving Licence) certificates.
2. Certification of knowledge and skills by means of taking exams in: 
- foreign languages at the Department of Foreign Language Teaching;
- IT skills at the Department of Computer Studies.

 

Qualification requirements and regulations:

In order to be awarded the qualification 90 credits are necessary for Bachelors in other majors, (60 credits for Bachelors in the major "Business Administration"); 30 of the credits come from equivalency courses for specialists from other professional areas, 28,5 credits from compulsory courses, 12 credits from elective courses; 4,5 credits from optional courses and 15 credits from state exam.

 

Profile of the programme:

    The Master's degree programme is designed for managers who are actively involved in the management of contemporary processes for creating and managing business organizations. The highly competitive environment, both in Bulgaria and abroad, requires a more active implementation of modern social technologies, part of which are public relations and advertising. Without the skillful use of their technological characteristics, it is no longer possible to create a favourable business environment. These technologies are used to build confidence in business organizations and to establish personal and corporate image that enhances the sought end effect. No less important in business management is the establishment of harmonious relationships with the target groups, partners, local communities. International prestige is also among the fundamental necessities for the prosperity of each economic unit.

 

Programme learning outcomes:

The Master's degree programme offers a range of economic, legal and managerial knowledge and skills. Postgraduates will enrich their professional culture and will expand their opportunities for active public behaviour, both in typical and specific situations. Therefore, Bachelors and Masters in different majors can join the programme. A positive feature for the success of the programme is the fact that so far similar majors have not been opened at other Bulgarian universities. Bulgarian experts, most of them engaged at VFU 'Chernorizets Hrabar', are invited as lecturers.

 

Programme structure diagram with credits*:

 

№	ECTS code	Course Title	Lectures and seminars	Out-of-class workload	Number of credits
1	MAR1005	Marketing Research	30	60	3
2	ECO3150	Global Problems of the Present Days	30	60	3
3	PCI1068	Theory of Advertising and PR in Business	30	60	3
4	FIN1020	Corporate and Personal Image	30	60	3
5	MAN1008	Information Technology and Communication	30	60	3
6	PCI1070	Legal Regulations in Advertising and Public Relations	30	60	3
7		Elective course1	30	60	3
8		Elective course 2	30	60	3
9		Elective course 3	30	60	3
10		Elective course 4	30	60	3
Total for semester  I			300	600	30
1	MAN2050	European Management in Advertising and Public Relations	15	30	1,5
2	PSY2035	Communication Culture	30	60	3
3	MAN3255	E-management	30	60	3
4		Optional course 1	30	60	3
5		Optional course 2	15	30	1,5
		Module practice training and graduation
6		Internship		90	3
7		Preparation and defense of Master's thesis		450	15
Total for semester II			120	780	30
Total for the whole course of study:			420	1380	60
		Equivalency courses for Bachelors from other majors
1	MAN2040	Entrepreneurship Activity	60	120	6
2	MAN2035	Human Resources Management	60	120	6
3	ECO1047	Micro and Macroeconomics	60	120	6
4	MAR2025	International Marketing	60	120	6
5	MAN1010	Advertising Communication	60	120	6
Total for the equivalency semester			300	600	30
TOTAL FOR THE ENTIRE COURSE OF TRAINING FOR BACHELORS FROM OTHER MAJORS:			750	1950	90
		Elective courses (choose 4 from 9)
1	MAN3054	Public Project Management	30	60	3
2	MAN1045	Organization and management of Small and Medium Business	30	60	3
3	LAW1011	Right to Information Access and Information Protection	30	60	3
4	ECO1035	Management and Marketing of the Territorial Communities	30	60	3
5	MAN3225	Leadership and Business Communication	30	60	3
6	PCI3039	Media and Conflicts	30	60	3
7	PCI3035	Media and Impact on Social Structures	30	60	3
8	MAR3127	Branding in Business Management	30	60	3
9	MAR3159	Creative Communication	30	60	3
		Optional courses (choose 2 out of 4)
1	SOC3020	Social Interactions and Teamwork	30	60	3
2	PSY1090	Communication in Extreme Situations	15	30	1,5
3	SOC1010	Communication Skills	30	60	3
4	PSY3143	Communication Strategies	15	30	1,5

 

* In Varna Free University, a credit equals 30 lessons, of which 10 contact hours (lectures and seminars) and 20 hours independent work.

 

 

Mode of study: full-time; part-time.

 

Examination regulations and grading scale:

During training – tests, project assignment; written and oral exams at the end of each course.

 

Obligatory or optional mobility windows:

Students can participate in Erasmus student mobility for placements which enables them to know better the European business and to have successful professional realization in an intercultural environment. They can join additional placements and internships annually which are organized in:

• Germany – the Province of North Rein Westphalia and Baden-Wurttemberg in business organizations, commercial and industrial chambers, municipal and regional administrations;
• Russian federation – Moscow, St Petersburg;
• Brussels – in European institutions, etc.

                                                                                  

Work-placement:

Pre-graduation placement is held in the PR departments of the Presidency, Parliament, Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria and other prestigious public institutions, national public media and leading institutions.

The students gain real insight into the practice of the profession, as well as valuable practical advice straight from professionals in the fields of Public Relations and Advertising, related to Business Management. After completion of the learning experience the students take a defense exam of the pre-graduate practice at a commission.

 

Work-based learning:

Students do placements in national and regional PR and Advertising agencies.

 

Occupational profiles of the graduates:

The graduates from the master's degree programme in Advertising and Public Relations in Business Management can work as specialists in the field of public relations and advertising in business organizations or public administration.

 

Access to further studies: Graduates can enter PhD programmes.

 

Programme Director: Assoc. Prof. Georgi Kalaglarsky, PhD

VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" Room A-106

Phone number: +359 52 359 617

e-mail: kalaglarsky@yahoo.com

 

ECTS-coordinator: Eng. Pavleta Krasteva

VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" Room D-8

Phone number: +359 52 359 572; mobile: +359 878 417 494

e-mail:  pavleta.krasteva@vfu.bg

pavleta.krasteva@gmail.com