FACULTY of International Economics and Administration
DEPARTMENT of Administration, Management and Political Sciences
PROFESSIONAL AREA 3.3. Political Sciences
Speciality: International Policy and Security
Awarded qualification: International Relations and International Law
Level of qualification: Master
Length of programme: One year
Number of credits: 60
Field(s) of study (ISCED-F): Political Sciences
Specific admission requirements: A university diploma with average grading more than Good (4); competitive examination – colloquy.
Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning: Formal: diplomas and academic transcripts from secondary schools and accredited universities.
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:
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. 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, including graduation requirements:*60 credits for Bachelors in Political Sciences (International Relations); 90 credits for Bachelors or Masters in other majors. In order to obtain the qualification, students of master’s degree need 60 credits: of these, 27 credits from equivalency courses; 6 credits from compulsory courses, 6 credits from elective courses, 3 credits from optional courses, and 15 – from state examination.
Profile of the programme: Training is based on several research areas: political sciences, law and security. Students in „International Policy and Security” master’s degree programme will obtain knowledge and practical skills in the field of creating, organizing and management of security on a national and international scale.
Programme learning outcomes: The range of subjects taught with fundamental and specialized nature and the possibility of achieving a high level of language skills are a prerequisite for introduction to and mastering of important national and international innovative methods and practices of planning and communication by students, who have selected „International Policy and Security” major.
Graduates majoring in „International Policy and Security” should know the principles in the field of history, law, and security that are necessary for their general and specific qualifications, know the past and the trends of foreign policy state of affairs on micro, macro regional and global levels, have a good grasp of the legal foundations of international order and the protocol of the diplomatic and consular service, having a direct connection to the realization of various projects and practices in the field of foreign affairs and the range of forms of international communication.
At the same time they must be able to fit into the requirements for adequate and effective implementation of regional policies and strategies, to maintain professionally and competently the interests of the Republic of Bulgaria as representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomatic and consular service abroad, plan integration strategies relevant to the foreign policy and the international economic situation, consistent with the dominant political, economic and military priorities of our country, to organize and coordinate the interaction of foreign institutions in the country with the security authorities, local authorities, media and civil society.
Specialists who graduate from „International Policy and Security” should be able to manage diplomatic and consular sections abroad and Foreign Affairs departments, as well as to improve their foreign language training, and their research skills and project expertise in political science, the main theoretical schools of international relations and the integration processes; to orient themselves correctly in the dynamically changing aspects of the global environment and international situation. Another important skill that is developed in the course of training in „International Policy and Security” is the creation of skills and attitudes for administrative and creative work in various national and international institutions and NGOs.
Programme structure diagram with credits *:
№ |
ECTS code |
Course |
Contact hours |
Independent work |
Credits |
|
1 |
POL3112 |
Schengen legislation |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
2 |
INF3061 |
Information Systems Security |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
3 |
SEC3180 |
Economic Security |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
4 |
SEC3184 |
Antiterrorism Policies against Radicalism |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
5 |
SEC3170 |
Protective Regime of Energy Systems |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
6 |
Legal foundations of International Security |
30 |
60 |
3 |
||
7 |
Financial and Customs Intelligence |
30 |
60 |
3 |
||
8 |
SEC3187 |
Counterintelligence and Security |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
9 |
Political Rights and Security |
30 |
60 |
3 |
||
Optional courses (one of two) |
||||||
|
PHI 1008 |
Communication security |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
|
MAN1701 |
Entrepreneurship |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
Total for semester I |
300 |
600 |
30 |
|||
Elective courses (two of four) |
||||||
1 |
SEC3197 |
International Protection of Cultural Heritage |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
2 |
International Project Management |
30 |
60 |
3 |
||
3 |
MAN3445 |
Leadership in International Organizations |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
4 |
Intercultural Dialogue |
30 |
60 |
3 |
||
Graduation |
||||||
|
|
Internship |
|
90 |
9 |
|
|
|
Preparation and defense of a Master’s Thesis |
|
450 |
15 |
|
Total for semester II |
60 |
660 |
30 |
|||
Total for the course of study: |
360 |
1260 |
60 |
|||
|
|
Equivalency courses for Bachelors of other majors |
||||
1 |
POL 1041 |
Political Systems |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
2 |
POL1047 |
Political Anthropology |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
3 |
SEC1011 |
Theory of International Security |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
4 |
POL 1017 |
European Political Cooperation |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
5 |
POL 1109 |
Theory of Foreign Policy –part I |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
6 |
POL 1110 |
Theory of Foreign Policy –part II |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
7 |
POL 1083 |
History of International Relations |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
8 |
POL 1184 |
Theory of International Relations |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
9 |
POL1087 |
International Civil and Political Rights |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
10 |
POL1070 |
Foreign Policy of Bulgaria |
30 |
60 |
3 |
|
Total for equivalency courses |
300 |
600 |
30 |
|||
TOTAL FOR THECOURSE OF STUDY FOR BACHELORS IN OTHER MAJORS |
660 |
1860 |
90 |
|||
* 2 semesters – for Bachelors in International Relations; 3 semesters – for Bachelors or Masters in other majors |
* 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:н full time/part time/distance
Examination regulations and grading scale: Thorough knowledge of the subject: functions, graphs, optimization problems; Regular attendance at lectures and seminars, timely entry in classes and discipline in class. Delays for classes, noise during the lecture and distraction of colleagues reduce the effectiveness of teaching and are not tolerated.
Performing assigned tasks on time, active participation in classes and getting information on the material to be passed in advance.
Initiative to solve arising problems and difficulties.
Strict adherence to the principles of academic ethics and collegiality.
Control is both on-going and final. The on-going control is on the independent work of students and is done through tests of knowledge. Alternative form of the on-going control is classroom testing the results of tests for self-study are not taken into account, where they diverge dramatically from the results of tests in class. The date of control work is announced at least one week in advance.
The final assessment is done through an examination within the sessions. Students who have done control work in class and have obtained over 60% of the maximum points during the semester will have the right to be exempted from the semester exams.
The students need to have obtained at least 10 points from the on-going control for semester acknowledgment
Assessment formation:
The table below demonstrates the weight of the on-going and final control in the assessment formation.
Type of control |
points |
On-going control |
40 |
Examination during the sessions |
60 |
For students who have been exempted from the examination, grading is only based on the on-going control; at the supplementary and liquidation examinations – solely based on the evaluation there.
The final grading is formed in accordance with the following diagram:
Points |
Grading |
90.00 - 100.00 |
Excellent 6 |
80.00 - 89.99 |
Very good 5 |
70.00 - 79.99 |
Good 4 |
60.00 - 69.99 |
Satisfactory 3 |
0.00 - 59.99 |
Poor 2 |
Obligatory or optional mobility windows: Erasmus+
Work placement(s) (if applicable) - Internship
Work-based learning - no
Occupational profiles of graduates: Graduates from International Policy and Security master’s degree programme will possess:
knowledge and skills related to target, project and strategic planning of security;
knowledge and skills in the application of legal regulations in the field of security;
knowledge and skills related to protecting public order and securing personal protection;
knowledge and skills in the spirit of the European standards for expert realization in security facilities.
Access to further studies: Educational and Scientific Degree PhD.
Programme director: Assoc. Prof. K. Smilkov Ph. D.
ECTS: Assoc. Prof. K. Smilkov Ph. D.
Sec.: Pavlina Zheleva; email: mps@vfu.bg; phone: 052 359 625