South-West University “Neofit Rilski” is the major institution of higher education in South-West Bulgari which is committed to both teaching and research. It is a prominent center for high quality education and scientific and cultural activities, not only in Bulgaria, but on the Balkans as well. Highly qualified academic staff is devoted to attract, select, and to nurture outstanding students irrespective of educational, social, racial, political, or religious backgrounds. All these make SWU an attractive place for young people not only from Bulgaria, but from many countries around the world.
South-West University “Neofit Rilski” is a higher education institution of modern Bulgaria. It is a state-owned university, established and functioning by virtue of the government. The University operates and functions in compliance with all state regulations. It started in 1975 as an affiliate faculty of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” with only two departments: Pre-School Education and Primary School Education. Two years later, in 1985 a Scientific Council Started to function. It was granted the right to elect associate professors in Education, Psychology, Education for disabled children and Methods for Training. In 1995 with an Act of the Bulgarian Parliament it was given the status of university under the name South-West University “Neofit Rilski”. It was named after one of the famous Bulgarian enlighteners, scientists and educators, Neofit Rilski, who lived and worked in the 19th Century at the famous Rila School.
In 2012 the South-West University “Neofit Rilski” in Blagoevgrad, received an institutional accreditation certificate by the National Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation with the mark of 9.26 for the period of 6 years (Minutes No 16/26.07.2012).
Currently the SWU has 9 Faculties and a college encompassing social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, technical sciences and technologies and offers more than 68 Bachelor Degree Programs, 88 Master Degree Programs. and more than 57 Doctoral Degree Programs. The University also provides continuing educational opportunities ad is the largest provider of non-credit professional upgrade training throughout South-West Bulgaria.
SWU is located in Blagoevgrad, a modern and vibrant town of about 80.000 citizens. It is situated 100 km away from the nation’s capital city, Sofia, and near the borders of Greece and the Republic of Macedonia.
The University houses several campuses around town, consisting of amphitheatre lecture halls, teaching and seminar rooms, computer and other specialized laboratories, administrative offices, and others. The university also possesses its own sports grounds and facilities, dormitories, and a university canteen.
More than 12.000 undergraduates and postgraduates pursue their studies currently at SWU (more than 800 of them are foreign students). The teaching staff and researchers are comprised of more than 550 professors and associate professors.
