Welcome to the MUS learning website. This website forms one of the Medical University of Sofia’s central online hubs, providing access to syllabi, course notes, useful resources, as well as information about student societies and other extra-curricular activities around the university.
The prospect of moving to a new country to study can be incredibly daunting, this is made all the scarier if it’s hard to get reliable information. This website aims to break that barrier and provide useful, impartial information about the university, provided by students for students.
We are not beholden to any particular agency, nor are we directly affiliated with the university; we are in independent group of students who believe passionately that information should be freely available for all those who want it.
We’ve put together a list of questions that we wish we’d known the answers to before we started below, if you have extra questions, or just want to chat to someone already at the university, don’t hesitate to get in touch, either by email at [email protected] or via our online form that can be found on the home page.
Sofia can be a fantastic place to study, allowing you to not only get your degree but also providing an incredible insight into a very different part of the world to home! From the incredibly diverse student body, to the chance to work with refugees on the front line, and even help to put together new student societies, there are an incredible number of opportunities and freedoms to be found here in Sofia, as well as the challenges that inevitably come with studying abroad.
However you’re feeling regarding studying here in Sofia, we hope to be able to provide you with a balanced and fair insight into what life is like here, so do explore our site, and get in touch, and we’ll do our best to help!
Best wishes
The MUS team
The prospect of moving to a new country to study can be incredibly daunting, this is made all the scarier if it’s hard to get reliable information. This website aims to break that barrier and provide useful, impartial information about the university, provided by students for students.
We are not beholden to any particular agency, nor are we directly affiliated with the university; we are in independent group of students who believe passionately that information should be freely available for all those who want it.
We’ve put together a list of questions that we wish we’d known the answers to before we started below, if you have extra questions, or just want to chat to someone already at the university, don’t hesitate to get in touch, either by email at [email protected] or via our online form that can be found on the home page.
Sofia can be a fantastic place to study, allowing you to not only get your degree but also providing an incredible insight into a very different part of the world to home! From the incredibly diverse student body, to the chance to work with refugees on the front line, and even help to put together new student societies, there are an incredible number of opportunities and freedoms to be found here in Sofia, as well as the challenges that inevitably come with studying abroad.
However you’re feeling regarding studying here in Sofia, we hope to be able to provide you with a balanced and fair insight into what life is like here, so do explore our site, and get in touch, and we’ll do our best to help!
Best wishes
The MUS team
Q. How are lessons structured?
Each year consists of two semesters. Each semester has different modules, to see which modules you'll have first, head over here. Within most modules teaching is split between Lectures and small classes. Classes can be anywhere between 10-15 students, and students are generally grouped based on nationality.
Q. What are the classes like?
As with all universities, some classes are better than others, you'll find some outstanding lecturers, and some who are distinctly more average. The good news is, thanks to the universal nature of Medicine, there are fantastic resources available online, both free and paid for, that can help to plug gaps in any areas where you feel you're not learning as you'd like to.
Q. How do exams work?
Examinations will be one of the areas that your studies in Sofia differ from studies around the world most. All major exams are primary assessed orally. This means you'll be given a number of questions (this precise number differs depending on the subject) and then be given some time to write down your thoughts on this answer. From here, you'll be called up by an examiner who will ask you to talk about the particular question you were given. Your mark will then depend on the quality of the answers you present, not on what is written in your notes.
This has positives and negatives, the advantage of such a system is that it benefits those who speak English fluently, additionally, oral presentations are excellent for ensuring that an individual fully understands a topic. However, a disadvantage of this system is that exams are not standardised. As a result, what may achieve a top grade for one professor may only barely pass for another. This unfortunate reality of the examination system means that marking is erratic.
Marks in Bulgaria vary on a range between 1-6, with 3, 4, 5 and 6 being the passing grades. If you fail an exam (achieve a 2 or lower) you are required to resit the subject. All subjects can be resat, however, each student can only carry two failed exams into the next year, and you cannot carry any failed exams two years in a row (that is to say, a third year student must have passed all their first year exams, a fourth year student must have passed all of their second year exams and so on and so forth).
Q. Passing each semester
Another area Sofia is unusual is the requirement for passing each semester. In order to get through a semester you have to have a little blue book signed by all your class teachers, lecturers and your head of year, only once you have all of your signatures can you have your blue book authorised by the Deans office.
Your class teachers will only give you signatures if you have attended the required number of classes (each subject usually allows 2 absences), the lecturer will give you a signature once you have your class signature (this is not dependent on your lecture attendance as these are optional) and the head of year will give you your final signature when you have the others. This blue book (known as a Kinishka) will contain a record of all your semesters and all of your grades and is the most important document you will receive from the university once you graduate. Keeping it safe, and ensuring that you attend your classes to get the relevant end of semester signature is of central importance, as students have been held back a year for not getting all their signatures for a term.
Q. Banks and Phones
When moving to a new country it is important to set up your infrastructure, this includes having a local phone number and access to a local bank account. There are different phone providers that you can sign on with, and you do not have to sign on to a phone account that any particular agency recommend. Don't be afraid to spend some time looking around phone stores and asking, most young Bulgarians speak English and are more than happy to help.
Bank accounts are slightly more tricky. Postbank is the most popular bank used by students of MUS as they have the most branches and are generally the most convenient. They do charge a small amount for your account per month, but this is the norm in Bulgaria as they have very low interest rates and this is the way the banks make their money.
A popular way of bringing money from around the world into Bulgaria is via the website 'TransferWise'. They provide a simple and cost effective way of bringing money into your Bulgarian account, providing a much easier method than bringing money in by cash or traditional bank transfer.
Q. Security
Security in Bulgaria is an interesting question, and will vary depending on who you are and where you stay. In general, the advice for Sofia is the same as for every other big city, try not to travel alone at night, and if you have to, take recognisable taxi firms. It is also important to keep ID on your person proving country of origin. Bulgaria has over the last few years has a major influx of refugees from across the Turkish border, this has lead to some Bulgarians possessing an 'anti-foreigner' view, ensuring you have ID that identifies you as being a member of the European Union will help alleviate any potential issues with law enforcement.
Q. Food, Entertainment and Life in Sofia
Sofia (and Bulgaria in general) has a rich and fascinating history and some incredible natural scenery. As a city, it's recent communist history is also incredibly visible, providing a fantastic insight into a very different world. One recommendation would be to take the time and do the Free Sofia Walking Tour early in your stay, this will give you an insight into some of Sofia's history and help you to get orientated around the city centre.
Eating out in Sofia is incredibly cheap, and the main street (Vitosha Boulevard) is packed with eateries serving a wide array of food. Recognisable fast food chains are also present, including McDonald, Dominoes Pizza, Wok to Walk as well as many many others, in short, you will not struggle for places to eat out!
Food shopping can be done at any of Bulgaria's big supermarkets, or numerous smaller grocery stores littered around the city. Popular supermarkets in Sofia include Lidl, Billa and Kaufland, a quick google search once you settle into your apartment will direct you to your nearest store.
Sofia has a number of highly popular, large, modern, American style shopping malls. These contain everything from arcades, a cinema, restaurants, and even Laser Tag. The largest and most popular of these malls are 'Paradise Mall', 'Sofia Mall' and 'Bulgaria Mall'.
The above just touches on what there is to do in Sofia, but as with any European capital city, it is packed with things to do if you just go looking!
Useful apps:
We asked some of our friends what apps they found most useful, and this is what they came back with!
- Foodpanda and BG menu = great for ordering food online
- OK Taxi, Taxi me = helps you order safe and reasonably priced taxi's without resorting to bad Bulgarian
- Transferwise = best app for transferring money
Q. Bulgarian Language
Learning Bulgarian is a challenge, there's no denying it. The alphabet is not the Latin based alphabet, rather Cyrillic, the same alphabet used in Russia. This means that, until you've masted the alphabet, even reading simple signs is neigh on impossible. The university do provide lessons for Bulgarian language, however these will not be enough to get you comfortable with the language in a year, or even for many people two. As you ease into your studies our only recommendation is to try and practice the language as much as possible, and eventually it will start to click (we hope....we're not entirely sure it's clicked for us yet!)
The good news is that not being great at Bulgarian doesn't stop you from doing a huge amount, as you already know all classes are in English, and most people speak some English as well, it can however be a little humiliating when even the most basic conversations are a struggle.
Q. Accommodation
Accommodation is generally organised by local agents. You are often put into contact with a particular agency by the agency you use to get to Sofia, but there are alternative agents available if you so choose. The main things to consider when thinking of accommodation is the location and price. If you are happy to be a bit further out of the city centre (generally considered to be Vitosha Boulevard) then you can expect to pay a little less for a nicer property. Properties are almost exclusively flats, which come in 1, 2 or occasionally 3 bed varieties, larger flats are very much on the unusual side. On average, one might expect to pay €300 - €400 pp per month for a nice property close to both the University and the city centre.
Q. Transport
Sofia has an extensive Bus and Tram service across the city, as well as two main metro lines. These allow for relatively easy transport across the city. Cycling is additionally becoming a more popular method of transport, although traffic laws are not as strictly adhered to in Sofia as they might be in other European nations.
Taxi's still remain one of the most popular methods of transport for students by virtue of their relative cheapness and ease of access. Be aware of 'fake' taxis that will drastically increase the price when they spot a foreigner in the back seat, for this reason using apps such as 'Taxi me' and 'OK Taxi' are excellent ways of ensuring you don't get ripped off.
Have you extra questions we've not answered, get in touch at [email protected], or using the contact form on the front page, and we'll do our best to answer!
Additionally, there are some useful Facebook pages that have some excellent communities that may be useful to some to get different perspectives on both the city of Sofia and the University:
- Medical University of Sofia - International Students
- MU - Sofia International Students Buy and Sell
- Foreigners in Sofia & Friends
Each year consists of two semesters. Each semester has different modules, to see which modules you'll have first, head over here. Within most modules teaching is split between Lectures and small classes. Classes can be anywhere between 10-15 students, and students are generally grouped based on nationality.
Q. What are the classes like?
As with all universities, some classes are better than others, you'll find some outstanding lecturers, and some who are distinctly more average. The good news is, thanks to the universal nature of Medicine, there are fantastic resources available online, both free and paid for, that can help to plug gaps in any areas where you feel you're not learning as you'd like to.
Q. How do exams work?
Examinations will be one of the areas that your studies in Sofia differ from studies around the world most. All major exams are primary assessed orally. This means you'll be given a number of questions (this precise number differs depending on the subject) and then be given some time to write down your thoughts on this answer. From here, you'll be called up by an examiner who will ask you to talk about the particular question you were given. Your mark will then depend on the quality of the answers you present, not on what is written in your notes.
This has positives and negatives, the advantage of such a system is that it benefits those who speak English fluently, additionally, oral presentations are excellent for ensuring that an individual fully understands a topic. However, a disadvantage of this system is that exams are not standardised. As a result, what may achieve a top grade for one professor may only barely pass for another. This unfortunate reality of the examination system means that marking is erratic.
Marks in Bulgaria vary on a range between 1-6, with 3, 4, 5 and 6 being the passing grades. If you fail an exam (achieve a 2 or lower) you are required to resit the subject. All subjects can be resat, however, each student can only carry two failed exams into the next year, and you cannot carry any failed exams two years in a row (that is to say, a third year student must have passed all their first year exams, a fourth year student must have passed all of their second year exams and so on and so forth).
Q. Passing each semester
Another area Sofia is unusual is the requirement for passing each semester. In order to get through a semester you have to have a little blue book signed by all your class teachers, lecturers and your head of year, only once you have all of your signatures can you have your blue book authorised by the Deans office.
Your class teachers will only give you signatures if you have attended the required number of classes (each subject usually allows 2 absences), the lecturer will give you a signature once you have your class signature (this is not dependent on your lecture attendance as these are optional) and the head of year will give you your final signature when you have the others. This blue book (known as a Kinishka) will contain a record of all your semesters and all of your grades and is the most important document you will receive from the university once you graduate. Keeping it safe, and ensuring that you attend your classes to get the relevant end of semester signature is of central importance, as students have been held back a year for not getting all their signatures for a term.
Q. Banks and Phones
When moving to a new country it is important to set up your infrastructure, this includes having a local phone number and access to a local bank account. There are different phone providers that you can sign on with, and you do not have to sign on to a phone account that any particular agency recommend. Don't be afraid to spend some time looking around phone stores and asking, most young Bulgarians speak English and are more than happy to help.
Bank accounts are slightly more tricky. Postbank is the most popular bank used by students of MUS as they have the most branches and are generally the most convenient. They do charge a small amount for your account per month, but this is the norm in Bulgaria as they have very low interest rates and this is the way the banks make their money.
A popular way of bringing money from around the world into Bulgaria is via the website 'TransferWise'. They provide a simple and cost effective way of bringing money into your Bulgarian account, providing a much easier method than bringing money in by cash or traditional bank transfer.
Q. Security
Security in Bulgaria is an interesting question, and will vary depending on who you are and where you stay. In general, the advice for Sofia is the same as for every other big city, try not to travel alone at night, and if you have to, take recognisable taxi firms. It is also important to keep ID on your person proving country of origin. Bulgaria has over the last few years has a major influx of refugees from across the Turkish border, this has lead to some Bulgarians possessing an 'anti-foreigner' view, ensuring you have ID that identifies you as being a member of the European Union will help alleviate any potential issues with law enforcement.
Q. Food, Entertainment and Life in Sofia
Sofia (and Bulgaria in general) has a rich and fascinating history and some incredible natural scenery. As a city, it's recent communist history is also incredibly visible, providing a fantastic insight into a very different world. One recommendation would be to take the time and do the Free Sofia Walking Tour early in your stay, this will give you an insight into some of Sofia's history and help you to get orientated around the city centre.
Eating out in Sofia is incredibly cheap, and the main street (Vitosha Boulevard) is packed with eateries serving a wide array of food. Recognisable fast food chains are also present, including McDonald, Dominoes Pizza, Wok to Walk as well as many many others, in short, you will not struggle for places to eat out!
Food shopping can be done at any of Bulgaria's big supermarkets, or numerous smaller grocery stores littered around the city. Popular supermarkets in Sofia include Lidl, Billa and Kaufland, a quick google search once you settle into your apartment will direct you to your nearest store.
Sofia has a number of highly popular, large, modern, American style shopping malls. These contain everything from arcades, a cinema, restaurants, and even Laser Tag. The largest and most popular of these malls are 'Paradise Mall', 'Sofia Mall' and 'Bulgaria Mall'.
The above just touches on what there is to do in Sofia, but as with any European capital city, it is packed with things to do if you just go looking!
Useful apps:
We asked some of our friends what apps they found most useful, and this is what they came back with!
- Foodpanda and BG menu = great for ordering food online
- OK Taxi, Taxi me = helps you order safe and reasonably priced taxi's without resorting to bad Bulgarian
- Transferwise = best app for transferring money
Q. Bulgarian Language
Learning Bulgarian is a challenge, there's no denying it. The alphabet is not the Latin based alphabet, rather Cyrillic, the same alphabet used in Russia. This means that, until you've masted the alphabet, even reading simple signs is neigh on impossible. The university do provide lessons for Bulgarian language, however these will not be enough to get you comfortable with the language in a year, or even for many people two. As you ease into your studies our only recommendation is to try and practice the language as much as possible, and eventually it will start to click (we hope....we're not entirely sure it's clicked for us yet!)
The good news is that not being great at Bulgarian doesn't stop you from doing a huge amount, as you already know all classes are in English, and most people speak some English as well, it can however be a little humiliating when even the most basic conversations are a struggle.
Q. Accommodation
Accommodation is generally organised by local agents. You are often put into contact with a particular agency by the agency you use to get to Sofia, but there are alternative agents available if you so choose. The main things to consider when thinking of accommodation is the location and price. If you are happy to be a bit further out of the city centre (generally considered to be Vitosha Boulevard) then you can expect to pay a little less for a nicer property. Properties are almost exclusively flats, which come in 1, 2 or occasionally 3 bed varieties, larger flats are very much on the unusual side. On average, one might expect to pay €300 - €400 pp per month for a nice property close to both the University and the city centre.
Q. Transport
Sofia has an extensive Bus and Tram service across the city, as well as two main metro lines. These allow for relatively easy transport across the city. Cycling is additionally becoming a more popular method of transport, although traffic laws are not as strictly adhered to in Sofia as they might be in other European nations.
Taxi's still remain one of the most popular methods of transport for students by virtue of their relative cheapness and ease of access. Be aware of 'fake' taxis that will drastically increase the price when they spot a foreigner in the back seat, for this reason using apps such as 'Taxi me' and 'OK Taxi' are excellent ways of ensuring you don't get ripped off.
Have you extra questions we've not answered, get in touch at [email protected], or using the contact form on the front page, and we'll do our best to answer!
Additionally, there are some useful Facebook pages that have some excellent communities that may be useful to some to get different perspectives on both the city of Sofia and the University:
- Medical University of Sofia - International Students
- MU - Sofia International Students Buy and Sell
- Foreigners in Sofia & Friends