Medical University of Plovdiv

At a glance

Source: Wikipedia: Plovdiv Medical University; Wikipedia (Bulgarian): Медицински университет (Пловдив); Official website: Medical University of Plovdiv^1,2,3

History

The institution began in 1945 as the Faculty of Medicine at Plovdiv University. It became an independent medical academy in 1950 and was renamed the Higher Medical Institute in 1955. The institute was incorporated into the unified Medical Academy in 1972 and became independent again in 1990. On 22 February 2002, a decision of the National Assembly renamed it Medical University; it also became an autonomous university and separated from the university hospital.²

The Dental Medicine Faculty was established in 1974, and the Medical College joined the institution in 1997. The Department of Languages and Specialized Training was established in 2000. The Pharmacy Faculty opened in 2006, followed by the Faculty of Public Health in 2007.^1,2

Faculties and programmes

The university’s main academic structure comprises four faculties, a language and specialist-training department, and a medical college.^1,2

• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Dental Medicine
• Faculty of Pharmacy
• Faculty of Public Health
• Department of Languages and Specialized Training
• Medical College

Source: Wikipedia: Plovdiv Medical University; Wikipedia (Bulgarian): Медицински университет (Пловдив)^1,2

Programmes include medicine, dental medicine and pharmacy, as well as bachelor’s and professional bachelor’s courses in health and care fields. The institution also offers doctoral study, postgraduate training and specialisation. Medical studies last six years; teaching is offered in Bulgarian and English.^1,2

Research and international links

A university research institute was established in 2019, and the university received research-university status in 2021. Its research priorities include simulation-based medical training, translational neuroscience, molecular and regenerative medicine, 3D bioprinting, diagnostic methods and pharmaceutical innovation.²

The university’s journal, Folia medica, is indexed in MEDLINE and Scopus. International activity includes student and staff exchanges, including Erasmus+, and cooperation agreements with institutions abroad.^1,2

Students and facilities

In January 2022, more than 6,000 students from 66 countries were enrolled. International students made up 60.40% of students in medicine, 43.80% in dental medicine and 14.8% in pharmacy.²

Teaching and research facilities include laboratories, clinics, diagnostic and treatment units, and a medical simulation training centre. The Central University Library holds 170,000 volumes and provides access to an internet hall and local network resources.^1,2