The Medical University in Plovdiv, Bulgaria was established in 1945. It includes the Faculties of Medicine, Dental medicine, Pharmacy, Public Health, a Department of Languages and Specialized training, a medical college and a hospital with 2000 beds. Facilities include laboratories, clinics and units for diagnostics and treatment, research activities and training of medical and dental students. The Central University Library offers the students 170,000 volumes in many languages as well as an internet hall and a local net system. The university issues a journal called Folia Medica, which is exchanged with more than 326 specialists from over 54 countries included in Medline. Every year over 3800 Bulgarian and foreign students are trained at the Medical University - Plovdiv.
History
The Medical University of Plovdiv was established as a medical faculty of Plovdiv University in 1945. In 1950 the faculty became the independent Medical Academy - Plovdiv. It was renamed in 1972 to Higher Medical Institute - Plovdiv. The Faculty of Dental Medicine was established in 1974, while a Medical College was created in 1997 as a subsidiary of the Medical University of Plovdiv. The Higher Medical Institute was renamed to Medical University of Plovdiv in 2002 after a decision by Bulgaria`s National Assembly.
Developments
A new building was constructed in 2005, where the Faculty of Dental Medicine is located. The new building has a floor area of 14770 m2 and houses 27 clinical educational rooms, eight seminar rooms, and two auditoriums with a total of 273 places. An auditorium complex with floor area of 2750 m2 was built in 2011 for a total of 5,5 million euro. The new building has six conference rooms and has been nominated for Bulgarian Building of the year in the category of Culture in 2011. - especially with the improvement of the university`s infrastructure and the introduction of many new programs taught in English. Moreover, foreign students may get enrolled to language courses and study in Bulgarian. In 2013 the prize for the Best Foreign Student in Bulgaria was awarded to a student from the Medical University of Plovdiv. Another new building has been constructed in 2017, it includes many offices as well as a new bookstore.
Controversy
In 2013 the university was awarded the prize for "Best University" for its leading position in the field of education. The prize was awarded by the European Business Assembly at Oxford Summit of Leaders "Science and Education" conference in Oxford, United Kingdom. On 24 July 2017 the Times newspaper exposed that awards from the EBA are fictitious with fees of up to £9300 being paid to the EBA from awards winners. In July 2015 university management acknowledged corruption in the university examination system with payment for passing exams being an ongoing issue in the university.
Organization
The Medical University of Plovdiv has four faculties, one department and one Medical College:
Training in the Faculty of Medicine lasts six years, and preclinical as well as clinical disciplines are involved, together with a one-year clinical rotation.
The Faculty of Dental Medicine provides Masters of Science in Dental medicine and offers specialization of doctors of dental medicine.
Students in the Faculty of Pharmacy obtain the degree of Master of Science, while taking advantage during their studies of laboratories for practical training.
The Department of Languages and Specialized Training' offers training in the Bulgarian language for foreign students as well as Latin training. Modern European languages are taught as well.
