The City
For 1300 years, Bulgaria has occupied the crossroads of the Balkans, linking East and West. Nestled in the Central Balkan Range, the picturesque town of Veliko Turnovo is the ancient capital of Bulgaria. A spectacular setting in the hills of the meandering gorge of the Yantra River, colorful, tile-roofed houses of the city’s Renaissance quarter spill down steep cliffs to the river bank. A monastic center of Slavonic literacy in the Middle Ages, and home of twenty two successive kings during the Second Bulgarian Empire in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, Veliko Turnovo offers an atmosphere for a culturally rich study.
The University
St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Turnovo (UVT) was founded in 1963. The university is comprised of 42 departments across seven faculties, with over 12,000 students. With a range of degree programs in the humanities, social sciences, business, management, education, theology, and fine arts, UVT also offers a program in Bulgarian Studies to foreign students. The university is equipped with a language center with phonetic studies lab, iconography studio, a computer center, libraries, and a sports center.
The Program
The international student program offers specialized seminars in Bulgarian history in the Balkan and European context; comparative Balkan and Slavonic linguistics; paleaoslavic studies; literature; and modern social and political processes. It is also designed for students interested in teaching English to non-native speakers, as well as those interested in Balkan Studies. It offers excellent preparation for students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in ESL and the field of international education. The academic program provides immersion in Bulgarian culture and language, as well as the opportunity to gain hands-on experience as an English instructor. Students teach at the university under the supervision of faculty from the English department.
Course Selection
In addition to their teaching internship, BC students take Introduction to Bulgarian Language and Introduction to Bulgarian Culture. The type of classes taught by students varies from elementary English classes to conversation classes (for advanced students). Students with advanced proficiency in Bulgarian language (Intermediate II and above) can take courses in the humanities, social sciences, business, management, education, theology, and fine arts. Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Polish and other Slavic language intensive training is also available.
Housing
Students are housed at the university residence hall or in private housing, located near the main campus on the hill of Sveta Gora. Another option is off-campus housing or a home stay.
Activities
UVT welcomes over 50 international students annually. The International Center for Bulgarian Studies organizes various cultural events in Veliko Turnovo, as well as excursions to nearby sites of cultural heritage.
