Programme "Accounting" Educational and Qualification Degree Bachelor
Professional Field: Economics Professional Qualification: Economics	Study period: 4 years (8 semesters) Mode of study: Full-time

I. Main purpose of the qualification characteristics

The qualification characteristic has the purpose:

-to describe the content and organization of academic work in the specialty;

-to give a view for the career development of professionals in practice;

-to provide the base for future upgrade and improvement of the program; 

-to be used in forecasting of the need for specialists in Accounting, trained in the best traditions and international knowledge.

          II. Professional knowledge and skills

The main objective of the training in specialty "Accounting" is to prepare university graduates in accounting, analysis and auditing of business and the nearby areas.

Students in specialty "Accounting" acquire theoretical and applied knowledge and skills in disciplines as "Accounting", "Financial Accounting", "International Accounting Standards", “Financial Reports”, “Management Accounting”, “Company Taxation”, “Personal Taxation”, “Financial Control and Internal Control”, “Audit and Assurance”,  “Financial Analysis" and others. The teaching materials are based on the requirements for harmonization of accounting and auditing with international regalements. In each discipline are obtained credits, according to the Bologna conference, allowing students to train for a period of time in foreign universities, as well as to continue their studies in graduate programs.

III. Training in specialty "Accounting"

"Accounting" is conducted on the base of approved training documentation, which includes:

•Professional Qualification Characteristic;

•Curriculum (specialty program);

•A syllabus for each subject in the curriculum (subject plan);

•Schedule of the learning process.

The duration of training for the educational qualification "bachelor" is four years (eight semesters) for regular training. The first three semesters are studied compulsory disciplines that provide fundamental training in economics (core subjects). 10 of them are obligatory and 14 of them are eligible (first semester – 5, second semester – 5 and third semester – 4).  The fourth semester is for university specialized subjects- 2 of them are obligatory and 8 are eligible. The last two years- fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth semesters, are for specialized subjects- in accounting, analysis and auditing. 13 of them are obligatory and 11 are eligible (fifth semester - 4, sixth semester – 4 and seventh semester – 3). The curriculum includes 58 courses- 25 obligatory and 33 eligible.  

Disciplines that form the profile of the economist in accounting are 17 in number.
According to the curriculum, overall students’ employment for the whole course is 6810 hours, of which 2205 hours are academic load and extracurricular are 4605 hours. In each discipline are obtained credits, according to the Bologna conference. The total number of credits for "bachelor" is 225, of which - for the foundation- 90 credits; university specialized subjects- 21 credits; 114 credits- for specialized subjects; 5 for practical training; 10 credits- for thesis defense or comprehensive state exam (by choice). A group of elective disciplines are provided, along with the compulsory courses for each semester (without eighth semester).

After the sixth semester there is a practical training lasting 45 calendar days.
The training in specialty "Accounting" ends with: 1/developing and defending of a graduate thesis, or 2/ comprehensive state exam.  The students receive a diploma "bachelor", after the successful graduation. This enables students to realize themselves in practice and to continue their education in a master degree education.

IV. Opportunities for realization

Graduates in "Accounting" have the opportunity for extensive professional development in Bulgaria and abroad, regardless of sectoral affiliation of individual companies: in industry, transport, construction, trade, services, agriculture, budget sphere, pension cervices, social, public sector, financial system (banks, financial companies, insurance companies, etc.) in ministries and in operating and central departments of institutions. They can work as financial managers, accountants (operating and chief accountants, management and cost accountants, controllers and price specialists), authors of financial statements with the right to sign these statements, financial analysts, tax experts, internal auditors, independent financial auditors, managers and owners of accounting companies, teachers in economic subjects in secondary schools and universities. Graduates in “Accounting” can apply for the qualification of "Certified Public Accountant" in Bulgaria and for other international certification degrees. They could be accepted as doctoral students at universities and Bulgarian academy of science, after completing a master degree. The preparation they receive allows their successful career abroad- in business or to continue their education in foreign universities in prestigious graduate programs.

           V. Competences, which will be acquired by students who are trained in specialty "Accounting"

According to the National Qualifications Framework, students acquire the following competencies: self-reliance and responsibility; competences for learning; communicative and social  competences and professional competences.

Students in specialty "Accounting" acquire professional competencies for:

-accounting recording following the financial accounting principles;

-recording, following the management accounting concept;

-preparation of financial statements for internal and external stakeholders;

-performing financial control- internal audit, internal control, independent financial audit, tax audit, custom control;

-financial analysis, performance measurement and evaluation activity;

-realization as operating executives in business;

-management of individual companies;

-other spheres of social and economic life of the country.