General Practical Information
Host Country Formalities
Before arriving in Bulgaria foreign citizens must
check about the different kinds of formalities of the host
country in the Bulgarian consulates abroad.
Visas are not required for the citizens from the
countries of the European Union for staying in Bulgaria up to 30
days. The necessary 3-months, 6-months or one-year visas must be
obtained for longer periods than the period of stay.
After arriving in the country,
the students must register in the Regional Police Headquarters
within a week, and for doing this, it is necessary to take a
certificate for students’ enrollment from the office of the
target faculty at the Technical University of Gabrovo.
The registration fee for a
stay of up to 6 months is 200 levs, and for a year – 500 levs.
Foreign citizens of Bulgarian origin pay 5% of the
above-mentioned fee.
Arriving at
Gabrovo and at the Technical University
The town of Gabrovo is
situated at the northern foot of the central part of the Balkan
mountains, on the Yantra river, in the immediatee proximity of
the geographical centre of Bulgaria, approximately 220 km from
the capital Sofia and 300 km from the town of Varna. It is an
attractive tourist centre, famous for its mountain clear air,
historical and ethnographical sights and cultural monuments.
Gabrovo and the area around it is considered one of the most
ecological regions in Bulgaria. It is also popular as the
Capital of Humour and Satire.
Gabrovo originated during the
14th century. According to a legend, the settlement was
established.by Racho Kovacha (Racho the Blacksmith) However,
archeological remains in the city centre proved that the
settlement existed as early as the 12th century.
During the National Revival
period Gabrovo was an important centre of crafts and trade. It
had connections all over Europe and the Middle East. Its
inhabitants embraced the advanced ideas of the period and the
town became the cradle of Bulgarian education and culture. In
1835 the first Bulgarian non-clerical high school was opened in
Gabrovo by Vassil Aprilov, who donated the money for the
building.
After the Liberation of
Bulgaria in 1878 the textile, leather and machine-building
industries were fast-growing in Gabrovo. Education was further
developed too. The famous Aprilov School became well-established
and one of the first technical schools in Bulgaria was opened.
It was named after the Gabrovo patriot Dr. Nikola Vassiliadi,
who donated the money for the building.
Gabrovo cherishes the
tradition to be educational, cultural and spiritual centre of
the region. It is famous for the Festival of Humour and Satire,
held every year in May and opened by a glamorous carnival along
the central streets of the town. A major cultural event is the
Balkan Youth Festival, held every year in August. It is a forum
that attracts youth folklore, musical and performing groups from
all countries of the Balkan region.
The main means of transport
available in town are bus and trolleybus services. Taxis are
also a widely available and convenient means of transport. All
the buildings of the University, as well as the students’
hostels, are within walking distance.
Gabrovo has a theatre hall, a
couple of cinema halls, as well as concert halls housed in the
House of Culture. A lot of theatrical, musical and folklore
professional groups, puppet show, pantomime theatre, Gabrovo
Chamber Orchestra, « Gabrovo » - Swing Dixy Band and a lot of
others contribute to the cultural life in Gabrovo. There are
also a number of discos, dance clubs and night bars frequented
by students.
The Technical University of
Gabrovo is situated in the central part of Gabrovo, which is 250
km from the capital Sofia and 300 km from the town of Varna.
Gabrovo is easily reached by car. The town has good transport
links to Sofia. There are several train and bus services Sofia-Gabrovo
daily. All trains from Varna to Sofia can be used to the railway
station of Gorna Oriahovitsa and then after changing trains to
continue to Tsareva Livada and then to Gabrovo. During the
summer season there are daily bus services to Varna and Bourgas.
Regular communications are established with all large cities in
the country.
The Main Building /Rectorate/
of Technical University of Gabrovo is a 10 minutes' walk from
the bus station and a 20 minutes' walk from the railway station.
Tuition fees
SOCRATES/ERASMUS
students are exempt from fee.
Bulgarian students pay 345
levs annual tuition fee for full-time studies and 175
levs for part-time studies for the engineering master degree
courses and 195 and 105 levs, respectively,
for the economic degree courses.
The annual tuition fee for
full-time bachelor studies is 255 levs and 130 levs
for part-time studies for the engineering degree courses
and 190 and 100 levs, respectively, for
the economic degree courses.
Cost of living
The cost of living of a full-time student is
about 200 levs (100
Euro)
per month. This sum covers only the cost of food and
accommodation (tuition fees
are not included
in this amount).
Health Insurance
According to Bulgarian law
everyone must be covered by adequate medical insurance, since
the Bulgarian government does not accept any responsibility in
case of illness or hospitalization. If you have a personal
medical insurance, you must check if it covers your stay in
Bulgaria. Some insurance companies give medical insurance only
for a few months.
The International Programmes
and Projects Office at the University can inform you in details
on where and how you can take out medical insurance.
Bulgarian full-time students
have their health security expenses covered by the state budget.
University
Library
The University Library is
situated in two buildings surrounded by a beautiful park next to
the study buildings and the student hostels. Its books and
periodical are thematically connected to the disciplines studied
and the principal trends of research at the University. The
total library fund is about 170,000 volumes. The library stores
more than 1,500,000 descriptions of patents and inventions.
About 200 new titles and periodic editions are received per
year.
The address of the University
Library is:
4 H. Dimitar Street
5300 Gabrovo
Tel.: (66) 801 303
Opening hours:
On weekdays from 8.00 to
17.00
Accommodation
The University hostels provide
accommodation for 1,253 students, there are two refectories and
five cafeterias on the campus.
The University has on-campus
sports facilities, winter sport facility in Uzana locality,
rowing club in Mladen, recreation facility in Potoka.
International students
studying at the Technical University are accommodated at the
students' hostels. Exchange students who come under special
exchange programmes are housed in the guest sector (block N 6 of
the students’ hostels).
Bulgarian students are
accommodated at hostels if they meet certain requirements
concerning grades, income, marital status, etc.
The rent for a bed in a
double-room is from 35 to 40 euro per
month. The rooms offered to exchange students are en-suite and
well-furnished. The month rent is paid in advance.
Bulgarian students can obtain
information about accommodation conditions and a “housing
request form” for the period of stay in the office of the
Students Union and the address is:
5300 Gabrovo
4 H.Dimitar St
Rectorat Building, room
3402
Phone: +359 66 801 303
E-mail:
stunion@tugab.bg
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