Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski Faculty of Medicine, Bulgaria

The University of Sofia (St. Kliment Ohridski) or simply Sofia University is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October, 1888. The edifice of the university was constructed between 1924 and 1934 with the financial support of the brothers Evlogi Georgiev and Hristo Georgiev, whose sculptures are now featured on its façade, and has an area of 18,624 m² and a total of 324 premises.

The university has 16 faculties and three departments, where over 21,000 students receive their education. It had 4 regular and 3 additional lecturers and 49 students. It was founded as a higher pedagogical course, it became a higher school after a few months and a university in 1904.

The University Library “St. Kliment Ohridski” is the first university library and the largest academic library in Bulgaria. It is a modern cultural and educational institution, which combines traditional library and information services with up-to-date technologies and research tools of the contemporary information society.

The Sports Department at Sofia University was founded in 1949. Initially its staff numbered 5 instructors who trained students in athletics, gymnastics and swimming. Thirty years later, in 1979, the Department already had a staff of 25 outstanding trainers and sportsmen.

Opened at the same time as the first Bulgarian University in Sofia in 1888, the University Library still plays important role in the development of Bulgarian science and education as a cultural institute of national importance. The University Library was first located in the building of the First Secondary School for Men in Sofia, where was situated the Institute of Higher Education. For the second academic year a students’ reading-room was opened. In 1933 the library was moved to a new building. Since December 1934 till present the University Library “St. Kliment Ohridski” is located in this building, which is part of the national architectural heritage. Starting with no more than 2,577 titles, in 1912 the Library held more than 80,000 volumes.

Today the University Library has large and diverse holdings of over 2,620,000 volumes of scientific literature, rare and valuable editions, periodicals, electronic media and others. Its collection of old-print, rare, valuable and unique publications is exceptionally rich. Annually more than 20,000 library items are acquired and more than 30,000 readers use its services by ordering over 340,000 library items.

Faculty of Medicine of the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” has been founded in 1917 through a Decision made by the Parliament amending the Education Law, and approved by Decree No. 21 of Tzar Ferdinand (Published in State Gazette No. 266 of November 29th 1917). The newly established Faculty receives for its needs buildings of First High School for Boys, situated on Dunav Street 2, as well as Aleksandrovska Hospital, and Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital “Princess Maria Louise”.

ASH was established as an independent unit at the University in 1991. by order of the then rector of the Sofia University Academician Nikola Popov on the basis of the Academic Autonomy Act 1990, Ordinance No. 3 on Student Hostels of May 29, and Decision of the Rector’s Council of 30 January 1991.

The tasks of the Department “Social and household services” are related to the maintenance of the functional and operational condition of the university hostels and chairs intended for students’ needs. The unit has more than 6300 beds in the hostels in the hut. “Student’s City”, 3 student chairs, where about 3,000 people eat daily, a restaurant in the Rector’s building, and several cafes in faculty buildings.