28/08/2012
Memorandum
STUDENTS IN BULGARIA
FROM: DR. STEVEN OLSWANG, PROVOST
FINAL STUDY OPTIONS
Although unconfirmed officially, it is our current understanding Sofia University will no longer allow students to
enroll in both the undergraduate and graduate joint degree programs offered in partnership with City University
of Seattle. They will allow all students to enroll directly in Sofia University to complete their Bulgarian Degrees;
however, Sofia University will not recognize further CityU courses towards completion of the Bulgarian Degree
offered through the Joint Degree Program. Given Sofia University’s apparent decision, you have four options
to complete your degrees. Two are with CityU and two are with Bulgarian institutions. The following outlines
the options available for you:
Option 1: Transfer to another CityU location.
As we indicated to you in an earlier communications, you have the option to transfer to Seattle, Bratislava,
Trencin (SVK) or Athens to complete your CityU degree. To date, some 19 students from Bulgaria have taken
steps to transfer to our campus in Seattle, and a few others have applied to Slovakia.
While visa requirements for the US make going there a little more difficult, a significant number of students
from Bulgaria have successfully studied in Seattle. As previously stated, the school in Seattle has agreed to
allow you to study there for the same tuition rates you have been paying. For further information on how to
apply for a transfer to Seattle, please contact the Director of International Student Office, Ms. Sabine Saway
[email protected].
Trencin and Athens have dormitory facilities; also, as EU countries, a visa is not required to study at these
locations. With prices similar or even lower, these are choices for you to consider as well.
Ms. Daniela Mankovicka [email protected] (BSBA)
Ms. Mariana Kozmova [email protected] (MBA)
Ms. Eva Micurova [email protected] (BSBA)
Ms. Zuzana Kotrasova [email protected] (MBA)
Ms. Maria Florou [email protected] (BSBA & MBA)
Option 2: Complete Your CityU degree via online studies (via Slovakia or Seattle)
A number of you have already studied online via Slovakia. This summer we have been working on resolving
key issues, especially related to textbooks and proctoring. We will send a detailed message shortly with
registration deadlines, payment information, textbook and proctoring details, as well as contact information for
student advisors.
Option 3: Complete your degree by transferring to another university within Bulgaria.
We have entered negotiations with two universities to continue your education within Bulgaria, Sheffield
University (in partnership with VUZF University) and the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG). Let me
briefly outline the offer from each school:
Sheffield University (VUZF)
Sheffield University/VUSF has formally outlined arrangements for undergraduate students, and has negotiated
progressive discounts contingent upon the number of students who transfer to their school (i.e., if enough
students transfer the discount will make the tuition the same as you’re paying now). This option offers the
following benefits:
- You can receive three accredited degrees for the same price: a UK degree (Sheffield), a Bulgarian degree
(VUZF) and, by transferring the credits you earn through them back to us, a US degree (CityU). 1 .
For MBA students, you may transfer to Sheffield/VUZF and finish your graduate program directly with them at
their listed tuition rates.
A discounted price schedule has been set by Sheffield/VUZF, as follows:
Discount
10%
20%
25%
30%
32.65%
Tuition Fee
€ 4,410.00
€ 3,920.00
€ 3,675.00
€ 3,430.00
€ 3,300.15
For further information and to apply, please contact the Program Coordinator for the University of Sheffield/
VUZF, Mr. Tihomir Tihomirov directly at [email protected].
American University in Bulgaria (AUBG)
AUBG has offered for students to become “visitng students” and remain CityU students but take AUBG
courses at their campus in Sofia. To clarify what this status means, it would be similar to being an exchange
student (e.g., like in the Erasmus Program) where you take courses at another school but receive credit for
them at your home institution. As a visiting student, you would not have to take the usual entrance test;
however, you would not be eligible for financial aid.
AUBG is offering a 40% discount off their regular tuition, which brings down the price to 5880 USD (approx.
4770 euros). While this is more than what you’ve been used to paying, it is a generous and a reasonable offer.
If you wish to fully transfer to AUBG (i.e., not just be a visiting student) either now or down the road, you
may do so; however, you would be subject to their admissions requirements and would need to pay their full
By policy, in order for courses to transfer you must achieve the equivalent of 2.0 or higher. Also, you must have a minimum of 45
upper division credits (i.e., one year with 300/400 level credits) at CityU; however, please note that most of you have already met
this requirement during your previous studies with us.
tuition rates, however AUBG does offer significant scholarship opportunities to students. The advantage of
transferring to AUBG is that you would be eligible for financial assistance. Also, because AUBG is accredited
both as Bulgarian University and an American University, if you transfer fully to them you could receive a dual
degree.
For further information about this offer, please contact Ms. Iordanka Melnikliyska [email protected]. AUBG is
willing to accept students until September 7th, so please follow up immediately.
Option 4: Enroll with Sofia University Directly.
As indicated above, you may still choose to enroll in Sofia University and complete the graduate and
undergraduate degrees consistent with Bulgarian degree requirements. Please click on the appropriate link
below to learn more about conditions for enrolling with Sofia University:
For Bachelor Degree students:
http://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_economics_and_business_administration/
degree_programmes/bachelor_s_degree_programmes/faculty_of_economics_and_business_administration/
business_administration
http://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/faculties/faculty_of_economics_and_business_administration/
degree_programmes/master_s_degree_programmes/faculty_of_economics_and_business_administration/
business_administration
While it does not appear that Sofia University will in the future recognize CityU credits towards your completion
of your degree, CityU will still recognize Sofia University courses and credits to the extent they align with our
degree requirements. Thus it may be possible for students who have met the majority of CityU graduation
requirements to finish their program by enrolling at Sofia University and taking their courses, transferring
those courses back to CityU, and completing your CityU degree in that manner. Your goal then of getting
both degrees can still be fulfilled. However, students selecting this option will need to consult directly with Dr.
Melissa Mecham [email protected] at City University of Seattle to determine the CityU requirements that
need to be fulfilled so the best alignment can be achieved. All undergraduate students wishing to complete
a CityU degree must achieve a minimum of 2.0 or equivalent for each course to transfer, as well as complete
45 upper division credits with CityU. (Again, many of you have already met the latter requirement during your
studies with CityU.)
For graduate students, CityU will only transfer in up to four courses by policy. Further transfer credit may be
granted upon discretion of the university. Just to clarify, the main options open to MBA students at this point
are to transfer over to other universities (Sheffield or Sofia U) or to continue online.
Please specify your preferred option by Monday, September 3rd, as a direct response to
this email account ([email protected]) so we can make all necessary arrangements
surrounding the completion of your studies.
