This specific version of the masters degree programme is aimed at students who hold a bachelor or masters degree in professional fields other than economics, administration and management or tourism (i.e. non-economists). This is why the total duration of the course is 4 semesters (two full academic) years. During the first two semesters students go through several fundamental courses in economics and finance. These courses give them the required knowledge and skills in those fields that they have not studied in their primary bachelor or/and masters degrees. These skills and knowledge form a basis on which students build up with the disciplines and courses studied in the second year (semester 3&4). The courses in the second year coincide with those studied the normal program in Financial management, so all qualification characteristics, competences, expected outcomes, professional realization of that program apply for the non-economist version. It may even be stated that in some cases the expected outcomes and professional realization opportunities of the Financial management program for non-economist surpass those of the basic course, because here students possess knowledge and qualification in other fields which widens the range of potential work positions they can take.
The Masters Degree Programme in Financial Management for non-economists within the major of Finance is a leading Masters Degree Programme of the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics. It represents the will and bequest of the Benefactor Dimitar A. Tsenov for establishment of a Higher Commercial School in Svishtov to teach „... commercial science, financial science, commercial law, banking, insurance sciences, etc.“ This is why the major is traditional and compliant with the mission and objectives of the higher school. The course was accredited by the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (NEAA Protocol No. 29/02.10.2003, with confirmed program accreditation of professional field 3.8. „Economics“) with an accreditation which allows for the organization of training for acquisition of Masters Degree in a Masters Degree Programme in Financial Management within the major of Finance. Graduates acquire the educational and qualification degree of Master and the professional qualification of Economist.
The primary educational objective of the Masters Degree Programme in Financial Management within the major of Finance is to train highly qualified specialists and managers with competitive knowledge and practical skills for all levels of the financial and banking system in Bulgaria, in the European Union and in the world.
Programme organization is consistent with the best contemporary academic practices It also allows student academic mobility by the means of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System. The curriculum and the syllabi are convergent with those of universities from the European Union member states. It complies with the financial, banking, fiscal and commercial legislation. The philosophy of the educational process is based on work with case studies, business games and independent student research in the financial field. The programme is available in both full-time and part-time form of studies in English. The duration of the course of higher education and training for acquisition of the educational and qualification degree of Master (in Economics) in both full-time and part-time form of studies (in English) is 2 academic years (4 semesters). All educational courses are provided with learning materials and textbooks in English, which are translated by the lecturers from the Department of Finance and Credit at the Dimitar A. Tsenov Academy of Economics in Svishtov.
The Masters Degree programme provides the necessary knowledge in the field of corporate finance management, options and derivatives strategies, capital budgeting, human resource financial management, international financial management, debt management, foreign exchange markets and transactions, investments, asset transactions, etc. This knowledge creates the necessary competences for management of processes, business organizations and employees. The graduates acquire practical skills for professional interpretation and implementation of the financial legislation, implementation of specific methods and technologies in the process of collection of budget revenues, performance of accounting analyses of the financial position of taxpayers, forecasting the development of key macroeconomic and market indicators, in-depth analysis of corporate balance sheets and income statements, expert management of resources and assets of businesses from all sectors of the economy, optimal investment, financial and credit decisions, creation and management of investment portfolios, foreign currency assets, investment projects and credit portfolios. The work of the student in the final semester of study includes the preparation and protection of individual thesis which is a testimonial of acquired skills for conducting problem-oriented research and author offering professional solutions to current problems of economic agents.
Some of the competencies that students are expected to acquire include autonomy and responsibility, competences for lifelong learning, communicative and social competences, professional competences, etc.
The training is provided by the Department of Finance and Credit, which is the first specialized department (established on 10 Apr. 1952) in the field of finance in Bulgaria. Training is provided by highly qualified faculty of professors and associate professors, doctors in Economics and assistant professors. The faculty have published their own textbooks and study aids covering all training courses taught by the Department within the major of Finance. These teaching aids are constantly updated and complemented with research papers, studies, doctoral and habilitation theses of the faculty of the Department of Finance and Credit.
As for career opportunities, the graduates in the Financial Management Programme develop successful careers with investment mediators, financial and brokerage companies, financial and banking institutions, small- and medium-sized enterprises, large corporations, financial departments of institutional investors (insurance companies, pension, health insurance and social security funds), the Ministry of Finance, the customs, tax authorities, auditing authorities, regional and municipal administrations, EU structures, etc. Our graduates have developed successful careers as corporate finance managers, foreign exchange dealers, brokers, investment bankers, loan officers, customs agents, investment brokers, financial analysts, experts in various ministries, regional and municipal administrations, chief financial officers and much more.
