The Department of “National and Regional Security” offers master’s programs aimed at training specialists in defense, security, and risk management. The curriculum is aligned with contemporary academic standards and international best practices and is designed for bachelor’s degree graduates from various fields. The programs develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary for professional careers in the public sector, private organizations, and international institutions within the security domain.
All Master’s Programs
National and Global Security
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The Department of “National and Regional Security” offers a Master’s program in “National and Global Security” with a duration of 2 semesters. The program is available both through state-funded places and paid enrollment for students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree (graduates with a Master’s degree are also eligible to apply) from any field of higher education. The Master’s program is structured in accordance with the national requirements for the educational and qualification degree “Master.” The rapidly changing conditions and security threats at the national, regional, and global levels, along with the associated processes, necessitate their study, while simultaneously highlighting the need to train professionals capable of managing them effectively. The Master’s program “National and Global Security,” as the successor to the program “Economics of Defense and Security,” is the flagship program of the Department of “National and Regional Security” and attracts significant interest among prospective Master’s students. The objective of the Master’s program “National and Global Security” is to train highly qualified managerial personnel at middle and senior management levels to meet the needs of public and private organizations in the fields of security and defense, including at the international level. The objectives of the Master’s program include:
The Master’s program includes instruction in current subjects related to the scope and content of the “National and Global Security” specialization. The curriculum includes the following courses: “Public Policy Analysis in Defense and Security,” “European Security Architecture,” “Economics of Defense and Security,” “Cybersecurity,” “Refugees and Forced Migration,” “Operations in Support of International Peace and Security,” “Crisis Management and Sustainable Development,” “Regional Approaches to Global Security,” “Allied Planning and Allocation of Security Expenditures,” and others. The training in this specialization includes both off-site instruction in business or administrative environments and the use of modern educational technologies, including electronic platforms. The course of study concludes with the development of a master’s thesis, the topic of which is aligned with the individual interests of the students and takes into account their current or future professional development. The training in the “National and Global Security” program provides the acquisition of the following knowledge, skills, and competencies:
Students who complete this master’s program have opportunities for employment in:
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Cybersecurity Management
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The training aims to prepare highly qualified professionals at mid- and senior-management levels to meet the needs of the security sector, central and local government bodies, and commercial companies, particularly in the field of cybersecurity. It contributes to expanding and deepening the knowledge and skills of those working in the sector, as well as individuals who have completed a Bachelor’s degree in various academic fields. The main areas of focus within the program are:
The program has a duration of two semesters and is offered in a paid form. Applicants who hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, regardless of their field of study or year of graduation (except those with a “Professional Bachelor” degree), are eligible to apply for the master’s program. The master's program is structured in accordance with the national requirements for the “Master’s” educational qualification level. The program involves lecturers from UNWE, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, SoftUni, and Israel. For more information about admission and document submission, visit the UNWE website |
Economics of Internal Order
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The Department of "National and Regional Security" offers a master’s program in "Economics of Internal Order" with a duration of two semesters, in a paid form. Applicants who hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, regardless of their field of study The master’s program is structured in accordance with the national requirements for the “Master’s” educational qualification level. TRAINING OBJECTIVES The training in the master’s program "Economics of Internal Order" aims to prepare highly qualified managerial professionals at mid- and senior-management levels to meet the needs of the security sector, specialized agencies, and the Ministry of Interior. The program provides in-depth knowledge and practical guidance in the areas of risk management, crisis management, leadership, emergency management, strategic management, and human resource management within the security sector. The course of study concludes with the development of a master’s thesis, the topic of which is aligned with the individual interests of the students and takes into account their current or future professional development. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES Graduates of the "Economics of Internal Order" master’s program (two semesters) will be able to conduct analyses and forecasts related to the development of economic and managerial processes in the security sector, participate in solving economic issues, and analyze trends in international relations and security policy. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND OPTIONS FOR FURTHER EDUCATION Graduates of the "Economics of Internal Order" program can pursue successful careers in:
For more information about admission and document submission, visit the UNWE website
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Economics of Defence and Security – Corporate Security
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Master’s program Economics of Defence and Security with a specialization in Corporate Security, full-time study, two semesters, in a paid form. Applicants who hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, regardless of their field of study or year of graduation (except those with a “Professional Bachelor” degree), are eligible to apply for the master’s program. The program has an interdisciplinary character. It provides essential knowledge and practical skills in the highly relevant field of corporate security. It offers in-depth expertise and both theoretical and practical guidance on key topics, such as measures for protecting a company’s financial, intellectual, human, informational, and other assets from various types of threats. Students enrolled in the program will acquire the skills needed to make management-level decisions in both the private and public sectors regarding the protection of the organization, its objectives, and its assets.
Upon completion of the master’s program, students graduate as economists, which enables them to pursue career opportunities across all sectors of the economy and management. The specialized knowledge and skills they acquire in the fields of defence and corporate security provide a significant advantage when applying for positions in specialized security structures, as well as for specific roles within state institutions related to security. They are also well prepared for careers in corporate security management, the private security industry, business intelligence and market analysis, banking security, information security, and other related areas. For more information about admission and document submission, visit the UNWE website.
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Economics of Defence and Security – Nuclear Security
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The Department of "National and Regional Security" is the leading department for the International Master’s Program *Economics of Defence and Security* with a specialization in "Nuclear Security", taught in English. The program is the result of an agreement signed between UNWE and the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) for cooperation in the field of education and research in July 2014. In June 2017, the first group of students graduated from this program. Students from seven countries received their diplomas from the Minister of Energy, Ms. Temenuzhka Petkova. Since then, dozens of students from Bulgaria and other countries—among them Jordan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Iran, South Africa, Vietnam, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and others—have successfully completed the program. The Master’s program “Defense and Security Economics” with a specialization in “Nuclear Security” is a multidisciplinary training program designed in accordance with the IAEA requirements for developing master’s programs, as outlined in document number 12 of the so-called “Nuclear Security Series” (NSS 12). The Master’s program aims to prepare highly qualified managerial personnel for the needs of the nuclear energy sector, related industries, and administrative bodies responsible for regulating the use of nuclear materials. All lectures, exercises, and coursework are conducted exclusively in English, providing students with a unique opportunity to strengthen and enhance their language skills while learning and applying the specialized terminology of nuclear security. Students gain access to extensive informational resources provided by an international team of instructors, as well as opportunities to engage with representatives from governmental bodies and industry stakeholders in the field. The program has the following characteristics:
The mandatory courses cover topics and provide essential knowledge in areas such as nuclear technologies, the legal framework for their use, prevention and protection against criminal and malicious acts, investigation and analysis, radiation protection, and more. The elective courses aim to offer additional specialization for future security managers in specific fields. The Department of "National and Regional Security" has extensive experience in developing and teaching master’s programs in areas related to nuclear security, such as corporate security. At the same time, training in nuclear security requires expert knowledge from numerous fields, which is why the program involves specialists from several institutes of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, including the Institute of Metal Science; professionals from state institutions such as the Nuclear Regulatory Agency; lecturers from other universities, including the Technical University of Sofia and Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”; faculty members from other departments of UNWE; as well as practitioners and experts from companies within the nuclear industry. With the support of the IAEA, lecturers from King’s College London (UK), the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (USA), and other countries including Belgium, Greece, and Romania have also taught in the program over the years. Graduates of the Master’s program “Defense and Security Economics” with a specialization in “Nuclear Security” can pursue professional careers in the following areas:
Requirements for Students and Forms of Study Master’s program "Economics of Defence and Security" with a specialization in "Nuclear Security", full-time study, three semesters. Applicants who hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, regardless of their field of study or year of graduation (except those with a “Professional Bachelor” degree), are eligible to apply for the master’s program. The program offers the following application options:
Required criteria for prospective students:
IMPORTANT: Prospective students are kindly requested to send a scanned copy of the document certifying their language proficiency in advance. After the document is reviewed by UNWE, it will be determined whether the applicant meets the requirements or needs to take an English language exam. This helps save time and avoids additional formal procedures. Please send the documents to the program’s email address: nusec@unwe.bg Individuals are eligible to pursue a Master’s degree if their overall grade from their completed higher education degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s) is not lower than “Good.” The overall grade is calculated as the arithmetic mean of the state exam grade(s) and the average grade obtained during the course of study. The admission score for applicants to the master’s program "Economics of Defence and Security" with a specialization in "Nuclear Security", full-time study, three semesters, is calculated as the sum of the following grades:
The application procedures and schedule, as well as the tuition fees for the different forms of study, can be found at the program’s official website. and on the UNWE website for master’s admission. The department offers opportunities for internships during the course of study and traditionally maintains close contact with its alumni. During their studies, students receive a permanent, unique email address from the department. They have access to the UNWE library, a building with wireless internet, a modern university sports complex, as well as the department’s dedicated information environment, which includes computer labs, an internal information system, and advanced information technologies for data collection and processing. Some students participate in the department’s research projects and take part in conferences and publications, with the possibility of continuing their education at the doctoral level. Classes are conducted on a modular basis, typically on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, or in the evenings on weekdays during the semester. Students work on case studies and various course assignments, participate in discussions, prepare multimedia presentations, and collaborate in teams within simulation exercises. The program concludes with a state examination – the defense of a master’s thesis on a chosen topic. Throughout their studies, students receive academic and methodological support from faculty and engage in interactive learning. Course materials and presentations supporting the learning process are published on the department’s website, many of which are provided by INSEN. All students receive a permanent email address with the extension @e-dnrs.org, which serves as a contact channel during their studies and thereafter. Contact person: Chief Assist. Prof. Ekaterina Bogomilova, PhD, Program Coordinator Official e-mail: ebogomilova@unwe.bg , nusec@unwe.bg |
Accreditation and Compliance Assessment
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The program has an interdisciplinary character. It provides essential knowledge and practical skills in the highly relevant fields of accreditation, compliance assessment, and their application across all sectors of the Bulgarian economy. The curriculum emphasizes high-quality training based on modern teaching methods, the professionalism of the lecturers, the participation of guest speakers, and the use of contemporary information technologies. Graduates of the program earn a degree in Economics with a specialization in accreditation and conformity assessment, which enables them to pursue career opportunities across all sectors of the economy and management. The specialized knowledge and skills they acquire in the fields of accreditation and compliance assessment demonstrate strong competencies and provide an excellent foundation for a successful career in sectors and organizations such as: They can also work as specialists in accreditation, conformity assessment, and control, in commercial or technical departments, as well as within auditing bodies in the public sector. |