Rakovski Defense and Staff College is the oldest higher military institution in Bulgaria. It was founded with an Act of the 15th National Assembly of March 1, 1912.

The College has a unique contribution to the foundation of the Bulgarian Officers Corps, as well as to the establishment of the new Bulgarian State, and to the influence of the European values upon the Bulgarian nation. Today it is a national institution for higher education, qualification, and scientific research on issues of national security and Defense. The mission of Rakovski Defense and Staff College is to prepare military leaders and civilian personnel in all spheres of establishing and using the Armed Forces in peacetime, in conflict solving and crisis management, and in wartime focusing on strategic and operational level. It is the main educational institution concerning issues of international and national security, civil-military cooperation, military art, and interoperability with NATO armed forces. The College is accredited as a high institution by the state authorities. Rakovski Defense and Staff College Academic And Research Units are: National Security and Defence Faculty, Command and Staff Faculty, Interoperability Faculty and Defence Advanced Research Institute . The education includes 8 accredited Master's specialties and many courses of post-educational qualification. The annual number of trained officers and civilian personnel is about 1500. Rakovski Defense and Staff College is a member of the Consortium of Defense Academies and Security Studies Institutes under PfP. 157 highly qualified lecturers and researchers, officers and civilian personnel, work in Rakovski Defense and Staff College.

Rakovski Defense and Staff College offers education for acquiring Master’s Degree in seven accredited specialties:

At the National Security and Defense Faculty:

-National security and Defense
-Security and Defense Management
-Security and Defense Logistics
-Population and Critical Infrastructure Protection
-Security and Defense Communicational and Informational Systems and Technologies
-SCIS and Technology in the Field of Security and Defense

At the Command and Staff Faculty:

-Organization and control of operational and tactical Land Forces formations
-Organization and control of operational and tactical Air Force formations
-Organization and control of operational and tactical Navy formations
-Organization and management of logistic support in operational tactical formations
-Organization and management of communication and information systems in operational and tactical formations
-Logistics of Security and Defense

University website: Military Academy - G. S. Rakovski