The Academy of the Ministry of Interior is the only higher education institution in the Republic of Bulgaria for training of state officials in response to the needs of the Ministry of Interior. The Academy is a recipient of the best traditions of specialized education in the field of security and public order. Through the years, the traditions in police education were developed and strengthened through the activities of the Higher institute, established in 1987, and the Higher Institute for Police Officers Training and Scientific Research at the MoI – (VIPOND - MoI), established in 1991. With a Resolution of the National Assembly on June 14th, 2002 VIPOND – MoI was transformed into a University with the name Academy of MoI. Three faculties were set in the Academy: “Security”, “Police”, “Fire and Emergency Safety”; and four centers for specialization and professional training.
The “Security” faculty prepares officials for the security services of the Republic of Bulgaria. Specialists for the acquiring of the following academic degrees are trained there: “Bachelor of Arts”, “Master of Arts” and “Doctor of Philosophy”. The faculty organizes courses for protection of classified information for employees of other state institutions. The “Police” faculty trains officers for the National service “Police”, National service “Organized crime combating”, National service “Border police” and National service “Gendarmerie”. Specialists for the acquiring of the following academic degrees are trained there: “Bachelor of Arts”, “Master of Arts” and “Doctor of Philosophy”. The faculty organizes courses for raising the qualification and retraining of regular, senior officers and specialist from the Ministry of Interior as well as courses for employees of other state institutions like the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, etc. The “Fire and Emergency Safety” faculty is a successor of the first on the Balkan Peninsula State Firefighting School, founded in 1947. It prepares officers for the National service “Fire and Emergency Safety”. The faculty organizes courses for raising the qualification and retraining of regular, senior officers and specialist from the National service “Fire and Emergency Safety”. The Academy also organizes various national and international conferences, seminars, and working meetings. Within the International cooperation department of the department “International cooperation” a “Regional Anti-drug Center” (CEREFAD) is created. The Centers for Specialization and Professional Police Training in the cities of Sofia, Varna and Kazanlak are responsible for the initial training and retraining of sergeants for the police services of the Ministry of Interior. The Center for Specialization and Professional Fire and Emergency Safety Training in the city of Varna is responsible for the initial training and retraining of sergeants for the National service “Fire and Emergency Safety”. The Academy of the Ministry of Interior also carries out extensive scientific research.

University website: Higher Institute for Officer Training and Research at the Ministry of the Interior