History

 The idea of establishing the first higher technical institution in Bulgaria, whose successor today is the Technical University – Sofia, began with a donation of 6 million gold leva, bequeathed by Evlogi Georgiev on July 9, 1897. His wish was for them to contribute to the "prosperity and greatness of the homeland." Thanks to the efforts of Ivan Evstatiyev Geshov – the executor of the will, and generations of Bulgarian scientists and engineers, the initiative for the creation of a higher engineering school on a European model emerged. 
However, for the next four decades, the project did not find practical implementation. 

In the autumn of 1903, Prof. Ivan Shishmanov, then Minister of Public Education, proposed a bill for the board of trustees of the university "Brothers Evlogi and Hristo Georgievi" from Karlovo. 

With it, the first attempt was made to interpret the donors' will. Instead of the funds being directed towards the creation of a higher technical school, as desired by the engineering community, they were redirected towards the construction of a building for Sofia University. 

Bulgarian engineers and architects strongly objected, considering this interpretation unacceptable and contrary to the donors' wishes. 

At the beginning of the 20th century, efforts for higher engineering education continued with the idea of establishing a technical faculty at Sofia University. 

In November 1906, the Ministry of National Education appointed a special commission to prepare a project for its establishment. In 1907, a technical department, provided for in the university law, was opened, and young Bulgarian engineers were appointed as private lecturers. However, only months later, on January 3, 1907, during the opening of the National Theatre, a student demonstration against the government of Prince Ferdinand led to a sharp reaction. The next day, by decree of the Council of Ministers, the university was closed for 6 months. All teachers, including the newly appointed lecturers for the technical department, were dismissed. The academic year 1907–1908 began with foreign teachers and former high school teachers, which temporarily halted the development of technical education.

On March 5, 1909, a new law on public education was adopted, providing for the establishment of technical and agronomic faculties at Sofia University. However, the implementation of this measure was postponed indefinitely. 

On May 14, 1914, the Bulgarian Society of Engineers and Architects (BSEA) raised the issue again. The Board of Trustees appointed a five-member commission, which insisted on the immediate execution of the will of Evlogi Georgiev – the 'late patriot'. 

Through appeals, letters, and public statements, BSEA continued to advocate for the creation of a Bulgarian higher engineering school. The donor explicitly stated that the predominant disciplines in the future university should be positive sciences with applications in industry.

In 1933, the Bulgarian Union of Engineers for Architecture (BUEA) proposed the establishment of a "unified research technical institute." The project envisioned the institution operating on academic autonomy principles, equipped with laboratories covering various fields of engineering. The idea aimed to provide a strong impetus to the development of higher technical education and applied science in Bulgaria. Despite its innovation for the time, the initiative remained unrealized, but it demonstrated the persistent drive to create a modern engineering educational institution. 

According to the officially published "List of Technicians with Higher Education Who Acquired the Right to Free Technical Practice in the Kingdom by October 1, 1935," the number of graduated specialists in the country exceeds 2,300. 

The largest groups are: 

These data clearly indicate that Bulgaria already has a great need for its own higher technical institution to train personnel for the growing industrial and infrastructure needs.
 

 In 1939, the Minister of National Education Bogdan Filov appointed a commission with representatives from several ministries, the Sofia Municipality, and the Union of Bulgarian Engineers and Architects. Its task was to investigate the possibility of establishing a technical faculty at Sofia University. Representatives of the engineering community insisted not on a faculty, but on an independent higher technical school. Although the commission accepted this as a long-term goal and proposed that the faculty be a "temporary solution," the idea of having its own technical higher education in Bulgaria had already been firmly established. At that time, over 1100 Bulgarian students were studying engineering sciences abroad, which underscored the need for national engineering education aligned with the development of the Bulgarian economy. 

 At the Second Ordinary Congress of the Union of Bulgarian Engineers and Architects, the engineering community firmly insisted on the establishment of an independent higher technical institution. This was a turning point, where the professional community no longer merely supported but demanded the creation of a Bulgarian technical academy. 

With the active participation of the engineers, a new bill was drafted and submitted to the XXV National Assembly on May 28, 1941. On June 12 of the same year, the Law on the Higher Technical University in Sofia was promulgated. It was established as a state educational institution with two faculties — Civil Engineering and Architecture, and Mechanical and Technological. The law provided for a five-year period for the full opening of the departments and even specified their names. 

On October 4, 1942, in the midst of World War II, the Higher Technical School in Sofia was solemnly opened in the Aula of Sofia University. Eng. Dr. Yordan Danchov took over the leadership as acting rector. Despite the difficult war years, the academic process began with enthusiasm, but the bombings of Sofia in 1944 led to the evacuation of the school to Lovech and a temporary suspension of classes. 

A decree-law on the establishment of the "Construction of Buildings for the State Polytechnic – Sofia" fund has been promulgated, whose purpose is to finance the construction and furnishing of the academic buildings and laboratories of all faculties. 

The first rector elected was Prof. Eng. Vasil Peevski, and the vice-rector was Prof. Arch. Stancho Belkovski.
 The deans became Prof. Dr. Georgi Bradistilov (Faculty of Civil Engineering) and Assoc. Prof. Eng. Karl Slavomirov (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering). Among the faculty members were also the names of Prof. Boris Popov, Prof. Mincho Zlatev, and Assoc. Prof. Sazdo Ivanov — future pillars of engineering education in our country. 

 With the promulgation of the "Decree-Law on Amendment and Supplement to the Law on the Higher Technical University," VTSU-Sofia officially receives its new name — State Polytechnic. The educational institution consists of two faculties — Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. The decision was prepared by a resolution of the Council of Ministers on September 27, 1945, and approved by Regent Decree No. 237 on October 17 of the same year. 

The first elections of regular and extraordinary professors and associate professors, approved by the Academic Council, are held. Among them are Prof. Georgi Angelov, Prof. Mincho Zlatev, Prof. Angel Balevski, Prof. Grigor Uzunov, Prof. Nancho Nanchev, Prof. Sazdo Ivanov, and Prof. Vasil Gerov — considered today as the founders of Bulgarian higher technical education. 

In 1949, new specialties were established at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering — Mining Engineering and Engineering Geology. In 1951, the faculty was split into four: Mechanical, Electrical, Mining, and Faculty of Industrial Chemistry. 

By Decree No. 231 of the Presidium of the National Assembly, the State Polytechnic was divided into four independent higher education institutions:
 – Institute of Civil Engineering,
 – Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering,
 – Institute of Chemical Technology,
 – Institute of Mining and Geology.

 Thus begins a new stage in the development of engineering education in Bulgaria. 

Today, the Technical University – Sofia has established itself among the leading engineering higher education institutions in Europe. Over 10,000 Bulgarian and nearly 1,000 foreign students are enrolled in the professional bachelor, bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs. The curricula are synchronized with universities in Germany, France, and the UK, and the credit transfer system ensures free mobility and full recognition of disciplines and exams.
 Thanks to its international agreements and the implementation of scientific research in industry, the university generates up to 20% of its budget through its own revenues each year.

In response to digital transformation, TU-Sofia is expanding e-learning and increasing the number of programs taught in English. Its faculty and students regularly win awards at prestigious national and international forums. Over the years, the university has trained over 100,000 engineers and played a key role in the establishment and development of the technical universities in Varna and Gabrovo.

The academic community of TU-Sofia continues to actively seek solutions for a sustainable and innovative future for Bulgarian engineering education.