The goal of doctoral training in the doctoral program "Controlling Computing Machines and Systems" in the Department of "Systems and Control" (SC) is aimed at:

a) improving the qualifications of the doctoral students;

b) forming them as highly qualified teachers for TU-Sofia;

c) developing them into competent, knowledgeable, and capable scientists ready to meet the challenges of modern industry and technology.

Achieving the stated goal is associated with the fulfillment of the following tasks:

a) compliance with legal requirements in the training of doctoral students;

b) the training and consulting of doctoral students shall be carried out by highly qualified habilitated teachers;

c) continuous improvement and modernization of the material base for studying world standards in the scientific field;

d) application of modern achievements in the field of information and communication technologies for research and development, analysis and processing of information and data;

e) maintaining continuous contact, close interaction and responding to the growing interest of companies in the field in scientific and applied developments related to the topic of the doctoral program.

Additional motivations for the training of doctoral students in the doctoral program "Control of Computing Machines and Systems" at the Faculty of Automation of TU-Sofia is also the successful development of the specialization in "Systems and Control" at FA, which is based on modern courses:

● Programming and use of computers;

● Theory of Control - 1;

● Theory of Control - 2;

● Microprocessor Technology;

● Data and Signal Processing;

● System Identification;

● Multivariable Control Systems;

● Nonlinear Control Systems;

● Logical Control of Processes and Systems;

● Digital controllers and industrial control systems;

● Embedded systems;

● Robust and optimal control;

● Digital signal processing;

● Digital estimation and filtering;

● Control of discrete-event systems;

● Optimization and decision making;

As well as courses taught to other faculties:

● Automatic Control Theory;

● Automatic Control Theory;

● Control Theory – Part 1;

● Control Theory – Part 2;

● Control Theory 2. 

Requirements for the preparation of specialists with an educational and scientific degree of "Doctor" under the doctoral program " Control of Computing Machines and Systems" are:
● to have excellent training in the field of automatic control theory;
● to possess specific knowledge in the field of automation tools;
● to have basic training in the field of communication engineering and technologies;
● to have knowledge in the field of information technology;
● to have knowledge in the field of embedded control systems;
● possess knowledge in modern measurement technology;
● in-depth and creative understanding and use of literature in the specific field in which the dissertation topic is formulated;
● demonstration of creative thinking;
● acquisition of a high level of skills, knowledge, and qualifications for theoretical and/or experimental research work.

In the Faculty of Automation, as a training unit, there are six specialized laboratories in the theory of automatic control, equipped with specific equipment, where doctoral students can be successfully trained in the doctoral program „ Controlling computing machines and systems ”. The research of doctoral students is carried out in the laboratories „Microprocessor control systems“, „Modeling and simulation of processes and systems”, „Modern control systems”, „Embedded control systems”, „Industrial control systems of the company Schneider Electric”, „Industrial control systems of the company Siemens”.
Technical University - Sofia, Faculty of Automation, is the educational institution in Bulgaria that can provide training for doctoral students in the doctoral program „Controlling computing machines and systems”, which should be in accordance with European requirements regarding the type of research:

● theoretical and experimental;

● of an engineering nature.

The topics on which doctoral students are trained under this program are current and are determined by national priorities in the specific scientific research field, namely: development of methods and tools for research and improvement of systems and tools for automatic control.