Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski is the first institution of higher education in Bulgaria. The first step towards its foundation was the opening of a Course in Pedagogy at the First Secondary School for Boys in Sofia in 1887. Due to the success of this teacher-training course,the National Assembly issued a decree at the end of 1888, transforming the course into a School of Higher Education. In 1904 a decree by Prince Ferdinand turned it into a university that was given the name of St. Kliment Ohridski a year later.
For more than a century Sofia University has been the national foremost centre for university education and research in both fundamental theoretical and applied areas. Today it is the largest university in the country with 104 degree programmes offered by 16 faculties.
The first building of Sofia University was erected thanks to the donation of the brothers Evlogy and Christo Georgiev and today ranks among the most interesting buildings of the architectural heritage of Sofia. It spreads over a total of 36000 sq. metres and has 324 rooms, including 65 auditoriums with a total of 6000 seats.
Sofia University comprises: Faculty of Slavic Studies, Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology, Faculty of History, Faculty of Philosophy, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Preschool and Primary School Education, Faculty of Geology and Geography, Faculty of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Faculty of Biology, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Faculty of Theology, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Information and In-service Teacher Training, Department of Language Learning and Department of Sport. 
The teaching staff includes a significant part of the best specialists in Bulgaria in all major areas of sciences and humanities. Research is an integral part of the teaching process. It is fully supported yet not conducted by the Rector’s administration. Research is a prerequisite for keeping pace with the most recent developments in the respective areas for both the lecturers and university structures – laboratories, faculties, etc. 
International relations have a special place in the University’s global strategy as they considerably stimulate research, and support and improve the quality of teaching. Sofia University has contracts with more than 80 universities of different countries, thus facilitating a wide variety of joint international projects and multilateral professional contacts with colleagues from all over the world. 
The University has since held a leading position among universities in the country, with the highest rate of student and staff mobilities and the most significant contribution to the maintenance of European standards in higher education.

By signing the new Erasmus Charter in 2007 and the acceptance of Bulgaria in the European Union, the University will continue its active participation in the implementation of the opening new vistas educational programme of the EU Lifelong Learning.