Call for Applications:
ENGAGE.EU Study Tour 2026 at UNWE Sofia
About ENGAGE.EU Study Tours
It’s an ENGAGE.EU short-term, physical mobility format.
A Study Tour is a 3–5 day visit by students of ENGAGE.EU partner universities to the campus of one other ENGAGE.EU partner University. The study tours are jointly organized with students from the host University and include an academic component (minimum a 1-hour session) and may also include a professional one.
The format aims to create new mobility opportunities in addition to the traditional semester exchange and summer/winter schools. The Study Tours are designed to make international mobility more accessible to learners from underrepresented groups.
ENGAGE.EU Study Tours are organized on top of the regular curriculum of the students. Important: All institutions hosting this initiative expect that students attend all sessions in the program to successfully complete the Study Tour.
Participating students in the UNWE Study Tour will:
- come in contact with new-to-them learning concepts
- gain knowledge about the education system of the host country and academic profile of the host university
- learn about the local institutional and economic environment
- build a lasting network with their peers in the group and at the host university
- significantly benefit underrepresented students and will also facilitate engaging them in a future international credit or degree mobility
Academic programme
The ENGAGE.EU Study Tour on “NextGen Entrepreneurs” is set to be an enriching and immersive experience. Participants will engage in a variety of activities designed to deepen their understanding of Entrepreneurship, Innovations and their public presence.
The Study Tour will offer dynamic and engaging academic sessions led by distinguished professors from UNWE and motivational coaches. Participants will explore key topics including Foundations of Entrepreneurship & European Perspectives, Innovation & Entrepreneurial Careers, and Social Entrepreneurship, Local Impact & Reflection through interactive discussions, real-world insights, and practical examples. Beyond the academic content, the programme will inspire participants to reflect on their personal values, ambitions, and purpose, and to consider how they shape their entrepreneurial mindset and future career paths during a dedicated and transformative workshop. The programme will also include an artistic session, led by a world renown improv coach, designed to strengthen communication, teamwork, and creative on-your-feet fast thinking skills.
A highlight of the tour will be a safari to the city center of Sofia, one of the oldest cities in Europe. With over 7,000 years of history, Sofia blends ancient heritage with modern life. Participants will see landmarks such as Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the historic Church of St. George, experiencing the unique atmosphere where history and contemporary culture meet. In the evening, participants will gather for a social dinner at a traditional Bulgarian restaurant, providing an opportunity for networking, intercultural exchange, and informal interaction among students, professors, and organizers. The evening will also feature a cultural experience showcasing the Nestinari tradition – a unique Bulgarian ritual where performers dance barefoot on scorching hot glowing embers under the summer night sky.
The final day will include a pitch session allowing participants to present their ideas and reflect on the knowledge gained during the Study Tour. The programme will conclude with a closing session including a certificate ceremony, feedback, and a reflection workshop focused on how participants can apply the insights and experiences gained during the programme in their future academic and professional paths.
The UNWE ENGAGE.EU Study Tour will have:
- 3 academic sessions including one on career development pathway
- 2 entrepreneurial ideation sessions
- 1 coaching session
- 1 start-up pitch session
- all sessions will be delivered by expert lecturers
- 1 award ceremony
- Sofia Safari – Treasure hunt organized by the Erasmus Student Network
- Cultural mixer and social networking dinner at a traditional Bulgarian cuisine restaurant
- Time for socializing and networking
- An ENGAGE.EU session with local students and BoL representatives
- Sessions will take place from Wednesday to Friday
- All students are expected to attend all sessions in the program. Attendance and active participation in both academic and professional sessions are pre-requisites for the successful completion of the Study Tour
Click here for the detailed programme of the UNWE Study Tour. Note that the program may be subject to minor changes.
Accommodation
UNWE does not have its own student accommodation, but provides a list of recommended options in Sofia. Please, note that accommodation is not included. UNWE provides accommodation suggestions, but students are not bound to these options.
Here is what participants say about their experience...
Student Profile
Students of any citizenship and any field of study who are enrolled in an ENGAGE.EU partner University are welcome to apply.
The ENGAGE.EU Study Tour at UNWE is mainly targeted at bachelor’s students in their first or second year, but will be open to all bachelor and master students.
Underrepresented students will be prioritised (*).
(*) For “underrepresented students” we understand a person with fewer opportunities. It is a potential participant whose personal, physical, mental, or health-related conditions is such that his/her participation in the project/mobility action would not be possible without extra financial or other support.
Application Documents
To apply for the ENGAGE.EU Study Tour you should provide:
- Motivational Video( up to 1 min presenting entrepreneurship idea)/A short letter (max. 300 words) explaining your motivation for applying to the ENGAGE.EU Study Tour at UNWE, including why you consider you are an underrepresented student (if applicable).
- Curriculum vitae (education, work experience, language skills, study/work abroad, other relevant skills and experiences).
- Academic transcript of records.
Application Procedure
To complete your application, you will have to fill in the application form and upload your CV, transcript of records and motivation materials.
Applications must be submitted by April 10 2026, at midnight CET.
All documents must be in English, except for the academic transcript of records (which can be in any language of the partner universities).
For further information, please contact: erasmus@unwe.bg
Selection procedure
Submitted applications will be evaluated by each ENGAGE.EU university.
Candidates will be evaluated based on their academic performance, motivation and CV. To ensure equal participation among students from the different partner universities, the selection committee will aim at choosing up to 5 students from each partner university. As mentioned above, underrepresented students will be prioritised (*).
Students who have already taken part in other ENGAGE.EU activities will not be prioritised.
Final decisions may also consider a range of criteria for cohort composition, including but not limited to underrepresented students, and institutional diversity.
Results will be communicated to the selected students by April 24th, 2026.
Students will have 6 days to accept their spot.
(*) For “underrepresented students” we understand a person with fewer opportunities. It is a potential participant whose personal, physical, mental, or health-related conditions is such that his/her participation in the project/mobility action would not be possible without extra financial or other support.
Scholarships
Selected students will receive a scholarship for participation in the ENGAGE.EU Study tour. Contact your local ENGAGE.EU office and representatives to know the exact amount or for any question about this. Details will follow from your home University after being selected for the Study Tour.
UNWE students will receive NO funding, as UNWE is the host University.
Application form
Note:
If applicable, participants shall be responsible for obtaining their own visas /student residence permit and completing the required immigration formalities, as well as for obtaining the travel documents and other related documents needed to pursue studies at the host university or another participating university.
During the events, participants shall be subject to the rules, regulations, policies, procedures, codes and norms which are in force at the host university.
Violation of host country law by the participant may subject the student to withdrawal of the immigration status and scholarship.
For any physical mobility related to the event, participants will be required to carry adequate health insurance and need to ensure that their insurance will cover the potential costs of health care during that period.