The GATE Institute at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics (FMI) officially opened the 2025/2026 academic year for the third cohort of students in the joint master’s programme “Big Data Technologies.”
This year, 18 new students have joined the GATE community – young specialists and professionals from various sectors, united by their ambition to acquire advanced skills in data analysis, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies.
The programme bridges academic training with real-world business applications, offering practical learning, work on real projects, and access to modern research infrastructure. Students are guided by leading instructors and experts from Bulgaria and abroad, and the curriculum provides a balanced combination of theoretical courses and practical modules. Participants also have opportunities to engage in initiatives focused on innovative research, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development, and to be part of active international academic collaborations.
“GATE builds a community of thoughtful, responsible, and creative people who use technology to achieve sustainable development. The strength of the programme lies in its practical approach. Students tackle real challenges together with industry representatives and GATE research partners, allowing them to gain valuable experience and confidence in their professional journey,” said Prof. Sylvia Ilieva, Director of the GATE Institute and Head of the master’s programme.
The programme is structured around four main areas, providing systematic knowledge and practical skills for addressing the challenges of modern big data processing. Students will learn the latest approaches in artificial intelligence and work with real-world data – from IoT sensors and text messages to transactions, images, and documents.
The programme includes five core courses covering the full life cycle of big data: Big Data Management and Processing, Big Data Engineering, Data Sharing Approaches, Introduction to Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, AI for Big Data Systems.
Graduates of the program will be prepared to work as data analysts and engineers, machine learning and natural language processing specialists, data scientists, and AI experts. The skills they acquire are applicable in healthcare, transportation, the economy, finance, various industries, and urban planning.
With three active cohorts, the “Big Data Technologies” master’s programme has established itself as a leading educational initiative, shaping the next generation of specialists in data and artificial intelligence.