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Study in Slovenia

Slovenia strives to implement measures supporting equal opportunities, academic success, student mobility, higher education and vocational education and training, language learning and distance education.

The adoption of the Bologna system also supports the academic and professional recognition of qualifications, and the overall development of modern education methods and internationally relevant undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

Why study in Slovenia?

1. It's free for EU/EEA students

If you come from the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), you can study at Slovenian public universities for free. This also applies to students from the following countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia (formerly known as Macedonia), and Serbia.

If you're not a citizen of any of these countries, expect to pay between 2,000 and 15,000 EUR per academic year, depending on what you want to study and at what level (Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD).

2. No language barriers

In most cases, you should be alright only with English. Most people under 40 speak it at least at conversational level, especially in student cities like Ljubljana, Maribor, and Koper.

However, it's never a bad idea to learn at least a few words in Slovenian. Here are a few to get you started: zdravo (hello), hvala (thanks), prosim (please), enjoy your meal (dober tek), etc.

3. Slovenia is a beautiful country

If you're a nature enthusiast, you'll feel right at home in Slovenia. You can take a stroll through the numerous parks and forests, visit Lake Bled, explore the Postojna Cave, take a walk along the historic Soteska Vintgar gorge, climp up the Triglav mountain, or visit the oldest vine in the entire world, in Maribor.

International focus

In recent years, higher education in Slovenia has undergone several structural changes, rapid institutional development and new study programme implementation. As a result, Slovenia became an increasingly popular international student destination. Just under 2,000 foreign students are currently studying in Slovenia.

The great majority of these students come from the republics of the former Yugoslavia, mainly because of cultural links and similarities of language. Foreign students account for almost 10% of doctoral students.

General application requirements

Foreign citizens and Slovenians without Slovenian citizenship who completed secondary school abroad may enrol in Bachelor studies if they meet the following requirements:

• completed four-year secondary school
• completed procedure for the recognition of foreign secondary education certificates
• successful result on required tests, if applicable
• knowledge of the Slovenian language

Copies of certificates and other documents which candidates must send to the Higher Education Application Information Service of the chosen Slovenian university:

• notarized final certificate of a four year secondary school
• a secondary school diploma
• notarised transcripts for the last two years of completed secondary school recording academic performance
• personal identity cards or certificates of citizenship
• certificate indicating that the candidate has passed the Examination in Intermediate Level Slovenian

The general access requirement for masters’ study programmes is a completed first cycle study programme. Admission requirements may vary depending on the chosen higher education institution. Contact the international student departments for detailed information.

Academic structure

Higher education studies are provided by public and private universities, faculties, art academies and professional colleges. Universities, faculties and art academies may provide all types of study programmes, while professional colleges generally focus on bachelor level study programmes.

Study programmes

Higher education system in Slovenia is consists of Bachelor level academic and professional study programmes, masters’ study programmes and professional degrees as well as doctoral studies. Degrees in all three cycles can be taken as joint degrees. Higher education institutions may provide supplementary study programmes as a form of lifelong learning. Studies are organised as full-time and part-time respectively.

Language of study

Besides the higher education programmes taught in Slovenian, you can find a considerable selection of English-taught programmes in diverse academic fields. If your study programme is taught in English, you will be required to prove your English proficiency by presenting the results you received at English courses.

If you want to study abroad in Slovenia, you are most likely to find courses fully or partially taught in English in universities in the big cities. Usually, postgraduate courses do not require knowledge of Slovenian.

As part of the Erasmus international student exchange network, Slovenia is looking to expand its offer of English-taught programmes in order to attract more European students who want to study abroad. As a result, some universities recruit experienced English native speaking teachers from the UK, Slovenia and Switzerland to encourage the enrolment of students coming from abroad.

English language preparation for studying in Slovenia

Develop your academic English language skills in order to meet the English language requirements at Slovenian universities offering degree studies for international students. Choose an English language school anywhere in the world and pick your preferred English exam preparation course from diverse language course options.

Universities accept these official English exams:

• PTE Academic
• IELTS
• TOEFL
• C1 Advanced

Teaching methods

Higher education institutions use various teaching methods such as lectures, seminars, exercises, colloquium and written assignments. Usually lectures are given for a large group of students, while the seminars and exercises are usually offered for a smaller group of students. The studies also demand a lot of individual and preparatory work.