Study and find schools in Slovenia

Studying in Slovenia

Slovenia is a small EU country between the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Pannonian Plain and the Dinaric Alps, with a population of 2,130,850 in January 2025, according to the Slovenian government. The official language is Slovenian, with Italian and Hungarian also official in ethnically mixed areas. The capital, Ljubljana, is also the largest university city.

For international students, Slovenia offers degrees within the European Higher Education Area and tuition-free study for many European students. Most programmes are taught in Slovenian, but the official Study in Slovenia portal publishes a yearly list of bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes taught in English.

The education system

Higher education has two tracks. Higher vocational colleges offer two-year short-cycle programmes (120 credits) that can lead on to professional degree studies. Academic higher education follows the Bologna model:

• First cycle (bachelor's degree): three or four years
• Second cycle (master's degree): one or two years
• Third cycle (doctorate): three years
• Integrated master's programmes in fields such as medicine and veterinary science

Programmes are offered by public universities (the University of Ljubljana, the University of Maribor and the University of Primorska), by private universities such as the University of Nova Gorica, and by faculties, art academies and colleges that do not belong to a university. All programmes accredited after April 2004 use ECTS credits; one credit stands for 25 to 30 hours of student work. University grades run from 6 (the minimum pass) to 10.

The academic year begins in October and lasts until the end of September. The winter semester usually runs from October to January and the summer semester from February to mid-July.

Admission and recognition

Applications for bachelor's and master's programmes at public and private institutions are submitted online through the national eVŠ portal. Each university or independent institution publishes a call for enrolment (razpis) with the number of places. EU citizens apply for the places intended for Slovenian citizens, while citizens of non-EU countries apply for the places for foreigners. The calls are usually published:

• for bachelor's and integrated master's programmes, at the beginning of February at the latest
• for master's programmes, usually in March or at the beginning of June at the latest
• for doctoral programmes, at the beginning of March at the latest

Read the call carefully: it states whether there are aptitude tests, deadlines for documents and whether you must pass a Slovenian language exam before enrolling. For some programmes you need a set level in the language of instruction.

If you completed your previous education abroad, you need a decision on the recognition of that education. The higher education institutions are responsible for this, and the recognition procedure is part of the enrolment: you submit the recognition application together with your eVŠ application. You need the original certificate, a certified Slovenian translation and documents showing the content and duration of your studies. The Slovenian ENIC-NARIC centre gives information on the procedure.

Student visa and residence

EU and EEA citizens who stay longer than three months obtain a residence registration certificate at the administrative unit where they live, within the first three months.

Non-EU and non-EEA citizens must obtain a visa (if their nationality needs one for entry) or a residence permit at a Slovenian embassy or consulate before entering Slovenia. According to Study in Slovenia, Slovenia issues D visas only to mobile (exchange) students; degree-seeking students apply for a temporary residence permit for study. Applicants who can enter Slovenia without a visa may apply after arrival, but should bring documents such as a police clearance certificate with them. You must show sufficient means of support; a declaration from your parents must cover at least EUR 494.09 per month for the whole academic year. Residence permits for students usually have to be renewed by 30 September. Check the website of the Slovenian embassy in your country before applying.

Costs

Full-time students who are citizens of Slovenia, of another EU member state or of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia or Serbia do not pay tuition fees for first- and second-cycle programmes at public institutions or at publicly funded programmes of private institutions. Non-EU/EEA students without permanent residence in Slovenia usually pay tuition fees, as do part-time students and doctoral students.

Study in Slovenia gives typical annual fees of EUR 2,000 to 11,000 for a bachelor's degree, EUR 2,000 to 15,000 for a master's and EUR 2,000 to 6,000 for a doctorate. The fee is normally paid in one sum per academic year; each institution publishes its price list. Through the Ad futura programme, the government offers scholarships for citizens of the Western Balkan countries to take master's degrees in selected fields.

Study in Slovenia publishes average student costs. According to the portal, a place in a student dormitory costs about EUR 120 to 250 a month in Ljubljana and EUR 100 to 170 in Maribor, and a student monthly public transport ticket costs EUR 25 in Ljubljana. Students eat in restaurants with state-subsidised meal vouchers: the state pays EUR 2.63 per meal and the student pays at most EUR 4.37.

Where to study

• Ljubljana, the capital, is the seat of the University of Ljubljana. Its University of Ljubljana, School of Economics and Business (UL SEB) holds the EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB accreditations and states that its students come from 63 countries.
• Maribor, the second city, has the University of Maribor, whose faculties range from electrical engineering and computer science, medicine and law to logistics, tourism and energy technology.
• Bled is home to IEDC-Bled School of Management, a postgraduate management school offering an Executive MBA, a Doctor of Business Administration and a PhD in Management; the school is marking its 40th anniversary.
• Piran, on the coast, is the base of GEA College, a private business school with a 35-year tradition, according to the school, whose programmes range from entrepreneurship and management to digital marketing and cyber security.

Culture and practical life

More than half of Slovenia is forested and over a third of its territory is in the Natura 2000 network, while the coastline is 47 km long and Triglav National Park, the largest protected nature site, covers 83,982 hectares.

Students can work part-time through the "student work" system, using referral forms from authorised student employment agencies (Študentski servis); international students living in Slovenia can also use it. Agencies deduct pension and disability contributions, and for foreign students also a 22.5% prepayment of income tax, which can be refunded where a double-taxation treaty applies.

Students insured in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or Australia use their home insurance (for EU students the European Health Insurance Card); students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro use bilateral agreement forms. Other international students can join Slovenia's compulsory health insurance if they are enrolled at a Slovenian institution, and Study in Slovenia recommends additional commercial insurance.

Frequently asked questions

Is studying in Slovenia free?

For full-time first- and second-cycle students from Slovenia, other EU countries and several Western Balkan countries, public programmes are tuition-free. Non-EU students usually pay, typically EUR 2,000 to 11,000 a year for a bachelor's degree.

Can I study in English in Slovenia?

Yes. Most programmes are taught in Slovenian, but universities offer a number of bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes in English; Study in Slovenia publishes the list every spring.

How do I apply to a Slovenian university?

Online through the national eVŠ portal, after the institution publishes its call for enrolment. For bachelor's programmes the calls are published by early February, and the recognition of your foreign certificate is requested in the same application.

Do I need a residence permit to study in Slovenia?

Non-EU degree students need a temporary residence permit for study, applied for at a Slovenian embassy or, if they can enter visa-free, in Slovenia. EU citizens register their residence if they stay more than three months.

Can international students work in Slovenia?

Yes, through the student work system and authorised student employment agencies. Contributions and an income tax prepayment are deducted from each payment.