Majority of international students may not consider Slovenia as a first-choice option for their studies. However, Slovenia, a European country, is actually a splendid alternative for your studies. Slovenia has affordable universities that offers scholarships to international students and a host of other benefits. There were influx of about 4,000 international students at Slovenia’s public universities alone in 2018, and the numbers are speedily increasing.
The higher education in Slovenia is divided into two groups:
- Academic education
- Professional or vocational education
Both of these programs are offered in public and private universities. The Professional or vocational education is much shorter than the Academic education. The key objective of the vocational education is to equip students with the tools and skills to enter the job market faster based on the economy needs.
For full-time students from Slovenia, public universities are free. Tuition is also free for nationals from the European Union, countries with which Slovenia has bilateral agreements, and those with international protection.
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However, international students pay tuition, but it is very low when compared to the tuition fees in other countries. Also, part-time and post-graduate students pay tuition, irrespective of their nationality.
The cost of living in Slovenia is low, another essential reason why Slovenia is an exceptional option. Most restaurants offer discounts to students because the Slovenian government subsidizes food for them. Student dorms are available for as low as $100 and $170 monthly. Those who may want a private flat can get it at a rough rate of $250.
Slovenia is actually the center of Europe. So studying in this country will avail you the opportunity of visiting other countries like Italy. There are cultural events that are organized in this country and you can also visit the natural areas of the country, explore the forests, or go skiing.
Prerequisite to study at a university in Slovenia as an international student
Slovenia has both public universities and private institution. To enroll in any of these, international students have to complete certain steps during the application process.
The application process begins on the eVŠ portal, irrespective of the institution you opt for.
On this portal, you will fill an application form with all your personal information and the university and program of your choice. You will also have to submit all the required documents. There’s a video tutorial to aid you during the registration process.
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You will also have to complete the Recognition of foreign education, which is done on the same website.
You may be required to pass a test to prove your capacities and skills in certain area, depending on your choice university. These tests may be essential for those who want to study medicine, engineering, architecture, and others.
The official language in Slovenia is Slovenian. Lots of universities offer programs that are taught in English, but there are some that give you the choice of taking certain courses in English. After choosing a program, you will be expected to submit proof of language proficiency if you are not a native speaker.
Cheap Universities in Slovenia
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University of Ljubljana
University of Ljubljana, founded in 1919, is named after the capital city of Slovenia. It offers over 150 bachelor degree programs and has 23 faculties and colleges. It is the trailblazer in the fields of research and development and has many extracurricular activities. It is affiliated with other universities in and outside Slovenia.
The institution offers full-time and part-time programs which students can choose from. Some English programs are only opened if an exact amount of students enroll. This students also offer combined degree programs, vocational (professional), and a long-distance study option.
The bachelor programs covers a duration of 3 and 4 years, but they also offer a single-cycle master program, which lasts between 5 and 6 years. This program was designed for majors that are controlled by the European Union, like Medicine or Architecture.
For large majority of bachelor programs, the tuition vary from 3,000 EUR which is about $3,370 to 5,500 EUR which is about $6,180 yearly.
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University of Maribor
The University of Maribor was founded in 1975 and has 17 faculties that are situated all over Slovenia because the university has different campuses in eight cities. These campuses are located in Celje, Ljubljana, Kranj, Brežice, Hoče, Maribor, Krško, and Velenje. One of the cheapest universities is the University of Maribor.
Approximately 15,000 students are educated here each year and choose one of the 185 programs offered, which include both academic and vocational programs. Around 10% of places for the new students of the first year are available for international students.
This university has student dormitories for domestic and international students. They are located in five of the campuses. There are 633 single rooms and 1117 double rooms yearly. Ensure you apply on time since there is limited openings for international students.
They have a teaching system in which a senior student or a professor is consigned to a new student. The objective of this arrangement is to help the students to make the switch between secondary and tertiary education, and to improve their performance academically.
The application process is done through the eVŠ portal and students must have completed the recognition of secondary education. Tuition fees for international students range from 1,800 EUR to 3,900 EUR (around $2,000 and $4,500).
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University of Nova Gorica (UNG)
The University of Nova Gorica (UNG), established in 1995, has buildings in Nova Gorica, Vipava, Gorizia and Ajdovščina.
UNG, which is very close to Italy, has seven (7) schools, four (4) laboratories, and six (6) research centers. There are many alternatives for courses taught in English. UNG also offer bachelor, master, and Ph.D. degree programs in the areas of engineering, natural sciences, management, humanities, biotechnical sciences, and art.
For more details on the application process, you can check their website.
Tuition fees range from 2,800 EUR to 5,000 EUR, which is between $3,150 and $5,600. Also, an enrollment fee of 75 EUR (around $85) is to be paid by each student. This tuition fee is very cheap compared to the first-rate education that you will receive at this University.
International students can pay an extra amount of 1,500 EUR ($1,700), for a 10 monthly residence in a double room apartment.
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University of Primorska
This University is located in the coastal region of Slovenia and was founded in 2003. It has buildings in the cities of Koper, Portorož, and Izola. The University of Primorska is also an affordable university in Slovenia
It has six faculties of management, education, humanities, health care, tourism studies, and mathematics, natural sciences and information technologies. The University of Primorska admits about 6,000 students yearly and offer a 74-degree programs from which 6,000 students receive education on yearly basis. It has a college of design and a research institute which comprises of 16 research groups.
Programs are being offered in English and Slovenian, some combine both languages. However, there are plenty of alternatives for people who want to complete their education in English. Each faculty has its own website, they share a list with the available English programs on yearly basis. You can choose to study in English, but the university mandates that all international students take a 60-hour Slovenian course to ensure they are able to communicate outside the classroom. The course is free. Second-year students take a basic Slovenian exam to ensure they aren’t having issues with language difficulties.
Tutors are also assigned to international students so they can acclimatize to the new environment, understand how things work in the university and the city.
You can check their admissions page to see how to apply. Note that you’ll have to take specific tests in some faculties to test your knowledge.
For tuition fees international students that aren’t from a EU country have to pay between 2,500 EUR and 5,100 EUR (around $2,800 and $5,700) per year. However, economy/finance and political science are the only two programs that are over that range, at about 7,000 EUR, which is around $7,850 per year.
The University of Primorska offers short professional and bachelor degrees. Faculties like management, offer a management professional certificate, a bachelor’s management program in Slovenian, and a bachelor’s management program in English.
The institution offers scholarships for students from certain countries. They are based on bilateral agreements and have opportunities for students from all over the globe