Higher education system
According to the Higher Education Act (1994), Slovenian higher education institutions offer undergraduate study programmes (leading to professional higher education degrees and to a university degrees) and graduate study programmes (leading to specializacija, magisterij and doktorat znanosti). Credential study programmes improve, deepen or broaden previously acquired knowledge in a specific field covered by the corresponding undergraduate study programme. A student may transfer from one study programme to another under conditions stipulated by the university senate or the senate of a free-standing institution of higher education in compliance with the law and criteria set forth by the Council for Higher Education of the Republic of Slovenia.
Study programmes are provided as full-time as well as part-time studies when feasible. Higher education is free of charge for native full-time students. Part-time students and post-graduate students pay tuition fees.
At the undergraduate level there are university study programmes and professional study programmes. Both lead to the award of a first degree - diploma.
The Higher Education Act abolished the short-type (2-year) study programmes offered by junior colleges in the old system. The last generation of students enrolled in 1995-96. They have the right to complete their studies until 1999.
Undergraduate study programmes embrace at least 20 and at most 30 units of lectures, seminars and exercises per week and 30 weeks per year.
University study programmes are offered by faculties and art academies. They last between 4 and 6 years plus a year of absolventski (candidacy for the degree) status to give students time to prepare the diploma paper - a written thesis or a project. A student who successfully defends the diploma paper is awarded a diploma with the respective professional title stating the field of study. Study programmes give students professional knowledge and the qualification needed for employment as well as for further study at postgraduate level.
Professional higher education programmes are offered by professional colleges. They last 3 (exceptionally 4) years including practical training. These programmes are completely professionally oriented. A period of organized practical training is followed by an additional year (absolventsko leto) for preparing the diploma paper. Students who successfully defend their diploma papers at a public presentation are awarded diplomas with the appropriate professional title stating their field of study. Professional degrees enable students to enter the labour market or continue their study at the post-graduate level leading to specializacija.
General requirements for enrollment into a postgraduate study programme are: a completed higher education programme in the respective field and high grades at the undergraduate level (GPA above 8).
The admission requirements for graduate programmes leading to specializacija are either a university degree or a professional higher education degree. These programmes last between 1 to 2 years. After a successfully defended thesis a student is awarded a professional title specialist (Specialist) in a specific field of study. Studies leading to specializacija lead to employment in a certain profession.
A university degree is a general requirement for study programmes leading to magisterij, which last for 2 years. Study programmes comprise at the most 300 hours of organized study activities in the first year and up to 150 hours at the most in the third semester, while the whole fourth semester is reserved for writing a thesis for magisterij based on student’s own research. Studies end with a public presentation (defense) of the thesis before a committee. Students are awarded a magisterij and the academic title of magister znanosti/umetnosti in a specific field of study.
The degree of magisterij is the general requirement for the access to study programmes leading to doktorat znanosti. A direct transition to studies leading to doktorat znanosti without a magisterij is possible for extremely successful students. The studies take at least 4 years and are individually designed. If preceded by a magisterij, the duration of study is 2 years. During their studies candidates prepare an independent doctoral thesis, which involves a detailed presentation of their work in a form of public presentation (defense) representing an original contribution to the body of knowledge in a specific scientific field. The thesis must be presented before a committee. Candidates are awarded the academic title of doktor znanosti in the respective academic field. Doktorat znanosti represents the highest scientific degree.
In compliance with the new Professional and Academic Titles Act (July 1998), the titles denote the level and type of education obtained in undergraduate or graduate state approved study programmes offered by a higher education institution. Professional and academic titles are a part of study programmes and are determined in both genders. Higher education institutions award professional and academic titles in compliance with law and their constitutions.
Professional titles are awarded to the graduates of study programmes leading to a professional higher education degree (diplomirani..., diplomirani inzenir...), an undergraduate university degree (univerzitetni diplomirani..., univerzitetni diplomirani inzenir..., profesor..., akademski... and exceptions like doktor medicine, doktor stomatologije, doktor veterinarske medicine, magister/magistra farmacije) or specializacija (specialist...). All these titles are placed after the graduate’s name and surname. Academic titles are awarded to the graduates of study programmes leading to magisterij (magister znanosti/umetnosti) and doktorat znanosti (doktor znanosti), respectively. These titles are placed in front of the candidate’s name and surname
List of Higher Education Institutions
ABOUT ENIC HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM SYSTEM OF NATIONAL EDUCATION ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK CREDENTIAL EVALUATION
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