Study in Slovenia

Short-cycle vocational programs: These are equivalent to diplomas in other countries. They normally last two years, and focus on practical training and internships in technical companies. Vocational colleges exclusively offer these courses, and their graduates are immediately absorbed into the workforce. The normal entry point into vocational degrees is after a higher secondary school leaving examination, similar to Bachelor's degrees.

Public research universities

 in Slovenia offers three types of degrees: Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD. There are also specialized higher education institutes that focus on one field of study. They offer undergraduate and graduate programs, but do not typically offer doctoral degrees. Some of the larger universities in the country also offer adult and continuing education programs targeted respectively at first-time learners and business executives.

Certificate courses in Slovenia normally last for one to three months, and are offered by Universities in either an online or hybrid mode. They are targeted either at tourists (language learning certificate courses) or students who wish to learn a subject that a particular University is well known for. They are usually taught in part-time mode and have a course load equivalent to that of a three or six-credit program in the ECTS system. Unlike the other three types of degrees offered by Universities in Slovenia, these courses do not require a thesis defense; regular quizzes and a final examination are used for evaluation purposes.

The first cycle of formal University education in Slovenia consists of the Bachelor's degree. These are designed to be completed in six semesters, and are flexible enough to allow undergraduate students to find out their area of expertise and interest. The first two or three semesters have general courses, with students allowed to mix and match subjects from different Faculties. Towards the end of the degree program, there is a higher emphasis on specialization within a minor subject, and most Bachelor's students opt to work on an undergraduate thesis, with an emphasis on deep understanding rather than research. Slovenian undergraduate degrees in several disciplines, including Information Technology and Environmental Engineering, are held in high esteem worldwide, and graduates can choose to take up a job immediately. However, a sizable minority chooses to study for a postgraduate degree at the same University, given that a Master's adds substantial value to a resume.

Master's programs in Slovenia involve intensive studies in a well defined subject area for at least four semesters. Applications for highly competitive graduate programs like veterinary medicine and dentistry close in February every year, with other application windows remaining open till June. Every semester has at least five courses in the field of study, with assignments and practical work forming a large part of the assessment criteria. The end of the program involves writing a Master's Thesis and defending it in front of a panel of eminent professors. In contrast to a PhD dissertation defense, Master's Theses in Slovenia typically involve extensive computation and modeling work, for example, rather than high impact original research. As such, they assist research groups during this phase.

Admissions to postgraduate programs in Slovenia may involve several stages. After submission of the initial application, some programs require candidates to appear for interviews, submit detailed creative portfolios, or pass an entrance examination.

A Doctoral degree in Slovenia takes an average of 3-5 years to complete. PhD degrees are offered in a wide range of disciplines, and most research groups in Slovenian universities supervise between 1 and 5 PhD candidates. Slovenia produces strong research in many scientific and social science disciplines; doctoral students are expected to contribute to the overall research direction of their chosen group through sustained effort and original research. The final PhD thesis is usually presented in front of a renowned panel of experts; successful defenses are followed by the award of the Doctoral degree.