Slovene higher education
Slovenia is part of the European Higher Education Area (a.k.a. the Bologna system). Studies are therefore divided into the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycles.
First-cycle study programmes are academic and professional study programmes. Their duration is determined by years (three to four years) and ECTS credit points (180 to 240 ECTS). One academic year corresponds to 60 ECTS and 1 credit point equals to 25 to 30 hours of a student’s work.
Second-cycle study programmes are master’s study programmes (master’s professional degrees). They consist of 60 to 120 ECTS and last from one to two years. The duration of an individual master’s study programme must be planned with regard to the duration of the first-cycle study programme.
The total duration in the same field of study for master’s programmes must not exceed five years (i.e. 3+2 or 4+1). Second-cycle study programmes also include single-cycle master’s study programmes (300 ECTS).
The third cycle consists of one type of study programme: doctoral degrees. It lasts for three years, and study requirements correspond to 180 ECTS, two thirds of which are acquired through research. The degrees in all three cycles can be integrated as joint degrees.
Higher education institutions may organise and provide supplementary study programmes as a form of lifelong learning. Studies are organised as full-time or part-time studies. More >>>
Students’ learning achievements are graded according to the Slovene grading system, which is transferred in the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) as follows:
| Slovene grading scheme | ECTS grading scheme | Description of the grades |
| 10 (Excellent) | A (Excellent) | Outstanding performance with only minor errors. |
| 9 (Very Good) | B (Very Good) | Above the average standard, but with some errors. |
| 8 (Very Good) | C (Good) | Generally sound work with a number of notable errors. |
| 7 (Good) | D (Satisfactory) | Fair, but with significant shortcomings. |
| 6 (Poor) | E (Sufficient) | Performance meets the minimum criteria. |
| 5 – 1 (Unsatisfactory) | F, FX (Fail) | Considerable further work is required. |
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) was developed to provide common procedures to guarantee the academic recognition of studies abroad. It is based on the principle of mutual confidence and trust between the participating higher education institutions.
ECTS credits are a value allocated to course units to describe the student workload required to complete the course. They reflect the quantity of work each course unit requires in relation to the total quantity of work necessary to complete a full year of academic study at the institution. This includes lectures, practical work, seminars, tutorials, fieldwork, private study – in the library or at home – and examinations or other assessment activities. ECTS is thus based on a full student workload and not limited to contact hours only. In ECTS, 60 credits represent the workload of an academic year of study; a semester is normally 30 credits. One credit is awarded to 25 to 30 hours of student work. Credits are awarded only when the course has been completed and all required examinations have been passed.
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