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- Academic calendar, grading system, language requirements and support
Academic calendar, grading system, language requirements and support
Higher education system in Slovenia
Slovenia is part of the European Higher Education Area (a.k.a. Bologna system). Thus, studies are divided into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cycle.
The 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). 60 credit points may be obtained per study year; 1 credit point consists of 25 to 30 hours of a student’s work.
The second cycle study programmes are master’s study programmes (master’s professional degree). They consist of 60 to 120 credit points 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 (3+2, 4+1). The 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 study programmes. It lasts for three years, and study requirements consist of 180 credit points, two thirds of which shall be acquired by research. The degrees in all three cycles can be formed 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.
Academic calendar
In the Republic of Slovenia, academic year starts on 1 October and ends on 30 September. Every year, the study calendar specifies the duration of organised study activities, examination periods, school holidays, public holidays and of the university week.
The calendar for the academic year 2024/2025 can be found here.
ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2024/2025
- Semester 1/Winter semester: 1 October 2024– 7 Januar 2025
- 1st examination period: 8 January 2025 –7 February 2025
- Semester 2/Summer semester: 10 February 2025 – 28 May 2025
- 2nd examination period: 29 May 2025–4 July 2025
Grading system
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. |
A student passes the exam if he/she is graded from 6 to 10. Study requirements may also be evaluated with grades: passed with distinction, passed or failed.
Language requirements
New University offers instruction in the following languages: Slovenian and English. International students require to have good language skills in at least one of the two languages in order to be able to study in Slovenia. Students must present a language certificate of their Slovene or English language skills. Very good language skills refer to level B2 of Common European Framework of Reference scale . Minimum language requirements: Slovene B2, English B2. How to prove the language skills certificate (for Slovene or English)? You can submit to you Erasmus+ coordinator a) a Transcript of Records of the home university where lannguage skills are visible, b) Language Certificate with CEFR scale, c) Results from the OLS (Online Language Support), Submit a TOEFL score of 79 (IBT) or IELTS score of 6 for English, or any other official certificate.
Intensive Course of Slovene for Erasmus+ Students
Students have to pay attention to foreign language skills in the host country. The faculty gives foreign students all necessary information about language courses in Slovenia.
The Intensive Course of Slovene for Erasmus+ Students is only intended for students registered in a higher education institution holding an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE), who have been selected for an Erasmus+ study/placement period. The course is co-funded by the European Union. The course is intended for beginners in Slovene.
Slovene learning online
Slovene Learning Online is a freely accessible online course of Slovene for foreigners, developed at the Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language in cooperation with the company DigiEd. The course is designed for those who wish to learn Slovene one their own in a simple, playful and effective way.