Slovenia, a country in Central Europe, is known for its rich culture and quality education. They have been continuously providing several opportunities to its student that is why it became a popular choice as a study destination for international students. Student life in Slovenia is structured to contribute to success.
Many universities offer degrees in the English language and it is a big help for foreign nationals since they do not need to master the Slovenian language to get around. The country also offers high and low-cost accommodation where students can get affordable monthly rents throughout their study period.
With all things said, Slovenia has been providing its best services to engage international students to pursue their careers in the country such as offering many scholarships in Slovenia for international students. It will not be a surprise that Slovenia will soon top the list as one of the student’s picks as a study destination.
What is the Cost of Living for International Students in Slovenia?
Slovenia has been popular for its low-cost wages but high commodities. That is, however, depending on the city in which they will live. Apart from the expensive city of Ljubljana, other cities also provide low-cost accommodation for international students. On average, a student who wants to live in Slovenia throughout their study cycle must need at least 600-1000 Euros to cover all living expenses.
Are International Students permitted to work in Slovenia?
Slovenia has a high demand for accommodation for international students that is why it became necessary to allow them to work while pursuing their degrees in the country. All international students will be given a channel called “student work” wherein agencies refer and help students to get part-time work. However, the students must expect a deduction of salaries to contribute to pension and disability insurance specified by Slovenia.
Top Universities in Slovenia
The Slovenian University Ranking is conducted annually to institutions that demonstrated a strong record for the selection criteria. The rank is based on the institution’s accreditation, education format, and if the institution offers a 4-year undergraduate or post-graduate degree.
Although Slovenian Universities are slowly growing their excellence in education, the country also holds the number of leading universities. Three of the ranked universities are the University of Ljubljana, Univerza v Mariboru, and Univerza na Primorskem.
Best Scholarships in Slovenia
1. University of Primorska Scholarship
University of Primorska (UP) is a public higher education that offers an annual scholarship grant for local and international students. This Slovenia scholarship wants to finance talented individuals who would like to pursue their Bachelor’s and Master’s studies at the university. The goal is to encourage and reward the best students who have shown great potential in academics.
The university also wants to provide employment opportunities to its students as soon as they finish their studies at UP. These opportunities are the reason why the University of Primorska has the best scholarship offer in Slovenia. Interested applicants must need to meet the following conditions:
- Must be a candidate for enrollment in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd study cycle in any of UP’s offered programs.
- Must be a student enrolled in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd study cycle program of UP, in the 2024-2025 academic year.
- Complete documents such as curriculum vitae (CV) and motivation letter.
- Additional documents showcasing their strong academic performance, and extra-curricular activities.
- English Language Proficiency
Awarded students from the UP Scholarship program will receive an amount ranging from 2.000,00 EUR to 4.800,00 EUR for one academic year. The exact monetary amount depends on the student’s academic grade and will be given as a one-year scholarship contract. The program is open to all local and international students who are a candidate for enrollment. It also includes enrolled students in the university.
2. GEA College Scholarships
GEA College is one of the leading private business schools in Slovenia that caters to high quality and practical knowledge in Entrepreneurship. The college offers an annual scholarship program for skilled international students to help them finance their education for three academic years.
The scholarship program is open to all European Union (EU) member countries and selected non-EU member states who will apply for the Undergraduate study program in Entrepreneurship. Students who are interested in pursuing their undergraduate degree in GEA College must comply with the following documents:
- Completed Study Application Form
- Motivation Letter: Self-introduction and pitching why should you be the best candidate for the scholarship grant. These may include your values, experiences, skills, etc.
- Recommendation Letter: Letter from a competent person that recognizes the advantage of your participation in the Undergraduate Scholarship Program.
- Presentation Video
After the submission, applicants will be invited for a Skype interview to assess the candidate’s skills, commitment, and positive aspects. The candidate selections will be done by the Commission for Scholarships and will be ranked according to points acquired from the standard criteria.
Grantees of this Slovenia scholarship will receive an amount of 400€ per academic year. The GEA College Faculty of Entrepreneurship will then brief the grantees about their obligations, right, and responsibilities as a scholar of the GEA College.
3. ZOIS Scholarships
ZOIS Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship in Slovenia established in 1986. The main objective is to promote career developments for gifted students and help them achieve the highest level of education in Slovenia. These goals open new opportunities by shaping the student’s best human potentiality and further contribute to society. The Public Scholarship, Development, Disability, and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia are the ones who will award the ZOIS Scholarship to the best eligible candidates.
Interested applicants must comply with all the program’s general and special conditions related to the merit criteria. These include the students’ grade average, achievements, national exam results, experiences, etc. International students who wish to be eligible for the scholarship must provide proof specified by the Slovenian legislation.
- European Union (EU) citizenship of at least five (5) years of preliminary residence.
- EU migrant worker
- EU Frontier Worker in the Republic of Slovenia or a long-term resident and family of the person specified.
Candidates from the program will undergo a competitive selection based on all the records and supporting documents submitted in the application process. All the benefits and grants of the ZOIS Scholarship will only be awarded to students who have provided better achievements under the program’s conditions.
4. Slovenia Bilateral Scholarships
The Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia offers an annual scholarship program to several international students who would like to pursue a part of their Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in any Slovenian higher institution. The basis of eligibility is through the bilateral agreement between the governments and reciprocities of selected countries. Apart from the documents, eligible students must also need to know specified conditions from the Bilateral Scholarships.
- Three (3) to ten (10) months study stays, depending on the agreement.
- Not awarded for a complete course study of their degree. Meaning, the student is only allowed to take a part of their degree program in their chosen university in Slovenia.
- Tuition fees are not covered. However, the awardees will be given monthly allowances, accommodation, and several benefits during their study stay.
- The majority of the applications will be granted only for a short-time study stay. However, doctoral students are allowed to do independent research in compliance with the institution’s regulations.
- Slovene Language Proficiency
Grantees from the Bilateral Scholarship will receive a monthly allowance of €300, with free accommodation in school dormitories, student meals discount, medical assistance. The scholarship offer is only open for physically mobility (if the institution allows accepting students in face to face setup)
5. IEDC Bled School of Management Scholarship Program
The IEDC Bled School Management offers an annual scholarship for one (1) and two (2) years of executive MBA programs. The scholarship is decided through an Individual Case Study Competition (ICSC) and will only be awarded to a total of three (3) qualified students. Candidates interested in this Slovenia scholarship program must conform to all of the requirements such as:
- Three (3) years minimum of Managerial work experience
- Acquired Bologna or Bachelor degree (or higher)
- Proficiency in English
The ICSC participant will get a real business case that needs to be resolved and prepare a solution in the next 48 hours. Those who have convinced the experienced managers will get a high probability of winning the scholarship. The tuition waiver will depend upon how great the candidate is by assessing their overall profile with the attached ICSC results. Three selected awardees will receive up to 50% reduction— 50% for the 1st place, 30% for the 2nd place, and 25% for the 3rd place. The scholarship is open to all students residing in different countries other than Slovenia.
