Studying in Slovenia

What a year costs

Tuition. Non-EU students without permanent residence in Slovenia usually pay tuition, including for full-time bachelor's degrees. Study in Slovenia, the official national portal, gives these ranges:

• Bachelor's: €2,000-€11,000 a year, depending on the programme
• Master's: €2,000-€15,000 a year
• Doctoral: €2,000-€6,000 a year

As a concrete example, the University of Ljubljana School of Economics and Business charges non-EU students €4,700 a year for a full-time master's in 2026/2027. Citizens of countries with which Slovenia has a bilateral agreement may be treated differently: check your own programme's fee page, since each faculty publishes its own price list.

Living costs. The University of Ljubljana tells international students to budget at least €700 a month on top of tuition. Its own figures:

• Student dormitory: €150-€190 a month in the student residence halls, with exchange-student dorms averaging €197.44 plus around €30 in extra costs
• Private room: €200-€500 a month
• Subsidised student meal: about €5, against €8-€15 in an ordinary restaurant
• Subsidised bus card in Ljubljana: €20 a month

Budget on the higher end of the private rent range if you live in Ljubljana and cannot get a dormitory place. Add health insurance, which you must hold before the permit is issued.

The visa

Your permit is a temporary residence permit for study. If you need a visa to enter Slovenia, you apply for the permit at a Slovenian embassy or consulate abroad; if you can enter visa-free, you can apply at the administrative unit (upravna enota) where you will live.

The money: €507.43 a month. Slovenia ties the requirement to its basic minimum income, which the government adjusted to €507.43 from 1 March 2026 (Official Gazette No. 14/2026). The Study in Slovenia permit page still shows an older figure of €484.88, so do not rely on it. Scholarships from your university count, and so does a statement from parents who are legally obliged to support you.

Fees. The European Commission's EU Immigration Portal lists €102 for a first permit applied for at a mission abroad, €50 in Slovenia, and €12 for the card. The University of Ljubljana lists €50 for issuance or renewal, a €4.50 application fee and €15.47 for card printing. The figures differ slightly between the two official sources: bring enough to cover the higher total and ask the office where you apply.

Documents include proof of enrolment, a passport valid beyond your stay, proof of health insurance valid in Slovenia, a criminal record certificate from your home country no more than three months old and officially translated, proof of funds and a biometric photo.

Timing. The University of Ljubljana advises applying three to six months before arrival and warns that because enrolment takes place in September, starting in October is hard for students who need a visa. Neither the university nor the government publishes a standard processing time: it depends on the embassy or administrative unit.

Working while you study

The EU Immigration Portal states that a third-country national holding a study permit may take up employment or perform work in Slovenia while the permit is valid. The official pages we checked do not state a weekly hour cap, so confirm the current limit with your university's international office before you rely on a particular number of hours.

In practice most students work through an authorised student employment agency (študentski servis) using a referral. The legal minimum gross hourly rate for student work is €8.98 in 2026, according to e-Študentski servis. Deductions for international students are heavy: 22.5% of each payment is withheld as income tax prepayment, which can be reclaimed if your home country has a double taxation treaty with Slovenia, plus a pension and disability contribution.

After you graduate

Slovenia offers a nine-month single permit to seek employment or self-employment. According to InfoTujci, the government's information portal for foreigners, you qualify if you finished at least a short-cycle or bachelor's degree at a Slovenian higher education institution within the last two years and still hold a valid residence permit. Apply before your study permit expires; if it lapses, you lose this route.

Once you find a job, your employer can start the single permit (residence and work) procedure, and in-country applications are possible.

Language

Most bachelor's programmes are taught in Slovene; English-taught options are concentrated at master's and doctoral level. Entry language requirements are set by each faculty, so check your programme's call for enrolment.

You do not need Slovene for the permit, but administrative units, landlords and most part-time work outside the student agencies will expect it. Slovene is a demanding language for most learners; start with a basic course before you arrive if you plan to stay after graduating.

When to apply

Applications for bachelor's and integrated master's programmes go through the national eVŠ portal. For 2026/2027, Study in Slovenia published these rounds:

• First round: 18 February-18 March 2026
• Second round: 20-27 August 2026
• Remaining places: 23-24 September 2026 (until 10:00)

Apply in the first round if you need a visa. An August admission leaves too little time for the permit before the October start. Master's and doctoral programmes set their own calls: check the faculty's page. Your foreign school or degree certificate must also be recognised for admission, which adds weeks.

What to watch out for

The permit timeline is the main risk. Neither the government nor the universities publish a guaranteed processing time. Apply as soon as you have proof of enrolment and assume two to three months at least. Students who wait for the August round frequently start late.

Two official figures for the money requirement. Study in Slovenia shows €484.88; the University of Ljubljana and the Official Gazette show €507.43 from 1 March 2026. Always show the higher amount, with a margin.

Health insurance must be valid in Slovenia. Travel insurance that excludes long stays or has low limits can be rejected. Check with the administrative unit what cover it accepts before buying a policy.

Criminal record certificates expire quickly. The three-month limit and translation requirement catch students out, especially when appointments slip. Order the certificate close to your application date.

Student work pays less than the headline rate. After the 22.5% tax prepayment and contributions, take-home pay is well below €8.98 an hour until you reclaim tax, so do not build your budget on it.

Where these numbers come from

Rules change, sometimes at short notice. Every figure above carries the date we checked it. Check the official source before you rely on it, and note that we could not find an official weekly hour limit for student work.