Universities in Slovenia: Which One Fits an International Student

Slovenia has three large public universities (Ljubljana, Maribor and Primorska in Koper), four further universities that take part in the national admissions call and run some programmes under a state concession (Nova Gorica, Novo mesto, Nova univerza and Alma Mater Europaea), and a few dozen independent institutions such as GEA College. Students from outside the EU pay tuition at all of them: for 2026/27 a typical annual fee is $2,380–7,720 (€2,100–6,800), with medicine and pharmacy higher. The deciding factor is usually language, because most bachelor's programmes are taught in Slovene and only a handful run fully in English.

Read on for how the universities compare, where English-taught degrees actually exist, what changed in admission for 2026/27 and how to narrow the list to two or three realistic options.

The universities at a glance

It helps to think of Slovenian higher education in three groups: public universities, the other universities, and independent institutions. The group affects fees, language and programme range more than the value of the degree.

Every programme you can apply to through the national eVŠ portal is accredited. For a non-EU student, the main practical difference between public and private is price: at a public university you pay the international rate, while at a private institution without a concession every student pays, Slovenians included.

Who studies for free and who pays

Full-time first- and second-cycle study is tuition-free for Slovenian and EU citizens. Five Western Balkan countries enjoy the same terms for 2026/27 under education cooperation protocols. A further exemption covers students who, or whose parent, combine permanent residence with Slovenian tax residence.

Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Central Asian states and most other non-EU countries do not fall into these groups and pay the international fee set by each university. Maribor, for example, links its international fee to what Slovenians pay for part-time study. For a full breakdown, see our guide to the cost of studying in Slovenia.

Figures are rounded. The University of Ljubljana also charges an annual student-services contribution, which is $70 (€61.60) at the School of Economics and Business for 2026/27.

Where you can actually study in English

English-taught bachelor's degrees exist but are scarce and unevenly spread. The 2026/27 national call for first-year places lists, among others:

• University of Primorska, FAMNIT (Koper): Computer Science and Informatics, Mathematics and Bioinformatics, taught in English in all three years; two further programmes run only their first year in English.
• University of Primorska, other faculties: Anthropology and Cultural Heritage (12 English-track places each as double-major options) and Tourism Business Management in Portorož.
• University of Maribor: Logistics of Systems in Celje as full-time study, plus three part-time English programmes in economics, crisis management and tourism.
• University of Ljubljana: at the School of Economics and Business, non-EU applicants to full-time study can choose the English version of International Business, Marketing or Tourism.
• University of Nova Gorica: Physics and Astrophysics runs in Slovene and English.
• GEA College: Entrepreneurship in English, part-time only, 50 places, with a selection interview in English.

Master's options are broader. Maribor alone announced 54 master's programmes for 2026/27, some of them in English; each university's call states the language of every programme.

Many English tracks only start if enough students enrol, typically 10–20. If the group is too small, the programme may not run that year, so read the minimum-enrolment clause before ranking a programme first.

Slovene: needed at once, by year two, or not at all

The Slovene requirement depends on the programme, not the university. There are three patterns.

1. Required at application. Medicine and Pharmacy at Maribor require Slovene at C2; teacher-training programmes and Nursing require B2.
2. Required before year two. Many Slovene-taught programmes admit you without a certificate but expect B2 (sometimes B1) before you enrol in the second year.
3. Not required. English-taught programmes ask for English at B2, for example IELTS 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, or secondary schooling completed in English.

Slovene is a Slavic language, so speakers of Russian, Ukrainian or other Slavic languages usually progress faster than they would in German or French. Still, if your chosen field is only taught in Slovene, plan a year of intensive language study.

New since 2026/27: a mandatory suitability interview

Slovenia's new Higher Education Act (ZViS-1) requires universities to interview applicants who are nationals of countries on the EU visa-required list before their application is processed. This covers citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and many other countries. The faculty listed as your first choice runs the interview, usually online and in the language of the programme.

The interview is paid, and missing or failing it leads to a rejection with no appeal. For 2026/27 entry, Maribor's Faculty of Law charged $280 (€244) and the University of Primorska $230 (€200). The fee is not refunded after a negative result. Preparation tips are in our admissions guide.

Ljubljana, Maribor or the coast: how the city shapes your budget

Tuition differs between universities by hundreds of euros a year; housing can differ by thousands. Study in Slovenia gives these average dormitory prices: Ljubljana $140–280 (€120–250) a month, Maribor $110–190 (€100–170). Private housing in Ljubljana costs $230–570 (€200–500) a month according to the University of Ljubljana, depending on size, location and whether you share a room.

Non-EU degree students often pay the market rate in dormitories. Maribor's dormitory price list for international students starts at $180 (€157.50) a month for a shared double room; see our University of Maribor profile.

A quick way to shortlist

Common mistakes

• Choosing by reputation without checking the teaching language. A well-known name will not help if the whole bachelor's is in Slovene.
• Missing that an English track is part-time. Part-time study has its own schedule and fee; ask the faculty before applying whether the format suits your residence plans.
• Assuming private institutions have lighter paperwork. Recognition, the interview and the residence permit work the same way everywhere.
• Missing the first application window. For 2026/27 it ran from 18 February to 18 March for non-EU citizens at Ljubljana, Maribor, Primorska and Nova Gorica. Later rounds exist but come with limits: Ljubljana's second round, for example, is open only to applicants who already hold a recognition decision.
• Forgetting the interview fee and the time needed for court-certified translations.

FAQ

Sources

• Study in Slovenia (CMEPIUS): universities and institutions, tuition and exemptions, cost of living — checked 29 September 2026.
• Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation: 2026/27 national call, general provisions and programmes — checked 29 September 2026.
• University of Maribor: 2026/27 tuition fees, dormitory prices for international students, history — checked 29 September 2026.
• University of Ljubljana: faculties and academies, accommodation and cost of living; School of Economics and Business: 2026/27 fees — checked 29 September 2026.
• University of Nova Gorica: price list — checked 29 September 2026.
• Interview for applicants from visa-required countries: UM Faculty of Law, University of Primorska — checked 29 September 2026.
• Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 29 September 2026: €1 = $1.1355 (ECB).

University shortlisting, a check of language requirements and preparation of your application are provided under an agreement with StudyU; the admission decision rests with the university. Send an enquiry.

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