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Slovenia Education
Last published date:

Capital:  Ljubljana
Population:  2,102,678 (July 2020 est.)
GDP:  71.23 Billion USD (2017 est., Purchasing Power Parity)
Currency:  Euros (EUR)
Language: Slovene (official)  

UNESCO Student Mobility Number:

CIA World Factbook:
23.85% of the population in Slovenia is under 24 years of age.

Overview

Slovenian membership in the EU in 2004 has greatly improved mobility opportunities for Slovenian students. The number of Slovenians studying abroad is constantly increasing. However, U.S. universities face strong competition from EU universities as the EU provides free university education for EU member countries and the quality of Slovenian education is very high.  American standardized tests (SAT, TOEFEL, etc.) present additional challenges and financial burdens to interested students, who only need a language degree to be accepted to an EU university. In Slovenia, students enjoy free tuition, subsidized meals, and lower taxes keyed to their student status. While many students in Slovenia wish to study abroad for some period of time, the existence of the Erasmus program allows for structured exchanges in other EU countries while remaining within the European university system. While Slovenia offers a generous (approximately) $30,000/year Ad Futura scholarship for foreign study (through a competitive process administered by the Public Fund for Scholarships), the utilization rate for U.S. study through this award is relatively low.   

Sub-Sectors

Slovenia is a society with an aging population. Only 23.9 percent of the population is under 25 years old.  According to 2018 data, Slovene students are seeking external education opportunities with greater frequency, with outbound mobility increasing by 17 percent between 2012 and 2017. According to UNESCO Student Mobility statistics, there are 3,157 Slovenian students studying abroad, just four percent of tertiary students.  The United States is the fifth most popular destination for study abroad, behind Austria, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. The most popular destinations to study in the United States are Texas, California, New York, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. According to the 2019 Open Doors data, there were 256 Slovenian students studying in the United States in academic year 2018/2019, a 2.4 percent increase from the previous year. Of these, 123 were pursuing traditional undergraduate degrees (a 13.9 percent increase from the previous year), 72 were pursuing graduate degrees (a 4.3 percent increase), 35 were pursuing non-degree training (a 16.7 percent decrease), and 26 were pursuing optional practical training (a 16.1 percent decrease).

Nearly all Slovenian students who want to study abroad are proficient in English and are usually very well-prepared academically, which facilitates their learning experience abroad. Additionally, many Slovenians seek and obtain athletic scholarships in the United States, as Slovenian youth are extraordinarily talented in a multitude of American sports—including more specialized sports such as skiing, volleyball, and soccer.  

American schools wishing to recruit Slovenians may wish to focus on the three most popular fields in Slovenia, according to the 2018 Open Doors data: Business administration, health sciences, and engineering. Certification programs by U.S. schools are also well regarded in Slovenia. Other popular degrees among students include legal studies, psychology, physiology, and computer technology.

Slovenians studying in the United States pursue intensive English language training programs (e.g. summer programs for both students and adults); programs in business administration; work, study, and travel programs; and traditional undergraduate and graduate degrees.  Slovenians have also pursued U.S. e-learning opportunities.

Opportunities

The bilateral Fulbright Exchange Program finances some of the most prestigious educational programs between the United States and Slovenia. The Slovenian government is an active and generous contributor to this program.

At present, most academic degrees awarded by U.S. programs are recognized in Slovenia. The Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science and Sport establishes criteria to validate all diplomas and qualifications awarded by foreign programs.

Summer courses in the United States, internship/professional career trainee programs, and year-round on-line courses offer good opportunities for U.S. universities and schools looking to attract Slovenian students. Additionally, American universities in search of student-athletes would do well to focus on recruitment in Slovenia.

Summer English language programs are suitable for local students and fit well with Slovenia’s semester structure, while distance learning courses and e-learning are becoming increasingly popular among the younger generation of students.

Events

Informativa is the largest education and career fair, taking place in January, in Ljubljana. 
Resources

Slovenian Education

System: http://www.mizs.gov.si/en/areas_of_work/directorate_of_higher_education/enic_naric_centre/education_system_in_slovenia/ Universities in Slovenia: http://studyinslovenia.si/study/universities-and-institutions/
Statistics:  http://www.stat.si/StatWeb/en
EducationUSA/Fulbright: http://www.sklad-kadri.si/si/izobrazevanje-v-tujini/svetovalnica-za-izobrazevanje-v-tujini/educationusa/
Informativa Education Fair: https://www.informativa.si/en/about/

U.S. Commercial Service Contact

Mirjana Rabič, Economic and Commercial Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service - Ljubljana, Slovenia
Rabicm@state.gov
+ 386 1 200 55 28

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