How to Study in Slovenia for Free (8 Steps)

Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It shares its borders with several nations, including Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia. It also has access to the Adriatic Sea. Slovenia is famous for its beaches, nature, and history. It also hosts one of the best universities in the world, the University of Ljubljana. While, quite possibly, not the most famous destination, the Republic of Slovenia is the place to go if a person wishes to receive higher education in an affordable, safe and trustworthy environment. So, let’s get started on how to study in Slovenia for free.

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How to Study in Slovenia for Free

1. Your Application is Important

Before diving into the research process, consider your application. Make sure you are satisfied with the scores; try to improve on the results that you regard as a low score. Provided you have an opportunity, participate in the activities that may help to put your name “out there”. The application you will have submitted is the gateway the academic staff will use to judge you and your abilities, to critique your knowledge before they ever have a chance to see you in person. Therefore, make sure the paperwork reflects you. Take as much time as is necessary to perfect the application according to the guidelines of the school such as getting good test scores and GPA. A good application is the start of studying in Slovenia for free.

2. Research Universities in Slovenia

Most institutions provide a detailed description of their goals, the mission, and allow you to learn everything you need to know about the school. Use the information provided to your advantage. Consider all the major factors such as available programs, location, scholarship, and stipend, et cetera. Some schools have a page designed specifically to assist international students; take this information guide provided by the University of Ljubljana as an example. The page summarizes all the major data in brief easy-to-read sections.

3. Choose the programs that you want to study in

As a future applicant, you must think about the degree you want to acquire. The decision-making process should not consist only of contemplating your interests and hobbies but also weighing in all the pros and cons of every degree available. Tuition fees may affect the final decision, too.

As you review various courses, you may find out that some of them are more popular than others, or some of the programs’ graduates on average find a place of employment in a shorter timeframe. A degree that might seem tempting at first glance can easily fail to impress upon closer examination. Always treat each program as its own entity; do not look at, say, two engineering courses in two different universities as if they are the same.

4. Apply for Scholarships in Universities in Slovenia

If you are considering to study in Slovenia, it is worth considering applying for a scholarship. Most universities provide means of financial aid to their students.

Some, like the University of Maribor, have been successful in designing country-specific scholarships. Thus, if you are a citizen of Georgia, Ukraine, India, or a few other countries, you can submit paperwork to receive a scholarship from the university (see more). Getting scholarships from these universities are an excellent way of studying in Slovenia for free.

Others do not focus on a student’s nationality; instead, they offer scholarships based on a scholar’s academic achievements, overall performance, and many more various factors.

5. Seek Out External Funding

Not only universities provide scholarships. Governments of some countries (e.g. Australia, India, Germany) provide a special type of funding that allows their nationals to pursue academic goals abroad. In other words, if necessary, you may get in touch with the local authorities and enquire if there are any available programs that provide this type of financial relief. Some of the programs may only be offered as a type of academic loan, meaning you will have to pay it back in the future.

In addition to the support provided by a local government, many international, often privately funded, organisations make it possible for a student to receive sponsorship. It is worth researching such organizations as Erasmus Mundus and Joint Japan World Bank Scholarships.

6. Consider Looking for a Job

Even with all the scholarships at hand, it may be a challenge to afford the living costs of Slovenia. While it is not an expensive country, it is expected that a student may want to travel and enjoy all the aspects of the Slovenian lifestyle. For that reason, finding a decent part-time job in a convenience store or a local shopping mall may be viewed as an option.

The Slovenian government allows international students to work, though it does require extra effort. Firstly, only part-time jobs are allowed. Secondly, in addition to the student visa, the applicant has to have either a referral or a referral form. Consequently, many students choose to look for a job by the means of contacting one of the so-called Student Services. These are agencies that specialize in matching students with suitable workplaces. They help hundreds of students to find employment each year. Looking for a job and having an employment will definitely help you to study in Slovenia for free, combined with scholarships.

7. Apply for Affordable Universities in Slovenia

Since the tuition fee of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Slovenian universities is $4,000-5,000 per academic year, it is worth to look for affordable universities so that you can study for free in Slovenia. If you are interested, check out Cheap Universities in Slovenia for international students.

8. Save Money

Slovenia is a unique country in terms of the average living expenses a student faces there. The typical living expenses are around $400-500 per month. In most cases, renting a private flat is cheaper than living in a dormitory (at least, when it comes to the big cities). Food is often cheaper in restaurants and cafes than it is if you choose to cook meals from scratch. As a student, you may want to learn the Slovenian language so that you could engage in conversations with the locals and find out about the deals, discounts and offers on food and other types of goods.

 

I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Europe Scholarships Page.