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Meta title: Applying to Slovenian Universities: Deadlines, Documents
Meta description: How to apply to Slovenian universities via eVŠ: 2026/27 non-EU deadlines, document list, recognition of your school certificate and the mandatory interview.
Last modified: 2026-09-30

# Applying to Slovenian Universities: Deadlines, Documents and the Interview

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You apply to any accredited Slovenian institution online through the national eVŠ portal, and the same application triggers recognition of your school certificate or degree. At the universities of Ljubljana, Maribor, Primorska and Nova Gorica, the first bachelor's application window for 2026/27 lasted only a month for non-EU citizens, from 18 February to 18 March 2026, while applicants finishing school that year sent in the certificate itself over the summer: by 31 July at Ljubljana and Maribor. Since 2026/27, nationals of visa-required countries, including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and much of Central Asia, must also pass a paid suitability interview.

This guide sets out the month-by-month timeline, the full document list, how recognition of a foreign school certificate works and what to do once you receive an offer.

The Faculty of Law library at the University of Maribor. Photo: Bitjece / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Knji%C5%BEnica.jpg), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

## How admission works {#section-1}

| Stage | Who is responsible | What to know |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Call for enrolment (razpis) | universities and the ministry | published by early February; lists places for foreigners, requirements and deadlines |
| eVŠ application | applicant | up to three programmes in order of preference in the first round |
| Recognition of education | university | part of the application; a decision within two months of a complete file |
| Interview | faculty of your first-choice programme | for nationals of visa-required countries; paid; no appeal |
| Selection | university admissions office | if places are limited, grades are converted to the Slovenian scale and ranked |
| Enrolment and payment | faculty | invitation arrives by email or via eVŠ |
| Residence permit | Slovenian administrative unit; you file at an embassy or at the unit itself | a separate procedure after admission |

## Timeline for starting in autumn 2027 {#section-2}

Exact dates for 2027/28 appear when the new call is published, which for bachelor's programmes happens by early February. The 2026/27 cycle is the best guide and is shown below in the past tense.

| When | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| September–December 2026 | shortlist 2–3 programmes, confirm the teaching language and certificate requirements, request transcripts for your final school years |
| January 2027 | arrange translations, write the chronological education summary, scan your passport, register on eVŠ |
| February–March 2027 | submit in the first round; in 2026 it ran from 18 February to 18 March |
| March–April 2027 | sit the interview; Maribor completed first-round interviews by 10 April 2026 |
| June–31 July 2027 | upload your final certificate and translation; the 2026 deadline for current school leavers was 31 July |
| August 2027 | receive the recognition decision and selection result; Maribor issued recognition decisions by 17 August 2026 |
| August–September 2027 | enrol, pay tuition and apply for the residence permit |

Deadlines differ between institutions, which matters when you build your shortlist. This is how non-EU admission for 2026/27 was scheduled:

| Institution | First round | Final certificate for 2026 school leavers | Later rounds |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| University of Ljubljana | 18 February – 18 March | by 31 July | 2–3 September, only for candidates already holding a first-round recognition decision |
| University of Maribor | 18 February – 18 March, with separate streams for Slovene- and English-taught programmes | by 31 July; recognition decisions by 17 August | 3–4 September, up to three applications with one programme each |
| University of Primorska | 18 February – 18 March | by 13 July | 20–27 July |
| University of Nova Gorica | 18 February – 18 March | by 31 July | 1 April – 1 July, 1 August – 1 September, vacancies 10–24 September |
| University of Novo mesto | 1 May – 31 August | by the end of the window | none; teaching in Slovene at B2 |
| GEA College | 18 February – 17 July | by 17 July | 31 July – 4 September |

Later rounds look like a safety net, but few places remain and there is little time left for the residence permit. If you want to start on 1 October, plan for the first round.

## Documents for the application {#section-3}

The list below follows the general provisions of the 2026/27 call. Everything is uploaded to eVŠ as scans or photos.

1. School certificate or diploma. No legalisation is needed at the application stage, because the university verifies the document with the issuing school. If verification fails, you will be asked for the original; for Hague Apostille Convention countries this means the original with an apostille.
2. Court-certified translation of the certificate into Slovene or English, which may be requested through eVŠ after you apply.
3. Grades for all upper-secondary years, such as annual report cards or the certificate supplement, showing content and duration of your schooling.
4. A short chronological summary of your education: which schools you attended, where and when. The University of Ljubljana publishes a template.
5. Slovene language certificate, only where the programme requires it at application.
6. Passport data page. The call marks this attachment as optional, but the university may ask for it to confirm your identity and nationality, so uploading it at once saves a round of correspondence.
7. Any additional documents the recognition authority asks for.

The call notes that the list can vary with the country that issued your certificate. If your case is unusual, such as a college diploma instead of a school certificate, external exams or schooling in several countries, email the recognition office of your chosen university before you apply.

English-taught programmes also require proof of English at B2. Accepted proofs are listed in each call; Maribor, for instance, recognises B2-level IELTS and TOEFL iBT scores, Cambridge B2 First, PTE Academic and English-medium schooling.

## Recognition of a foreign school certificate {#section-4}

There is no separate agency you must visit in advance. The eVŠ application counts as your request for recognition for the purpose of further study, and the university itself decides. By law it has up to two months from the day your file is complete.

Slovenia has no blanket rule requiring an extra year of university study after an 11-year school system. The university compares your curriculum, its length, subjects and grades with the Slovenian matura and records in its decision which Slovenian route yours is equivalent to. For programmes with limited places, your grades are converted to the Slovenian scale, where the pass mark in secondary school is 2 and the top mark is 5; university grades run from 6 to 10.

In practice, weak marks in subjects relevant to your programme in the last two school years can cost you a place in a competitive programme. For Economic and Business Sciences at Maribor, for example, final examinations count for 60% and the average of the last two school years for 40% when places are limited.

## The interview for nationals of visa-required countries {#section-5}

From 2026/27, the Higher Education Act (ZViS-1) obliges institutions to hold a direct suitability interview with every applicant from a country whose citizens need a visa to enter the EU. Without a positive result, the application goes no further.

What universities say about the format:

- the invitation goes to the email address given in your eVŠ application;
- the faculty of your first-choice programme conducts the interview, and the result applies to all your applications that year;
- it takes place by video call, your identity is checked against your passport, and it is held in English or Slovene depending on the programme;
- the panel assesses genuine interest, understanding of the programme, language ability and how the programme fits your previous studies and plans;
- it is paid: for 2026/27 entry, Maribor's Faculty of Law charged $280 (€244), with proof of payment due at least 24 hours before the interview, and the University of Primorska charged $230 (€200), due within five days of applying; fees are non-refundable;
- if you already hold a Slovenian temporary or permanent residence permit when you apply, the University of Primorska states that its interview protocol does not apply to you; ask the admissions office how your case is handled.

If the connection repeatedly fails on your side, you miss the interview or pay late, the university issues a rejection that cannot be appealed. Test your camera, microphone and internet the day before, and prepare a short, specific explanation of why you chose this programme.

## After you receive an offer {#section-6}

1. Enrolment (vpis). The faculty invites you to enrol by email or through eVŠ; your place is confirmed only once you enrol.
2. Payment. Tuition is usually paid per academic year in one sum. There are exceptions: at Ljubljana's School of Economics and Business you can pay in three parts in 2026/27, or get 5% off for paying the whole year at once. Paying from Russia? Legal routes are listed in our [payment guide](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia).
3. Residence permit. The University of Ljubljana advises applicants who need a visa to apply at the embassy as soon as they are admitted, ideally 3–6 months before arrival. Procedures, fees and timing are covered in our guide to the [student residence permit in Slovenia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-residence-permit-slovenia).

Watch the timing gap: enrolment is often completed only in August or September, while classes start on 1 October. Ljubljana's international office cautions that embassy applicants sometimes arrive after teaching has already begun.

## Master's admission follows its own calendar {#section-7}

Universities publish master's calls separately, usually in March and at the latest in early June. At Maribor, the first 2026/27 window for non-EU citizens ran from 31 March to 30 April 2026 and the second from 24 August to 4 September, with interviews completed by 18 May and 18 September respectively. Your bachelor's degree is recognised through the eVŠ application in the same way as a school certificate, and the faculty may set additional exams if your previous field differs.

## Mistakes that cost a year {#section-8}

- Applying in the last days of the first round. Scans, translations and the interview payment take time, and you cannot change your programme list after the window closes.
- Putting an uncertain programme first. That faculty runs your interview, and a rejection ends all your applications for the year.
- Missing a Slovene requirement. Medicine and Pharmacy at Maribor require C2 and teacher-training programmes B2 at the application stage.
- Counting on the second round. Ljubljana admits only applicants who already hold a recognition decision, later rounds have fewer places, and the residence permit timeline becomes very tight.
- Leaving translations too late. Court interpreters need time; prepare transcripts and your education summary early.

Application preparation, document checks and interview practice are provided under an agreement with StudyU; recognition and admission decisions are made by the university. To compare institutions first, see our overview of [universities in Slovenia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-slovenia) or the [Slovenia country page](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-sloveniya).

## FAQ {#faq}

### Can I apply straight after finishing school outside the EU?

Yes. Slovenia has no general requirement to complete a year of university at home first. The university recognises your certificate through the eVŠ application and compares it with the Slovenian matura. If you finish school in the year of entry, you can apply in February or March with your latest grades and upload the certificate later; in 2026 the deadline was 31 July.

### How many programmes can I choose?

In the first round you submit one application listing up to three programmes in order of preference. You are placed in the highest-ranked programme whose conditions you meet and where your score is high enough. In Maribor's second round you may submit up to three separate applications, each naming one programme.

### Are there entrance exams?

Most programmes select on grades alone. Aptitude tests apply to arts, architecture, design, music and sport programmes. Since 2026/27, nationals of visa-required countries also face a mandatory suitability interview, which is not a subject exam, but without passing it your application is not processed.

### Do I need an apostille on my school certificate?

Not at the application stage; a scan is enough because the university checks authenticity with your school. You will need the apostilled original only if verification fails and the university asks for it. An apostille and translation are, however, very likely for your police clearance certificate when you apply for the residence permit, so order them early.

### How long does recognition take?

The law gives the university up to two months from the date your file is complete. That matters for school leavers who receive certificates in summer: in 2026 Maribor issued recognition decisions by 17 August so candidates could enter selection. If documents arrive late, the decision may miss the allocation of places.

### Who makes the decisions, and can an agency influence them?

The university decides on recognition and admission, the faculty decides on the interview, and a Slovenian administrative unit decides on the residence permit. Interview results cannot be appealed. An agency can help you prepare documents and practise for the interview, but it cannot make the decision for you.

## Sources {#section-10}

- Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation: [2026/27 call for enrolment — general provisions, non-EU deadlines, document list, interview](https://www.gov.si/assets/ministrstva/MVZI/Visoko-solstvo/RAZPISI-2026_2027/Skupni-razpis/Razpis-za-vpis_26_27/Razpis-za-vpis_26_27.pdf) — checked 29 September 2026.
- Study in Slovenia: [bachelor's applications via eVŠ](https://studyinslovenia.si/how-to-apply/bachelors-level/), [academic calendar and deadlines](https://studyinslovenia.si/how-to-apply/academic-calendar-and-deadlines/), [recognition of foreign education](https://studyinslovenia.si/how-to-apply/recognition-of-foreign-education/) — checked 29 September 2026.
- University of Maribor: [recognition of foreign education](https://moja.um.si/bodoci-studentje/Strani/priznavanje-izobrazevanja.aspx), [interview timetable (FERI)](https://feri.um.si/en/study/interview-for-the-purpose-of-admission-to-higher-education/), [2026/27 postgraduate call](https://www.um.si/en/objava/announcing-the-2026-2027-call-for-enrolment-in-postgraduate-study-programmes-of-the-um/), [second window for foreigners](https://www.um.si/en/objava/postgraduate-studies-2nd-application-period-for-foreigners-4/) — checked 29 September 2026.
- Interview conditions and fees: [UM Faculty of Law](https://www.pf.um.si/studij/intervju-za-kandidate-iz-drzav-z-visjim-migracijskim-tveganjem/), [University of Primorska](https://www.upr.si/si/studij--vpis/dodiplomski-in-enoviti-magistrski-studij/intervju---kandidati-iz-drzav-z-visjim-migracijskim-tveganjem/) — checked 29 September 2026.
- University of Ljubljana: [residence permit for studies](https://www.uni-lj.si/en/study/international-students/temporary-residence-permit/non-eu-citizens/temporary-residence-permit-for-studies); School of Economics and Business: [2026/27 payment terms](https://www.ef.uni-lj.si/studij/dodiplomski-studij/solnina-in-cenik) — checked 29 September 2026.
- Euro amounts are converted to dollars at the ECB reference rate for 29 September 2026: €1 = $1.1355 ([ECB](https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/eurofxref/eurofxref-daily.xml)).

[Discuss your application](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.

## Next steps

- [Student Residence Permit in Slovenia: Where to Apply, Documents and Funds](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-residence-permit-slovenia)
- [Universities in Slovenia: Which One Fits an International Student](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-slovenia)
- [How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia)
- [Studying in Slovenia for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-sloveniya)
- [Cost of Studying in Slovenia for International Students, 2026/27](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-slovenia)
- [University of Maribor: Programmes, Fees and Admission for International Students](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-maribor)

Updated: September 2026