University of Maribor: Programmes, Fees and Admission for International Students

The University of Maribor (Univerza v Mariboru, UM) is Slovenia's second-largest and second-oldest university: it was founded in 1975 and has 17 faculties. Most are in Maribor, but five operate in other towns: Celje, Kranj, Brežice, Krško and Ljubljana. For a non-EU citizen, a bachelor's year in 2026/27 costs $2,380–6,680 (€2,100–5,880) depending on the faculty, and General Medicine $10,400 (€9,160).

The key point before applying: Slovene is the language of almost every bachelor's programme. In English, 2026/27 offers full-time Logistics of Systems in Celje and a few part-time programmes. Applications go through the national eVŠ portal; in 2026 non-EU applicants could file in the first round between 18 February and 18 March, and applicants holding Russian, Kazakh or other visa-required passports sit a paid interview.

Why international students consider Maribor

• Lower costs than the capital. Business and economics at EPF costs $3,350 (€2,950) a year, against $3,860 (€3,400) at Ljubljana's economics school. Housing is cheaper too.
• Strong engineering and technical faculties. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (FERI), Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Logistics. The university helped develop TRISAT, Slovenia's first nanosatellite, and has worked on electric aviation projects.
• Slovenia's second city. Only Ljubljana has more residents, and living costs in Maribor are lower.
• International outlook. UM describes itself as Slovenia's most international university and is a member of the ATHENA European University alliance.

There are limits to know about: few English-taught bachelor's degrees, and faculties spread across five towns. If you enrol in logistics or tourism, you will not live in Maribor.

Faculties and locations

Teaching language: Slovene, English or both

English-taught bachelor's options in 2026/27:

• Logistics of Systems — full-time in Celje, 3 years, 50 first-year places; English B2 required at application;
• Economic and Business Studies at EPF — part-time only, 20 places; runs if at least 10 students enrol;
• Crisis Management at FOV — part-time, 50 places in the English group; runs with at least 15 students;
• Contemporary Tourism Practices at FT — part-time in Ljubljana, 70 places; runs with at least 20 students.

On several Slovene-taught FOV programmes, first-year international students get extra consultations in English if at least 10 of them take a course. That is support, not an English-taught programme.

Slovene requirements vary by programme:

• General Medicine and Pharmacy require Slovene at C2 at application;
• teacher training and Nursing: B2, also at the application stage;
• many Slovene-taught programmes, for example at EPF and FL, take students without a language certificate but expect B2 by the start of year two; Tourism asks for B1.

Accepted proof includes a Slovene exam certificate, completion of the Slovene for Foreigners 1 and 2 courses at UM's Faculty of Arts, or schooling completed in Slovene.

English proof for English-taught programmes: IELTS 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, Cambridge B2 First (160–179), PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC 785 or higher, or a school certificate or degree from an English-medium programme.

Tuition fees for 2026/27

Maribor sets the non-EU fee equal to the part-time fee a Slovenian citizen pays for the same programme. The table shows first-year fees from the price list adopted on 22 January 2026.

Professional bachelor's programmes at FERI cost less than academic ones: $4,350 (€3,828) a year. Part-time English tracks: $4,870 (€4,290) at EPF, $5,620 (€4,950) at FOV, $5,330 (€4,690) at FT. Some faculties charge a different fee in later years.

Citizens of the EU and five Western Balkan countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia) are exempt, and so are foreigners whose own or a parent's permanent residence comes with Slovenian tax residence. Housing and insurance are added up in our cost breakdown.

How to apply: requirements and deadlines

Recognition. You do not need to have your certificate recognised in advance: the eVŠ application doubles as the recognition request. Attach scans of your certificate, grades for all upper-secondary years, a brief timeline of your schooling and your passport data page. A court-certified translation into Slovene or English and an apostilled original are requested only if needed. UM decides within two months of receiving a complete file; questions go to recognition@um.si.

Selection. When applicants outnumber places, scores decide. For Logistics of Systems, the ranking weighs final exams at 40%, the last two school years' average at 40% and mathematics at 20%.

Bachelor's timeline in 2026 (for 2026/27 entry):

English- and Slovene-taught programmes share dates but are separate streams, and you cannot apply to both at once. Dates for 2027/28 will appear in the call, normally published by early February.

Interview. Nationals of visa-required countries must pass an interview before their application is processed. The invitation goes to the email in your application; it runs over video in the programme's language, with a passport check at the start. For 2026/27 entry, UM's Faculty of Law charged $280 (€244), payment had to be confirmed at least 24 hours in advance, and the fee is non-refundable. A failed or missed interview leads to rejection of all your applications that year with no appeal.

Master's. UM announced 54 master's programmes for 2026/27. Non-EU applicants had two windows: spring (31 March – 30 April 2026, interviews by 18 May) and late summer (24 August – 4 September, interviews by 18 September). The full document list is in our admissions guide.

Dormitories and life in Maribor

UM's student dormitories publish a separate price list for international students. Rates for 2026/27 were approved on 23 April 2026 and include 9.5% VAT.

Rent is charged per semester: a bed at $180 (€157.50) a month comes to $1,070 (€945) per semester. The dormitories run a separate accommodation call for full-time international students.

Study in Slovenia puts a private room in Maribor at $140–170 (€120–150) before utilities and a student public-transport pass at about $22 (€19.20) a month. Subsidised student meals are available to anyone with student status who is not in regular employment.

Residence permit

Non-EU students staying longer than 90 days need a temporary residence permit for study. Nationals of visa-required countries, including Russia, usually apply through a Slovenian embassy, and a Slovenian administrative unit decides. The file needs proof of at least $580 (€507.43) a month, insurance, an apostilled and translated police certificate and your admission letter. Step-by-step instructions are in our student permit guide.

Who Maribor suits, and when to look elsewhere

All Slovenian institutions are compared in our universities overview; country basics are on the Slovenia page.

Common mistakes when applying to Maribor

• Choosing a part-time English programme without checking it suits your residence plans. Ask the faculty in advance.
• Overlooking that the faculty is not in Maribor. Logistics is in Celje, Tourism in Brežice and Ljubljana, Organizational Sciences in Kranj.
• Missing the C2 Slovene requirement for Medicine and Pharmacy.
• Paying for the interview late. Without proof of payment 24 hours before the interview, the application is rejected.
• Applying to the English and Slovene streams at the same time. UM's rules allow only one of them.

FAQ

How much does the University of Maribor cost for international students?

For 2026/27, bachelor's study costs $2,380–6,680 (€2,100–5,880) a year depending on the faculty, and master's $2,840–7,720 (€2,505–6,800). General Medicine costs $10,400 (€9,160), Dental Medicine $11,970 (€10,540) and Pharmacy $20,820 (€18,337). Fees are paid per academic year.

Can I study at Maribor in English?

At bachelor's level, only to a limited extent. Logistics of Systems in Celje is the full-time English option; the part-time English options cover economics and business, crisis management and tourism. There are more English-taught master's programmes, and the call states the language of each.

Do I need Slovene to be admitted?

Not for English-taught programmes, which require English at B2. Slovene-taught programmes often let you start without proof of Slovene, then ask for B2 or B1 before year two. Medicine and Pharmacy require C2, and teacher training and Nursing require B2 at application.

When should I apply for 2027/28?

Exact dates will be in the call published by early February 2027. In 2026, non-EU applicants could submit bachelor's applications from 18 February to 18 March, with a second chance on 3–4 September. For master's programmes, the first non-EU window in 2026 closed on 30 April.

Does Maribor accept Russian citizens?

Yes. Russian citizens apply on the same terms as other non-EU applicants and pay the international fee. As nationals of a visa-required country they must pass a paid interview, which cost $280 (€244) at the Faculty of Law for 2026/27 entry. The residence permit is a separate procedure, usually through the Slovenian embassy in Moscow.

Is there dormitory housing for international students?

Yes. UM's student dormitories admit full-time international students through a separate call. The 2026/27 market rate starts at $180 (€157.50) a month for a bed in a double room; a single room costs $230–330 (€201–289) and an apartment for one person up to $780 (€685).

How we help with applying to Maribor

Choosing a programme and faculty, checking language requirements, and preparing your eVŠ application and interview materials are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Only the University of Maribor can recognise your certificate and admit you, and the residence permit is issued by a Slovenian administrative unit. Send an enquiry.

Sources

• University of Maribor: history, presentation, international students, 2026/27 postgraduate call, second window for foreigners, recognition of foreign education — checked 29 September 2026.
• University of Maribor: 2026/27 full-time fees, 2026/27 part-time fees — checked 29 September 2026.
• FERI: 2026/27 fees for international students, interview timetable; Faculty of Law: interview and fee — checked 29 September 2026.
• UM Student Dormitories: price lists including international rates, approved 23 April 2026, call for full-time international students — checked 29 September 2026.
• Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation: 2026/27 call — deadlines, UM programmes, language requirements, interview — checked 29 September 2026.
• Study in Slovenia: universities and faculties, cost of living — checked 29 September 2026.
• USD figures are based on the ECB reference rate for 29 September 2026: €1 = $1.1355 (ECB).

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