Government provides funding for the new UL FFA building and the UL MF Vrazov Trg campus with new source of funding

“Both projects are of great importance to the University of Ljubljana. After decades of operating in outdated and inadequate facilities, students, teachers and researchers will finally have access to modern working conditions, comparable to those at leading international universities. The University of Ljubljana continues to invest in high-quality higher education infrastructure. In addition to the UL MF Vrazov Trg campus, construction is also underway on the new building for the Veterinary Faculty, which is expected to open in 2026. The project is progressing according to schedule, with construction, finishing and installation (GOI) works currently in the implementation phase, alongside final public procurement procedures for the selection of equipment suppliers. The investment project for the new building of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is also advancing. The project obtained an integral building permit in July 2024, and construction will be co-financed through the European Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027 in Slovenia. A public procurement procedure to select the GOI works contractor is planned for 2025. We would like to thank the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation for its continued support in developing the spatial infrastructure of the University of Ljubljana through the provision of financial resources,” emphasised the UL Secretary General Mihaela Bauman Podojsteršek.

The new building of the UL Faculty of Pharmacy (UL FFA) will have a total area of 33,790 square metres and meet the highest standards for education and research. The aim of the project is to eliminate current spatial and technical limitations that hinder the implementation of teaching, research and professional activities. The investment will also enable an increase in enrolment for both the pharmacy and laboratory diagnostics programmes.

“At the UL FFA, we are currently facing a significant shortage of space, particularly laboratories and lecture halls, which has forced us to rent additional premises and operate across multiple locations. The new building will comply with the highest standards of functionality, sustainable construction and all aspects of technical, biological and chemical safety, while significantly expanding our available floor space. With the new facility, we will be able to provide our students with a modern way of carrying out their studies, which is not possible without sufficient, technically and technologically up-to-date and well-equipped laboratories,” said Prof. Dr Rok Dreu, Dean of UL FFA.

The total value of the project is EUR 133.08 million (including VAT), funded from three sources:

• EUR 97.6 million from the state budget, under the act governing investments in healthcare,
• EUR 18.7 million from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation,
• EUR 16.8 million from the University of Ljubljana's own resources.

The UL FFA obtained the integral building permit for the project in July 2024. The new facility will be located at Večna Pot 113, adjacent to the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, the Faculty of Computer and Information Science, and the planned new building of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The public tender for the selection of the contractor for construction, finishing and installation works was published on 18 July 2025.

For the Vrazov Trg campus project of the UL MF, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and the University of Ljubljana will sign an annex to the existing co-financing agreement under the Recovery and Resilience Plan. The new source of funding will be provided from the 2026 budget for investments in public health institutions. The funds amounting to EUR 17.6 million will allow the project to go ahead, with the necessary consents having been obtained from both the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for the Monitoring, Quality and Investments in Healthcare.

“The Government’s approval of this new funding source is a crucial step towards fulfilling our commitment to deliver the Vrazov Trg campus – the first of three planned campuses – within the projected timeframe. This is a strategic investment in the future of medicine, providing state-of-the-art conditions for study, research and clinical practice. It will enhance the educational experience for students and create an inspiring, creative work environment for both faculty and researchers. This investment will strengthen the Faculty of Medicine's role as Slovenia’s leading academic and professional institution in the field of medicine, and will lay the foundation for its continued development,” said Prof. Dr Igor Švab, Dean of the UL Faculty of Medicine.

The work is proceeding according to schedule, with the construction, finishing and installation works phase currently underway, and the final procurement process for equipment suppliers in progress. Completion of the building is expected by mid-2026.