Construction of the Vrazov Trg campus in its final phase: Next year, students and researchers will move into the new premises of the UL Faculty of Medicine

Work is proceeding according to schedule, with major construction expected to be completed in early 2026. The current activities include the final reinforced concrete works, installation of façade elements, installation of fixtures and fittings, and interior finishing.

“As we saw during today’s tour, the construction of the new building for the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ljubljana is proceeding according to plan. The new building is part of a major investment cycle in higher education and scientific research infrastructure currently underway across Slovenia. A new building for the Veterinary Faculty is also under construction in Ljubljana, and construction of a new building for the Faculty of Pharmacy is set to begin this year, followed by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering next year. The largest data centre in Slovenia is being built in Maribor, which will also house a supercomputer with an artificial intelligence factory. The expansion and renovation of the Faculty of Health Sciences building at the University of Maribor are also expected to begin this year. Construction of the new Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Primorska is expected to start next year. In Zagorje, a centre for the development, demonstration and training of carbon-free technologies is being built, and some of the research equipment has already been installed in the building. These are just some of the major investment projects that will contribute to even better study and research conditions in Slovenia,” said Dr Igor Papič, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

The Rector of the University of Ljubljana, Prof. Dr Gregor Majdič, stated: “The construction of the new sustainable campus at Vrazov Trg is proceeding entirely according to plan and is progressing excellently. This ensures that in the 2026/2027 academic year, we will be able to admit a larger number of medical students into modern, sustainably designed premises that will provide excellent conditions for study and research. At the same time, we remain firmly committed to the comprehensive renovation of the Faculty of Medicine, including the construction of the Zaloška campus, which will house modern diagnostic laboratories to support the Slovenian healthcare system, thereby ensuring that Slovenian patients continue to receive top-quality healthcare. We look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders to realise our vision of excellence in medical education and research.”

“The Vrazov Trg campus project of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, is one of the most important projects under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, both financially and symbolically. The European NextGenerationEU funds, used to implement the plan, are aimed at supporting recovery from the COVID-19 health crisis, which profoundly affected our lives. Healthcare workers were the first to realise how important the preparedness and resilience of our social systems are – and ensuring the right conditions for educating new generations of medical students is a key part of this effort. I am pleased to see the significant progress made in the implementation of this project, which will contribute to our common goal of greening Slovenia’s educational infrastructure and, at the same time, help fulfil one of the many conditions required for the inflow of available recovery and resilience funds. The European Commission recently approved the fourth payment request, which Slovenia expects to receive this year. Once the funds have been disbursed, we will have achieved a 69% inflow of the available funds. We are directing these resources toward a wide variety of projects – from greening the educational infrastructure to flood protection, economic development, and railway upgrades, to name just a few areas,” emphasised Josip Mihalič, Director of the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Recovery and Resilience.

Dr Jerneja Jug Jerše, Head of the European Commission Representation in Slovenia, expressed her satisfaction with the project’s progress, noting its key importance for the Slovenian healthcare system. She also thanked all involved for their exceptional commitment and professionalism in managing such a significant investment. “With a contribution of EUR 40 million from the European Union, the project addresses one of the Slovenian population’s most pressing concerns – health and healthcare. This investment supports essential measures to strengthen the healthcare system: it will increase the number of doctors and other healthcare professionals in the country and provide them with modern training facilities. This will directly contribute to better healthcare and improved health for everyone who lives in Slovenia.”

“The new campus is one of three planned for the Faculty of Medicine and represents approximately one-third of the total planned capacity. The faculty has embarked on a major investment cycle that will span the next ten years and include the complete renovation and construction of all faculty premises. This will ensure conditions for education and research in medicine and dental medicine that are comparable to those of prestigious European faculties. We would like to emphasise that other construction and renovation projects, currently in the project and investment documentation preparation phase, are also proceeding according to schedule. The faculty is currently financing them entirely from its own resources,” said Prof. Dr Ksenija Geršak, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.

The most recent generation of students began the 2025/26 academic year in the faculty’s existing premises. Next year, both students and professors will partially move to the new Vrazov Trg I campus, where they will benefit from modern facilities designed to support both teaching and research.

The project is estimated at EUR 93.5 million and is primarily co-financed by the European Union under the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.