Progression and completion of studies

In order to progress from the 1st to the 2nd year, successful completion of at least 45 credits, of which at least 20 credits must derive from core courses, is required.

Students who have completed all organized study requirements in the first and second year and have the confirmation of the positive assessment of the doctoral dissertation proposal by their Doctoral Studies Committee from the senate of the Faculty at which the student is enrolled, may progress to the third year of the doctoral study programme.

Students who have completed all obligations from the first three years of study and obtained the approval of the doctoral dissertation proposal by the University Senate may advance to the fourth year of the doctoral study programme.

It is also possible to repeat the year. Requirements for repeating the first year is completion of at least 10 credits from the core course and 20 from individual research work.

If the student wishes to repeat the second year, he/she must fulfil all study obligations of the first year.

The requirement for repeating the third year is completion of all study obligations of the first and second year of study.

According to the programme, exams are written and oral. In accoirdance with the Statue of Universitiy of Ljubljana examnination results are graded from 5 to 10, pass grades range form 6 to 10. Preparation and oral presentations of seminars are also graded. The examinations in doctoral programs may also be graded as not passed, passed and passed with honors.

Transfer between programmes is possible if candidates fulfil the access requirements of the programme. Applications for transfer of such candidates to Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine will be treated individually by the Programme Council in accordance with the University Statute.

The Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine is both horizontally and vertically linked to other study programmes at the University of Ljubljana. Horizontal exchange enables students to fulfill their elective course requirements from other graduate study programmes at the University of Ljubljana in agreement with their mentors and course lecturers. The vertical link is inherent in the very design of the study programme through its syllabus and the possibilities of choosing different courses. Furthermore, it is possible to exchange study courses with other comparable programmes taught at other universities. The quality and comparability of courses must be evaluated by the Programme Council. International exchange takes place on the basis of international contracts and bilateral agreements.

International exchange is also possible through collaboration in mobility programmes for students and professors (ERASMUS, SOCRATES, CEEPUS and others). The programme is also open to foreign students.

Conditions for completing the programme

The condition for completing the 4-year programme of study and acquiring a doctoral degree is the successful completion of all study obligations defined by the programme and the successful defence of the doctoral thesis. The doctoral candidate must publish at least one scientific article based on the research presented in the doctoral thesis in a scientific journal indexed by the SCI or SSCI. The article with the candidate’s name listed as first author must be published or accepted for publication before the candidate hands in the doctoral dissertation for assessment.

Doctoral dissertation

The registration of topic, the nomination of an academic advisors – mentors, as well as the nomination of an expert committee for evaluation of a doctoral dissertation and graduation committee, are in the domain of coordinating faculty senates. The Senate of the University of Ljubljana approves of the topic of the doctoral dissertation and the proposed mentor.

The defence of the doctoral thesis is public, which is ensured by publishing a notice of the defence, usually seven days before the defence. After the public defense of doctoral dissertation and following a nomination by the member, where the candidate has successfully defended doctoral dissertation, the Rector performs the promotion for the doctor of science.

Doctoral diploma

After completing the programme, the doctoral diploma jointly signed by the Rector of the University of Ljubljana and the dean of the responsible faculty, is awarded to the candidates. Doctoral diploma is awarded by the Rector of the University of Ljubljana. Graduates of the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine receive the title doktor/doktorica znanosti (level of qualification: SQF level 10, EQF level 8, EQ-EHEA level Third cycle).