Progression and completion of studies

To progress from the first to the second year of study, doctoral candidates need to accumulate two obligatory and at least one elective course and need to accumulate in total at least 45 credit points.

Candidates, who have completed all organised study requirements in the first and the second year (including the successful presentation of the doctoral dissertation topic) and have the confirmation of the positive assessment of the doctoral dissertation proposal by their Doctoral Studies Committee from the Senate of the Faculty that co-ordinates the module at which they are enrolled, may progress to the third year of doctoral study.

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 doctoral study.

In accordance with the Statute of the University of Ljubljana, examination results are graded from 5 to 10, whereby positive pass grades range from 6 to 10. According to the programme, exams will be written and oral. Seminars and projects 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 Statistics will be treated individually by the Programme Council in accordance with the University Statute.

The Interdisciplinary doctoral study programme in Statistics is both horizontally and vertically linked to other study programmes at the University of Ljubljana. Horizontal exchange enables students to fulfil their elective course requirements from other doctoral 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 comparable programmes from other universities, including distance learning programmes. 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. The programme is also open to foreign students.

Conditions for completing the programme

Conditions for completing the programme and acquiring the doctoral degree is the successful completion of all study requirements defined by the programme and the successful defence of the doctoral dissertation. The doctoral candidate must publish at least one scientific article based on the research presented in the doctoral dissertation 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 advisor - mentor, as well as the nomination of an expert committee for evaluation of a doctoral dissertation and graduation committee, are in the domain of the faculty senate responsible for a given study module. The Senate of the University of Ljubljana confirms the doctoral dissertation topic and the proposed mentor(s).

The defence of the doctoral dissertation is public, which is ensured by publishing a notice of the defence, usually seven days before the defence.

Doctoral diploma

After fulfillment of all study requirements, the diploma jointly signed by the Rector of the University of Ljubljana and the dean of the responsible faculty is awarded to the candidates by the University of Ljubljana. Doctoral diploma is awarded by the Rector of the University of Ljubljana. Graduates of the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme in Statistics receive the title doktor/doktorica znanosti (“Doctor of Science”).