What can I do during my studies to improve my career prospects?

Are you wondering what you can do today to improve your career prospects after graduation? Actively participating in your studies, extracurricular and other activities, learning about employment opportunities and acquiring job search skills are important for a successful transition into the job market. In this way, you will gain a wealth of experience and knowledge, learn about and develop your skills and interests, and make better decisions about your future career.

Read tips that can improve your job prospects and help you plan your career while you are still studying.

Fulfil your study requirements

Attend lectures, seminars and tutorials, keep up to date with your notes and take your exams as soon as possible.
Keep your grade point average high, especially if you want to pursue an academic career or aspire to junior researcher status after graduation.
Try to combine theory and practise in your classwork, projects, master’s and doctoral theses, as well as when conducting research and tackling real-world challenges faced by employers. Look for thesis topics and assignments that many employers post themselves.

Integration into the university environment, networking, exchange of information

Actively follow the announcements of current events on the Faculty/Academy website, the Career Centre news and the University of Ljubljana Career Centre Facebook page.
Participate in extracurricular activities.
Create a LinkedIn profile and connect with people with the same interests
Use the services of the faculty libraries, attend a lecture by a visiting professor, take part in a specialised seminar, conference or summer school.
You can share your experience and knowledge as a tutor with a younger colleague. Depending on the faculty or academy, tutoring can be rewarded (e.g. with credit points). Read more about the tutoring system.
Join a student association and/or organisation so that you are well informed and can participate in their activities.
If you are a senior or graduate, join the alumni club of your faculty/academy.
Follow the latest developments in your field. Take advantage of all the resources available to you (libraries, seminars, conferences).

Acquire non-formal knowledge to increase your competitiveness on the job market

Take part in conferences, seminars and workshops, obtain foreign language certificates and improve your computer skills. UL Career Centres' workshops allow you to acquire general and specific skills in different areas (public speaking, negotiation techniques, computer skills, small group management, team communication, event organisation, business plan writing). Follow our events on the website and on the POPR portal to register for them.
Subscribe to the Career Centres e-newsletter to find out about a wide range of opportunities.
If you missed a lecture or workshop or didn't have time, we invite you to visit the UL Career Centres online classroom to see which lectures and workshops are available for viewing. Some presentations are also in English.

Take advantage of the mentoring opportunity with UL alumni

Mentoring with UL alumni can take place in different ways: through a personal conversation and exchange of experiences, through intensive collaboration in the writing of a seminar or thesis under the auspices of a company or organisation, or through the Alumni Mentoring Programme for students.

The alumni mentoring programme for students offers job shadowing where you can get to know the different professions of UL alumni. They give students an insight into their working environment so that you can get to know the work in practise and make a decision about your career path. You can get to know different working environments, find out what suits you and make contacts. The mentoring programme includes a wide range of alumni - from researchers, artists and developers to managers and directors. This means that you have a great opportunity to learn about niche professions that you wouldn't get to know during a regular internship.

Contact opportunities for UL alumni can be found on the Alumni UL Portal - become a member!

Gain experience abroad

Studying abroad is a great opportunity to broaden your horizons and develop as a person. It is a rich experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. You can gain international experience as part of a study exchange, internship, summer school or other similar opportunity.

Whether it's a short or long mobility, going abroad can be stressful but also fun and exciting. Make sure you make the most of your time abroad. Remember that the purpose of your exchange is to gain new skills and experience. So take your studies seriously, but do not worry, there will be plenty of time for fun too.

Some tips for mobility during your studies

Plan your mobility well in advance. Why did you decide to go on a study mobility? What do you want to achieve? What do you want to experience? Before you decide on a university, study programme or city, take time to think about your goals. Maybe it is learning a foreign language, the specifics of your degree programme or creating better career opportunities. There are no right or wrong answers, but even if you simply want to have an experience, it is worth thinking carefully about what you want to achieve, see and experience. We encourage you to follow the calls for applications on the websites of the University of Ljubljana and its members.

When you are abroad, keep your goals in mind and think about how you are going to achieve them. Without a plan, there is a risk that time will pass too quickly and you will find yourself facing the moment of return. So start realising your goals as soon as possible.

Do not spend too much time alone in your room socialising with your local friends and family. Instead, go out, meet people and explore your new city and country. Be active, sign up for events and activities organised by the host university. The experience of studying abroad can only be experienced here and now.

The more people you get to know, the more you will learn to accept differences. You will discover and learn about other cultures and acquire a wide range of skills for your personal and professional development.

You could make friends for life, meet a future business partner or even your life partner.

Do not forget to update your CV with information about your studies abroad or internships you completed during this time. Above all, think about the skills you have acquired and write them down.

It has been proven that young people who study or train abroad find a job much faster than those without international experience. They adapt more quickly to new situations and are better able to solve problems.

The well-known Erasmus+ programme offers young people practical training and work experience in addition to a period of study abroad. Students at UL can complete an Erasmus+ internship as early as their first year of study and up to 12 months after graduation, regardless of their level of study. For more information, please contact the Erasmus+ coordinator at your faculty/academy. Please also visit the Exchanges website.

International mobility is also offered within the framework of the Central European CEEPUS initiative, through various bilateral agreements and within the framework of associations of which our university is a member. Do not forget to keep an eye on the various mobility opportunities within the EUTOPIA alliance.

Many Slovenian scientists and professors who are members of the Global Alumni and Associates Network (SMUL) of the University of Ljubljana work in academic, research and development fields abroad. Many of them can offer you the opportunity to study and research abroad.

Maybe you have decided to go somewhere, but the costs are a challenge. Find out about other scholarship opportunities.

Co-financing scientific research mobility:

Funding for students to study or research abroad (available in Slovenian)
Fulbright Programme - Slovenian citizens can host a student at an American institution in the U.S., and U.S. citizens can host a student at a Slovenian institution in Slovenia;
Co-funding of postdoctoral research studies at the EUI
American-Slovenian Educational Foundation - ASEF

When you live abroad, you get to know a different culture and different customs, but most importantly, you leave your comfort zone. We learn about ourselves through new and unpredictable situations and by finding solutions. In this way, we become more independent and responsible and gain valuable experience for our professional life and life in general.

Mobility is a chance to see the world and grow up. You will probably look back on this time fondly later in life, so make the most of it and do not forget to have fun!

Apply for financial support for study and mobility abroad (scholarships)

In Slovenia, there are various types of scholarships that can help students cover the costs of their education. You are welcome to find out more and find out which scholarship is right for you. Certain scholarships are specifically intended for students at the University of Ljubljana. If you would like to spend part of your studies abroad as part of a mobility programme, there are also various options for financial support. The Zois Scholarship, the National Scholarship, the Ad Futura Scholarship and the Internship Scholarship are regulated by the Scholarship Act (ZŠtip-1) (available in Slovenian).

Descriptions of the various scholarships

Purpose: Provision of scholarships for students from socially disadvantaged families
Main eligibility criteria: average monthly income per family member (census)
Institution awarding the scholarship: local centre for social work
Deadline for submitting the application: any time during the year
Possible combinations: The national scholarship may be combined with an internship scholarship or a community-based scholarship (provided the individual community-based scholarship does not have its own combination restrictions)
Special features: If it is a publicly recognised educational programme, the national scholarship can also be applied for to study abroad and is paid as a lump sum for a period of 12 months.
Further information (available in Slovenian).

Purpose: To provide scholarships for talented pupils and students.
Main eligibility criteria: satisfactory academic/school performance and outstanding achievements in the fields of science, research or art.
Institution awarding the scholarship: Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia
Application deadline: for students at the beginning of the academic year, the exact date will be specified in the call for applications.
Possible combinations: The Zois Scholarship is not compatible with the National Scholarship, the Adfutura Scholarship or the Scholarship for studies of Slovenians from abroad in Slovenia
Special features: The Zois Scholarship can also be paid for studies abroad.
Further information

Purpose: To connect employers with suitable future applicants
Main eligibility criteria: Study in a relevant field according to the employer's needs, further conditions will be stated in the respective call for applications.
Institution awarding the scholarship: Unfunded scholarships are awarded exclusively by companies, while co-funded scholarships are awarded by regional development agencies in cooperation with employers.
Special features: If it is an unfunded internship scholarship, it is not subject to the provisions or restrictions of the Scholarship Act.
Companies usually publish internship scholarships on their websites, but a good source of information on co-funded internship scholarships is Izmenjevalnica, some are also published by employers on our POPR portal (mainly available in Slovenian).

Purpose: The scholarship is intended for students of pedagogical studies in the academic year 2023/24 to encourage young people to study in pedagogical studies programmes that train them for professions for which there is a mismatch between the current and future workforce and the expected job offer in the education sector.
The main eligibility criteria: The public call for applications is open to applicants who meet the following conditions: They will be enrolled for the first time in the academic year 2023/24 in the first year of one of the pedagogical study programmes mentioned in point 1 of the public call for applications, they are not in an employment relationship and are not registered as job seekers with the Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia, they will not receive an internship scholarship and they will have completed a study programme leading to a higher level of education than the one they have already obtained.
Institution awarding the scholarship: Ministry of Education
Further information

Purpose: To provide scholarships to students pursuing a post-secondary or higher education course of the first or second Bologna cycle for a study period abroad, which must last at least 3 weeks for students and is granted up to a maximum of 25 weeks. This study visit must be recognised or assessed by the Slovenian educational institution where the applicant is enrolled as part of the requirements of the educational programme at that institution. This is an open call until funds are exhausted.
Institution awarding the scholarship: Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia
Possible combinations: The scholarship can be combined with other scholarships that the student receives for education in Slovenia.
Further information

Purpose: The funds are available to 1st, 2nd or 3rd cycle students who are studying abroad for a period of 3 to a maximum of 10 weeks and whose home university recognises this mobility as part of their educational programme in the Republic of Slovenia.
The most important eligibility criteria: The study or scientific stay must be carried out with Slovenian university teachers or researchers working at recognised educational institutions or research organisations abroad.
Institution awarding the scholarship: Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia
Possible combinations: The scholarship can be combined with other scholarships that the student receives for education in Slovenia.
Further information (most of the content is available in Slovenian)

Purpose: The scholarships are intended for those who wish to receive a scholarship to cover the costs of participation of students and their mentors in knowledge or research competitions abroad.
Institution awarding the scholarship: Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia
Possible combinations: The scholarship can be combined with other scholarships that the student receives for education in Slovenia.

Purpose: The scholarship is awarded for undergraduate or postgraduate studies at educational institutions abroad in the fields of study specified in the call for applications. The scholarship normally covers living expenses and tuition fees. The call for applications is usually published in December for those starting or continuing their studies in the following calendar year.
Institution awarding the scholarship: Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia
Possible combinations: The scholarship can be combined with internal and municipal scholarships as well as with other scholarships from abroad, but the other funds received will be deducted from the amount of the Adfutura scholarship.
Special features: The scholarship holder must be employed by an employer based in Slovenia or be self-employed in Slovenia within a certain period of time after completing the studies for which the scholarship was awarded.
Further information

They are intended for members of the Slovene national community in neighbouring countries and descendants of Slovene emigrants who are studying at first or second cycle universities in the Republic of Slovenia. The aim of the scholarships is to promote the integration of young Slovenian compatriots living in neighbouring countries and abroad into their home country. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of a public call for applications published each year by the Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia, and the application deadline is usually shortly before the start of the academic year.
Further information

Purpose: The grants are intended for Fulbright participants, i.e. Slovenian doctoral and postdoctoral students, for a stay in the USA. Citizens of the Republic of Slovenia may receive a grant equal to the lowest round-trip economy airfare from the Republic of Slovenia or, exceptionally, from another nearby airport to the appropriate airport in the U.S., depending on the location of the host institution, and a stipend equal to the amount determined by the appropriate authority in the U.S. if it does not cover the stipend.
Institution awarding the scholarship: Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia
Special features: Only doctoral and postdoctoral students selected through the Fulbright announcement published on the U.S. Embassy website may apply in the spring of each year for the academic year beginning the following calendar year.
Further information

Gain your first work experience

Actively search for student jobs and vacancies for full-time positions. Choose a student job that is close to your field of study. Practical experience will give you a head start over other young applicants. If you prove yourself with your work, your employer may hire you permanently after you graduate.
You can find information on job vacancies on employment portals and on the websites of the Slovenian Employment Service and Career Centres (in POPR platform)
You can also create opportunities for work experience yourself – find out about the possibilities and opportunities for developing your business idea.

Useful experience in volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to discover new opportunities, gain life experience and make new friends. Volunteering is work that is done voluntarily and without expectation of anything in return for the benefit of others or for the common good. Anyone can volunteer.

By volunteering, you improve the quality of life in society, you take care of those who cannot take care of themselves because they are at risk, disadvantaged, marginalised... Through small deeds, you can brighten the day of many people without even realising it. It also gives you a broader perspective on life and an understanding of the needs in society. Volunteering can be a way to give back to the community and change the world you want to see. By volunteering, you will gain important skills that will enrich your CV and improve your chances of getting a job. You will also build an important social network, make new acquaintances and friends (for life) and enrich yourself with many unforgettable experiences.

If you decide to volunteer, you should think about the area you are interested in (e.g. human rights, culture and art, sport and leisure, disadvantaged groups, tourism, nature and animals, education, health, working with children and young people or older people), who you would like to work with and how much time you have available. Once you know what you would like to do, look for an organisation you would like to volunteer with.

You can volunteer informally or through organised volunteer organisations. In addition to the organisations, you can also find out what opportunities there are in your area - become a member of a fire department, a cultural association, help in a retirement home or an elementary school... Volunteer organisations and further information can be found in the Slovenian network of volunteer organisations.
Every experience counts!

Create and update your career portfolio

Keep a record of all your acquired knowledge, professional experience, achievements, projects and various study and extracurricular activities. All the events you have participated in as a student of the University of Ljubljana are collected in POPR – the platform for personal and professional development. Collect certificates and attestations and include them in your career portfolio. The career portfolio is your personal file that helps you track and evaluate your activities, create your CV and personal profile and plan your professional career.