Quality
Third cycle

We seek to extend PhD study programmes from the current three to four years, which would allow students to raise the quality of their research work.

Marjana Slobodnik,
Assistant Secretary General at the University Office for Doctoral Study

In the 2016/2017 academic year, 1,522 students were enrolled in third cycle studies, which is five percent (or 74) more than the year before. 

We were successful in obtaining funds for co-financing PhD studies for the 2016 generation. Of the 468 PhD students who applied to the University’s open call for co-financing PhD studies, the conditions for co-financing were met by 364. 

At the third cycle, University of Ljubljana Members have signed three agreements with partner institutions on the implementation of study programmes with a possibility of obtaining two diplomas (University of Granada; Pierre and Marie Curie University and Vrije Universiteit Brussel); however, students may also gain double diplomas based on individual cotutelle agreements without institutional agreements. 

A step towards assuring increased quality of PhDs at the University of Ljubljana was a change of conditions to prove the research activities of mentors or co-mentors in PhD studies, which also includes provisions in the case of artistic research. The amendments will enter into force at the beginning of the 2017/2018 academic year. 

In 2016, the Rector promoted 486 doctors of science. In September 2016, the last of the PhD students in pre-Bologna PhD programmes completed their studies.

It is desired that PhD study programmes be extended from the current three to four years. Hence, students will be able to increase the quality of their research work. We will also prepare uniform rules for implementing PhD studies at the University.