Frequently asked questions about exercising the rights of students at the University of Ljubljana
Extending student status

WHEN CAN STUDENT STATUS BE EXTENDED?

Students may extend their student status for justifiable reasons (third paragraph of Article 70 of the ZVIS) if:

• They fail to graduate from a first- or second-cycle academic programme within 12 months of the end of the last semester;
• They fail to complete a fast-track master’s programme within 12 months of the end of the last semester;
• During the programme, they do not enrol in the next year or semester.

Justifiable reasons (second paragraph of Article 126 of the University of Ljubljana Statutes) include the following: prolonged illness, exceptional family and social circumstances, parenthood and status of a student with special needs. Learning Slovenian may also count as a justifiable reason for first-year students from abroad who are not native Slovenian speakers.

The student status may also be extended for justifiable reasons in the last year of the programme, as well as during the additional year, which applies to all three study cycles and the fast-track master's programmes.

The student status may be extended for justifiable reasons only if students do not interrupt their studies in the previous year (or the year in which they file the application for extension).

HOW MANY TIMES CAN STUDENT STATUS BE EXTENDED FOR JUSTIFIABLE REASONS?

Student status may only be extended once and for a maximum of one academic year.
Students who give birth or become fathers during the course of their studies have the right to extend their student status by one year for each child born.

STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL STATUS: PROGRAMME PROGRESSION AND COMPLETION OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD

The status of a student with special needs or student with special status also counts as a justifiable reason under Article 70 of the Higher Education Act (ZVIS). The status may only be extended for justifiable reasons once and for a maximum of one academic year.

EXTENDING STUDENT STATUS DUE TO BECOMING A MOTHER OR FATHER

Students who give birth or become fathers during the course of their studies have the right to extend their student status by one year for each child born. To extend their status due to parenthood, students must become parents during the period in which they have an active student status (i.e., they cannot interrupt their studies when the child is born).

The rule: students may extend their status due to becoming a mother or father only immediately after the academic year in which their child is born.

Exception to the rule: students may also be able to extend their status in the second academic year after the birth of their child, taking into account the time of birth and the requirements already completed for enrolment in the next year; for example, if a student gives birth in August or September in the 2016/2017 academic year. Because the student has completed all her requirements for enrolment in the next year, she enrols in the second year of the first-cycle programme in the 2017/2018 academic year. She is allowed to extend her student status in the 2018/2019 academic year.

The student status may also be extended due to becoming a mother or father in the last year of the programme, as well as during the additional year, which applies to all three study cycles and the fast-track master's programmes.

Twins: students may extend their status by two years. Students may either exercise this right or not. This means that a student may complete all their requirements in the first year of their extended status and does not take the opportunity or wish to extend their status for the second year.

This right can be exercised by the mother and father simultaneously – that is, both student parents, independently of one another.