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

IS AN EXTENDED STUDENT STATUS VALID FOR THE ENTIRE ACADEMIC YEAR OR DOES IT EXPIRE AFTER THE LAST EXAM HAS BEEN PASSED? 

The student status is valid until the end of the academic year (i.e., 30 September). After completing their first- or second-cycle programme, students may also decide to cancel their student status.

In the third cycle, student status ceases with graduation or one year after the end of the last semester in the academic programme (third paragraph of Article 93 of the University of Ljubljana Statutes).

ARE STUDENTS ENTITLED TO AN ADDITIONAL (THESIS) YEAR IF THEY SWITCHED PROGRAMMES OR REPEATED THE YEAR? 

In accordance with the Higher Education Act (ZVIS), students may repeat a year or change their programme or track once during the course of their studies. If they take any of these opportunities, they are not entitled to an additional year in the first or second cycles. 

Fast-track master's and third-cycle students are entitled to an additional year even though they have already repeated a year or exercised the right to change programmes or tracks.

 If students have changed their study programme by enrolling in a higher year in another study programme, they are entitled to an extra year in that other study programme (if they have not repeated).

DO STUDENTS LOSE THEIR STUDENT STATUS ON THE DAY THEY WITHDRAW FROM THE PROGRAMME OR DO THEY RETAIN IT UNTIL THE END OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR? 

In accordance with Article 70 of the Higher Education Act (ZVIS), student status ceases if the student withdraws from an academic programme. This means that on the day students withdraw from their programme they lose their student status and all the rights arising from it (e.g., insurance, subsidised meals, temporary student work etc.). In addition, students lose their status on the day they are expelled from the university. 

However, they do not lose the status if they transfer to a different programme before the end of the academic year (fifth paragraph of Article 70 of the ZVIS). In this case, they must deregister only after they receive the decision on the selection procedure results stating that they have been admitted to the new programme.

ARE STUDENTS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A CERTIFICATE OF WITHDRAWAL BEFORE ENROLLING IN A NEW PROGRAMME OR CAN THEY SUBMIT IT BEFORE THE START OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR? 

Students may only enrol in a new first- or second-cycle degree programme after they have withdrawn from the previous one. In accordance with the fifth paragraph of Article 70 of the Higher Education Act (ZVIS), students retain their student status if they withdraw from a programme to enrol in a different one. For more detailed information, please turn to the student office at the faculty or academy you wish to enrol in. 

ARE THE TUITION FEES ALREADY PAID REFUNDED ONCE STUDENTS WITHDRAW FROM A FACULTY? 

The refund of tuition fees is governed by the Rules on Fees and Cost Assessment at the University of Ljubljana. As a rule^[1], students are required to pay a portion of the tuition fee when they withdraw from a faculty before the end of the academic year, specifically: 10% of the contractual tuition if they withdraw irrevocably by 31 October of the current year or within 15 days of concluding the agreement, or 55% of the contractual tuition fees for the year in which they are enrolled if they withdraw irrevocably by the end of the first semester. 

In accordance with Article 40 of the Higher Education Act (ZVIS), students who, after enrolling for the first time in the first year of an academic programme, withdraw from that programme by 15 October in the academic year in which they have enrolled, are deemed not to have enrolled in that academic programme.

[1] For more comprehensive rules on tuition refunds, students should read the Rules on Fees and Cost Assessment at the University of Ljubljana valid in the relevant academic year or turn to the faculty's student office for more information.

DO STUDENTS LOSE THEIR STUDENT STATUS IF THEY FIND A (FULL-TIME) JOB? 

Student status does not cease if students find a job. However, certain rights arising from their student status cease to apply (e.g., subsidised meals and transport, student dorm accommodation, etc.).