International students who want to enrol at a university in Slovenia are in for a treat. This beautiful country has a lot to offer:
- affordable but high-standard education
- awesome festivals, concerts, and events
- natural beauty (check out Lake Bled)
- an eco-friendly mindset (e.g. Ljubljana, the capital, has committed to going zero-waste)
“All this sounds really cool, but how much will it cost me?” — We’re glad you’ve asked! Overall, Slovenia is a very budget-friendly country; you don’t need to rob a bank to study and live here.
That being said, let’s take a look at the average tuition fees and living costs:
1. University tuition fees in Slovenia
Tuition fees at public universities
At Slovenian public universities, students don’t have to pay for Bachelors or Masters if they come from:
- a European Union (EU) member state
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Montenegro
- Kosovo
- Serbia
- North Macedonia (formerly known as Macedonia)
All the other international students pay tuition fees that range between:
- 2,000–11,000 EUR/year for Bachelor’s degrees
- 2,000–15,000 EUR/year for Master’s degrees
- 2,000–6,000 EUR/year for PhD degrees
You also need to pay if:
- you enrol as a part-time student
- you enrol in a doctoral (PhD) programme
- you already have an equivalent degree (e.g. you enrol in another Bachelor’s programme while you already have a Bachelor’s diploma) — only if you apply at the University of Ljubljana
- you apply for certain English-taught degrees at the University of Maribor. This applies to all international students. Still, fees are lower for EU citizens and students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo (see list above).
Tuition fees at private universities
Since they don’t benefit from public funding, private universities often charge higher tuition. They also don’t usually differentiate between EU and non-EU citizens.
Most affordable universities in Slovenia
- University of Maribor – Masters start at 0 EUR/year (only for EU/EEA students)
- University of Ljubljana – Masters start at 0 EUR/year (only for EU/EEA students)
- University of Nova Gorica – Bachelors and Masters start at 2,800 EUR/year
The universities of Maribor and Ljubljana are the top-ranked universities in Slovenia.
2. Student living costs in Slovenia
As an international student, you need between 400 and 700 EUR to cover your monthly living costs. How much you spend is determined by your needs and personal lifestyle.
Slovenia is part of the European Union and has changed its national currency to the euro (EUR). If you come from another European country that has the same currency, you won’t have to bother converting your money or getting used to different coins and banknotes.
3. Student accommodation costs
The following are the most popular types of accommodation for students in Slovenia:
- university dormitories: 100–250 EUR/month
- private flats: 90–350 EUR/month; you can reduce costs by sharing a 2 or 3-bedroom apartment with other students
4. Food costs in Slovenia
In Slovenia, students receive food coupons, which allow them to eat great meals at very affordable prices (sometimes even for free). Thanks to these coupons, many students rarely cook at home.
You need around 100–175 EUR per month for food and groceries, but the overall amount depends on your lifestyle and preferences. These are some of the average prices for food products in Slovenia:
- 1 loaf of bread: 1.15 EUR
- 1 litre of milk: 0.90 EUR
- 12 eggs: 2.15 EUR
- 1 kg of apples: 1.45 EUR
- 1 kg of bananas: 1.25 EUR
Check out other living costs in Slovenia.
5. Transportation costs
A discounted public transport pass costs between 10 and 27 EUR per month, depending on the city where you live. Another popular option is to either rent or buy a second-hand bike. It costs between 30 and 50 EUR plus the additional bike lock, which we highly recommend.
If you want to take a taxi, the starting fee is 1 EUR, and then it’s 1 EUR per km.
6. Extra costs in Slovenia
- visa costs (for non-EU citizens): 77 EUR
- residence registration certificate (for EU and Swiss citizens): 12 EUR
- health insurance (for who don’t come from the EU or countries with which Slovenia has bilateral agreements — e.g. Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, etc.): monthly fees vary based on the type of health insurance plan and the medical services that are included.
- entertainment (concerts, clubs, festivals): 30–70 EUR/month
7. University scholarships and grants
Slovenia offers affordable tuition fees, but that doesn’t mean you cannot reduce your expenses even further. Scholarships and other financial aid programmes are the best way to do it.
Check out even more scholarships in Slovenia and apply for our Studyportals Scholarship.