Slovenia may not be the first country that comes to mind for international students. However, like many European countries, Slovenia can be an excellent option. Besides affordable universities in Slovenia, students can enjoy a mixture of natural and urban areas, student benefits, and the chance to study in a country located close to many other European destinations.
In the 2024/2025 academic year, 82,388 students were enrolled in tertiary education in Slovenia. The number of foreign and international students continued to increase, with 11,918 foreign students by citizenship and 10,646 international students by country of residence. We will discuss affordable universities in Slovenia in this article.
Affordable Schools in Slovenia for International Students
1. University of Ljubljana
Named after Slovenia’s capital city, the University of Ljubljana was founded in 1919. It is the oldest and largest higher education and scientific research institution in Slovenia. Today, it has 23 faculties and 3 art academies, and it offers more than 370 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs across fields such as social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, medicine, technical fields, the arts, and sports.
Tuition rules depend on citizenship, residency, study level, and study mode. At the University of Ljubljana, full-time bachelor’s and master’s studies are tuition-free for Slovenian students, students from EU countries, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, students from countries with bilateral agreements with Slovenia, certain permanent residents of Slovenia, people with international or temporary protection, eligible scholarship holders, and exchange students. Tuition is generally charged to non-EU students from countries without a bilateral agreement, all part-time students, all doctoral students, and students who already hold an equivalent degree.
If you go to their website, they have a section for international students. There, you can find a list of bachelor’s and single-cycle master’s programs, check tuition fees and study contributions, and review international student information. Since fees and language requirements vary by faculty and program, check the current listing carefully before applying.
2. University of Maribor
The University of Ljubljana was the only university in Slovenia for a long time, at least until 1975, when the University of Maribor was established. The University of Maribor has 17 faculties and is the second-largest and second-oldest university in Slovenia. Although most of the university is based in Maribor, not all faculties are located there. Some faculties are located in Celje, Kranj, Ljubljana, Brežice, and Krško.
The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate study programs at all levels, including first-cycle professional and academic programs, integrated master’s programs, second-cycle master’s programs, third-cycle doctoral programs, and programs for further education. According to the university, about 13% of its students come from abroad.
The application process is done through the eVŠ portal, and applicants must submit the required documents electronically. Non-EU citizens generally pay tuition at the University of Maribor unless they qualify for an exemption, and the amount varies by program and academic year. For the most accurate information, check the University of Maribor’s tuition fees and study costs page and the current calls for enrollment.
3. University of Nova Gorica (UNG)
- Tuition fee page: Tuition fee
- Tuition fee: 2,800 EUR to 3,500 EUR per year for bachelor’s programs, 2,800 EUR to 6,000 EUR per year for master’s programs, and 4,000 EUR per year for doctoral programs.
The University of Nova Gorica developed from the School of Environmental Sciences, which was founded in 1995 and started operating in the 1995/1996 academic year. It became the University of Nova Gorica in the mid-2000s. The university is close to the Italian border and is connected with study and research activity in places such as Nova Gorica, Ajdovščina, Vipava, and Gorizia.
The application process is explained on the university website. For international students who are required to pay tuition, the 2025/2026 tuition fees for most bachelor’s programs are 2,800 EUR to 3,500 EUR per year. Master’s tuition is generally 2,800 EUR to 6,000 EUR per year, depending on the program, while doctoral programs are listed at 4,000 EUR per year.
Although many study options are available in English, international students who need support with Slovenian can use UNG’s Year PLUS program. This is a free preparatory year for first-time foreign bachelor’s or master’s students who need additional Slovenian language support, and it runs at the same time as the first year of study.
4. University of Primorska
- Tuition fee page: Tuition fees
- Tuition fee: 2,500 EUR to 3,850 EUR per year for bachelor’s programs, 2,998 EUR to 4,400 EUR per year for master’s programs, and 1,000 EUR to 5,800 EUR per year for doctoral programs
Founded in 2003, the University of Primorska is located in the coastal region of Slovenia, with its main presence in and around Koper, Portorož, and Izola. The great news is that the University of Primorska is a cheap university in Slovenia!
It has six faculties: the Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Management, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Tourism Studies – Turistica, and Faculty of Health Sciences. It also includes other university members and centers, such as an institute, the university library, and student dormitories.
They offer programs in Slovenian and in English, and some programs combine both languages. The list changes by academic year. The university lists several English-taught bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral options in fields such as anthropology, cultural heritage, bioinformatics, computer science, mathematics, management, tourism, data science, sustainable built environments, renewable materials, conservation biology, and suicidology and mental health.
For the 2026/2027 academic year, tuition fees at the University of Primorska are listed from 2,500 EUR to 3,850 EUR per year for bachelor’s programs, from 2,998 EUR to 4,400 EUR per year for master’s programs, and from 1,000 EUR to 5,800 EUR per year for doctoral programs. Full-time bachelor’s and master’s studies are tuition-free for students who qualify under Slovenia’s exemption rules, including Slovenian and EU citizens, certain permanent residents, and citizens of countries with bilateral tuition-exemption agreements.
We hope that after reading this guide on cheap universities in Slovenia, you learned more about the university system in Slovenia and found an option that fits your needs. If you are interested in studying in Europe, feel free to check the Available Programs in Europe for International Student.
