Slovenia is a pocket sided country
Slovenia is positioned in the heart of Europe, more or less in geometrical centre, between Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. It is easily accessible by plane through the main airport in Ljubljana (the capital) or from surrounding airports like Graz, Vienna, Klagenfurt, Venice, Trieste or Zagreb.
As small as it is, it’s amazingly colourful
We have sea-side, a short one, but it’s there, with beautiful seaside cities. There are beautiful mountains and green hills with amazing views; some are full of vineyards. Parts of Slovenia are plains left from the so called “Panonia sea” and few amazing caves in south-west region that offer unique underground experience. Slovenia is also referred as green country because of lots of woods all across the majority of the country that offer really amazing scene in autumn when leafs change colour and offer almost rainbow coloured woods.
The small size enables you to reach every hidden corner of Slovenia
Precisely, you can see all of Slovenia, within 2-3 hour drive from our capital Ljubljana. You can go skiing on the mountains in the winter, swimming in the sea in the summer, hiking all over beautiful hills and mountains from spring till autumn. Although small Slovenia is covered with various monuments and other sightseeing options that will keep you busy during your free time.
Slovenia is an English speaking country
(All lectures for foreign students are in English and professors speak good English)
The majority of Slovenians are fluent in at least one foreign language, usually English or German but additionally also Italian or Hungarian, depends on the region. All lectures for foreign students are conducted in English and professors are mostly really fluent in English so there shouldn’t be any problems with communication. Also, people are very open and kind and will help you if they can.
Food in Slovenia
Student meals are subsidized by the government, which really lowers costs of living. Example: A pizza normally costs about five or more Euros, but with student benefits you get a pizza, drink, soup, salad and dessert for 2.5 EUR. And as a bonus: You can enjoy student benefits in almost 80% of restaurants in cities that have students (Ljubljana, Maribor, Celje, Koper, Kranj…)
Accommodation in Slovenia
Again a lot of discounts… In Maribor, in particular, you get the option to live in students dormitories where monthly rent is from 80-150 EUR with all costs covered. You can also decide to live in private flats where rents are a bit higher but still not so bad, starting at about 150 EUR including utility costs. In the capital Ljubljana but prices are about 10-20% higher but still very affordable. And you’re living in the capital, then!
Activities in Slovenia
Students in Slovenia get a lot of discounts for their activities. Sports are really popular and you can get really cheap sport courses, cheap visits to fitness, volleyball, football or other activities. Also, non-sport activities are discounted, like language courses, photography courses etc. Most of the faculties have student associations that have international connections where you can attend different workshops or exchanges and also travel a bit.
Small student groups in lectures individual work and easy studies
Studies are adapted to foreign students. Professors always take additional time for you and “off the record” they are usually less demanding towards foreign students. As said before studies are in English and because there are smaller groups of foreign students, students get more individual time from professors and teaching assistants.
Cheap transportation
In Maribor for example, everything is in walking distance or you just get cheap bikes on flea market!
Transportation in Slovenia is quite cheap. There are some limitations to that, but with a bit of inside information from locals you can travel through Slovenia without spending too much money. Intercity bus and train connections might be not the best, to admit, but a really popular alternative in Slovenia is carpooling. We have a common web page where people announce their car trips from city to city and you can join them for little money. Usual cost from Maribor to Ljubljana is about 5€ and it lasts a bit more than one hour compared to the train connection Ljubljana – Maribor that takes almost 3 hours and costs 10-16 EUR depends on a train you take…
In capital Ljubljana, there is really well organised public transport by city buses. The monthly fee for students is less than 20€, and there is also a bike rental service included in that price! In Maribor need of public transport is almost none, because almost everything is in walking distance max 30min. You can also get cheap bikes on flea market every Sunday, and you can than own a bike during your studies and sell it before you leave.
Party time in Slovenia
Night life during the year is great, with lots of student’s parties organized every week, almost every day.
During summer, there are also many festivals all over Slovenia that offer different cultural and social opportunities, with a lot of great music for all tastes and activities for everyone.
It’s not official benefit, but still needs to be mentioned: Slovenian girls are really fond of foreign guys… just speaking other languages or being from other country gets you bonus points! Girls get similar treatment, but it’s mostly guys that benefit from that (Caution: this is strictly off the record ;))