University of Ljubljana
University of Ljubljana Scholarship Opportunities
Edit ScholarshipThe University of Ljubljana lists several scholarship routes for Bachelor's, Master's and PhD students in Slovenia. These include the state Zois scholarship, periodic open calls for Western Balkans and selected African countries, and the Heart UL emergency fund. Deadlines vary by call.
Overview
The University of Ljubljana (UL) is Slovenia's largest and most research-intensive university, with over 40,000 students across 23 faculties and three arts academies. For international students, UL is less a single scholarship provider and more a gateway to multiple parallel funding channels — some administered directly by the university, others by Slovenia's national Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund, which uses UL's information pages as a distribution point for open calls targeted at specific nationalities and circumstances.
The landscape of scholarship options changes through the year as new open calls are published and older ones close. Some calls target very specific groups: Western Balkans nationals in STEM master's programmes, citizens of Senegal, Nepal, or East Timor, Angolan nationals for postgraduate study, students from Ethiopia, Uganda, or Rwanda at master's level, Turkish refugees, Palestinian nationals, and Slovenians living abroad. If you come from one of these groups, monitoring the UL scholarships page regularly is the most reliable way to catch an open call before it closes.
Two scholarship instruments are administered directly by the university: the Residency of Prof. Grega Košak, which offers a structured 4.5-month stay in Ljubljana for artists, designers, restorers, theorists, and researchers in creative and cultural fields, and the Heart UL fund, an emergency support mechanism for students who face an acute financial crisis with no other means of survival. These are not competitive academic awards in the traditional sense — they serve specific, bounded purposes and have their own separate application processes.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Funding Body | University of Ljubljana and Public Scholarship Fund of Slovenia |
| Host Country | Slovenia |
| Degree Levels | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD (varies by call) |
| Value | Varies by call; state open calls typically specify an annual living allowance (e.g., EUR 9,600/year for Western Balkans master's call) |
| Deadline | Varies by individual call; published on the UL scholarships page throughout the year |
| Eligible Nationalities | Varies by call — targeted at Western Balkans, selected African countries (Senegal, Angola, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Nepal, East Timor), refugee-status holders, Turkish nationals, Palestinian nationals, Slovenians abroad, and others |
| Official Website | uni-lj.si/en/study/scholarships |
Eligibility Criteria
Nationality Requirements
Each call has its own nationality scope. Confirmed groups who have had dedicated calls in recent cycles include citizens of Western Balkans countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia), Senegal, Nepal, East Timor, Angola, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Turkey (refugee or refugee-status holders), Palestinian nationals, and Slovenians living abroad. No single call covers all nationalities — you must check which call, if any, currently applies to your country.
Zois Scholarship Requirements
The Zois scholarship for academic excellence is a state award for students with qualifying Slovenian or EU residence status — specifically EU citizens with at least five years of preliminary residence in Slovenia, EU migrant workers, frontier workers, or their family members. If you are a non-EU international student without qualifying residence, the Zois scholarship does not apply to you.
Academic Requirements
Academic requirements depend on the specific open call. Most calls for master's or postgraduate study require a completed bachelor's or first-cycle degree. The Western Balkans STEM call (the 380th Public Call) specifies study in defined technical and health fields. Other calls may specify field restrictions, GPA minimums, or age limits — these are detailed in the individual call documents published by the Fund.
Heart UL Emergency Fund
The Heart UL fund is available to any UL student facing acute financial hardship — loss of a breadwinner, natural disaster, or similar circumstances with no other means of survival. It is not an academic merit award and does not require specific nationality or field conditions, but it is designed for emergency situations rather than general financial assistance.
What the Scholarship Covers
- State open calls: typically an annual living allowance for the duration of the programme (amount and coverage specified per call)
- Residency of Prof. Grega Košak: a structured 4.5-month artist and researcher residency in Ljubljana
- Heart UL: emergency financial support for students in acute financial hardship with no means of survival
- Zois scholarship: monthly payment for students with qualifying Slovenian/EU residence status and high academic achievement
How to Apply
- Monitor the UL scholarships page — Visit uni-lj.si/en/study/scholarships regularly. Open calls appear throughout the academic year and close on varying dates. Set a calendar reminder to check monthly.
- Identify calls that match your profile — Look for calls targeted at your nationality, study level, and field. If a call is listed for your country, download the full call document from the Public Scholarship Fund's website for eligibility details.
- Read the Fund's call document carefully — The Fund (sklad-kadri.si) publishes the full conditions, required documents, and submission instructions for each open call, often in Slovenian. Use translation tools or contact the Fund at info@sklad-kadri.si for clarification.
- Prepare your application — Gather the documents specified in the call notice. These typically include academic certificates, proof of enrolment or acceptance at UL, and identity documentation.
- Submit before the call's deadline — Submit to the Fund at the address or through the system specified in the call document. Deadlines vary by call.
Required Documents
- Completed application form (from the specific call document)
- Valid passport or national ID
- Proof of acceptance or enrolment at the University of Ljubljana in the relevant programme
- Bachelor's or master's degree certificate and transcripts (for postgraduate calls)
- Documents specific to the call (e.g., proof of nationality, refugee status documentation, field of study confirmation)
- Certified translations of documents into Slovenian where required by the Fund
Key Dates and Deadlines
There is no single annual deadline for the University of Ljubljana scholarship landscape. Individual open calls are published by the Public Scholarship Fund throughout the academic year, each with its own submission deadline. The Western Balkans master's call (380th Public Call) closes 2 September 2026. Other calls for African, Asian, and Middle Eastern nationalities are published on their own schedules. Check the UL scholarships page and the Fund's official portal (sklad-kadri.si) monthly. The Fund can be reached at info@sklad-kadri.si or +386 1 434 10 80.
Tips for a Strong Application
What helps
- Subscribe to or regularly visit the UL scholarships page — calls can open and close within a matter of weeks, and missing the announcement means missing the opportunity entirely.
- Contact the UL International Relations Office if you are unsure which call applies to your nationality — they can direct you to the right Fund call and help with administrative questions about enrolment.
- For the Residency of Prof. Grega Košak, prepare a strong portfolio of your creative or research work — this is a curated residency for practitioners in specific cultural fields, not a general academic award.
- For state calls, get your acceptance from UL early in the year, since many calls require proof of enrolment at submission time.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming that being admitted to UL automatically makes you eligible for a scholarship. Admission and scholarship are separate processes with separate applications and deadlines.
- Applying for the Zois scholarship without confirming you have qualifying EU/Slovenian residency status. This award is not available to most non-EU international students on student visas.
- Waiting until semester start to look for scholarships. Most calls close weeks or months before the academic year begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the University of Ljubljana offer scholarships for international students?
Yes, through two routes: directly (the Kosak Residency for artists and researchers, and the Heart UL emergency fund) and indirectly through state open calls published by Slovenia's Public Scholarship Fund, which uses UL's pages as a distribution point for nationality-specific calls.
Who is eligible for University of Ljubljana scholarships?
Eligibility varies entirely by call. Confirmed target groups include citizens of Western Balkans countries, several African nations (Senegal, Angola, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda), Nepal, East Timor, Turkish refugees, Palestinian nationals, and Slovenians abroad. Check the current open calls on the UL scholarships page for the latest list.
What is the Zois scholarship at the University of Ljubljana?
The Zois scholarship is a state award for academic excellence, but it is only available to students with qualifying Slovenian or EU residence status — EU citizens with at least five years of prior residence in Slovenia, EU migrant workers, or their family members. It is not available to most non-EU international students on student visas.
What is the Heart UL fund?
Heart UL is an emergency financial support mechanism for University of Ljubljana students in acute financial hardship — for example, following the sudden loss of a family breadwinner or a natural disaster. It is not a competitive academic award and is intended for genuine crisis situations.
How often are new scholarship calls posted for international students at UL?
New calls are published throughout the academic year with no fixed schedule. Checking the UL scholarships page at least once a month from October through June is the most reliable way to catch new calls as they open.
Is there a scholarship at the University of Ljubljana for students from Africa?
Yes, there have been dedicated calls for citizens of Senegal, Nepal, East Timor, Angola (postgraduate), Ethiopia, Uganda, and Rwanda (master's level). The availability of each call varies by year — check the current open calls on the UL scholarships page or contact the Public Scholarship Fund.
What is the value of scholarships listed on the University of Ljubljana scholarships page?
It varies by call. The Western Balkans master's call provides EUR 9,600 per year. Other calls specify their own amounts in the individual call documents. The UL scholarships page links to the Fund's website where full call conditions are published.
How do I contact the University of Ljubljana about scholarship opportunities?
Contact the Public Scholarship Fund directly at info@sklad-kadri.si or +386 1 434 10 80 for questions about state calls. For general international student questions, contact UL's International Relations Office through the contact details on uni-lj.si.