Financing for equity in higher education

1. Education resources to subnational governments

Introduction

Key financing indicators (UIS Data)

In Slovenia, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes in 2023 was 80.08%. The initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita was 28% in 2022. That same year, the initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita was measured at 3.39%.

Tuition-free status

Public universities are free in Slovenia. According to the 2025 Higher Education Act, tuition fees may not be charged to Slovenian citizens and EU citizens for education in certified undergraduate programmes provided as a public service.

Governance

Public higher education institutions are founded by the state and managed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. The ministry participates in the drafting of the financial plan for higher education, which is then adopted by the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation then directly funds higher education institutions. Within the ministry, the Higher Education Directorate is responsible for funding projects and activities in the field of higher education. The National Council for Higher Education acts as a supporting consultative body. The Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities is responsible for the Slovene Human Resources Development and Scholarship Fund.

1. Education resources to subnational governments

Resources for higher education are transferred between the states and the institutions of higher education.

2. Education resources to institutions

Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions

According to the 2025 Higher Education Act, the state government may allocate funding to private higher education institutions with concessions. The funds may be used for development tasks, study activities, and extracurricular activities.

Allocation and equity

Higher education institutions may obtain funds from the founder, from the budget of the Republic of Slovenia, from the budget of the European Union, through tuition fees, payments for goods and services, donations, and other sources.

The 2017 Regulation on public financing of higher education institutions and other institutions determines how state funds are allocated to higher education institutions.

Funding from the state budget must amount to 1.5% of the GDP. At least 1.0% is used to fund study activities. The rest is used for study-related interest activities, investment and investment maintenance, libraries, nationally important tasks, and development and other important tasks. Funds for study activities take into account the areas of study and the number of students enrolled.

According to the 2025 Higher Education Act, funding is provided to public universities through three pillars: the Fundamental Pillar of Funding (TSF), the Development Pillar of Financing ('RSF'), and the Investment Pillar of Financing (ISF). The TSF is based on a six-year contract period wherein each year’s funds are based on the previous years with additional appropriations. The funds may be reduced if the public university has not achieved the agreed objectives.

The state also provides funding for a fifth year of study for at least one-third of students, which accounts for social status of students, priority or deficit areas of study, and equal representation of students by statistical regions. The Ministry of Higher Education determines the funding criteria so that; -the determination of social criteria takes into account the ratio between income per family member and the average salary in the country; -equal regional representation is determined based on the ratio between the proportion of those enrolled in tertiary education in an individual municipality and the proportion enrolled on the national level; -the criterion for priority or deficit areas of study target programmes in which 80% or more of the demand for workers cannot be met by unemployed people with the same subject and level of education.

The state budget also defines funding for a fifth year of education for all students with poor social status. Additional funds, such as those for extracurricular activities and third-level study programmes may also be provided.

The total amount of funding is stipulated by the Higher Education Master Plan for a specified period. The Ministry allocates the funds to the institutions based on set regulations. Higher education institutions can apply to funds for their research activities.

3. Education resources to students

Admission for vulnerable groups

Higher education institutions are autonomous in their approach to admission policies. They may have measures wherein students with special needs have priority in the selection process for individual study programmes. They may also schedule up to 10% of places for Slovenians without Slovenian citizenship.

Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups

Slovenia provides state scholarship in accordance with the 2013 Scholarship Act to help students cover expenses during schooling. Scholarships are awarded as a cash benefit which includes a basic scholarship and any additional allowances. To receive a state scholarship, the family household income of a recipient must be less than EUR 1,293.36 (as of March 2025). The basic scholarship amount depends on the household income and whether the recipient is over 18 years of age. The following additional allowances may be added to the base amount:

Success Allowance- students who have achieved a minimum average of 4.0 receive a success allowance. The amount starts at EUR 21.39 and increases up to EUR 50.33 for those with grades above 9.0.

Subsistence Allowance- EUR 100.64 is provided to pupils who live more than 25km from the place of education, who live in a place where the rental cost is at least EUR 65 per month, or if the student does not receive an accommodation subsidy.

Special Needs- Scholarship holders with special needs are provided an additional EUR 62.90

The Centre for Social Work (CSD), which is part of the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, is responsible for distributing state scholarships.

Students also have the opportunity to apply for the government-funded Zois scholarship, which is merit-based. Recipients must demonstrate at least one appropriate outstanding achievement and achieve the required academic performance. Higher education students may receive EUR 176.12 if they are studying domestically. They may receive additions of EUR 100.64 for accommodation and EUR 62.90 for students with special needs (amounts are as of March 2025). The Zois scholarship is compatible with the state scholarship.

4. Support for students’ living costs

Transportation

In accordance with the Higher Education Act, the state subsidizes transportation for students studying five or more kilometers from their permanent residence to their educational institutions. The subsidy covers no more than 70% of the full price of the monthly season tickets, depending on the student’s social status and commute distance.

In addition, young people under the age of 26 can apply for a range of discounts on travel organized by youth organizations and subsidized by the government.

Accommodation

The state government subsidizes student accommodation in public and private institutions. The government considers the student’s academic success, their marital status, the distance between their permanent residence and place of study, and their social and health status. Subsidies may also be provided to companions of disabled students, the student’s partner if they have a child, and to the child. The subsidy totals at least 20% of the average monthly living cost.

Higher education students are also entitled to subsidized student meals. Beneficiaries and their children are entitled to one subsidized student meal per working day. Students with special needs and students who are already parents are entitled to ten additional meals per month. For the 2023/24 academic year, the subsidy was EUR 3.86 a meal.

Textbooks

No information was found.

Última modificación:

Jue, 26/02/2026 - 15:43