Scholarships and Student Jobs in Slovenia for International Students

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

Slovenia offers little scholarship money to foreign students at bachelor's level. The main financial help is built into the tuition rules, which make full-time study free for EU citizens and for a few other groups. Beyond that, most students pay their own way and use student work and subsidised meals to keep costs down.

Scholarships: mostly not for bachelor's students

The Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund (SRIPS) runs the Ad futura programme. For foreigners studying in Slovenia, its page says the scholarship goes to nationals of Western Balkan states and covers postgraduate (master or doctoral) studies. A public call for foreign citizens for 2026 (the 380th call) is listed on Study in Slovenia as covering master's studies in selected fields.

We did not find a state scholarship for a full bachelor's degree for non-EU citizens. Check the SRIPS call each year, because the rules change, and ask the university you apply to about its own funding.

Slovenes living abroad have a separate scholarship for studying in Slovenia. If you receive a ministry scholarship, the University of Ljubljana says up to 250 places in student residence halls are available, and the rent is paid directly from the scholarship. See student housing in Slovenia.

Free tuition is the real aid

Under the call for enrolment, full-time study at public institutions is free for EU citizens, and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia are exempt in 2026/27. People with international or temporary protection and some non-EU residents of Slovenia are also exempt. Details are in how much it costs to study in Slovenia.

Exchange funding

Short exchanges are funded differently. Study in Slovenia lists Erasmus+ and CEEPUS under exchange programmes. According to the Ljubljana dormitory's page, CEEPUS and bilateral exchanges last 3 to 9 months, you apply for them in your home country, and the deadline is 30 April each year. These do not pay for a full degree.

Student work

A non-EU student with a residence permit for study may take up employment during the permit's validity, as the EU immigration portal describes it, under the rules on employment and student work. Student work in Slovenia runs through e-Študentski Servis. Its page for foreigners says:

You can use student work if you are a full-time or part-time university student in Slovenia. Exchange students may work only while they do study obligations in Slovenia, and a traineeship does not qualify for a referral.
A non-EU student needs a valid residence permit.
You need an identity document, a bank account number, an EMŠO (the Slovenian personal identification number) and an 8-digit Slovenian tax number issued by the tax office (FURS).
Order a referral (napotnica) before you start, even for job training. Working without one can be treated as illegal work, and you and your employer can be fined.
If you take a regular job, tell the service, because regularly employed people cannot use student work.

The pages we checked do not give a weekly hour limit for adult students, so ask the Employment Service or the administrative unit if hours matter for your plans. See also working while studying in Europe.

Pay and tax

e-Študentski Servis says 13.95% is deducted from gross earnings for pension and disability insurance and that it advances 95% of the earnings once the company confirms the hours. Pay goes only to a bank account in your name, and an EU account such as N26 or Revolut works if you enter the IBAN. A Slovenian tax number does not make you a Slovenian tax resident. You ask the tax office for tax residency, and the decision usually takes about 14 days and sometimes up to 3 months. Until you have it, income tax is withheld.

Subsidised meals

First-time users register for student meals at a registration point of the subsidised meals system. The University of Ljubljana says you need your student ID and a mobile phone with a Slovenian SIM card, and that a subsidised restaurant meal costs about €5. The system renews your rights automatically each year if your student status is active.

Where to look next

Official sources

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.