Education in Slovenia

Knowledge is the spring board for leaping into a better tomorrow. That is why Slovenia aims at creating a knowledge society.

The Slovenian education system consists of:

• pre-school education,
• basic education (single structure of primary and lower secondary education),
• (upper) secondary education:
• vocational and technical education,
• secondary general education,
• higher vocational education,
• higher education.

Basic education is mandatory and free for Slovene nationals and also for all other under-age foreign citizens residing in Slovenia and children without citizenship. It is funded from the state budget. A course of Slovene language is organised for the children with no language knowledge at the beginning of schooling.

Secondary education (general, vocational and technical) in public schools is also free for Slovene citizens, Slovenes without Slovene citizenship and citizens of the EU residing in Slovenia. Foreign citizens have access to higher education under same conditions, provided that the principle of reciprocity is applied.


Here is a short graphical guide to the Slovene education system.