Doctoral Programme in Economics and Business

Doctoral students may choose from courses, seminars, and workshops organised by the UL SEB, partner institutions within the network of doctoral programmes, and international schools with accredited doctoral programmes. Part of the programme can be completed abroad at a school or institution approved by the student's mentor and coordinator of the programme.

• Full-time and part-time study is available.

• Lectures are in English.

• The doctoral programme lasts four years (eight semesters).

After completion of the required curriculum and research requirements, students receive the title "doktor znanosti" (Doctor of Philosophy.

For the 2025/26 academic year, 20 places are available.

The programme is open to anyone who has completed:

• A Bologna Master's (second cycle) programme;
• A bachelor’s programme adopted before 11 June 2004;
• A graduate certificate programme and a previous applied bachelor’s programme, fulfilling the academic requirements set by the programme in the amount of 36 ECTS credits;
• A master’s programme or a graduate certificate programme and a previous bachelor’s programme. Upon entering the programme, these students are awarded 60 ECTS credits in accordance with the law;
• A programme regulated by EU directives or any other fast-track master’s programme equivalent to 300 ECTS credits;
• A programme at a university abroad in accordance with the prescribed requirements that apply to Slovenian students. Equivalence of a degree previously earned abroad is ascertained through the foreign education verification procedure in compliance with the Statute of the UL.

We evaluate the following criteria:

1. Graduate study results and
2. Oral exam results, which are based on:
   • The candidate's academic work to date;
   • Scholarly research potential;
   • The candidate's motivation; 
   • The candidate's research to date (published articles and other publications); 
   • Other criteria (e.g., GMAT or GRE scores, awards, recognitions, etc.).

Applications must include the following:

• Application form (candidates apply at the eVŠ web portal); 
• Diploma or graduation certificate at undergraduate and master's levels;
• Official transcripts with GPA at undergraduate and master’s levels;
• If candidates completed an undergraduate or master’s programme abroad, they must simultaneously begin with the procedure for recognition of prior foreign education, and upon enrolment enclose a document of official recognition of education and qualifications acquired abroad, for the purposes of continuation of studies at the doctoral level.

In addition to the documents listed in the previous paragraph, students shall enclose the following:

• A work plan or research plan (max 1500 words; research plan exceeding 1500 words will be rejected);
• A motivation letter (max 300 words);
• A CV;
• A publications list (if the candidate has published articles or other works);
• Other documents (GMAT or GRE scores);
• Awards and recognitions won;
• Consent from the PhD supervisor.

Students with a master’s degree or graduate certificate and a previous bachelor’s programme shall enclose a certified statement of the academic requirements completed in the programme at the higher education institution they were enrolled in, and a certified copy of the syllabuses for the courses and other activities in which they completed their academic requirements.

Work plan / Research plan

The research plan must reflect an understanding of scientific research and include a description of the issue that the candidate intends to explore, and justification for the research. Is it a new area of research? Is there an application of existing research to new information? Has this been the subject of research before but requires additional empirical confirmation or evidence? How will the answers contribute to the development of science in this field of research? Is this a case study or is it a qualitative or quantitative research method?

Motivation letter

The motivation letter should include the following:

• Reasons for applying to the doctoral programme;
• Willingness and determination to complete study;
• Study expectations;
• Potential for career development;
• Personal commitments, hobbies, interest;
• An explanation of planned coordination of the study programme combined with work and/or family.

Deadline for application and enrolment

Candidates must apply no later than 20 June 2025. Application for enrolment in the doctoral programme, together with all the required supporting material and evidence have to be submitted electronically via the web portal eVŠ.

Candidates that have submitted complete applications will be contacted to schedule the oral exam, which will be held within twenty working days after the application deadline (app. from 26 June till 15 July 2025).

Enrolment will be held till 30 September 2025 at the UL SEB.

Tuition

The tuition for the Doctoral Programme in Economics and Business for the 2025/2026 academic year is €4,700.00 per academic year.

Students who have completed a specialisation programme and a prior professional higher education programme pay for the individual exams that they must pass in order to achieve the sufficient number of ECTS credits in addition to tuition, in line with the applicable fee schedule of the University of Ljubljana.

Tuition and fees for the 2025/2026 academic year

Scholarship opportunities

Call to tender for young researcher at the University of Ljubljana

Co-funding for doctoral studies at the University of Ljubljana

The academic requirements of the doctoral programme comprise 240 ECTS credits over four years. Among those:

• 60 ECTS credits are granted for organised forms of study (students need to obtain 16 ECTS credits in theoretical foundations courses, 18 ECTS credits in methodological foundations courses, 8 ECTS credits in elective courses, 12 ECTS credits in individual research related to preparation of doctoral dissertation proposal, and 6 ECTS credits in individual forms of study, such as active participation in scholarly conferences, research workshops, doctoral seminars, and research seminars);
• 180 ECTS credits are awarded for writing and defending the doctoral dissertation.

Economics Track - curriculum structure by study years

Business Track - curriculum structure by study years

Elective courses in the 2024/2025 academic year

Conditions for progressing to the next year

The requirement to progress from the first to the second year is the approved presentation of a doctoral dissertation proposal draft, which is also the condition to attain credits designated for individual work on a dissertation, as well as the successful completion of organised forms of study, planned for the first year.

The requirement to progress from the second to the third year is a statement from the School Senate confirming the committee’s approval of the dissertation topic’s suitability and successful completion of organised forms of study, planned for the second year.

To progress into the fourth year, the doctoral candidate has to collect a total of 180 credits in organised forms of study – classroom instruction (i.e., pass all of the exams in theoretical foundations subjects, methodological foundations subjects and elective subjects, active participation in at least one scholarly conference, research workshop, doctoral seminar or research seminar and the demonstration of progress made on the dissertation) and independent research work on dissertation. Independent research work on the dissertation is demonstrated by the University of Ljubljana Senate’s approval of the dissertation topic.

By way of exception, the Research and Doctoral Studies Committee may allow progression to students who have justifiable reasons for this and will set a new deadline for such students in order to fulfil all of the requirements.

Conditions for completion of the programme

To complete the programme and earn a doctoral degree, students must complete all of the programme’s academic requirements and successfully defend the dissertation, collecting a total of 240 ECTS credits. Before submitting their dissertation for evaluation, students must publish an article (or submit a statement confirming that their article has been accepted for publication) on the dissertation topic in publications that the School deems suitable.