
Doctoral Programme in Economics and Business
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Duration
4 years
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Points
240 ECTS
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Title
Doctor of Philosophy
Do you want to improve your knowledge in your chosen field, carry out in-depth research and prepare yourself for the highest career goals? Join our doctoral programme.
Become actively involved with other renowned academic institutions
UL SEB is a member of the European Doctoral Programmes Association in Management and Business Administration (‘EDAMBA’) and a member of the Central and South-East European PhD Network (‘CESEENET’).
Useful knowledge and a wide range of specializations
The programme offers 13 different majors: Economics, International Economics, Money and Finance, Accounting, Business Logistics, Entrepreneurship, Financial Management, Information Management, International Business, Management and Organization, Marketing, Operations Research, Tourism.
Surround yourself with the best researchers
Enjoy a close relationship with Doctoral Schools, which bring together the best researchers; both from the area of methodology (quantitative or qualitative) and in substantive areas.
General information
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.
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Full-time and part-time study is available.
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Lectures are in English.
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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.
Study tracks
ECONOMICS TRACK | MAJORS: Economics, International Economics, Money and Finance |
BUSINESS TRACK | MAJORS: Management and Organization, Marketing, Financial Management, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Tourism, International Business, Information Management, Operations Research, Business Logistics |
Admissions criteria
For the 2024/25 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;
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We evaluate the following criteria:
- Graduate study results and
- 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.).
Application and enrolment
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
The application process for the academic year 2024/2025 is now closed. Call for enrolment in the doctoral study programme for the 2025/2026 academic year will be available in March 2025.
Tuition and scholarship opportunities
Tuition
The tuition for the Doctoral Programme in Economics and Business for the 2024/2025 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 2024/2025 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
Curriculum
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 and completing the programme
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.

Doctoral Programme Unit
Documents of the doctoral programme
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Rules
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Handbooks
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Yearly Reviews