Sociology and Psychosocial Studies (PhD)

Enrolment Conditions

Enrolment in the 1st Year

You may enrol in the first year of the doctoral study programme Sociology and Psychosocial Studies if you meet at least one of the following criteria:

• you have completed a second-cycle study programme (Bologna system) and achieved a total of at least 300 ECTS credits across the first and second cycle, or within an integrated master’s programme
• you have completed a previous (pre-Bologna) university study programme
• you have completed a second-cycle study programme (Bologna system) and, prior to that, a previous higher professional study programme (pre-Bologna), with a minimum total duration of five years of study

The faculty may limit enrolment if the number of applications significantly exceeds the number of available places. In the case of limited enrolment, candidates will be selected based on:

• the average grade of the master’s study (excluding the master’s thesis grade), or the average grade of the final two years
• in the case of an integrated master’s programme, and
• the grade of the master’s thesis.

Both criteria carry equal weight. If the master’s programme did not include a thesis or the thesis was not graded, the average grade of the master’s studies is used as the sole criterion.

Enrolment in a Higher Year (according to Transition Criteria or (accelerated progress)

Direct enrolment into the 2nd year is possible if the candidate has at least 45 ECTS credits from a previous study programme, with at least half of these relating to competences and learning outcomes comparable to those of the compulsory courses in the doctoral programme.

Direct enrolment into the 3rd year is possible if the candidate has at least 105 ECTS credits from a previous study programme, with at least half of these relating to comparable competences and learning outcomes.

At the third cycle of study, in addition to the above criteria:

• for direct enrolment into the 2nd year, the doctoral dissertation proposal must have been submitted within the first or second study programme
• for direct enrolment into the 3rd year, the doctoral dissertation proposal must have already been approved within the first or second study programme

Graduates of former (pre-Bologna) programmes leading to a Master of Science degree or specialisation after completing a university degree are, in accordance with Article 16(3) of the Amendments to the Higher Education Act (Official Gazette RS 94/06), recognised 60 ECTS credits. Based on this, they may enrol directly into the 2nd year, but must submit their dissertation proposal by the end of the first semester of that year.

Differential exams are subject to an additional fee (see Price List) and must be paid before registering for the exam. Differential exams must be completed prior to enrolment.

Enrolment Instructions

Information regarding enrolment and application deadlines for the next academic year 2026/27 is available here.

Tuition Fee

Payment terms allow for a one-time payment upon enrollment or payment in installments (3 or 8 installments). If choosing the 3-installment plan, payments are due upon enrollment and in the months of November and December. If choosing the 8-installment plan, the first payment is due upon enrollment, followed by monthly installments from November to May. In the case of installment payments, an administrative fee of EUR 30.00 is charged with each installment.

Details regarding study costs are available in the Price list.

Course Structure and Schedule

At the doctoral level, independent study is the core component of the study process. This includes individual work with academic literature, the preparation and presentation of assignments, and research activities carried out within the faculty’s research programmes. Particular emphasis is placed on the preparation of the doctoral proposal and later the dissertation itself, giving the student the opportunity to fully develop their research and creative potential.

Throughout the entire process, the student is guided by a mentor, who plays a key role in organising and supporting the study path. The mentor leads, monitors, and advises the student at every important stage — from selecting the research topic, choosing appropriate methodology and literature, to planning the research and preparing the doctoral dissertation. The mentor also assesses when the dissertation is ready for submission and defence.

• The programme is delivered in Ljubljana at Leskoškova 9e.

Studies take place in the form of doctoral academic colloquia, organised on weekends, typically on Fridays and Saturdays. Lectures and seminars are held in Ljubljana, mostly between 10:00 and 19:00, depending on the course. Part of the contact hours is conducted online using modern information and communication technologies (ICT), providing students with greater flexibility and accessibility.

Lectures/seminars are conducted in English if at least one international student is present in the classroom.

Study for International Students

International students are offered the possibility to study in English.

• International students attend lectures and seminars in English in those courses where an English-language delivery is provided alongside the Slovenian version.
• For other courses, individual or group consultations in English are organised, provided that at least one international student is enrolled in the course. In some courses, attendance at additional lecture or seminar sessions may be required; students are informed of this in advance via the timetable.

At the beginning of the academic year, students complete a survey regarding their interest in English-language consultations. If they select this option, regular attendance is expected.

Students who use the Study+ Support package have access to recordings of consultations, provided that at least one student attended the session.

Study+ Support Package

By purchasing the Study+ Support package, you you secure maximum flexibility and a premium study experience tailored to your lifestyle. In addition to comprehensive faculty support, you gain access to the following enhanced services designed to help you achieve your academic goals:

• Live participation in most lectures and seminars via Zoom. Be present and actively involved, wherever you are.
• Year-round access to recordings of most lectures and seminars. Enjoy continuous access to a wide range of recorded lectures and seminars. Your personal knowledge base remains available for revision and consolidation until the end of the autumn examination period.
• Responsive administrative and technical support. To ensure faster and more efficient handling of your study-related matters, we remove administrative and technical obstacles that could slow you down. Through the Student Affairs Office at a click and Technical SOS services, we provide a responsive study infrastructure that moves at your pace, with immediate access to solutions via the centralised Study+ Info Hub.
• 20% discount on professional training programmes. Benefit from a 20% discount on professional development courses focused on soft skills and actively strengthen your digital agility. The competencies you gain will further enhance your CV and increase your competitiveness in the labour market.

The Study+ Support package can be ordered upon enrolment or at any time during the academic year via the Web Office. Package pricing for the academic year is available on our Price List page. Study with the Study+ Support package will be available from the 2026/27 academic year onwards.

A list of courses that require mandatory physical attendance despite the purchase of the Study+ Support package can be obtained by emailing urniki@fuds.si.

Curriculum

The doctoral programme is predominantly individual, with very little organised coursework, consisting of four examinations in the first year. The programme is delivered in a part-time format, with sessions held on Fridays and Saturdays. If fewer than five students enrol, the programme is carried out in the form of consultations.

The study programme includes a methodological course, which provides students with knowledge of the most contemporary qualitative and quantitative research methods (and ways of combining them in research work), as well as one compulsory and one elective theoretical course. In addition, students take part in two doctoral seminars: the dissertation proposal seminar, where they present the foundations of their doctoral thesis, and the dissertation seminar, where they present preliminary findings of their research. The core of the doctoral thesis development is individual research work carried out with the support and collaboration of the selected mentor (and, if applicable, co-mentor).

• Field: Sociology
  The Sociology field is designed to enable students to specialise in one of three subfields: political sociology, economic sociology, and sociology of culture. These subfields cover three of the most important and developmentally relevant societal domains: politics (steering society and achieving goals), economics (providing resources), and culture (value and behavioural foundations for social functioning). In addition to methodological knowledge, students gain up-to-date insights needed to theoretically analyse the nature and dynamics of these fields. Alongside sociological content, students also acquire knowledge from related disciplines (political science, economics, cultural studies) that intersect with these areas.
• Field: Psychosocial Studies
  The Psychosocial Studies field focuses on scientific research into the interactive interconnectedness between psychological and social systems, as well as the social conditions that promote and maintain mental health. It enables students to specialise in one of the following areas: stress and trauma; psychosocial crises and resolution processes; human dysfunctions in mental health; social cognition and perception; selected topics in cognitive-behavioural approaches.

Assessment of Knowledge

The assessment system is designed to encourage continuous work, active learning, and steady student progress. Various forms of assessment are used, including mid-term tests, written and oral exams, seminar papers, projects, portfolios, and reports on practical training.

The methods of assessment are defined in the course syllabi, which are published on the website.

Students may apply for recognition of previously completed exams or other obligations if they are comparable in content to the requirements of the programme. More information on the Recognition of exams.

Progression Through Years of Study

To progress from the first to the second year, a student must obtain at least 30 ECTS from the first year, submit the Dissertation Topic Application (form OBR-FUDŠ-010) approved by the Scientific Research Commission (KZRD), and submit the doctoral dissertation proposal, confirmed by the mentor’s signature on form OBR-FUDŠ-011.

Progression from the second to the third year requires the completion of all first-year obligations amounting to 60 ECTS, completion of the individual research work of the second year amounting to 60 ECTS (assessed based on the mentor’s evaluation), and the approval of the dissertation proposal by the SASS Senate.

In exceptional cases—such as illness, parenthood, or granted special status—conditional enrolment in the next year is possible. The decision is made by the Dean based on the proposal of the Student and Academic Affairs Commission.

Termination of student status: Student status is terminated in the cases defined by the Higher Education Act and the Statute of SASS.

Additional Year (“Absolventski Staž”): After completing the final semester, a student who has not yet graduated may exercise the right to an additional year (“absolventski staž”). This is possible only immediately after the completion of the final semester, and only if the student has not repeated a year or changed the study programme or study track. If the student has repeated a year or changed the programme, their student status ends immediately after the completion of the final semester.

Requirements for Completing the Programme

To complete the programme, a student must successfully fulfil all study obligations prescribed by the curriculum, as well as prepare and successfully defend the doctoral dissertation. The study programme is completed once the student has obtained all 180 ECTS required by the programme.

Upon completion, the student is awarded a doctoral diploma, which is an official public document.

In accordance with the Act on Professional and Academic Titles (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 61/06), the student obtains the scientific title Doctor of Philosophy (abbreviated as PhD), which is placed after the first and last name. The doctoral diploma specifies the scientific field in which the title was awarded: “in the field of Sociology” or “in the field of Psychosocial Studies.” Slovenian (original): doktor/-ica znanosti (s področja sociologije)*; doktor/-ica znanosti (s področja psihosocialnih študij)

Acquired Competences

Within the doctoral study programme Sociology and Psychosocial Studies, students will acquire the following general competences: