The university single major programme Biology was adopted by the Senate of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, on 3 Sept. 2008 and bythe Senate of the University of Maribor on 23 Sept. 2008. On the basis of Article 16 of the Law on Higher Education (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 119/06-UPB-officially consolidated text, No. 59/07-ZŠtip, the decision of the Constitutional Court No. U-I-370/06-20, Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 15/08 and 64/08 and Article 7 of the Regulations of the Recorded Policy of Higher Education Institutions (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 46/05) the Senate for Accreditation to the Council of the Republic of Slovenia for Higher Education at their 11th meeting on 25 Nov. 2008 adopted a decision on the approval of the implementation of the single-major BA study program (un./3l.) Biology. Changes and additions in the study program confirmed by: - The Council for Accreditation at the Council of Republic of Slovenia for Higher education on 18 Dec. 2009, - Council of NAKVIS on 16 June 2011 - The Senate of the University of Maribor on 29 Nov. 2011 - The Senate of the University of Maribor from 4 to 6 July 2012.

A student advances to the second study year if they collect at least 45 ECTS credits and complete the following obligatory courses: Physics, Chemistry, Cell Biology, General Botany and General Zoology. A student advances to the third study year if they have collected 60 ECTS credits by completing all first year obligations, and 45 ECTS credits by completing second year obligations.

A graduate of the program acquires enough biological knowledge and skills to be able to successfully continue studies in biology, ecology or related sciences at the MA level.

Graduates of the study program Biology are employable in public (local, regional, national, EU) institutions, in the economy and in the private sector, particularly on issues relating to biological materials and organisms. They gain sufficient knowledge and skills for self-employment and will be trained to participate in the application process concerning national and international research projects, including the exploitation of EU cohesion and structural funds. They will be able to participate in applying for cross-border and international research, developmental, and other projects, and to collaborate with environmental non-governmental organisations, etc.

The summations provide the average values of hours to study program. Inconsistencies in the numbers are the result of choice of elective courses. The student's independent work consists of 3480 hours.

In the first year, all courses are obligatory. In the second and third year, the student chooses one elective course in each semester (four electives in total). In the second and third year, students design 20% of the study program according to their own interests, by choosing elective courses. Mandatory internship is not part of this study program.

The method of knowledge assessment and evaluation is regulated by the Regulations on Knowledge Assessment and Evaluation at the University of Maribor, accessible via this link: https://www.um.si/dokument/predpisi-univerze-v-mariboru/. The criteria and methods of knowledge assessment for individual courses are part of the course syllabus and are publicly available on the faculty's website: https://www.fnm.um.si/index.php/domov-studij-predstavitev/.

Biology is a fundamental science which forms the basis of most natural and many other sciences and scientific disciplines. To ensure a competitive development of Slovenia and the EU, it will be necessary in the future to focus especially on the development of natural sciences and mathematics. Since biology is also at the core of biotechnical sciences, its influence is growing in all those areas of life which will have a decisive impact on the 21st century society. The basic objective of the 1st cycle study program Biology is to train students to understand the various segments of the living environment at different organizational levels (from molecules and cells to organisms and societies) and to recognize and understand the patterns and processes of the natural environment. Graduates will be able to apply and critically evaluate basic life sciences skills, practical knowledge, as well as specialized and scientific research methods in biology. Knowledge acquired by completing the 1st cycle study program enables graduates to continue their studies as part of a 2nd cycle study program, or to find employment in the economy sector or elsewhere, where the following competences are required: • analytical thinking, logical reasoning and argumentation, • keeping up with, summarizing and communicating information from the field of natural sciences and mathematics that does not require academic qualifications or a scientific track record, • ability to collaborate with fellow field experts and specialists from other fields in the organization of different activities, • ability to act thoughtfully and democratically, and to provide qualified professional help and support to those who need it.

- Graduates acquire skills of analysis, synthesis and deduction and the ability to solve and understand the consequences of natural phenomena and processes at different organizational levels. - Graduates master basic research methods, procedures and processes in biology, and are able to develop self-critical assessment in this area. They are familiar with »essential« biology, especially from the point of view of biodiversity, molecular biology and physiology, and the border areas of biology (biophysics, biochemistry, biostatistics, nature conservation). - Graduates acquire the ability to apply knowledge of basic science, especially biology, at different levels. - Graduates acquire autonomy in professional work in the field of biology. - Graduates master communication skills and acquire the ability to participate in teamwork in both the business and scientific world, at home and abroad. - Graduates are aware of restrictions imposed by professional ethics in this field of science. - Graduates develop a responsible attitude towards nature and the environment. - Graduates develop a responsible attitude towards human intervention in nature.

- Graduates are familiarized with basic theoretical and applied aspects of biology, both as a profession and as a scientific discipline. - Graduates are familiarized with individual organizational and functional levels of organisms from molecules to communities. - Graduates are trained to integrate the knowledge of different natural sciences. - Graduates are trained in systemic thinking, which enables integration into interdisciplinary groups dealing with biological and related scientific, professional and practical problems. - Graduates are able to solve complex biology problems in both basic (research) and applied (project work in administration or economy) contexts.

The first year of the university study programme Biology can be entered by candidates who have: a) passed the general Matura (secondary school leaving examination); or b) passed the vocational Matura in the following secondary school programmes: Pharmaceutical Technician, Forestry Technician, Horticultural Technician, Chemical Technician, Chemical Technician (Bilingual), Agricultural-Entrepreneurial Technician, Nature Conservation Technician, Environmental Technician, Biomedical Laboratory Technician, Veterinary Technician, Nursing Technician, or Food Processing Technician, and a fifth examination in the general Matura subjects Chemistry, Physics or Biology; the chosen subject must not be a subject already completed within the vocational Matura; or c) prior to 1 June 1995 completed a four-year secondary school program. In case of limitations regarding enrolment the following criteria will be taken into account: a) candidates referred to in points a), b) and c) will be selected according to: - general success in the general Matura, vocational Matura or final examination (60 % of points), - general success in the 3rd and 4th year of secondary education (40 % of points).

In case of limitations regarding enrolment the following criteria will be taken into account: a) candidates referred to in points a), b) and c) will be selected according to: - general success in the general Matura, vocational Matura or final examination (60 % of points), - general success in the 3rd and 4th year of secondary education (40 % of points).

1. Transition from 1st Cycle Higher Education Study Programmes and from 1st Cycle University Study Programmes For candidates enrolled in 1st Cycle Higher Education Study Programmes or in 1st Cycle University Study Programmes from the fields of natural sciences, medicine, geography, environmental sciences, forestry, agriculture and biotechnological sciences, who ensure the acquisition of comparable competences at the end of their studies, and for whom at least half of the ECTS obligations from the first study programme are recognised, the Commission for Student Affairs of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics determines the study obligations that they must complete if they want to complete their studies according to the new study programme. 2. Transition from Post-Secondary Vocational Study Programmes according to the Vocational Education Act For candidates enrolled in Post-Secondary Vocational Study Programmes from the fields of natural sciences, medicine, geography, environmental sciences, forestry, agriculture and biotechnological sciences, who ensure the acquisition of comparable competences at the end of their studies, and for whom at least half of the ECTS obligations from the first study programme are recognised, the Commission for Student Affairs of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics determines the study obligations that they must complete if they want to complete their studies according to the new study programme. Note to section 2: According to Article 39 of the Higher Education Act and the Criteria for transitions between study programmes, transitions are also possible from Post-Secondary Vocational Study Programmes under the Higher Vocational Education Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 86/2004), if the higher education institution assesses that this is possible for a specific program.

Students may have their knowledge and skills, acquired prior to enrollment in the first-cycle study program, recognized in accordance with the RULES ON RECOGNITION OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN STUDY PROGRAMMES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARIBOR, available at the following link: https://moja.um.si/student/Strani/Pravilniki-in-predpisi.aspx.

The student completes the study programme Biology once s/he has completed all the obligations defined by the curriculum, including the elective courses, and has gained at least 180 ECTS.