General Characteristics of Doctoral Studies at the Faculty of Law, University of Maribor
The Faculty of Law, University of Maribor, as a scientific and research institution in the field of law, is duly accredited to deliver programs leading to the Doctor of Science degree. The third-cycle study program in Law is intended for candidates who seek to advance their education through scientific research in the field of law.
In accordance with the strategic objectives of the Republic of Slovenia and its membership in the European Union, the knowledge-based society requires individuals who, through scientific research, will become leaders in the understanding and application of law, contribute creatively to its development, and influence the advancement of the humanities both nationally and internationally.
The third cycle of Bologna programs represents the highest level of higher education. Institutions that design and implement such programs are among the leading providers of knowledge in their respective fields. The Faculty of Law, University of Maribor, aspires to be among these institutions and, through its third-cycle Law program, aims to provide society with highly educated individuals who will attain the doctoral level of education and deliver progress and the highest added value required by society. This is not limited to the economic development of the state, which primarily demands such individuals, but extends to shaping society as a whole, fostering an understanding of law as the fundamental regulator of social relations, and thereby influencing the image of society in relation to other states and the European Union.
The doctoral program at the Faculty of Law, University of Maribor, enables enrolled candidates to exercise the highest degree of creativity in the formation, interpretation, and application of law, regardless of their future employment or professional field. The essential characteristic of the doctoral program in Law lies in its focus on acquiring advanced methodological and theoretical knowledge while simultaneously developing models for transferring acquired knowledge into practice and fostering the development of scientific research personnel capable of addressing legal issues in contemporary society through modern research methods. Candidates may actively shape their educational path according to their interests and career objectives. With the support of mentors, they gradually build the necessary set of knowledge and research experience to independently tackle highly complex practical problems within their research domain.
A distinctive feature of the doctoral program in Law is its international comparability, openness, and flexibility. Through the inclusion of students in various scientific research projects conducted at the Faculty of Law, University of Maribor, candidates are afforded opportunities to participate in processes that deepen their understanding and enhance their research experience.
Text about acceptance
The study program was formally approved by the Senate of the Faculty of Law, University of Maribor, on 23 June 2008, by the Senate of the University of Maribor on 23 September 2008, and adopted by the Council for Higher Education of the Republic of Slovenia on 12 March 2009.
The Council of the Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education has granted indefinite accreditation to the third-cycle Law study program offered by the Faculty of Law, University of Maribor.
At its 23rd regular session held on 24 June 2025, the Senate of the University of Maribor approved the amendment to the duration of studies, extending it from three to four years, i.e., from 180 ECTS to 240 ECTS, effective as of the academic year 2026/2027.
Advancement criteria of a study programme
Progression from Year 1 to Year 2
To progress from the first to the second year, the candidate must successfully complete the prescribed examination requirements for the course Methodology of Law (9 ECTS), fulfill the requirements for Individual Research Work 1 and 2 (36 ECTS), and complete the obligations for the First Doctoral Seminar (3 ECTS), achieving a total of 48 ECTS.
Progression from Year 2 to Year 3
To progress from the second to the third year, the candidate must complete all study requirements of the first year (60 ECTS), fulfill the requirements for Individual Research Work 3 and 4 (36 ECTS), complete the obligations for the Research Seminar (3 ECTS), and other prescribed requirements, achieving a total of 48 ECTS.
Progression from Year 3 to Year 4
To progress from the third to the fourth year, the candidate must complete all study requirements of the first year (60 ECTS) and the second year (60 ECTS), fulfill the requirements for Individual Research Work 5 and 6 (48 ECTS), and complete the obligations for the Second Doctoral Seminar (3 ECTS), achieving a total of 51 ECTS.
Study advancement options
The Doctor of Philosophy can continue the postdoctoral study.
Employment possibilities
The third-cycle doctoral study programme in Law is designed to provide graduates with a wide range of employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors. In particular, it prepares candidates for positions that require a high level of specialised knowledge, the ability to integrate such knowledge across different branches of law (intradisciplinarity and, to a certain extent, interdisciplinarity), strong analytical and logical reasoning skills, as well as the capacity to evaluate and apply legal rules in complex cases. At the same time, the programme fosters strategic thinking, planning, and leadership skills.
These competencies are essential not only in academic and research institutions, but also within public authorities (especially the judiciary and public administration), business entities and other economic organisations, as well as non-governmental organisations. As the doctoral programme is not limited to Slovenian law, but also encompasses European Union law and, to a certain extent, classical international law and comparative legal systems, doctoral candidates likewise have employment opportunities within EU institutions, international courts, and international organisations more broadly. The doctoral programme thus supports the career development of highly qualified professionals and office-holders.
Assesment criteria
The methods of knowledge assessment and grading at the University of Maribor are uniformly regulated by the Statute of the University of Maribor and by the Rules on Knowledge Assessment and Grading at the University of Maribor, No. A4/2009-41 AG, as amended.
In accordance with these Rules and the course syllabi, the forms of assessment and grading for each course unit of the study program are specified. Each course concludes with a final assessment of the student’s knowledge. Emphasis is placed on oral examinations in the form of a discussion, aimed at determining whether the student demonstrates an understanding of research work in the field of law, the ability to independently apply research methods in legal studies, and the capacity for legal reasoning and argumentation, as well as comprehension of theoretical issues related to the application of law.
Specific assessment methods are detailed in the syllabi of individual courses and include: oral examinations; written examinations; completed seminars; seminar papers; and seminar papers with oral presentations. Continuous assessment methods are encouraged, enabling students to monitor their progress throughout their studies.
All syllabi are publicly available in the Bologna course catalogue and on the Faculty of Law website.
Students can access their examination results via AIPS and, in compliance with personal data protection regulations, on the Faculty’s notice board and website.
Main study programme objectives
• deepening knowledge or upgrading legal content acquired at lower levels of law,
• to educate a law student for independent, professionally critical, and responsible work in a profession that requires top knowledge in the field of law,
• to involve a law student in in-depth scientific research work in the field of law using scientific research methods,
• to provide the law student with the most in-depth knowledge in basic and narrower fields of law,
• introduce a law student to work in a domestic and international environment,
• to form an awareness of the importance of law as an instrument for regulating social relations,
• provide the law student with in-depth knowledge of important elements of philosophy and theory of law,
• upgrade students' rhetorical skills,
• consolidate and upgrade the sense of correct perception and interpretation of legal norms and fairness and professional ethics,
• provide the law student with the necessary knowledge of legal methods and skills and encourage the mobility of law students,
• to enable students to successfully form a professional profile by choosing legal content from a set of module subjects.
General competences of graduates, gained at a study programme
General competencies acquired by a student in the study program are as follows:
• ability to have an in-depth understanding of theoretical and methodological concepts,
• ability to master appropriate methods of scientific research work,
• ability to identify, analyze, synthesize and anticipate legal solutions in the preparation of scientific work,
• ability to use research methods in the preparation of scientific research work,
• autonomy in scientific research and the ability to make critical judgments in decision-making,
• ability to independently use the acquired theoretical knowledge to solve problems in practice,
• ability to formulate (prepare) legal regulations within expert groups and the ability to lead expert groups for preparation of legal regulations,
• development of communication skills, especially constant communication in the international environment,
• ability to analyze comparative legal sources,
• ability to work in project groups, cooperation,
• ability of ethical reflection and deep commitment to professional ethics,
• ability to work and create in an international environment,
• the ability to mentor younger colleagues in institutes, universities, companies, etc.,
• efficiency in the use of available resources: own creative and intellectual ability, available intellectual capital (collaborators), other tangible and intangible resources (money, equipment, space, and time).
Subject specific competences of graduates, gained on a study programme
Graduates of the doctoral study of Law are top experts with the appropriate theoretical and practical knowledge to perform the most demanding professional tasks in the field of law. For this reason, they must obtain or acquire the following subject-specific competencies:
• solving the most demanding legal problems by testing and improving known solutions,
• solving the most demanding legal problems or theoretical treatment of the most demanding legal problems in the field of basic legal sciences, civil law, commercial law, criminal law, financial law, and public law,
• identifying, analyzing, and solving concrete problems in the field of law,
• production of scientific work using the appropriate methodology of scientific research work (scientific articles, monographs),
• publishing in domestic and foreign professional publications,
• transfer of knowledge in the form of lectures, expertise, and advice to other users of law,
• knowledge of the placement of new information in the field of law and interpretations in the context of the fundamental legal discipline,
• knowledge and understanding of the justifications, dogmatics, and history of the development of a particular legal discipline,
• understanding and application of methods of critical analysis and development of theories and their use in the development of new knowledge and in solving concrete problems,
• intensive and continuous use of information and communication technology,
• in-depth understanding of theoretical and methodological concepts,
• independent development of new knowledge,
• developing critical reflection.
Specific competencies thus highlight the integration of theory and practice in solving the most demanding problems, the use of various methods specific to legal science and the profession, and emphasize the publication of student scientific achievements and other ways of presentation.
Access requirements
Candidates who completed the following may apply for the 3rd cycle (doctoral) study programme in Law:
- A 2nd-cycle (master’s) study programme.
- An undergraduate academic study programme adopted prior to 11 June 2004 and corresponding to 240 ECTS credits.
- Another unified (long-cycle) master’s study programme corresponding to 300 ECTS credits.
- A specialisation following an undergraduate professional study programme adopted prior to 11 June 2004 and corresponding to 240 ECTS credits in total.
Prior to enrolment, candidates shall pass the following courses corresponding to 60 ECTS credits under the 2nd-cycle (master’s) study programme in Law: Philosophy and Theory of Law (8 ECTS), Lex Mercatoria (7 ECTS), The EU System of Judicial Protection (7 ECTS), Legal Methods, Skills and Informatics (8 ECTS), Civil Law: Selected Topics (5 ECTS), Civil Procedure: Selected Topics (5 ECTS), Business and Company Law: Selected Materials (5 ECTS), Criminal Law: Selected Topics (5 ECTS), Labour Law and Social Law: Selected Topics (5 ECTS), and Constitutional and Administrative Law and EU Law: Selected Topics (5 ECTS).
Valid for enrolment from the 2028/29 academic year:
A candidate may enrol in the third-cycle doctoral study programme in Law if they meet the following requirements:
1. They have completed a second-cycle study programme (or a comparable foreign programme) in one of the relevant fields of study:
humanities (022); languages (023); social sciences, journalism and information science (03); business, administration and law (04); mathematics and statistics (054); information and communication technologies – ICT (061); electrical engineering and energy (0713); architecture, spatial planning and civil engineering (073); veterinary science (084); health and welfare (09); public hygiene, occupational health and safety (102); national, public and property security (103); transport (104);
2.
They have a command of the English language at least at the threshold level, including the basics of English legal terminology;
3.
They successfully complete an interview, intended to assess the feasibility of the individual preliminary doctoral study plan.
Selection criteria in the event of limited enrolment
If the number of applications exceeds the number of available enrolment places, candidates shall be ranked according to:
– grade point average including the thesis (20%) and
– grade awarded for an oral competitive examination (80%).
The evaluation of the success of the previous study consists of:
- average grade of passed exams at the undergraduate or postgraduate study program,
- the diploma of the undergraduate or postgraduate study program.
Criteria used in the oral competitive examination:
- relevance of the research topic;
- correspondence between the field of research and scientific-research work conducted at the Faculty of Law and the availability of a suitable supervisor;
- previous scientific-research work conducted by the candidate (published professional and scientific papers, professional and scientific monographs, or chapters in a monograph); and
- other criteria.
Valid for enrolment from the 2028/29 academic year:
In the case of restricted enrolment in the third-cycle study programme, the selection of candidates will be based on the following criteria:
1.
Academic performance in the previous studies (grade point average including the final thesis): 50 %
2.
Feasibility of the individual preliminary doctoral study plan (interview): 50 %
Transfer criteria between study programmes
Candidates who completed the following may apply for the 3rd-cycle (doctoral) study programme in Law:
– A master of science study programme adopted prior to 11 June 2004.
Candidates are awarded between 60 and 120 ECTS credits and may enrol in either the second or the third year of study.
– A specialisation (60 ECTS credits) following an undergraduate academic study programme (240 ECTS credits) adopted prior to 11 June 2004 and corresponding to 300 ECTS credits in total.
Candidates are awarded at least 60 ECTS credits.
Candidates eligible to enrol directly in the second or third year of study shall attend doctoral workshops and pass the first and second doctoral seminar.
In accordance with the transfer criteria, candidates may transfer to the 3rd-cycle (doctoral) study programme in Law from other 3rd-cycle (doctoral) study programmes in the field of law (0421) or an affiliated field – business and administration (0488), social sciences (0388), and security services (1032) – provided they lead to the acquisition of comparable competencies and that at least half of the study obligations under the previous study programme relating to compulsory courses of the new study programme are recognised.
Depending on the amount of recognised study obligations completed under the previous study programme attended in the Republic of Slovenia or abroad, candidates may be admitted to the same or a subsequent year of study of the 3rd-cycle (doctoral) study programme in Law.
Under the recognition procedure, fulfilled study obligations that may be recognised fully or partially are identified, and study obligations required for completion of the new study programme are laid down.
Criteria for recognition of knowledge and skills, gained before the enrolment in the study programme
Applications for the recognition of knowledge and skills are considered by the Faculty of Law under the relevant regulations, namely the Rules on the recognition of knowledge and skills in the study programs of the University of Maribor no. 012/2019/2, which regulates the procedures for the identification, verification, and recognition of knowledge and the criteria for the recognition of knowledge and skills acquired before enrollment in the study program, which candidates acquire through formal, non-formal or experiential learning. Candidates in the process of identifying, verifying, and recognizing knowledge and skills acquired before enrollment in the study program are generally recognized obligations up to a maximum of 30 ECTS according to the study program to which the candidates wish to enroll or are enrolled, but exceptionally the candidate may also be granted several obligations.
The candidate submits an application for recognition of knowledge to the Commission for Study Affairs of the Senate of the Faculty of Law, University of Maribor. Knowledge may be recognized in full, only in part or not. In case they are partially recognized, the student is assigned a partial exam from the chapters determined by the course holder.
The criterion for the recognition of knowledge and skills is the equivalence of knowledge and skills acquired through formal and non-formal education about the content of the program or individual subjects.
Students of master's study programs for obtaining the title of Master of Laws or Masters of Science in a certain field of law, who have not yet prepared and defended a master's thesis, are recognized knowledge and skills from these programs up to 90 ECTS, where recognition cannot include the subject Legal Methodology.
Criteria for completing the study
The Third-cycle doctoral study program in Law is completed when the student completes all study obligations in the amount of 240 credit points - ECTS (passes all examinations determined by the third-cycle doctoral study program Law and prepares and successfully defends a doctoral dissertation).
