The university single-major study programme Physics was adopted by the Senate of the Faculty of Education at the University of Maribor on 16 May 2006 and by the Senate of the University of Maribor on 19 Apr. 2006. On the basis of Article 49 of the Law on Higher Education (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, no. 119/06-UPB3) and on the basis of the Measures and Procedures for the Accreditation of Institutions of Higher Education and Study Programmes (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, no. 101/04), the Council for Higher Education at its 16th meeting of 8 Dec. 2006 formally approved the programme. On the basis of the Decree on Changes and Amendments to the Decree on the Transformation of the University of Maribor (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, no. 36/06), and based on the articles of the Statute of the University of Maribor (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, no. 75/06 - Statute of the University of Maribor UPB2), the above study programme is carried out by the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

A student advances to the second study year if they collect at least 52 ECTS credits and complete laboratory work, as well as the following obligatory courses: Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Thermodynamics, Physics Experiments 1, Basic Measurements. Without these courses completed, it is not possible to advance to a higher study year under any condition. A student advances to the third study year if they have completed all first year obligations, if they have collected at least 45 ECTS from their second year obligations, and if they have fully completed Laboratory Work (2nd year). Completed courses must include: Oscillation and Waves, Modern Physics, Mathematical Physics 1, Physics Experiments 2, and Physics Experiments. Without these courses completed, or without having completed all 1st year obligations, it is not possible to advance to the 3rd study year under any condition.

The diploma holder can continue studies in post-graduate study programmes in accordance with the conditions determined by the institution of higher education offering the post-graduate study programme.

With the university study programme Physics, the diploma holder acquires the ability of logical thinking, to identify problems and find approaches to solving them. This provides him/her with ideal employment possibilities in companies, institutes and institutions, while at the same time opening a wide range of self-employment possibilities. As regards the general and subject-specific competences of the study programme Physics, the diploma holder can be employed in working positions where according to the previous regulations a higher education diploma was required in the field of physics or in any other field. In the following, working positions suitable for the diploma holder of the study programme Physics are defined. The descriptions are made on the basis of the descriptions of working positions adopted from the calls for application by the Employment agency of the Republic of Slovenia. The diploma holder of the university study programme Physics can be employed in/as: - maintenance and carrying out of measurement technologies in industry supported by modern communication, information and computer systems; - technical diagnostics (measurement of noise, vibrations, laser centring); performing physical measurements in the field of environmental protection and occupational safety; - expert in the field of nuclear technology; - operation and maintenance of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment (radiology, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in interdisciplinary fields in medicine; - in physics and computer laboratories in elementary, professional secondary and grammar schools; - expert in the preparation and development of models and computer applications for the modelling and optimization of production processes; - expert in the optimisation of energy consumption and that of raw materials in production processes; - consulting and sale of insulation material in housing development and industrial construction; calculation of heat losses in constructions; - marketing of products in the field of measurement technology and the respective computer programming and multimedia equipment; - sale of specific medical measuring equipment which requires specific knowledge from physics.

The calculations include the mean average values for hours in the study program. Due to different numbers of hours per elective course, the sum of all hours may vary from student to student. Individual student work in this study program Physics amounts to 3235 hours. The program is based on strong vertical and horizontal relatedness between courses.

Each semester consists of subjects which supplement each other, while the knowledge gained in the courses in individual semesters serve as a sound basis for successful work in the semesters to follow. The student can shape 18.3 % of the programme according to his/her own choice of elective courses. Obligatory practice is not prescribed for the first cycle of the study programme Physics.

Examination and assessment of student learning outcomes is performed in accordance with the criteria and methods defined in the Rules on the Examination and Assessment of Knowledge at the University of Maribor: https://www.um.si/univerza/dokumentni-center/akti/Dopolnitve2013/Pravilnik%20o%20preverjanju%20in%20ocenjevanju%20znanja%20na%20UM%20-%20NPB3,%20AVGUST%202019doc.pdf. Knowledge examination and assessment methods at the University of Maribor are regulated by the Statute of the University of Maribor and the Rules on Examinations and Grading of the University of Maribor, No. A4/2009-41AG (University of Maribor Journal, No. XXVII-6-2009); Amendments to the Rules on Examinations and Grading of the University of Maribor, No. A4/2009-41AG (University of Maribor Journal, No. XXVIII-7-2010); Amendments to the Rules on Examinations and Grading of the University of Maribor, No. A4/2009-41AG (University of Maribor Journal, No. XXX-2-2012); Amendments to the Rules on Examinations and Grading of the University of Maribor, No. A4/2009-41AG (University of Maribor Journal, No. XXXII-5-2014); Rules on Examinations and Grading of the University of Maribor – unofficial consolidated text (2015); Amendments to the Rules on Examinations and Grading of the University of Maribor, No. A4/2009-41AG (2019): https://www.um.si/univerza/dokumentni-center/akti/Dopolnitve2013/Pravilnik%20o%20preverjanju%20in%20ocenjevanju%20znanja%20na%20UM%20-%20NPB3,%20AVGUST%202019doc.pdf. Forms and methods of assessment are defined in Article 5 of the Rules on Examinations and Grading. Criteria and methods for knowledge assessment of individual subjects are part of the Subject Specification, and are publicly available on the faculty’s website: https://www.fnm.um.si/index.php/shema/.

The aim of the program is to equip graduates not only with fundamental knowledge of physics, but also with basic knowledge of analysis and structure of dynamic systems, as well as with an understanding of complex systems in nature and society, building on a relatively simple physics-based foundation. The objective is to provide graduates with basic knowledge in applied fields, which is then fully developed in 2nd cycle studies: analysis of dynamics of complex systems and econophysics, computational physics, biophysics and environmental physics. All the fields are in accordance with the current employment needs and the envisioned future needs of experts. Graduates are trained in systemic thinking, they learn to identify problems and offer solutions, and are able to perform their work with the support of up-to-date communicational, informational and computer systems. Each learning unit has specific goals. Achievement of these goals is tested by means of written and oral exams, practical knowledge tests, seminar papers, independent work (problem-based learning), and for lab work, by means of laboratory work journals.

General competences acquired in the study programme Physics: - ability of system thinking enabling the diploma holder inclusion into interdisciplinary groups dealing with complex systems in various fields of natural sciences, banking, insurance, environmental problem solving, - ability to analyse complex systems, which is the basis for understanding the functioning of systems in nature, in the environment and in society, - knowledge of the structures and functioning of systems in physics and their application in other areas - ability to apply the obtained knowledge in practice, - solving professional and working problems with searching for sources of knowledge and with the application of scientific methods, - collaboration and team work.

Subject-specific competences/learning outcomes obtained by completing the 1st cycle study programme Physics include: - knowledge and understanding of physical systems, - knowledge and understanding of basic concepts in physics and their application in the interpretation of naturally occurring phenomena in the environment, - knowledge of interconnections between physical and other systems in nature and society, - understanding and solving basic problems in physics on a qualitative and quantitative level, - applying principles of scientific thinking to quantitatively address issues in nature, the environment and society, - competence in safe fieldwork and experimental laboratory work, ability for hazard identification and risk assessment, knowledge of safety regulations and acting accordingly, - demonstration and interpretation of experimental data and its links to theory, assessment of accuracy of measured quantities, - developed computational skills for problem-solving and ability to estimate order-of-magnitude and result units, - ability to work as part of a (project) team and to perform laboratory work, - planning project work, group work and laboratory work, - forming connections between macroscopic and microscopic interpretations of different phenomena, - realizing the importance of physics as a catalyst for technological development, - basic understanding of environmental issues and the importance of physics in preventing and reducing pollution.

The first year of the university study programme Physics 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: Electrotechnician, Construction Technician, Chemical Technician, or Mechanical Engineering Technician, and an examination in the general Matura subjects Physics or Mathematics; 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) and c) will be selected according to: - general success in the general Matura or final examination (60 % of points), - general success in the 3rd and 4th year of secondary education (40 % of points). b) candidates referred to in point b) will be selected according to: - general success in the vocational Matura (20 % of points), - general success in the 3rd and 4th year of secondary education (20 % of points), - general success in Mathematics in the 3rd and the 4th of secondary education (20 % of points), - general success in a Matura subject: 40 % of points.

In case of limitations regarding enrolment, candidates under a) and c) are chosen according to: - general success in the Matura examination or in the secondary school final examination: 60 % of points - general success in the 3rd and the 4th school years: 40 % of points; and candidates under b) according to: - general success in the professional Matura examination: 20 % of points - general success in the 3rd and the 4th school years: 20 % of points - success in Mathematics in the 3rd and the 4th school years: 40 % of points - success in the general Matura subject: 20 % 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 physics, natural sciences, mathematics, and technical 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 physics, natural sciences, mathematics, and technical 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 Point 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 of 1st Cycle Study Programmes can obtain full recognition of the knowledge and skills acquired through various forms of formal education before enrolment, which the student demonstrates with relevant qualifications (certificates, degrees, diplomas and other documents). The recognition process shall take into account the following criteria: the assessment of the achieved knowledge and skills must be based on the educational goals of the study program; the relevant skills must be properly documented and at an appropriate level of complexity; the acquired knowledge and skills are recognized regardless of where and when the student acquired them. The process of identification, verification and recognition of knowledge and skills entails the submission of an application, amendments to the application, consideration of the application at the competent authority of the member faculty, the issuing of a decision, and the procedure for the appeal of a candidate against the issued decision. The faculty recognises the knowledge and skills of the candidates if, in terms of their scope, content and complexity, these correspond fully or partially to the general or subject-specific competences determined by the study programme in which the candidates wish to enrol or are enrolled. Recognition of knowledge and skills is defined in the RULES ON THE RECOGNITION OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN THE STUDY PROGRAMMES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARIBOR No. 012/2019/2: https://www.um.si/univerza/dokumentni-center/akti/GlavniDokumenti2013/Pravilnik%20o%20priznavanju%20znanj%20in%20spretnosti%20v%20%C5%A1tudijskih%20programih%20UM%20%C5%A1t.%20012-2019-2.pdf.

The conditions for completion of the studies in the study programme Physics are completed courses defined in the study programme including the elective courses, altogether amounting up to at least 180 ECTS points.