Undergraduate Study – Public Administration graduates

Public Administration I is a first cycle interdisciplinary university study programme lasting three years and amounting to 180 ECTS.

 After fulfilling the requirements for the completion of this study programme, the graduate is awarded the title of Bachelor of Public Administration.

 Date of last accreditation by the Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency: 19 November 2015.

The first cycle university study programme Public Administration I is an interdisciplinary specialization in public administration at the national and European level. It is intended both as academic education towards the master’s degree, as well as professionalization for demanding working environments. This programme follows the principles of the Bologna Declaration, taking into consideration globally acknowledged educational practice based on the understanding of public administration phenomena. Combining theoretical and applicative knowledge, it primarily draws from administrative, judicial and diplomatic practice (case law, court law, international legal and contract law) in connection with the findings of comparative and theoretical research. Lectures are focused on current social topics in the areas of state, government, and administrative systems, self-administrative local communities, public spending financing, public administration organization, administrative procedural law, tax law, European constitutional law, etc. The study programme educates administrative professionals who gain basic general and particularly special knowledge required for carrying out tasks within the public administration. The programme trains the graduates of public administration to be able to cope with even the most complex and unpredictable situations and challenges in the field of public administration. Further, students learn the skills of critical thinking and independent creative work. State administration no longer only represents the service for citizens but is increasingly changing from bureaucratic apparatus into an advisory and steering assistance for both citizens and businesses. The purpose of this study programme thus is to educate quality staff, which will with their knowledge actively contribute to the development of public administration field and profession.

This study programme prepares graduates to perform most demanding tasks in legal, administrative and diplomatic environments at the national and European level. Its theoretical and methodological elements, as well as the applicability of delivered knowledge are on the one hand the basis for further study, especially within the study programme of Public Administration II, and the source of professional competences, knowledge and skills on the other hand. During the study programme students gain comprehensive skills needed for careers in public administration, especially in the state administration bodies, in the municipal administration and in public authorities, as well as in the field of public services provision. Further, the programme offers a broad interdisciplinary knowledge to all who wish to work in the European Union institutions and in the private sector, which needs good professionals for constructive engagement with national and international institutions. Graduates can find employment in public administration and in the private sector in Slovenia as well as in the EU because this degree is recognizable according to the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region.

Further Study

Graduates may enroll in one of the master’s study programmes within the New University, especially Public Administration II, but also Law II, Law and Management of Real Estate II, Alternative Dispute Resolution II, International and Diplomatic Studies II and Civil and Commercial Law II. Since Public Administration I is internationally comparable, graduates may continue education within comparable master’s programmes in the field of social sciences.

The first year of the undergraduate university study programme in Public Administration can be enrolled by:
– all who have successfully passed the matura exam;
– all who have successfully passed the vocational matura exam under any secondary school programme and passed an exam in one of the matura subjects, which, however, must not be a subject that the candidate has already passed on the vocational matura exam;
– all who have completed any four-year secondary school programme prior to 1 June 1995.

All who have completed an equivalent educational programme abroad likewise meet the enrolment conditions.

Other conditions may be determined by individual bilateral agreements of transnational education or mobility.

Criteria for Transferring

Transfers are possible between study programmes of the same cycle (1st). They are possible between study programmes which on completion of studies ensure the acquisition of comparable competences. The transfer is possible from undergraduate programmes in the fields of law, business and administration sciences, public administration and other related areas, with the recognition of those courses which contents and extent overlap with the courses of the study programme Administrative Law.

The Study Commission decides on the possibility of transfer. It identifies the already completed study obligations and fully or partially recognizes them. It then determines the obligations required to complete this study programme. Based on this, it may require from the candidates to complete additional obligations to enroll in the higher year or semester.

Other conditions may be determined by individual bilateral agreements of transnational education or mobility.

Recognition of Prior Knowledge

Recognition of formally acquired knowledge:
A candidate who passed courses in an accredited study programme at another higher education institution prior to enrolling in the New University may request the recognition of the courses if they were taken at the same cycle and level of the accredited programme as those he has enrolled in at the New University.

Candidates who are enrolling at the New University according to the transfer criteria submit the application for recognition of courses when applying for enrolment. They submit the application on the form “Application for Recognition of Formal and Non-Formal Education prior to Enrolment at the New University “. In the application, the student must state clearly and precisely for which course she/he wishes the exam to be recognized. The application must be enclosed with an Academic Transcript and the course curriculum. If the application for recognition of exams is not submitted upon enrolment, subsequent recognition of compulsory courses is payable. The recognition is decided by the Study Commission.

Recognition of informally acquired knowledge:
Candidates may request recognition of knowledge at the comparable level acquired within informal education outside accredited study programmes (professional exams, projects, scientific or professional works and publications, other copyright works, active participation at summer schools and competitions).

Decisions on recognition are adopted by the Study Commission. Based on the provided documents of non-formal education, the candidate or student may be recognized the amount of the credits of two optional courses per individual year of study at the most.

Other conditions may be determined by individual bilateral agreements of transnational education or mobility.

Selection Criteria in Case of Limited Enrolment

In the event that the number of applied candidates exceeds the number of announced enrolment places, the New University adopts a decision on limited enrolment, with consent from the Government of the Republic of Slovenia.

In the event of limited enrolment the following criteria shall be considered when selecting candidates:
– in the case of candidates who have successfully completed the matura exam: general performance on the matura exam 60% of points, general performance in the third and fourth year 40% of points;
– in the case of candidates who have successfully passed the vocational matura exam under any secondary school programme and passed an exam in one of the matura subjects: general performance on the vocational matura exam 40% of points, general performance in the third and fourth year 40% of points, and performance in the matura subject 20% of points;
– in the case of candidates who have completed any four-year secondary school programme prior to 1 June 1995: general performance on the final exam 60% of points and general performance in the third and fourth year 40% of points.

The Enrolment Committee decides on limited enrolment.

Other conditions may be determined by individual bilateral agreements of transnational education or mobility.

Conditions for Progression and Completion of Studies

A student may advance from the first to the second year if he has fulfilled all of the requirements laid down in the study programme for enrolment in a higher year by the end of the academic year or has attained at least 40 credits by successfully passing exams for the courses of the year in which he is enrolled. A student may advance from the second to the third year if he has fulfilled all of the requirements laid down in the study programme for enrolment in a higher year by the end of the academic year or has attained at least 40 credits by successfully passing exams in the courses of the year in which he is enrolled, under the condition that he has fulfilled all of the requirements from the first year.

Graduating in Public Administration I requires completing all courses, and completing as well as successfully defending the bachelor’s thesis according to the New University regulations.