Study abroad

Ismail admires the way people in Slovenia live in harmony with nature Ismail Myrseli from Kosovo is a cultural studies student at the University of Ljubljana. Coming from a diverse background, Ismail has always been drawn to discovering new cultures—and his journey in Slovenia has become exactly that.

Zuzanna Bal from Poland studied for a time in both Maribor and Ljubljana and plans to make the country her home in the future.

24-year old Emilija Dunoska left her home town Ohrid in Macedonia for Slovenia's 2nd biggest city Maribor right after high school. As graduation approaches, she’s not quite ready to leave. The very open-minded student admits family is still something she misses a lot. Don't miss Emilija's story to hear what five years of studying abroad have really been like for her - from motivating lectures and foreign internships to exploring clubs with her friends, learning Spanish and cultural surprises. She's experienced it all. She picked Grammy Award-winning artist Bad Bunny's BAILE INoLVIDABLE.

Mastering the art of living on your own, and plans of roller-skating in Koper :) Muhammad is a young Pakistani who decided to spend a semester at the University of Primorska. He says Slovenia has cold weather, but loves to go for walks along the sea. And the despite the challenges of finding accommodation and making new friends, Muhammad is happy to recommend Koper to others ;) Muhammad chose to play the song "See you again" by Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth

The 19-year-old comes from the outskirts of the small city of Bor, home to one of the largest copper mines in Europe. Used to more polluted air, Andreja admits that during his first few days in Maribor, he actually had trouble adjusting to the cleaner air. Currently enrolled at both the University of Niš and the University of Maribor, he says he prefers studying in Maribor, where he studies Media Communications. He chose to play the song Mokre ulice by Dejan Cukić (feat. Spori Ritam).

Anna Darewska from Poland is currently studying at the Faculty of Education in Ljubljana. She came to Ljubljana together with her husband as newlyweds – so they treat their time in Slovenia as a one of a kind honeymoon!

Nikola Zdravkovic is doing a medical traineeship at the University Medical Centre Maribor. He says he enjoys the relaxed pace of people here, especially when compared to Serbia. During his time he has travelled extensively, scrapbooking as he goes!

At just 21, Lena Rothstein packed her bags in Hamburg, Germany, and moved to Ljubljana to study law. One thing she admires about Slovenians is how dedicated they are to spending time outdoors. Her advice to other foreign students: ''Come with an open mind, and don’t forget to explore beyond the classroom! Just do it!'' For a short music break, Lena chose Nice To Each Other by UK artist Olivia Dean.

Amandine from France studies agriculture at the University of Maribor. In the future she would like to work in the field of environmental protection. She chose Maribor because of its size, surroundings and nature. She runs by the Drava river and goes swimming at the local swimming pool. Amandine's first challenge here was learning how to get from Maribor to the Faculty of Agriculture, which is located in nearby Hoče. It was in Maribor that Amandine experienced sharing a room with another student for the first time, and she was surprised to find out that Slovenians, in contrast to the French, eat all day long :) Amandine chose to play the song "Quand je marche" by Ben Mazué.

Angelo Strandberg from Sweden is currently a student at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law. He wants to explore the diverse nature in Slovenia and he told us about his experience so far as an Erasmus exchange student.

Francisco Cid, a psychology student from Spain, came to Maribor to experience something different. And although he was worried that the people might be more cold or more reserved, he says he has been pleasantly surprised. He tells us about his experience so far as an Erasmus exchange student.

Matej Davčev, a medical student from Macedonia, came to Slovenia for some practical experience as part of his medical studies in Varna, Bulgaria. Ever since he was a kid, Matej dreamed of being a doctor - now he’s living the Erasmus life at the Faculty of Medicine in Maribor. Textbooks, scalpels, operating room coats & a little Balkan flair! Matej chose to play the song Во коси да ти спијам (Vo kosi da ti spijam/Let me Sleep in Your Hair) by the late Macedonian singer Toše Proeski.

Languages and diplomacy is what keeps Wojciech busy in Ljubljana. Originally from central Poland, Wojciech speaks many languages and would like to improve his Slovenian. Apart from studying at the University of Ljubljana, he also helps out at the Polish Embassy in Ljubljana :) Wojciech chose to play the song "D'yer Mak'er" by Led Zeppelin.

Meet Kosta Popov from Serbia — a student at the University of Primorska, Faculty of Management in Koper. Not only did he dive into student life, he became a tutor student, took on the role of buddy coordinator, and mastered the Slovenian language! Kosta picked the song Zažarim by Raiven

Katarina Kahankova from Czechia talks about her time in Maribor as a foreign-exchange student.

Meet Aizakhon Urinboeva, a software engineering student with Uzbek roots who swapped the hustle of Istanbul for the calm streets of Maribor. What’s it really like to study abroad in Slovenia? She explained how city life on two wheels lead to personal growth and unexpected lessons — like the value of slowing down and enjoying your own company. Aizakhon picked the song Die with a smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars

Liling Yan is a PhD anthropology student doing a research on female mountaineers. She was born and raised in China, is a student in Cape Town, South Africa, and is now doing her project fieldwork in Slovenia. As part of her fieldwork Liling goes hiking every weekend meeting other mountaineers and creating new friendships along the way. She loves the mountaineering culture in Slovenia, the mountain tea, jota, and štruklji ;) Liling chose to play the song "Friends (朋友)" by Emil Wakin Chau (周华健).

Amelie Bruin comes from Strasbourg, France. As a young Erasmus student at the Ljubljana Faculty of Arts, she just loves the fact that Slovenia's capital is small and therefore very walkable. Compared to France, she said that the studies in Ljubljana are much better in terms of quality courses and the level of language, as well as, support from the professors. Apart from her studies (major in translation), she also has many other interests, including listening to music, especially 80s music, cooking, dancing, tatooing, art and painting. She definitely plans to come back one day, especially for skiing and hiking. Amelie picked the song Rebel Yell by rock legend Billy Idol.

Martin Demovič, from Slovakia, talks about his experiences in Maribor as a foreign-exchange student.

Meet Carina Miller, a German student who took a leap of adventure and swapped the familiar streets of her hometown for Ljubljana studying applied statistics. She’s loving the organized study system in Slovenia and the chance to connect with so many young people from across the EU. Get ready to hear her story, as she takes us behind the scenes of her semester in Slovenia. Carina chose to play the song "99 Luftballons" by Nena.

Marius is from Germany and is spending his Erasmus experience at the University of Ljubljana studying journalism. One thing he discovered in Slovenia is that hiking can be a lot of fun, and Marius is really happy about his Amnesty International human rights course... Marius chose to play the song "The Emptiness Machine" by Linkin Park.

Jan Tranžík from the Czech Republic has been studying Slovene language since 2019. He said that coming to Slovenia through an Erasmus exchange program was the only logical option to hear the language in practice. He spent a year in Slovenia, after prolonging the usual one-semester stay, since he enjoyed it so much here. Jan chose to play the song Traktor by Czech punk-rock band Visací Zámek.

Monika is from the Czech Republic and spent a semester at the University of Maribor. She has many kind words for the hospitality of Slovenes and for the lunch coupon system used by Slovenian students. She points out some of the funny differences between Czech and Slovene and explains how it's possible to make a sculpture out of bread!

Emma is from Italy, and she is spending a semester at the Faculty of Social Sciences - University of Ljubljana. She enjoys student life in Ljubljana very much and emphasizes never to go by stereotypes when thinking about places one has not been to before. Emma chose to play the song "Mida" by the band Quercia.

Lola is from the UK. She's into history and arts and is spending a semester at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ljubljana. Lola is also big into music and film, and already completed a couple of short films while residing in Ljubljana;) She's also part of a band called Beltane Dew! Lola chose to play the song "Oh My Lover" by Beltane Dew.

Matilde Liz von Hafe Magalhães Vieira, a 21-year old Erasmus student from Portugal, came to Ljubljana to study at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics. She said she really wanted to have the experience of Slovenia's high mountains. But the main reason she chose to come to Slovenia, was that it's really central, so she's done a lot of travelling, while staying here. She was also really happy to have a chance to play soccer again. Through her eyes, Slovenians just like Portuguese make a huge effort in welcoming foreigners. Plus, she was surprised to see that Slovenians are also very civilized, as there is no litter on the ground. Matilde chose to play the song Happiness by one of her favourite bands 1975.

Natalia is from Poland. She studies social work and decided to spend her Erasmus experience at the University of Ljubljana. So why Slovenia, what are the positives of being a student in Ljubljana, and what does she miss? To find out more, take a walk with us along the Sava River, and join us we visit a local animal farm :) Natalia chose to play the song "La pioggia di marzo" by Mina.

Jakub Souček, a Czech Erasmus student of Czech language and literature at Ljubljana's Faculty of Arts, just loves the fact that art can be found on every corner of Slovenia's capital. Apart from literature, poetry, music and galleries, he really likes the city's architecture, including the main cemetery. Jakub chose to play the song Prší třetí den by DUKLA feat. TK27.

Melek says that the absence of the stress of everyday life during her exchange in Ljubljana changed her. Here, she was forced to spend some time alone and, for the first time in her life, ask herself what she wants from life and what makes her happy. She chose to play the song Kaybolur by Soft Analog.

The most significant difference noticed by the Mathematics student at the University of Primorska is the duration of studies: in Slovenia, it lasts 4 years, while in Serbia, it’s only 3. Another difference is that at the faculty in Belgrade, where her colleagues study, they still use physical index cards, whereas here, exam grades are already digitized. She chose the song Symphony by Zara Larsson.

Elise is a neuro science student who spent a year in Ljubljana as part of a Fullbright scholarship, where she researched the metabolism of our brain's immune cells. Why did she chose Slovenia for her research and what has this experience taught her? She chose to play the song Hope by the American rapper NF.

The Erasmus student from Spain says that one of the biggest challenges for exchange students is overcoming the fear of missing out (FOMO). For her, conquering this fear meant understanding and embracing a few key concepts. She chose to play the song Lodo by Spanish alternative rock musician Xoel López.

Diana is a Portuguese student who came to Maribor for a semester to study mechanical engineering. Although she appreciated the more hands-on approach to studying here, she mentioned that she spent a considerable amount of time counting down the days until she could leave Slovenia. She says that her Erasmus experience, overall, won't be remembered too fondly. She chose to play the song Agarra Em Mim by Ana Moura ft. Pedro Mafama.

The 17- and 18-year-old didn’t have much of a choice when it came to selecting the country of their internship, but they did end up liking their time in Maribor and Slovenia in general a lot. They chose to play the song Heavy Fuel by Dire Straits.

Adrian is one of those people who believes that if you truly truly set your mind to something, you can achieve it. And that sometimes, the path you start on isn't the one you end up on. He chose to play the song La casa por el tejado by Fito & Fitipaldis.

One challenge Luca says she faced in Ljubljana was the language barrier as she does not speak Slovenian. What differences has she noticed between studying and life in the Netherlands vs. In Slovenia? She chose to play the song If I Am Only My Thoughts by Loving.

Ana says her friends were taken aback by her choice to study in Slovenia for a semester. Nevertheless, she proceeded with her decision, emphasizing the significance of allowing oneself the opportunity to explore their identity in youth, free from the influences and pressures of their home environment. She chose to play the song Don’t Let Me Down by The Beatles.

Flore says that she couldn't have chosen a better place for the exchange than Ljubljana, as it embodies everything she wanted and that adventures were bountiful here - from weekend trips to different parts of the country to losing her phone on Triglav. She chose to play the song Moon Bird by Roger Webb.

The Media Communications student says what surprised her in Maribor was that playgrounds for children are often found next to cafes. This is not the case in Spain. In fact, Slivia says she hasn’t seen it anywhere else. She chose to play the song Hell’s Comin' With Me by Poor Man’s Poison.

Venla studies home economics. In Finland, it's a subject that's mandatory for both elementary and secondary school students. Students aged between 13 and 15 learn various household tasks and chores, including getting familiar with electricity, furniture care, painting, and more. They also learn the basics of family economics, law, finance, natural sciences, physics, mathematics, environmental issues, and similar topics. What differences has Venla noticed between her home country and Ljubljana? She chose to play the song September by Earth, Wind & Fire.

It hasn't snowed for a couple of months now, but it did fall in January when we recorded an interview with Laura in Ljubljana. Laura hails from southern Spain, where it rarely snows except in one place. Interestingly, snow was one of the main reasons she chose to spend a semester in Slovenia. She chose to play the song Motomami by Rosalía.

Five years ago, Can embarked on an Erasmus exchange to Ljubljana, where he spent a semester. Now, as a PhD student, he's opted for a change of scenery, diving into the academic environment of Maribor. In this episode, discover Can's impressions of Styria's capital, learn about the most frequent question Slovenians posed to him during his previous stint, and delve into Anatolian rock music—what it is and how it sounds like. Can’s music piece of choice is Cemalim by Erkin Koray.

Two years ago, Andrej started his studies at Maribor's FERI. But this was not the faculty he wanted to enroll in originally. He chose to play the song Bella by Pajak x Lara.

Nevena chose to pursue studies in social work after years of dedicated work in her own non-governmental organization, supporting children and youth with disabilities. What did she think of Slovenia's capital and how accessible is it in her opinion? She chose to play the song Ljubav by Bojana Vunturišević.

During her second weekend in Ljubljana, Eliška became a "true Slovene." Climbing Triglav was just the beginning, as she continued scaling numerous peaks. According to her, the stereotype about how Czechs love to go hiking holds true. She chose to play the song Could Have Been Me by The Struts.

The Erasmus student says that often, the first association of his compatriots when mentioning Slovenia is Yugoslavia. After spending a semester in Ljubljana, he believes Slovenia is much more beautiful and interesting than they imagine. He chose to play the song You're the voice by John Farnham

Lana says she feels blessed to be able to study in Slovenia for free. She says that in Serbia, entrance exams determine who secures scholarships. Those at the top earn the scholarships, while others have to pay tuition fees.

Candice and Jade are currently back in France after acing their 6-week Erasmus internship in Ljubljana this summer. To secure their spot, they hustled—applying, emailing, and making things happen! They chose to play the song Osama by Zakes Bantwini and Kasango.

Despite having lived in Slovakia, Greece and other countries, Jaanika says that apart from her native Estonia, Slovenia is the only other country where she has felt at home. She came to Slovenia to study cognitive science for one semester, but ended up staing here for more than 2 years. She chose to play the song X-RAY by Tommy Cash.

The dual form may come as a surprise to some foreigners who move to Slovenia. For Bojana, who moved here from North Macedonia three years ago (and since has learned to speak Slovenian fluently), learning the language was, at first, one of her biggest challenges. Now, she finds the dual form romantic. The speech and language therapy student says that learning new languages is also something that comes in handy professionally. She chose to play the song Que Será, Será (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) by Doris Day.