Higher education in the Slovak Republic is provided by higher educational institutions, which are a part of the European Higher Education Area and the common European Research Area. Their goal is to develop harmonious personality, knowledge, wisdom, the good and creativity in people and contribute to the development of education, science, culture and health for the good of the whole society.
Higher education institutions in the Slovak Republic have an exclusive right granted by law to provide and organise higher education. Specialised training facilities and some other accredited non-higher education institutions are also involved in the provision of higher education. Higher education institutions also provide further education.
Higher education in the Slovak Republic is provided by higher education institutions and institutions with accredited study programmes. Fulfilment of accreditation conditions is assessed by the Accreditation Commission. Accreditation is granted by the minister of education based on the Accreditation Commission’s statement. Higher education institutions may ask for study programme accreditation in any field of study.
The study programme may consist of either one field or several fields. The higher education is to be achieved in the respective field of study or in their combination. The system of the fields of study is managed by the ministry of education. The eventual changes in the system are commented by the Accreditation Commission of the SR. The system of the fields of study includes their descriptions, which specify the study field content as well as outcomes of education at the given level and field of study. The very profile of the study programme graduate, the conditions for regular completing of the study and organisation of the study fall within the self-administration competence of the higher education institution. The higher education institutions are, however, obliged to subordinate the study organisation to the credit system. The standard student load per academic year is 60 credits. Details on transfer and cumulation of credits are set out in law.
The study programmes may be provided in full-time and part-time form of study. The full-time form of study is characterised by daily participation of students in educational activities. The part-time form is characterised, particularly, by individual study and consultations.
The academic year starts in agreement with the higher education act on 1st September and ends on 31st August of the following calendar year. The higher education institution decides if the academic year is structured into two semesters or three trimesters. Number of weeks of individual semesters/trimesters, number of weeks in which the education, examination session or holidays take place, are determined by the higher education institution itself.
Higher education in the Slovak Republic is provided by 20 public higher education institutions, three state higher education institutions, twelve private higher education institutions and six foreign higher education institutions.
Public and state higher education institutions are, to a greater extent, financed from the state budget. Private higher education institutions secure financing for their educational, research, development, artistic and other creative activities themselves. The ministry provides private higher education institutions with subsidies for social support of students.
Tuition fees and fees connected with the study at public higher education institutions are defined by law. Full-time students are not charged. Students who simultaneously study two or more study programmes at the same level provided by a public higher education institution in one academic year are obliged to pay tuition fees in the second and the other study programme in the respective academic year. Students who exceed the standard length of a public higher education institution study programme have to pay the annual tuition fees for every extra year of their study to the higher educational institution. Part-time higher education students have to pay annual tuition fees for every year of their study. Tuition fees and fees connected with the study at a private higher education institution are defined by the private higher education institution in its internal regulations.
Legislative References
Act No. 131/2002 on higher education and on the change and supplement to some acts as amended by subsequent provision (fully wording in the Act No. 175/2008) (Act of the National Council of SR).
Decree No. 614/2002 on credit system study (Decree of the Ministry of Education of the SR).