Univerza na Primorskem Fakulteta za matematiko, naravoslovje in informacijske tehnologije
Presentation of the study
The doctoral study programme Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments is conducted in Slovenian and English language.
The programme provides a contemporary and forward-looking education that combines theory and practice in the field of renewable materials and healthy built environments. It is strongly interdisciplinary and encourages students to explore cutting-edge topics, opening pathways into the international research community. Students gain an in-depth understanding of theoretical concepts, broad technical knowledge, and the ability to independently develop new knowledge, enabling them to address complex theoretical and practical problems using modern technological tools.
The programme fosters analytical and synthetic thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, creativity in developing sustainable solutions, and competences for presenting and critically addressing challenges in the field of renewable materials. This prepares students for high-level professional and research careers in an international environment.
Programme information
Programme name: Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments
Type of programme: Doctoral, 3rd Bologna cycle
Degree awarded: “doktor znanosti / doktorica znanosti”
Duration: 3 years (6 semesters)
ECTS-credits: 180
Mode of study: part-time
Language of instruction: Slovene, English
Place of study: Izola
Accreditation: the programme is accredited in accordance with the Higher Education Act and is officialy recognised.
Admission to the 1st year shall be granted to applicants having:
- a Master’s degree (second cycle); or
- a degree from a study programme with 300 ECTS-credits; or
- a degree from a pre-Bologna reform undergraduate study programme.
The Faculty highly recommends prior education in the areas of built environment, civil engineering, wood science and architecture.
In case of enrolment restrictions in the 1st year, candidates will be chosen on the basis of:
- the success at previous study (average grade, final grade) – 70%,
- the grade of the oral examination – 30%.
The selection procedure will also evaluate the candidate’s presentation of the previous research work and his previous achievements in the scientific and professional field (published scientific and professional articles, awards, prizes and other). The scoring method is defined by the UP FAMNIT commission.
“Transfer between study programmes” refers to a situation in which a student enrolled in a particular study programme does not complete it (i.e. discontinues education in the enrolled programme) and directly enrols into a higher year of a new study programme, whereby both the previous and the new programme must belong to the same Bologna cycle (level). When considering the possibility of transferring to a new study programme, the comparability of the programmes and the student’s completed study requirements in the previous programme are taken into account.
Access to year 2 or year 3 of the doctoral study programme Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments on the basis of the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes is open to candidates of a related third-cycle doctoral degree programme, provided that the following conditions have been met:
- the candidate fulfils the requirements for admission to the study programme of Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments;
- completion of the first study programme which the candidate is transferring from ensures the acquisition of comparable competencies as those envisaged by the study programme of Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments; and
- other conditions in accordance with the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes have also been met (a comparable course structure, course requirements completed).
Entry into Year 2 of the doctoral degree programme of Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments on the basis of the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes is also open to graduates of a related pre-Bologna reform Master’s degree programme.
Individual applications for transfer shall be considered by the relevant committee of UP FAMNIT. Apart from comparability between both fields of study, the committee shall also consider comparability between the study programmes, in accordance with the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes. The applicant may also be required to complete differential exams as defined by the relevant Faculty committee.
Enrolment on the basis of the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes is also open to candidates of a related study programme abroad who have been, in the process of recognition of their studies abroad, legally granted the right to continue their educational training in the study programme of Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments.
In the case of limited enrolment, applicants shall be selected on the basis of the average grade of all completed study obligations obtained during the study programme they are transferring from.
A student can enroll in the 2nd year of study if he / she has completed all compulsory courses of the 1st year and has reached 50 ECTS-credits. A student can enroll in the 3rd year if he / she has completed all study obligations of the 1st year (60 ECTS-credits), acquired at least 40 ECTS-credits from the 2nd year and his / her topic of the doctoral dissertation has been confirmed.
The procedure for registering the topic of the doctoral dissertation is in accordance with the provisions of the university regulations governing the preparation and defence of doctoral dissertations.
A student who has not fulfilled all the obligations of the study programme for enrollment in the next year of study may, subject to the provisions of the Higher Education Act, repeat the year once. If a student repeats a year, they are not entitled to the “graduate status period” (absolvent status), and their student status expires at the end of the 3rd year.
By progressing or repeating a year, a student retains student status and, consequently, the rights and benefits defined by law. In accordance with the law, a student may apply for an extension of student status, but for no more than one year.
In the 2nd year, students choose external elective courses worth a total of 20 ECTS within accredited study programmes of higher education institutions in Slovenia or abroad. These courses may be selected from fields such as architecture, urban planning, toxicology, environmental health, etc., provided they are delivered by appropriately qualified higher education lecturers.
Prior to enrolment, the student must submit the syllabus of the intended elective course. Based on this, the programme coordinator gives approval or rejection for the selection of the course as part of the external elective options. External elective courses may also be completed remotely.
More information on elective courses and study tracks is available in the document “Curriculum” (see above).
General competencies
- The ability to autonomously identify, analyze, critically assess and reflect the situation, anticipate the consequences of factors (mechanical, physical, sociological, psychological, ethical) that influence the use of renewable materials for healthy built environments.
- To be qualified for planning, synthesizing and interdisciplinary solving of complex problems in the field of renewable materials for healthy built environments, with the ability to integrate knowledge from different fields, for a comprehensive problem solving.
- To gain knowledge and skills for independent research work, gain new insights, solve concrete work problems using modern scientific methods and procedures, search for new solutions and manage the most demanding scientific-research and other projects.
- The ability to participate in various interdisciplinary expert groups and integrate various scientific and professional areas.
- To be capable of communication, argumentation of solutions and presentation of research findings to different stakeholders (in the scientific, economic and social environment).
- To acquire skills for identifying situations and applying skills and knowledge gained from scientific and research work to professional solutions, as well as various educational programmes and implementation of the educational process.
Subject-specific competencies
- To understand the tasks and work of civil engineers and spatial planners.
- The ability to address complex problems in the field of renewable materials for healthy built environments with interdisciplinary research work.
- The ability to critically evaluate and address research results, develop and apply new research methods, and transfer and integrate new technologies into practice.
- The ability to critically evaluate the use of wood and other natural materials in a sustainable built environment.
- To manage a broad overview of the areas related to the built environment, construction, planning and sustainable measures and integrate knowledge to solve complex issues.
- To develop a comprehensive knowledge of the broad field of the built environment, which will enable them to efficiently deploy and apply advanced topics in various areas of practice and research work.
- The ability to describe and formulate in writing the given situation.
- The ability to express themselves, define problems in project applications or research plans in the field of renewable materials for healthy built environments.
- The ability to present scientific results in the field of renewable materials for healthy built environments to various audiences.
- Through the understanding and applications of modern technology, they will be able to solve building and other problems related to the use of wood in the built environment.
- The ability to handle and evaluate the analysis of the selected problem.
- The ability to derive logical decisions and deduce new conclusions from the given data.
- To autonomously face problems in the field of renewable materials and a healthy built environment and formulate their solutions logically and analytically.
- The ability to analyze, synthesize and predict solutions and consequences of factors in disciplines related to the built environment, considering sustainable development.
- The ability to critically assess the developments in the field of renewable materials for healthy built environments.
- The ability to independently search, acquire expertise and integrate new knowledge with existing knowledge.
- The ability to search for new information, interpret and evaluate, sort and place them in the context of the built environment disciplines.
Graduates of the Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments doctoral programme can pursue research careers in academia, the public sector or private laboratories. The wide range of theoretical and practical knowledge gained from the programme can also prepare students for diverse employment in research and development or operations across a wide range of industries. The opportunity to participate in practical research during the course of study gives students a distinct advantage as they can connect with industry significantly earlier and more efficiently.