Univerza na Primorskem Fakulteta za matematiko, naravoslovje in informacijske tehnologije
Presentation of the study
The doctoral study programme Computer Science is offered in Slovenian and English language.
The development of computer science and informatics provides a foundation for the advancement of intellectually demanding technologies in Slovenia, as computer technology does not require large material bases or natural resources. Successful development depends on a stable and high-quality educational structure of society, well-connected research centres, and close cooperation with industry.
The research areas of the study programme include programming languages, graph theory, theoretical computer science, machine learning, machine translation of natural languages, cryptography, databases, conceptual data models, and user interfaces, with collaboration with domestic and international research institutions being key to the development of top-level knowledge.
The main objective of the programme is to educate highly qualified professionals in the field of software development. The close connection with mathematics and theoretical computer science significantly contributes to the quality of the programme. It enables a deeper and broader understanding of both the foundations of computer science and research topics in more recent areas of the field.
Programme information
Programme name: Computer Science
Type of programme: doctoral study programme, 3rd cycle
Degree awarded: “doktor znanosti” equiv. to a Doctoral degree
Duration: 4 years (8 semesters)
ECTS-credits: 240
Mode of study: part-time
Language of instruction: Slovene, English
Place of study: Koper
Accreditation: the programme is accredited in accordance with the Higher Education Act and is officialy recognised.
Admission to the 1st year of the doctoral study programme Computer Science is open to candidates who have completed and obtained:
- a second-cycle study programme diploma; or
- a previous undergraduate university study programme diploma (programmes adopted before 11 June 2004); or
- a single-cycle master’s study programme diploma, provided it is credited with 300 ECTS credits and lasts 5 years; or
- a previous postgraduate master’s study programme diploma (programmes adopted before 11 June 2004). These candidates are granted recognition of study obligations amounting to at least 60 ECTS credits; or
- a comparable study programme completed abroad, for which the candidate has been granted, in accordance with the law, the right to continue their studies in the doctoral programme.
Due to study success considerations, UP FAMNIT particularly recommends prior education in the fields of computer science and informatics, mathematics, or electrical engineering.
In the case of limited enrolment, candidates are selected based on:
- the average grade of all courses in the previous study programme (50%), and
- the number of points achieved in the entrance examination (50%).
The entrance examination also evaluates the candidate’s presentation of previous research work, as well as prior achievements in scientific and professional fields (published scientific and professional articles, awards, recognitions, and others). The scoring system is determined by the Committee for monitoring the implementation of the doctoral study programme in Computer Science at UP FAMNIT.
“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.
Admission to the 2nd year of the doctoral study programme in Computer Science under the transfer criteria is possible if the following conditions are met:
- the candidate meets the admission requirements for the doctoral study programme in Computer Science,
- the completion of the initial study programme which the candidate is transferring from ensures the acquisition of comparable competences to those of the doctoral study programme in Computer Science, and
- other criteria in accordance with the Criteria for Transfers between Study Programmes are met (comparable curriculum of the study programme and completed study requirements of the candidate).
A student may also enrol in the 2nd year of the doctoral study programme Mathematical Sciences in accordance with transfer criteria if they have completed a related master’s study programme adopted before 11 June 2004 (Master of Science degree).
Individual applications for transfer shall be considered by the Committee for Study and Student Affairs of UP FAMNIT. Apart from comparability between both fields of study, the committee shall also consider the comparability between the study programmes, in accordance with the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes. The Committee may also assign bridging exams to the candidate.
A candidate transferring from a related study programme abroad may also be admitted under the transfer criteria, provided that, in accordance with the law, they have been granted the right to continue their studies in the doctoral study programme in Computer Science through the recognition procedure of foreign education.
In the case of limited enrolment, candidates are selected based on the average grade of all completed study requirements in the study programme from which the candidate is transferring.
Students may advance to the 2nd year upon acquiring 42 ECTS-credits in the 1st year of study and obtaining a positive review of the annual report on the student’s progress of his/her scientific research from the Committee for monitoring the implementation of the doctoral study programme Computer Science (Committee), the mentor or both. Students may advance to the 2nd year exceptionally, if they acquire at least 30 ECTS-credits and obtain the mentor’s recommendation. A positive review of the annual report from the 1st paragraph is also required. The competent committee UP FAMNIT decides about the enrollment upon student’s request.
Students may advance to the 3rd year upon acquiring 42 ECTS-credits in the 2nd year of study and all study obligations from the first year of study. A positive review of the annual report on the student’s progress of his/her scientific research from the Committee, the mentor or both is also a condition for advancing to the 3rd year.
Students can enroll in the 4th year of study if their topic of the doctoral dissertation has been confirmed and upon completion of all study obligations from the 1st and 2nd year and completion of the individual research work from the 3rd year of study. A positive review of the annual report on the student’s progress of his/her scientific research from the Committee, the mentor or both is also a condition for advancing to the 4th year.
Advanced courses in Computer Science are individually designed courses that students, in agreement with their supervisor, may complete at the home institution or at another comparable institution, and, if necessary, also in other related fields. These courses cover areas such as data structures and algorithms, theoretical foundations of computer science, programming languages and techniques, computer communications and systems, as well as systems theory and information analysis.
Elective skills-based courses develop research competences, such as experimental design and analysis, as well as writing and presenting scientific texts. The programme includes two accredited courses in this area, each worth 6 ECTS.
More information on elective courses is available in the document “Curriculum” (see above).
General competences
- Ability to analyse, synthesise, and anticipate solutions as well as the consequences of factors in the field of computer science.
- Critical evaluation of developments in computer science and informatics, as well as in the broader society.
- Ability to independently search for and acquire professional knowledge and integrate it with existing knowledge.
- Autonomy in professional and scientific research work.
- Ability to apply mathematical and computational tools in concrete research.
- Ability to position computer science and informatics within a broader social context, and to communicate within the global computer science community.
- Ability to structure problems hierarchically, enabling decomposition into subproblems and the engineering integration of partial solutions.
Subject-specific competences
- Ability to apply mathematical and computational tools in concrete research.
- Ability to position computer science and informatics within a broader social context.
- Ability to communicate within the global computer science community.
- Ability to structure problems hierarchically, enabling decomposition into subproblems and the engineering integration of partial solutions.
Computer science is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy. For many years, most IT companies and information sectors of larger organisations in the region have faced a shortage of highly qualified computer science and informatics professionals.
The primary goal of the doctoral programme is to educate top-level experts who will take leading roles in small and medium-sized software development companies, as well as in development departments of larger public and private organisations in the field of computer science and informatics. Doctoral graduates may also pursue careers at universities and research institutes as lecturers or researchers.
The programme is supported by numerous prominent domestic and international researchers, ensuring high-quality research within the doctoral studies. Doctoral students thus have the opportunity to engage with both local and international research and educational institutions, where outstanding candidates may pursue research or academic positions.