Educational institutions for higher education provides various study programs – and there are plenty of them, which are taught in English or other languages. Every study program must be accredited by the Ministry of Education, Research and Sport of Slovak Republic.
The academic year lasts for 2 semesters: winter semester lasts from September to January and the summer semester lasts from February to June.
Every study program must be accredited by the Ministry of education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic.
During the semester, students attend various educational modules such as lectures, seminars, laboratory work, projects, practical training or consultations. After passing all requirements (such as essays, credit tests, or even attendance ratio), credits are awarded to students in line with European Credit and Accumulation System (ECTS). This system is broadly used in Europe and thanks to it, completed subjects may be recognised also abroad. The same situation is with degrees: degree is automatically recognized in the European Union and most countries around the world.
Students usually obtain 60 credits per academic year (or 30 credits per semester). The number of credits is calculated with various criteria, such as obligatory literature for course, number of lectures or essays.
Grading system
Grading system works as follows:
- Mark A means excellent (grade 1)
- Mark B means very good (grade 1,5)
- Mark C means average (grade 2,0)
- Mark D means satisfactory (grade 2,5)
- Mark E means sufficient, so student met the minimum criteria (grade 3,0)
- Mark F or FX means failure (grade 4,0)
Bachelor, master and doctoral studies and degrees
There are three levels of education, while the first two levels can be joined and form a single unit. This unit lasts for 5 to 6 years.
The first level is called the Bachelor study program and lasts for 3 to 4 years.
The second level study programs and study programs consisting of the first two levels of education have the following names:
- Master study programs
- Engineer Study Programmes
- Doctor Study Programmes
Third level study programs are called doctoral study programs (=PhD).
Following academic degrees are awarded to students:
Those who meet all requirements from the first level of study are awarded with a degree of bachelor (Bc., equivalent to 180 credits).
Those, who successfully pass the second level of education (which is equivalent to further 120 credits) are awarded with one of the following degrees:
- Magister (abbreviation Mgr)
- Inžinier (Ing.) is awarded to graduate of technical, agricultural and economic fields of Engineers programs
- Doctor of General medicine (MUDr.) is awarded after 6 years of studying program of General human medicine
- Doctor of Dental medicine (MDDr.) is awarded after 6 years of studying program of Dental medicine
- Doctor of veterinary medicine (MVDr.) is awarded to graduates in field of veterinary medicine
Finally, degrees which are awarded to graduates of the third level of education are:
- Philosophiae Doctor (PhD)
- Artis doctor (ArtD)