Mobility in Slovenia – University of Ljubljana

Yulianna Petrova, a Master’s student in Marketing: Digital Technologies and Marketing Communications, completed her exchange semester at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Hello everyone! My name is Yulianna, and as of July 2022, I had just completed my first year of the Master's program in Marketing: Digital Technologies and Marketing Communications. In the spring semester of 2021/2022, I took part in an exchange program at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia.

Application Process and Results
Reality wouldn’t be reality if the country I ended up in was my first choice. Slovenia was actually my last option — I added it to the list at the very last minute, thinking, “I should probably include something less ambitious.” My top choices were Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Canada. Of course, I chose them before doing a proper budget estimate. After I calculated the costs, I just thought, “Let’s figure it out along the way,” and quietly moved Slovenia to fifth place.

Tip #1: Calculate your budget first, then choose the country and university.

I didn’t really prepare for the competition itself. I gathered my achievements, asked friends for motivation letter samples, and arranged recommendation letters from my employer and academic supervisor. My most recent accomplishments included winning in the Sociology track and placing as a prize-winner in Marketing in the Vysshaya Liga competition.

In the end, I was rejected by Italy and the Netherlands, and my third nomination was for Slovenia. I decided not to wait for Switzerland and Canada. Honestly, I wasn’t impressed — I had wanted to go to “popular” Europe, and ended up in “unpopular” Slovenia. At first, I considered reapplying for the next semester, but then I remembered not to put life on hold (and after February 24, I knew I made the right call).

Presidential Scholarship and Grant
Later on, I was nominated for the Presidential Grant — I was only notified after the nomination had already happened. I suspect I was selected thanks to my Vysshaya Liga win in the Sociology of Business and Public Sphere track, and possibly my Marketing award helped too. In any case, I was informed post-factum, and I don’t know how the nomination process went.

One condition marked with an asterisk: you must pay income tax in Russia for 3 years through a Russian company. Since this can be done under any contract type (self-employment, freelance, or labor contract) and you technically don’t need to be physically in Russia, I agreed. First, I knew I’d need money. Second, there was no point in working full-time abroad — I’d miss out on the exchange experience.

In December, I received the best news — I was awarded a scholarship for the exchange, totaling 120,000 RUB. If you’re wondering what the secret is, I honestly don’t know. I just listed my achievements and wrote a motivation letter following the guidelines.

By mid-December, I knew I was going to Slovenia and even had the funds to support it. In a perfect world, I would’ve started researching the country and planning my stay. In reality, I was still working full-time and preparing for winter exams.

Preparing for Departure and Housing
In January, I gathered and submitted documents for the visa, which was issued for the exact dates I had booked my accommodation and insurance.

Tip #2: Don’t book housing for just 2 extra days before and after the official program dates — give yourself a buffer. Or ask the visa center for a longer visa.

I googled what to pack, thought through what I’d need in spring and summer, and booked a hotel for the first 5 days. I didn’t get a dorm spot since I applied late. The university warned us about potential housing scams, so I didn’t want to prepay. Still, it was a bit stressful arriving with only 5 days to find a long-term place.

Tip #3: Apply for dorm housing right away. But be aware — the prices aren’t as low as in Russia.

In the end, I rented a shared room with another girl in the city center for €240/month, including utilities. A friend paid €220/month in the dorms. So it’s up to you which option suits you better.

Studying and Traveling
To keep it short, I didn’t find any major differences in the education systems — there were lectures, seminars, and practical tasks, just like at home. What stood out was how professors treated students as equals. I took four courses: Strategic Management 2, Business Intelligence and Analytics, Digital Business, and Digital Marketing. I also continued some HSE courses online. I don’t recommend doing this — schedules can overlap, and the time zone difference complicates things.

I wouldn’t say the academics were very difficult or very easy — just reasonable. I spent around 2–3 hours in class per day, 3–4 days a week. The rest of the time was free for trips and travel.

Slovenia is amazing for its nature and location: within the country, you’ll find both mountains and the sea. You can also easily travel to Italy, Croatia, or Austria. Students who love hiking were thrilled to study in Slovenia.

For budget travel around Europe, use Ryanair — they often have cheap flights. Just look for flights from Croatia or Italy, since Slovenia’s international transport links are average.

My most memorable trip was to Italy. I traveled with two girls from Russia and two guys from the Czech Republic. During the five-day spring break, we visited eight cities. My favorite part was the island section of Venice.

Tip #4: Don’t forget the purpose of your exchange. Don’t obsess over classes — travel more! But don’t fall behind either.

The only real challenge I faced was converting rubles to euros. I spent about a month exploring options, and eventually used cryptocurrency.

I talk more about my experience in a video, so I won’t go into detail about all five months here — it’s impossible to describe everything! It was an incredible experience, the brightest five months of my life, full of new people, travels, and learning how to handle challenges on my own in a European country.

If you’re still wondering whether it’s worth it — my answer is absolutely yes. It doesn’t matter which country you go to — it’s the kind of experience that will expand your worldview, show you what life is like beyond Russia, and give you a deep sense of freedom, youth, and happiness.

Mobility in Slovenia: part 1

Mobility in Slovenia: part 2

Mobility in Slovenia: part 3

Date

4 August 2022

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