Acts Amending the Higher Education Act  in 2004 and 2006 represent the legal framework for the introduction of the three cycle higher education system in accordance with the Bologna declaration.

First cycle study programmes are academic and professional study programmes. Their duration is determined by years (three to four years) and credit points (180 to 240 ECTS). 60 ECTS may be obtained per study year, 1 ECTS consists of 25 to 30 hours of a student’s work; there are from 1500 to 1800 hours per year in total.

Second cycle study programmes are masters’ study programmes (masters’ professional degree). They consist of 60 to 120 ECTS and last from one to two years. The duration of an individual masters’ study programme must be planned with regard to the duration of the first cycle study programme – total duration in the same field of study must not exceed five years (3+2, 4+1). Second cycle study programmes also include single masters’ study programmes. They are formed for studying professions regulated by the EU directives or by the legislation of the Republic of Slovenia. They are five (300 ECTS) or six years long.

Third cycle includes doctoral study programmes. They last for three years; study requirements consist of 180 ECTS, two thirds of which shall be acquired by research.

Degrees in all three cycles can be formed as joint degrees. Higher education institutions may in addition organise and provide supplementary study programmes as a form of lifelong learning.

Studies are organised as full-time and part-time respectively.