Academia Institute of Technology will introduce the Intergenerational Fund in the next academic year – a new funding model for young people, with the option of instalment repayment of tuition fees after employment. At the press conference, they also highlighted the exceptional success of the first generation of graduates from the Computing programme with emphasis on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, which Academia was the first in Slovenia to introduce at short-cycle degree level. At the same time, they announced that the possibility of tuition fee reimbursement from EU funds for already employed students in the academic year 2026/2027 will be the last such opportunity.
Academia Institute of Technology will establish the Academia Generations Fund in the academic year 2026/2027 in cooperation with European financial institutions.
"The fund is our response to the growing social and economic challenges faced by young people or the unemployed who wish to pursue education but often encounter financial barriers and therefore do not decide to study or abandon their studies," explained Žan Dapčevič, Business Director of Academia Institute of Technology.
How the Intergenerational Fund works
This is the first such mechanism in Slovenia and the wider region, enabling students to repay tuition fees only after employment. The fund is primarily intended for young people from less supportive environments, the unemployed, students without guarantors, and international students from the Western Balkans.
In addition to covering tuition fees and other study costs, the fund offers flexible repayment forms – with instalment models or with an intergenerational contract, whereby graduates repay approximately 10 per cent of their income for a maximum of nine years, and only upon reaching an income threshold.
"The fund enables students to focus on their studies without immediate financial pressure, whilst the institution and the student share responsibility for the future. In this way, we wish to increase access to quality education for everyone, regardless of social background," added Žan Dapčevič, Business Director of Academia Institute of Technology.
Academia expands the range of companies for practical training of students
Academia also stands out for its practical orientation of study. As much as 40 per cent of the programme consists of practical experience in companies, with the institution cooperating with more than 200 partner companies.
"Students must complete at least 100 days of mandatory work placement, which enables them to enter the labour market three times faster on average. With the distinctly practical orientation of the study programme and close collaboration with companies, we enable students to immediately apply the knowledge they have acquired in a real working environment," emphasised Vida Perko, M.Sc., Principal of Academia Institute of Technology.
Obtaining a dual diploma and the success of the first graduates of the Computing programme
The first graduates of the Computing programme, which Academia is the only institution to deliver at short-cycle degree level, completed their studies with distinction and achieved the highest places in the competition of the Community of Colleges of the Republic of Slovenia for the best diploma thesis. The programme with elective modules Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Science and Application Development was introduced two years ago as a response to labour market needs.
Academia is indeed the only college in Slovenia that enables students to obtain a dual diploma from Slovenia and Great Britain , which opens direct opportunities for continuing studies or working abroad. In the academic year 2026/2027, they will deliver 7 study programmes with various elective modules. The study programme lasts two years, and in this academic year, as many as 700 students are attending Academia, who will obtain qualification level 6/1 upon completion.
Information Day at Academia for all prospective students will be on Friday, 13 February 2026, at 11:00 and 16:00.
Tuition fee reimbursement up to 2,755 EUR – last opportunity for the 2026/2027 generation
Students, adult residents of the Republic of Slovenia, can obtain up to 2,755 € reimbursement of tuition fees for successfully completed education at Academia within the framework of the call by the Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia in the project Acquisition of Education 2024–2029. Applications are accepted until funds are exhausted or at the latest by 30 November 2028, therefore the generation enrolling in the academic year 2026/2027 is the last that can take advantage of this opportunity.
The Act Amending the Higher Vocational Education Act brings development opportunities for Academia
The Act Amending the Higher Vocational Education Act opens important development opportunities for Academia and the entire short-cycle higher education sector.
The amendment introduces micro-credentials, which complement and encourage training for lifelong learning of graduates as modern, flexible forms of validating knowledge and competences, enables delivery of transnational short-cycle degree education following the model of higher education, and simplifies procedures for appointing lecturers.
In doing so, the Act reduces administrative barriers, strengthens international collaboration, and increases the responsiveness of the short-cycle degree system to the rapidly changing needs of the labour market and the economy.
Studies are delivered in Slovenian – ask us how to apply.
B1 Slovenian is required; we offer a free preparatory course. The admissions team replies within one working day.
Source: Academia (10. 2. 2026). Fotografije: arhiv Academie.
This English summary was produced automatically from the Slovenian article and is pending editorial review. Slovenska različica
