Computer Science

General information

Name of the programme: Computer Science
Type of programme: Doctoral, 3rd Bologna cycle
Degree awarded: “doktor znanosti” equiv. to a Doctoral degree
Language: Slovene, English
Duration: 4 years (8 semesters)
ECTS-credits: 240
Mode of study: part-time

Programme coordinatortop

Assoc. Prof. Klen Čopič Pucihar, PhD

For information regarding the study programme please contact Student Services (phd-cs@famnit.upr.si).

About the programmetop

Computer and Information Sciences provide the basis for the advancement of intellectually demanding technologies, and do not require major material or natural resources for infrastructure. For successful development, it requires a solid and advanced educational basis in computer science which offers a quality education for experts at all levels, close connections with industry, and a research core that both pursues new technologies and is involved in cutting-edge research.

Additionally, developing computer technology in a way that enables optimal use of existing technologies and the development of programming equipment, including new technologies, also requires a familiarity with other Computer Science programmes at international institutions, and a firm understanding of the basic flow of science and technology in neighbouring regions as well as worldwide.

The doctoral programme takes two elements into consideration: companies (practice) and the needs of the academic environment (research activities and higher education activities). In companies and enterprises, doctoral students will be the primary members of development laboratories and the key expertise in increasing the profit level of production. In cooperation with the existing economy and the University Incubator of Primorska (the entrepreneurial centre at the University of Primorska), the doctoral studies programme will also equip graduates to create new high-tech enterprises, which are in high demand both in Slovenia and abroad. 

The study is designed as an international programme and is therefore appealing to international students. By reducing ‘in-breeding education’, this will improve the quality of the entire field. 

The study programme provides a high-quality core education in the areas of Computer and Information Sciences which, in collaboration with quality cores in other areas developed at the University of Primorska (Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Humanities, Economic Sciences), presents an interdisciplinary core of quality research.

Educational and professional goals  top

• To develop the ability to conduct independent research (scientific and practical developmental) work
• To enable in-depth understanding of Computer Science
• To train students to use the theoretical apparatus in problem abstraction and solution
• To train students to understand existing problem-solving tools and concepts, and to be capable of contributing to their further development or the development of new concepts

Course structuretop

The framework of the Doctoral degree study programme is partly structured, but mainly individually-based. The main components of the study programme are the following:

• in-depth courses in computer science,
• elective skills courses,
• seminars,
• individual research work,
• doctoral dissertation.

The content and structure of the study programme are presented below.

In-depth courses in computer science

In-depth courses in Computer science are the courses that students may attend within the study programme they enrolled into or outside the faculty in agreement wit the mentor. Subjects within any comparable study programme may also be chosen in consultation with the mentor. In particular, in the case of an interdisciplinary study programme, courses within other fields of expertise may also be chosen in consultation with the mentor.

Courses are provided on an individual basis. A special emphasis is placed on the teachers’ research activities as the courses cover the latest knowledge and skills in computer science.

Organisation of courses: within a series of eight lectures, the teacher presents the subject, which the students then pursue through individual study of literature (articles) and preparation or review of original scientific articles. These articles are presented in seminars, where the subject is discussed. The majority of student work is concentrated on the study of literature and article writing.

In-depth courses are grouped in the following fields:

• data structures and algorithms;
• theoretical computer science;
• programming languages and techniques;
• computer communications and computing systems;
• system theory and information analysis.

Elective skills courses

Elective skills courses are designed for acquiring knowledge of scientific research skills, such as: communication in science, writing scientific texts, presenting scientific achievements to the scientific, professional and general public, and for proficiency in methodological principles for designing, analysing and planning experiments. The student may also be offered a choice of elective courses by the Committee for monitoring the implementation of the doctoral study program.

2 elective courses are available in the study programme:

• Scientific skills - Design and analysis of planned experiments (6 ECTS-credits);
• Scientific skills - Scientific writing and presentation (6 ECTS-credits).

Seminars

Within the seminar subjects, the students present the partial findings of their research work. These findings must be presented both in written form and verbally. The quality of the research and its findings must allow for a minimum of one contribution or article per year presented at an international conference or published in a scientific journal.  In the first year of study, presentations at Slovene conferences and publications in Slovene journals will be accepted, later the conference and publication must be international. Within the seminar subject, students are expected to attend the presentations of their fellow students and to actively participate in discussions.

Individual research work

Individual Research Work is scientific research carried out by students in the area covered by their doctoral thesis. It is conducted under the mentorship and in consultation with the student’s supervisor.

Doctoral disertation

The Doctoral dissertation is an original contribution to science and has to conform to the University PhD rules and regulations. The Doctoral dissertation may also be a collection of related scientific contributions, prepared in accordance to the University PhD rules and regulation.

Students may select the topic of the doctoral dissertation upon enrolment in the 3rd year of study and passing no less than three In-Depth Courses. Exceptions must be approved by the COMMISSION PREVOD.

The procedure for preparing a doctoral dissertation is regulated by the Rules on the preparation and defence of the doctoral dissertation at the University of Primorska.

Committee for monitoring the implementation of the doctoral study programme Computer Science

As part of the study programme, the Committee for monitoring the implementation of the doctoral study program Computer Science (the Committee), has the following tasks and responsibilities: assisting the mentor in the overall advancement of the candidate, whereby the latter does not focus on the research topic and the research work itself, but on support activities that build the candidate into a comprehensive researcher and a competent expert in the field of computer science. The Committee consist of at least three members, with the coordinator of the doctoral study programme being a member of the Committee by function.

The members of the commitee are (from 22 November 2022 until 21 November 2026): Assoc. Prof. Marko Tkalčič, PhD (president), Prof. Andrej Brodnik, PhD (member), Assoc. Prof. Klen Čopič Pucihar, PhD (member).

The Committee is responsible for:

• Enrolment in the doctoral study programme and selecting the field or a mentor: based on the application of the candidate and on the research work plan, the Committee gives an opinion on the suitability of the doctoral candidate; the Committee helps the candidate find a mentor if he / she has not found one. The Committee may assign a temporary mentor for the candidate upon enrolment in the doctoral programme, if it deems the candidate promising, however, the candidate must have a final mentor by the end of the 1st year. The temporary mentor must meet the same conditions as the final mentor and they must agree to the mentorship; The Committee determines the scoring method in the elective exam in case of restricted enrolment.
• General knowledge from the field of computer science: based on the candidate's list of completed study obligations, (if necessary) the interview, and in agreement with the mentor, a possible recommendation to complement the candidate’s missing knowledge from the wider field of computer science. The Committee recommends to the candidate individual compulsory courses from the undergraduate study programme Computer Science: Data Structures and Algorithms, Theoretical Computer Science II - Formal Languages ​​and Computability, Programming II - Concepts of Programming Languages, Systems I - Hardware. The student joins the courses in the undergraduate study programme Computer Science.
• Monitoring progress: the Committee annually reviews the annual reports on the student's progress of their scientific research, and the mentor's report. Before giving an opinion, the Committee can ask the mentor for additional commentary or invite the student for an interview. In particular, the Committee considers pursuing the objectives set out in the research work plan and meeting the structured obligations of the doctoral program. A positive opinion from the Committee, the mentor or both, is a condition for advancing to a higher year.

Course structure for students, enrolled for the first time until the academic year 2021/22 (DRIN-07)

The study programme is changing through the years. In the beginning of this section we presented the course schedule, valid for the academic year 2022/23 (2022/23 - 1st year of study, 2023/24 - 1st and 2nd year of study, 2024/25 - 1st, 2nd and 3rd year of study, 2025/26 - all four years of study).

The course structure and advancement requirements for students, enrolled in the first time until the academic year 2021/22, are available HERE.

Admission requirementstop

Admission to the 1st year shall be granted to applicants having: 

• a Master's degree (second cycle); or
• a degree from a study programme with 300 ECTS-credits; or
• a degree from a pre-Bologna reform undergraduate study programme.

The Faculty highly recommends prior education in the areas of computer science, mathematics and electrical engineering. 

In case of ENROLMENT RESTRICTIONS in the 1st year, candidates will be chosen on the basis of:

• the success at previous study (average grade, final grade) - 50%,
• the grade of the oral examination - 50%.

The selection procedure will also evaluate the candidate's presentation of the previous research work and his previous achievements in the scientific and professional field (published scientific and professional articles, awards, prizes and other). The scoring method is defined by the Committee for monitoring the implementation of the doctoral study programme.

Admission may also be gained by an applicant having completed a comparable study abroad. Prior to enrolment the applicant must apply for the recognition of completed education.

Continuation of studies according to the transfer criteriatop

Transfers between study programmes are possible on the basis of the Higher Education Act, Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes and in accordance with other regulations of this field.

The transition between study programmes is the enrolment in the higher year of the study programme, in case of leaving the education at the initial study programme and continuing the study process at another study program of the same degree. The transition takes into account the comparability of the study programmes and the completed study obligations of the candidate in the initial study program.

Access to year 2 or year 3 of the doctoral degree programme of Computer Science on the basis of the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes is open to candidates of a related third-cycle doctoral degree programme, provided that the following conditions have been met:

• the candidate fulfils the requirements for admission to the study programme of Computer Science;
• completion of the first study programme which the candidate is transferring from ensures the acquisition of comparable competencies as those envisaged by the study programme of Computer Science; and
• other conditions in accordance with the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes have also been met (a comparable course structure, course requirements completed).

Individual applications for transfer shall be considered by the relevant committee of UP FAMNIT. Apart from comparability between both fields of study, the committee shall also consider comparability between the study programmes, in accordance with the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes. The applicant may also be required to complete differential exams as defined by the relevant Faculty committee.

Enrolment on the basis of the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes is also open to candidates of a related study programme abroad who have been, in the process of recognition of their studies abroad, legally granted the right to continue their educational training in the study programme of Computer Science.

In the case of limited enrolment, applicants shall be selected on the basis of the average grade obtained during the study programme they are transferring from.

Advancement requirementstop

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 (60 ECTS-credits). 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 of study (total of 120 ECTS-credits) 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.

In order to complete the study programme and obtain the scientific title, the student must complete all the requirements of the study programme and successfully publicly defend the doctoral dissertation. The student must acquire at least 240 ECTS-credits, of which 54 ECTS-credits are for the preparation and successful defense of the doctoral disertation.

Graduates' competenciestop

General competencies

• The ability to analyse, synthesise and predict solutions and consequences of the factors related to the discipline of Computer and Information Science.
• The ability to place Computer and Information Science into a broader social context.
• The ability to critically reflect on social events in general.
• The ability to critically assess the developments in the field of Computer and Information Science.
• The ability to work within a wider social community.
• The ability to autonomously search for and acquire professional knowledge and to integrate it with the existing knowledge.
• Autonomy in professional and scientific research.

Subject-specific competencies

• The ability to apply the mathematical and computer-science apparatus in concrete research.
• The ability to place Computer and Information Science into a broader social context.
• The ability to communicate within the global computer science community.
• The ability to design a hierarchy enabling decomposition of a problem into sub problems and integration of partial solutions.

Graduate employment opportunities  top

Computer Science, as one of the fastest growing economic branches, provides graduates with countless employment opportunities. For a number of years, the majority of computer companies and information sectors within all major regionally-based companies have been faced with a lack of quality computer and information personnel. Graduates also have many opportunities open to them for employment in educational and research fields, as well as in the economy (notably in research and development sectors and executive positions). In addition to knowledge in Computer Science and basic mathematical knowledge, graduates acquire a wide array of general areas of knowledge, enhancing their opportunities for employment and innovative activities.

Tuition feetop

• The TUITION FEE for each year of study is determined in the Price list UP FAMNIT.
• The CO-FUNDING OF DOCTORAL STUDIES will be open to all students who meet the requirements from the Decree on co-Financing of doctoral studies and Criteria for the selection of candidates for co-funding tuition fees in doctoral studies at the University of Primorska. More information is available here.