Admissions 2026/27: Introduction of a mandatory interview for candidates from countries with higher migration risk

The new Higher Education Act (ZVIS-1, Official Gazette RS no. 56/25) in Article 13 stipulates that higher education institutions shall conduct a direct interview with foreign citizens on the suitability of the candidate according to the enrollment conditions of the study programme.

This applies for foreign citizens who have submitted an application for enrollment for higher education studies in the Republic of Slovenia and come from one of the countries with a higher migration risk, as determined by the list of countries whose citizens must have visas when crossing the external borders of the European Union, in accordance with the law regulating the conditions and methods of entry, departure and stay of foreigners in the Republic of Slovenia. The purpose of the interview is to assess the candidate’s suitability with regard to the enrolment requirements of the study programme.

The Faculty of Tourism will inform candidates about the interview procedure and schedule via the email address provided in their application for admission. The interview will be conducted remotely via MS Teams, in the language of the study programme for which the candidate has applied. It will be carried out by members of the appointed committee. The invitation to the interview will include the date and time (CET).

The Faculty of Tourism will not charge any additional fees for conducting the interviews for candidates applying for enrolment in the 2026/27 academic year. Candidates who attend and successfully complete the interview will receive a confirmation of successful completion, which will be sent to the email address provided in their application. Their application will proceed to the next stage of the admission process.

If a candidate does not pass the interview, does not attend it, or if the interview is repeatedly interrupted due to inadequate internet connection or technical issues on the candidate’s side, a decision rejecting the application will be issued. Consequently, the candidate’s application will be rejected. By issuing the rejection decision, all procedures related to the candidate’s application for admission, as well as any other applications within the same call for enrolment, are fully terminated. No appeal is possible.

The Faculty of Tourism of the University of Maribor, in cooperation with Turizem Bohinj and with the support of Julian Alps Community and Slovenia Outdoor GIZ, organized a discussion on the challenges of outdoor tourism on March 6 in Bohinj, as part of the Bohinj Ski Touring Festival. The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders who are directly or indirectly involved in the Slovenian outdoor tourism and outdoor sports scene.

The plenary session was opened by Martin Šolar, who spoke about respectful and responsible visitation of the fragile mountain environment. Klemen Belhar then examined the motivations and behavior of outdoor tourists from an anthropological perspective. Jon Heshka, a Canadian colleague of the Faculty of Tourism, presented different aspects of risk management in various high-risk outdoor activities, while Norwegian professor and researcher Truls Engstroem discussed the role of modern technologies and tools in supporting the development and marketing of outdoor products and destinations.

At the round table, moderated by Marjetka Rangus (Faculty of Tourism, University of Maribor), representatives of different stakeholder groups exchanged perspectives and viewpoints on the topic. Dubravka Kalin (Tourism Directorate, Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport), Špela Berlot Veselko (CIPRA Slovenia), Aleš Zdešar (Triglav National Park), Klemen Langus (Turizem Bohinj / Julian Alps Community), and Grega Šilc (Hike&Bike Agency) highlighted various challenges related to balancing the growing number of visitors and demand for nature-based activities with limited space, nature conservation, and the quality of life of local communities.

The event, which also provided opportunities for networking and social interaction, concluded with a specialized workshop on risk assessment and evaluation. The workshop was prepared by Jon Heshka for Slovenian outdoor providers and destinations. The excellent feedback on the entire event confirmed the importance of knowledge exchange, connecting stakeholders, and strengthening dialogue about the coordinated and balanced development and management of outdoor tourism in Slovenia.

The Faculty of Tourism, University of Maribor, will host the international academic and professional conference TEDU26 from 23–25 September 2026 in Brežice, Slovenia.

The conference will explore the intersections of wine, cultural heritage, and contemporary tourism development, bringing together researchers, tourism professionals, destination managers, winemakers, and other stakeholders engaged in wine tourism, heritage interpretation, and innovative tourism experiences.

The aim of the conference is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on the role of wine as a cultural, social, and tourism phenomenon, while highlighting new approaches to heritage interpretation and sustainable destination development.

The conference programme will focus on three thematic tracks. However, submissions are not limited to the topics listed below.

Wine, Identity and Destination Narratives

The cultural, social, and symbolic meanings of wine in shaping place identity
Innovative approaches in wine tourism development and destination management
Integration of wine, gastronomy, and local traditions in tourism experiences
Cooperation networks and governance models for wine destinations
Case studies of successful wine regions and heritage-based storytelling

Heritage, Memory and the Culture of Wine

Wine as a form of intangible and living cultural heritage
Historical, archaeological, and religious dimensions of wine culture
Heritage landscapes and their preservation through tourism
Wine traditions as tools for community identity and collective memory
Interpretive strategies linking tangible and intangible heritage
Storytelling and creative reinterpretation of heritage in tourism
Music and wine

Digital Futures and Innovation in Wine and Heritage Tourism

Digital transformation in wine and heritage interpretation (AR/VR, immersive media)
Smart tourism and data-driven innovation in destination development
Digital storytelling, social media, and influencer cultures in wine tourism
Branding and marketing heritage-based destinations in the digital age
The role of AI, creative technologies, and design thinking in tourism innovation
Challenges and opportunities for small producers and heritage institutions in the digital transition

The conference will feature keynote lectures by Dr. Marianna Sigala and Dr. Emanuela Panke, focusing on wine tourism, cultural heritage, and tourism development.

Call for abstracts

Researchers, professionals, and practitioners are invited to participate in the conference as speakers.

Authors may submit an abstract of up to 500 words, which should clearly present:

research objectives
methodology
main findings
relevance to the conference theme

Submissions should be made via the ONLINE FORM.

More information about the conference programme, important dates, and participation details will be published soon at TEDU26 conference website: TEDU26 CONFERENCE - Faculty of Tourism

The international conference TEDU26 is part of the activities of the INTERWINE project (Combining cultural heritage and eno-tourism to create a sustainable cross-border destination).

Project Description & Goals: The main objective is to strengthen the role of culture and sustainable tourism by developing a new joint tourism product that connects the rich cultural heritage and viticulture traditions of the cross-border region. The project focuses on improving the destination's appeal and ensuring economic recovery through stakeholder capacity building.

Key Results: The project will establish recognizable tourist routes between Slovenia and Croatia, create the "InterWine Manual" for future cooperation, and set up dedicated "InterWine spaces" in Velika Gorica, Pušća, and Brežice to promote local producers and heritage.

Financing: This project is co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg Slovenia-Croatia Programme from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Total Project Budget: 1,383,080.02 EUR.

Students and recent graduates are invited to apply for Alumni@ASF, a special initiative within the international event Adriatic Sea Forum – cruise, ferry, sail & yacht, dedicated to maritime tourism in the Adriatic region.

The Forum will take place on 25–26 June 2026 in Venice and is organised in partnership with the Port Authority of the Northern Adriatic Sea.

Through the Alumni@ASF initiative, 30 selected students and recent graduates from across Europe will have the opportunity to attend the Forum free of charge. Participants will be able to:

follow discussions with leading experts from the maritime tourism sector,
connect with international industry professionals,
gain insights into current trends in cruise, ferry, sailing and yacht tourism in the Adriatic region.

How to apply

Candidates need to complete the application form available on the Forum website.

📅 Application deadline: 29 May 2026

Selected applicants will be granted free access to the Forum sessions.

This initiative offers a valuable opportunity for students interested in tourism, maritime transport, destination development and the future of tourism in the Adriatic region.

A monograph by Dr Charles Mansfield and Dr Jasna Potočnik Topler, titled Travel Writing for Tourism and City Branding: Methodologies for Writing about Urban Spaces, has been published by the University of Maribor Press and co-financed by ARIS. It is a Slovenian translation of the original monograph.

Travel Writing for Tourism and City Branding: Urban Place-Writing Methodologies. The monograph contributes to the professionalisation of travel writing. Its approach establishes a new connection between tourism and city branding, which will encourage new travel writers and bloggers to produce thoughtful, high-quality content. The book demonstrates that literary travel writing is a research process that an author–researcher can apply in spaces where value is created. This research process extracts, preserves and communicates that value, while also serving the writer as a tool for in-depth exploration of place. Travel writing as research is presented as a methodological practice that researchers can learn and apply in their projects, both in academic contexts and in the commercial context of city branding. Examples of literary travel writing from the authors’ research projects are examined, and their effects are further analysed. The monograph contributes new insights, also by including research findings on urban spaces obtained through this new method.

The Slovenian version of the monograph is available free of charge at the following link: Potopisno pripovedništvo za turizem in znamčenje mest: Metodologije pisanja o urbanih prostorih | University of Maribor Press

Today, 18 February, the first application period opened for enrolment in the undergraduate study programmes of the Faculty of Tourism, University of Maribor, for the 2026/27 academic year. Applicants can apply to the programmes Contemporary Tourism Studies (VS) and Tourism: Cooperation and Development (UN).

The first application period will be open until 18 March 2026 and applies to both EU and non-EU citizens. Applications are submitted entirely online via the eVŠ portal.

More information about both study programmes and application deadlines is available on our website under the Prospective students – Undergraduate programmes section.

For additional information or assistance with the application process, please contact the Student Office at referat.ft@um.si or +386 8 20 57 067.

Would you like to share your experience with your tutor? Do you have suggestions for improving tutoring? Your opinion matters.

At the University of Maribor, a unified questionnaire for evaluating tutors’ work and student satisfaction with tutoring is available throughout the study year. It enables students to provide feedback on their experiences with tutors and suggest improvements. The results represent an important source for the further development and quality enhancement of tutoring at UM.

The questionnaire is anonymous. Access is possible using your UM digital identity (to ensure that only UM students access the questionnaire).

It only takes a few minutes to complete, but it contributes to improving student support in the future.

👉 QUESTIONNAIRE FOR MEASURING SATISFACTION WITH TUTORING AT UM

Thank you for your participation.

Working Group for Monitoring the Implementation of the Tutoring System at UM)

In accordance with the FT UM Regulations on Awards and Recognitions No. 012/2024/20/100-JV(available in slovene language here) nominations for the Green Compass Award for the 2024/25 academic year must be submitted by 15 March 2026 (send to referat.ft@um.si).

The nomination form is available here.

Key points from the regulation:

The purpose of the Green Compass Award is to recognize graduates who have excelled academically, contributed to research or other activities, and promoted the faculty’s reputation locally, regionally, and internationally.
Eligible candidates are those who have progressed regularly in their studies (including an additional year), graduated no more than one year before 1 March of the current year, and been actively involved in faculty life.
Who can nominate: mentors, the FT UM Student Council, or the graduate themselves can submit nominations to the FT UM Academic Affairs Committee by 15 March. Nominations must include the completed form and supporting documents.
The Academic Affairs Committee reviews applications and submits its recommendation to the FT UM Senate by 31 March. The Senate confirms the recipient by its first session, no later than 30 April.
The selected Green Compass recipient is proposed by the Dean for the Rector’s Award at the University of Maribor, in accordance with the University’s Awards and Honors Regulations (No. 012/2015/1).

We are announcing the 2026-2027 Call for Enrolment in Undergraduate and Integrated Master's Study Programmes of the University of Maribor.

The first application period starts on 18 February and lasts until 18 March (for EU and non-EU citizens).

More information about enrolment at the Faculty of Tourism is available under Prospective Students – Undergraduate Programmes on our website.

Also on my.UM > Enrolment in Undergraduate Studies website, candidates can find information about the application and enrolment process, application deadlines, application methods, and the announced study programmes and enrolment conditions at University of Maribor.

Candidates can apply on the eVŠ portal (opens in a new tab) .

Dear students,

We are pleased to invite you and your students to participate in the Summer School of Good Stories: Literary, Film and Wine Tourism, organised by the University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism in cooperation with 'The University of Zadar, Department of Applied Communication Studies, and held in Brežice, Slovenia.

The Summer School is designed as a blended intensive programme (BIP) and focuses on storytelling as a key tool in contemporary tourism, with particular attention to literary, film and wine tourism. It brings together academic perspectives, practical workshops and field-based experiences, while encouraging international cooperation and co-creation.

The physical part of the programme will take place at the University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism in Brežice from 23 August to 29 August 2026. The virtual component will be held on 20th August and on 31 August 2026.

Please find attached the timetable and the Learning Agreement, which provide detailed information about the programme structure, learning outcomes and activities.

For administrative reference, the BIP ID is:
2025-1-SI01-KA131-HED-000323554-9

We would be delighted to welcome you and your students and to further strengthen our international collaboration through this Summer School. Should you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us (my email is: jasna.potocnik1@um.si).

The contact for student application is: tomi.spindler@um.si

We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you at the Faculty of Tourism in Brežice.