Higher education institutions are educational, scientific and artistic institutions. The major task of higher education institutions is the provision of higher education and creative scientific research or creative artistic activity.
Higher education system in
Higher education institutions provide study programmes at three levels:
1. The Bachelor’s study programme which takes three years at least and four years at most (in the case of architecture, fine art and design).
2. The Master‘s study programme (the “Magister‘s”, “Engineer‘s” and “Doctor’s” study programme). The study takes one year at least and three years at most, so that the total standard duration of study according to the bachelor study programme and the subsequent master level study programme in the same or related field of study is altogether a minimum of five years. The basic condition for admission to the second level study is graduation from bachelor study.
3. The PhD. study programme. The standard length in full-time form is three years at least and four years at most, duration in part-time form and at some faculties of medicine with a specialisation examination is five years. The basic condition for the admission to the PhD. study programme is graduation from second level university study.
Academic year starts on September 1 of the current year and ends on August 31 of the following year. It is composed of 2 semesters (winter semester lasts from September to January and summer semester lasts from February to June.) The organisation of academic year is set by the statute of the faculty or statute of the higher education institution.
The teaching process includes various forms of instruction such as lectures, seminars, exercises, laboratory work, projects, practical training, consultations, etc. The credit system following the rules of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) has been introduced in 2002 for all levels and forms of higher education study. The student's standard load is expressed by the number of 60 credits per academic year and 30 credits per semester. The institution of higher education determines the total number of credits required for the due completion of the study in its respective stages.
The grading is on a scale of A-FX:
A - excellent =1
B - very good (above-average achievements) = 1,5
C - good (average achievements) = 2
D - laudable (acceptable achievements) = 2,5
E - satisfactory (achievements fulfil only the minimum criteria) = 3
FX – unsatisfactory - fail (achievements do not fulfil even the minimum criteria) = 4
All study programmes must be accredited by the Ministry of Education of the
Higher education institutions are classified by nature and scope of their activities into university type of higher education institutions and non-university type of higher education institutions.
a. The university type of higher education institutions shall provide education in the study programmes of all the three levels with a significant portion of study programmes of the second level and study programmes of the third level. The study programmes shall be carried out in connection with activities of higher education institutions in the field of science, technology or art, and in compliance with the current state and development of such fields. The term of ”university” may only be used in the name of a university type of higher education institution.
b. The non-university type of higher education institutions shall provide higher education mostly in the study programmes of the first level.
c. A research university is the university type of higher education institution that shall achieve outstanding results in the field of science and technology as well as at implementing the study programmes of the third level. (They have not been identified yet.)
Degrees awarded in the SR
Higher education institutions award the following academic degrees:
1st level
· “bakalár“ (abbr. “Bc. ”);
2nd level
· “magister” (abbr. “Mgr.”), in the field of art “Magister umenia” (abbr. “Mgr. art. ”);
· “inžinier” (abbr. “Ing.”) in technical, agricultural and economic fields of Engineer’s programmes, and in the field of architecture and town-planning the academic degree of “inžinier architekt” (abbr. “Ing. arch. ”);
· “doktor medicíny” (abbr. “MUDr.”) in the field of humane medicine;
· “doktor veterinárskej medicíny” (abbr. “MVDr.”) in the field of veterinary medicine.
3rd level
“philosophiae doctor” (abbr. “PhD.”),
“artis doctor“ (abbr. “ArtD.”) in the field of art.
The study started in the academic year 2002/2003:
· “doktor” (“philosophiae doctor”) (abbr “PhD.”),
· “doktor umenia” (“artis doctor”) (abbr.“ArtD.”),
· “licenciát teológie” (abbr. “ThLic.”) - Catholic Theology,
· “doktor teológie” (abbr. “ThDr.“) – Catholic Theology.
Examina rigorosa
The holders of the academic degree of “magister” may take examina rigorosa, which includes also the defence of a rigorosa thesis. After its successful completing the higher education institutions award the following academic degrees:
1. “doktor prírodných vied” (abbr. “RNDr.”) in natural science study programmes.
2. “doktor farmácie” (abbr. “PharmDr.”) in pharmacy study programmes.
3. “doktor filozofie” (abbr. “PhDr.”) in social science and art science study programmes.
4. “doktor práv” (abbr. “JUDr.”) in law study programmes.
5. “doktor pedagogiky” (abbr. “PaedDr.”) in teacher training and sports study programmes.
6. “doktor teológie” (abbr. “ThDr.”) in theological study programmes except for the study programmes in the field of Catholic Theology.