Undergraduate programme in Psychology

Duration of the programme: 3 years

Number of ECTS credits: 180

The title: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Publication with the information listed below, including the curriculum and short descriptions of courses, can be found here.

The latest versions of the syllabi (with Slovenian and English version running in paralel) can be found here.

The goal of the undergraduate programme of psychology is that the student develops basic knowledge and skills in fundamental fields of psychology, combining psychological science and some other sciences connected with psychology. This knowledge forms the basis of later professional work, further education at the 2nd level studies of psychology) and continuing professional development and specific in-service training.

During the undergraduate level of the study of psychology, students orient themselves in various fields of psychology. They gain basic orientation in all psychological disciplines, learn about main theories and methods of psychology, acquire basic psychological skills, and learn about bases of psychological research. The acquired theoretical and methodological skills can be transferred to other fields of social sciences.

The undergraduate level of the study of psychology does not guarantee sufficient professional qualifications to work as a psychologist, because students do not develop competences to the level that would enable them to practice psychology independently. After finishing the undergraduate level of studies, the graduates are qualified for doing basic tasks in the field of professional work in social sciences. The gained knowledge allows them to think about human behaviour and interpersonal relations using the psychological perspective. They can work under the supervision of a certified psychologist (MA in Psychology) or cooperate with other social science professionals in social, economic and cultural fields where they try to solve basic psychological problems. Their professional work is based on psychological science, principles of psychological professional ethics, personal maturity, and is oriented towards progress and humanisation of an individual, groups or the society.

• general knowledge, the ability of analysis, synthesis, of foreseeing solutions and consequences of a problem
• knowledge and use of scientific methods
• critical and self-critical judgment (critical reading and understanding of different texts, self-awareness of own points of view, suppositions, bias, advantages and disadvantages)
• ability of using the gained knowledge in practical work
• skills of searching for and using information, information literacy, the use of modern informational-communicational technologies
• general communication abilities and skills, ability of communicating in an international environment, ability of oral and written transmission of knowledge or findings, skills of presenting basic psychological knowledge to the lay public
• social skills, cooperation, working in groups, ability of moderating a group
• ability of preparing and performing a project work
• ability of engaging in continuing professional development
• independence and self-initiative activity
• knowledge, comprehension and consideration of basic principles and development of differences between individuals, groups and cultures
• ethical reflexivity and commitment to general ethical principles

• understanding of the general structure of psychology and connection between its disciplines
• knowledge of core psychological concepts, knowledge and understanding of research and applied methods, procedures and processes in different fields of psychology
• coherent mastering of basic psychological knowledge, ability of connecting and using knowledge from different fields
• knowledge and understanding of foundations and history of psychology
• ability of independent reading and understanding psychological literature
• ability of solving specific psychological problems with the use of critical analysis, scientific methods and procedures, ability of defining problems, developing theoretical background and hypothesis, selecting adequate research strategy, developing the research plan, carrying out the research and evaluating the obtained results, reporting about the findings
• knowledge of fundamentals of measuring different psychological phenomena, understanding characteristics of psychological tests, carrying out their analysis and interpretation of the results of those analysis
• knowledge of fields and methods of psychological diagnostics
• knowledge of fields and theory of psychological counselling
• ability of using various methods of collecting and processing quantitative and qualitative data
• ability of carrying out some psychological screening tests
• understanding and the use of methods of basic statistics and most common multivariate statistics, ability of research in the field of social science and marketing
• ability of incorporating new information and interpretations in the context of psychology
• development of skills in the use of knowledge in different fields of psychology
• social competences for work in the society and for the society which involves: sensitivity for psychological aspects of social problems; having knowledge, understanding and consideration of diversity (individual, group, and cultural diversity); researching and understanding interpersonal relations and the use of gained knowledge in different social practices; understanding social, emotional, motivational, cognitive etc. processes in different circumstances; ability of connecting and maintaining the adequate relationship with the client (in collecting data, testing, conducting an interview, observing, etc) and the ability of appropriate communication with the client
• competences for creative cooperation in a group of professionals, competences for participating in processes of co-creation new understandings and activities in different social practices
• commitment to psychological professional ethics.

• in the state administration (different ministries and their offices – e.g., Education Development Office, Office of Youth) and government offices (e.g., Ombudsman)
• in non-governmental organizations
• institutions and offices of the European Union
• in economy and private sector, especially at departments for marketing, personnel services and developmental departments of companies, in market-research agencies
• in journalism
• in social welfare (depending on the field regulations)

Graduates have competences in the field of organisation and general psychological counselling and in organisation of work, organisation and management of developmental projects, professional counselling, marketing (planning and performing market research, collecting and analysing data, interpreting data), conducting interviews, in public relations, publishing and media (e.g. as editors, counsellors on preparing media-shows – e.g. for children). They can perform motivational training, work in specific educational care activities, conduct workshops for youth, work on help-lines and with refugees.

Those that have passed the upper secondary-school leaving exam (matura), those that completed any four-year secondary school programme prior to 1 June 1995 or those with an equivalent education abroad may apply for the undergraduate programme.

The expected number of enrolled students is 80 (regular studies) and 40 (part-time studies; not available every year). If the number of application exceeds the number of places available, the university’s admissions office shall rank applicants according to the following criteria:

• Overall score in the leaving exam - 60%
• Grade average in years 3 and 4 - 40%

The Faculty of Arts may recognise the obtained knowledge, qualifications or capabilities which suit completely or partly the content and level of general or subject-specific competences which are defined within particular study programmes.

Knowledge, qualifications or capabilities gained with formal, informal or experiental learning are acknowledged. In the process of recognition, the following is considered:

• certifications and other documents (atypical certifications, documents of courses completed and other forms of education)
• products, services, publications and other copyrighted products
• knowledge gained with self-education and experiential learning
• adequate working experience.

The recognized knowledge, qualifications and abilities may be allocated credits according to ECTS criteria for credit allocation of study programmes and may be recognized as a finished study obligation (e.g., as a part of exams, midterm exams etc. – without participation in lectures, exercises or seminars).

With the usual procedure, the Faculty of Arts handles each application for the recognition of informally acquired knowledge individually. The application should be submitted to the Student Office. It is then forwarded to the Department of Psychology which proposes the allocation of ECTS credits. The basic criterion for the recognition is comparability of the knowledge and competenced acquired informally with the content and competences developed by the undergraduate study programme of psychology. The final decision on the student application is made by the Faculty Committee for Student Affairs.

Conditions to proceed to the next academic year

To proceed to the second year of the undergraduate study programme, students must complete all the requirements given in the curriculum and individual syllabi for the first year, totalling 60 ECTS points.

To proceed to the third year of the undergraduate study programme, students must complete all the requirements given in the curriculum and individual syllabi for the second year, totalling 60 ECTS points.

Exceptionally, students are allowed to proceed to the next year with up to 6 ECTS points short of the total number of credits required. However, all of the academic requirements must be completed before the enrollment in the following academic year. The shortfall may be granted only on prior written request with well-founded reasons for it. The requests are handled by the Student Affairs Committee of the Faculty of Arts; the Appellate Body is the Senate of the Faculty of Arts.

Conditions for repeating a year

Students who have not completed all the academic requirements for enrollment in the next year which are defined by the study programme are given a possibility to repeat a year once during the time of their studies, provided that they satisfy the conditions for repeating a year as defined by the study programme. The conditions for repeating a year of the undergraduate study programme in psychology are completed academic requirements for the year the students want to repeat, amounting to 30 ECTS points (50 % of all credits for this year).

Conditions for completing the programme

To complete the programme, students must fulfil all of the requirements defined by the study programme.

Transfer to the university-level undergraduate programme of psychology is possible:

1) From any university-level undergraduate programmes or programmes of professional higher education within the University of Ljubljana:

• The candidate must satisfy admission requirements for the first year of the university-level undergraduate programme of psychology.
• The Senate of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ljubljana decides on the possibility of transfer to the proposed academic programme and must determine whether the candidate fulfils the requirements for transfer.
• According to the opinion issued by the Department of Psychology, the Senate of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ljubljana determines the candidate’s obligations (from the list of basic courses of the university-level undergraduate programme of psychology, in total of 10-60 ECTS points) that need to be fulfilled as well as the year in which they may enrol.

2) From other universities:

• To transfer to the university-level undergraduate programme of psychology, the candidate must satisfy the admission requirements for the following year of the undergraduate programme where they are currently enrolled into.
• The candidate must satisfy admission requirements for the first year of the university-level undergraduate programme of psychology.
• The Senate of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ljubljana decides on the possibility of the transfer to the proposed academic programme and must determine whether the candidate fulfils the requirements for the transfer.
• According to the opinion issued by the Department of Psychology, the Senate of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ljubljana determines the candidate’s obligations (from the list of basic courses of the university-level undergraduate programme of psychology, in total of 10-60 ECTS points) that need to be fulfilled as well as the year in which they may enrol.

Students’ knowledge is examined and assessed within individual courses. The learning process in every course ends with the final examination of knowledge and skills acquired. Knowledge can be assessed by: oral and written examination, midterm examinations, essays or seminar papers and other written tasks, practical tasks or products, project works, and reports on completed practical training.

Grading scale:

• 10 – excellent: exceptional results with minor mistakes
• 9 - very good: above-average knowledge, however with some mistakes
• 8 - very good: good results
• 7 – good: good knowledge, however with some major mistakes
• 6 – sufficient: knowledge meets the minimum requirements
• 5 to 1 – insufficient: knowledge does not meet the minimum requirements

Internal electives

Students may choose from 14 specialist electives offered. In the fourth semester, they choose two and in the sixth semester one of the offered courses.

External electives

Students may complete 3 courses (9 ECTS points, i.e., 5 % of all the ECTS points in the programme) offered by another study programmes at the Faculty of Arts or at the other faculties of the University of Ljubljana.

Transferability

In accordance with the Bologna Declaration, students are allowed to transfer 30 ECTS points of the programme (a semester of studies, regardless of obligatory courses or electives) from any kind of psychology programmes that are carried out at respected European universities.