1. Citizenship

The scholarship may be awarded to:

• a citizen of the Republic of Slovenia (RS) or his/her dependent family member residing in Slovenia;

• a citizen of the RS residing in Slovenia who is a member of the Italian or Hungarian national community;

• a citizen of a European Union (EU) Member State or his/her dependent family member with permanent residence in Slovenia;

• a migrant worker who is a citizen of an EU Member State, if employed or self-employed in Slovenia, or his/her dependent family member residing in Slovenia;

• a cross-border worker who is a citizen of an EU Member State and resides in another EU Member State, if employed or self-employed in Slovenia, or his/her dependent family member for education in Slovenia;

• a third-country national who has obtained long-term resident status.

2. Status of a Secondary School Student, University Student, or Adult Education Participant

A person has the status of a secondary school student, university student, or adult education participant if:

• they are enrolled in a nationally recognized educational programme at a nationally recognized educational institution, and

• are not simultaneously registered as unemployed, not employed, not self-employed, and are not a managing person of a company or a director of a private institute.

These conditions must be fulfilled for the entire period of entitlement to the Zois Scholarship.

3. Appropriate Educational Institution and Study Programme in Slovenia or Abroad

An appropriate educational programme is a nationally recognized programme leading to a nationally recognized qualification, for which the scholarship holder receives a nationally recognized certificate, in accordance with the regulations governing secondary education, or a nationally recognized diploma in accordance with the regulations governing higher or university education. In the case of education abroad, the programme must meet these requirements in the country of education.

An appropriate educational institution is a school or other educational organization, higher education institution, or other institution recognized by the competent authorities of the country of education as an educational institution and classified within their school system by type of education. In the case of transnational education provided outside the country where the institution is based, the institution must hold a status harmonized with the national legislation of the host country in the field of education.

4. Employment or Unemployment Status

From the first day of the school or academic year for which the Zois Scholarship is being claimed, the applicant may not, either in Slovenia or abroad:

• be employed,

• carry out a self-registered business activity,

• be registered as unemployed with the competent authority,

• be a managing person of a company or a director of a private institute.

These conditions must be fulfilled for the entire period of entitlement to the Zois Scholarship.

5. Other Incompatible Scholarships

The applicant may not receive any scholarship that is not compatible with the Zois Scholarship, namely they may not be entitled to:

• the Scholarship for Slovenians Abroad and Worldwide,

• the Ad futura Scholarship for education.

It is possible to renounce the right to an individual scholarship. Due to the consequences such a decision entails, we advise that you obtain thorough information in advance about the procedure for renouncing a scholarship and the implications of such renunciation. Being well informed will help you make the right decision more easily.

1. Outstanding Achievements

An applicant may claim an outstanding achievement for obtaining the Zois Scholarship upon transition between levels of education (for the 1st year) from two school or academic years at the previous level of education.

For obtaining or continuing to receive the Zois Scholarship in a higher year, the applicant may claim an outstanding achievement accomplished during education at the level of education for which the scholarship is being applied.

Each achievement may be claimed only once. It is possible to claim an individual outstanding achievement or an outstanding achievement obtained in a group of up to five members.

Outstanding achievements and the corresponding number of points are defined in detail in the Rules on the Award of Zois Scholarships.

2. School or Academic Performance

Secondary school students in the 1st year, directly upon transition from primary to secondary school, must demonstrate a grade point average of at least 4.70. The calculation of the grade point average takes into account all final grades from the 9th grade of primary school.

Secondary school students in the 2nd year and higher must demonstrate a grade point average of at least 4.10 in the school year preceding the school year in which the scholarship is claimed.

First-year university students, directly upon transition from secondary school to higher education, must demonstrate a grade point average of at least 4.10 in the final year of secondary school or have achieved the Golden Matura.

University students from the 2nd year onwards must demonstrate a grade point average of at least 8.50 or ranking among the top 5% of students in their generation.

In addition to the outstanding achievements that each applicant must demonstrate, a student may, with the application, present one or both of the appropriate school or academic performances referred to in the previous paragraph.