Transport and Maritime Sciences
2022/2023

The field of transport and maritime science integrate the knowledge of technical-technological systems and processes in the maritime, transport, traffic, and transport logistics industries. The maritime industry plays a highly important role in the global economy. On the other hand, transport can be defined as an integrated transport, traffic, and transport logistics activity inherent to all modes of transport that enables goods, passengers, and information to overcome spatial and temporal limitations. Importantly, it also underlies the efficient operation of the entire transport system. The need for a high quality and modern third-cycle doctoral degree study programme that aims at the development and construction of relevant knowledge in the fields of transport and maritime science is dictated by highly dynamic development in these fields. As a result of globalisation processes, transport has become one of the most important economic activities and a driving force of social and economic development. In transport and maritime science, science-based solutions to highly complex problems identified by higher education institutions, research institutes, state administration, and economic and social organisations can only be provided by highly educated and qualified experts. As a result, the third-cycle doctoral degree study programme enables doctoral students to acquire and develop complex knowledge and competences at the highest level of theoretical and research expertise.

The new four-year third-cycle doctoral degree study programme offered by the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport has replaced the previous two-year master’s degree study programmes and four-year doctoral degree study programme in maritime and transport science.

The main objective of the third-cycle doctoral degree study programme of Maritime and Transport Science is to provide further education to excellent graduates from second-cycle degree study programmes in the broad field of maritime studies-transport-traffic-transport logistics, and provide them with opportunities to develop into autonomous researchers and creators of new knowledge in these fields.

Based on the recommendations of the European University Association (EUA), international exchange of students is encouraged while the publication of at least one research paper is seen as one of the final products of the autonomous research work of doctoral students. Special importance is dedicated to close collaboration between the doctoral student and their mentor. The mentor can be selected among internationally renowned experts, in compliance with the rules of the University of Ljubljana and the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport.

The target duration of the 240-ECTS third-cycle doctoral degree study programme of Maritime and Transport Science is four years. The use of the ECTS system enables direct international collaboration with universities from countries using this system.

Main objectives of the third-cycle doctoral degree study programme of Maritime and Transport Science

The main objective of the third-cycle doctoral degree study programme of Maritime and Transport Science is to provide further education to excellent graduates from second-cycle degree study programmes in the broad field of maritime studies-transport-traffic-transport logistics, and provide them with opportunities to develop into autonomous researchers and creators of new knowledge in these fields. Upon the completion of this study programme, the doctoral students will have developed the competences of creative, critical, and autonomous research work in order to provide solutions to complex contemporary scientific problems in maritime and transport contexts.

General competences

The general competences developed by doctoral students in this study programme include critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of systems and processes, and the development of new methodological scientific research processes in maritime and transport contexts. Upon the completion of this study programme, the doctoral students will have developed the necessary competences to:

• identify, understand, and define fundamental scientific problems in order to provide solutions to complex scientific challenges and engage in the related organisation and management of scientific research activities in the maritime and transport science,
• use abstraction based on critical, analytical, and synthetic thinking,
• identify the data necessary for the development of new knowledge, technical-technological, and organisational solutions,
• integrate interdisciplinary research findings,
• collaborate in teams in the broad and narrow disciplinary field,
• create new theoretical knowledge and knowledge-based applied technical solutions in line with environmental and social responsibility and the Engineering Code of Practice,
• use advanced research methods and processes,
• communicate within their professional community,
• critically evaluate and present their research findings, follow the development of science in maritime and transport science, and continue with autonomous research work and education.

Discipline-specific competences

In the field of Maritime Science, the discipline-specific competences are related to the development of those competences that are necessary to upgrade the fundamental knowledge and competences in this discipline, and the development of comprehensive understanding and implementation of research findings in the fields of:

• navigation,
• marine engineering,
• port systems,
• protection of the marine and coastal environment.

In the field of Transport Science, the discipline-specific competences are related to the development of those competences that are necessary to upgrade the fundamental knowledge in this discipline, and the development of comprehensive understanding and implementation of research findings in the fields of:

• transport technology
• transport logistics
• traffic safety
• integrated transport policy

1. year
Ord.	Subject	Semester										Indep. work of stud.	Hours	ECTS points
		Winter					Summer
		P	S	V	KV	DO	P	S	V	KV	DO
1	Core elective courses	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10
2	Discipline-specific elective courses in Maritime Studies 1 or Discipline-specific elective courses in Transport Studies 1						30	30	0	0	0	190	250	10
3	Discipline-specific elective courses in Maritime Studies 2 or Discipline-specific elective courses in Transport Studies 2						30	30	0	0	0	190	250	10
4	Research Work Presentation						0	30	0	0	0	120	150	5
5	Research Work						30	10	0	0	90	520	650	25

1. year - Optional subjects
Ord.	Subject	Semester										Indep. work of stud.	Hours	ECTS points
		Winter					Summer
		P	S	V	KV	DO	P	S	V	KV	DO
1	Fuzzy Systems in Transportation	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10
2	Intelligent Maritime and Transport Systems Planning	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10
3	Mathematical Methods in Maritime Studies and Transport	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10
4	Models and Simulations in Traffic	30	10	0	0	60						190	290	10

1. year - Optional subjects
Ord.	Subject	Semester										Indep. work of stud.	Hours	ECTS points
		Winter					Summer
		P	S	V	KV	DO	P	S	V	KV	DO
1	Holistic Transport Policy						30	30	0	0	0	190	250	10
2	Traffic Safety						30	30	0	0	0	190	250	10
3	Transport Logistics						30	30	0	0	0	190	250	10
4	Transport Technologies						30	30	0	0	0	190	250	10

1. year - Optional subjects
Ord.	Subject	Semester										Indep. work of stud.	Hours	ECTS points
		Winter					Summer
		P	S	V	KV	DO	P	S	V	KV	DO
1	Management and Leadership in Water Transport						30	30	0	0	0	190	250	10
2	Marine Engineering						30	30	0	0	0	190	250	10
3	Maritime Systems						30	30	0	0	0	190	250	10
4	Modern Methods in Oceanography						30	30	0	0	0	190	250	10

2. year
Ord.	Subject	Semester										Indep. work of stud.	Hours	ECTS points
		Winter					Summer
		P	S	V	KV	DO	P	S	V	KV	DO
1	Elective courses of the study programme 1	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10
2	Elective courses of the study programme 2	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10
3	Doctoral Thesis Preparation and Defence						10	0	0	0	40	200	250	10
4	Research Work						20	0	0	0	130	600	750	30

2. year - Optional subjects
Ord.	Subject	Semester										Indep. work of stud.	Hours	ECTS points
		Winter					Summer
		P	S	V	KV	DO	P	S	V	KV	DO
1	Development of Autonomous Systems	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10
2	Economic Analyses in Transport	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10
3	Human Factors in Transport and the Shipping Industry	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10
4	Risk Assessment in Maritime and Transport Systems	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10
5	Supply Chain Management	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10
6	Systems and Processes in Air Traffic	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10
7	Systems and Processes in Pipelines	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10
8	Systems and Processes in Road Transport	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10
9	The Decision-Support Model in Transportation	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10
10	The Planning Methodology of Port Terminal Systems	30	10	0	0	60						150	250	10

3. year
Ord.	Subject	Semester										Indep. work of stud.	Hours	ECTS points
		Winter					Summer
		P	S	V	KV	DO	P	S	V	KV	DO
1	Research Work						40	0	0	0	260	1200	1500	60

4. year
Ord.	Subject	Semester										Indep. work of stud.	Hours	ECTS points
		Winter					Summer
		P	S	V	KV	DO	P	S	V	KV	DO
1	Doctoral seminar with a presentation of the doctoral dissertation before public defense and public defense	0	0	0	0	25						100	125	5
2	Research Work						35	0	0	0	240	1100	1375	55

Elective courses

The third-cycle doctoral degree study programme is not divided into separate directions. Instead, it consists of two disciplinary fields of Maritime Science and of Transport Science with carefully structured elective study units:

• one elective course from the category of core elective courses,
• two (among seven) elective courses from the discipline-specific elective courses,
• two (among 15; seven from the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport, and eight from elective courses offered by other faculties of the University of Ljubljana.

Therefore, all courses in the third-cycle doctoral degree study programme are elective.

 

Elective courses from the third-cycle doctoral degree study programme MECHANICAL ENGINEERING offered by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana	ECTS
Numerical Methods	10
Welding Processes	10
Elective courses from the third-cycle doctoral degree study programme ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS offered by the School of Economics and Business of the University of Ljubljana	ECTS
Advanced Econometrics	10
Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods in Economics and Business	10
Elective courses from the interdisciplinary third-cycle doctoral degree study programme ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION offered by the University of Ljubljana	ECTS
Fires and their Environmental Impacts	10
Elective courses from the third-cycle doctoral degree study programme STATISTICS offered by the University of Ljubljana	ECTS
Multivariate Analysis	10
Survey Methodology	10
Design and Analysis of Experiments	10

 

In accordance with the last paragraph of Article 38.a of the Higher Education Act and Article 16 of the transitional and final provisions of the Higher Education Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia no. 119/20.11.2006) enrolment is open to candidates that completed:

• a post-Bologna second-cycle degree study programme, irrespective of the field of study,
• a single-cycle five-year master’s degree study programme if it consists of 300 ECTS providing education for occupations regulated by directives of the European Union, or another single-cycle five-year master’s degree study programme if it consists of 300 ECTS,
• a pre-Bologna academic degree study programme,
• a pre-Bologna specialisation degree study programme if before that they had completed a higher education professional degree study programme in maritime studies-transport-traffic-transport logistics, or the natural, technical or social sciences. Before enrolment, the additional study requirements (from 30 to 60 ECTS) will be defined by the Research and Development Committee of the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport,
• an equivalent study programmed at a foreign university. The procedure for the recognition of prior foreign education is defined by the regulations of the University of Ljubljana.

Selection criteria for candidates (if restricted enrolment is applied):

In accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4 of Article 41 of the Higher Education Act, the selection of candidates will be based on academic achievement in second-cycle degree studies (average grade and grade of the master’s thesis), the elective course grade as stipulated by the study programme, and other achievements in scientific and professional contexts.

The selection of candidates will be based on:

• average grade in the completed study programme (15%),
• grade of the degree or master’s thesis (5%), and
• grade in the elective course (80%), which consists of a written exam in a course from the maritime and transport science.

Number of enrolment places: 5

Location: Portorož

Mode of study: part-time

Enrolment Application

Obligatory attachments:

• Degree Certificate
• Diploma Supplement
• Mentor Statement 
• Research Concept Draft
• Curriculum Vitae

 

LIST OF POTENTIAL DOCTORAL SUPERVISORS	Bibliographic indicators of research performance (2016-2021)
Chair for Economics and Management in Transport	Z	A1/2
Asst. Prof. Dr. Marina ZANNE, Head	586.62	239.7
Asst. Prof. Dr. Damjana JERMAN, Member	320.00	320.00
Chair for Traffic Engineering	Z	A1/2
Asst. Prof. Dr. Franc DIMC, Head	420.49	260.14
Asst. Prof. Dr. Blaž LUIN, Member	245.36	153.84
Prof. Dr. Stojan PETELIN, External Member	242.62	161.27
Chair for Quantitative Methods	Z	A1/2
Prof. Dr. Aleksej TURNŠEK, Head	507.94	442.96
Asst. Prof. Dr. Danijela TULJAK-SUBAN, Member	513.54	195.84
Asst. Prof. Dr. Evelin KRMAC, Member	710.65	415.72
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marijan ŽURA, External Member	138.69	54.79
Chair for Transport Systems	Z	A1/2
Prof. Dr. Elen TWRDY, Head	1357.13	378.66
Asst. Prof. Dr. Maja STOJAKOVIĆ	215.5	186.34
Asst. Prof. Dr. Bojan BEŠKOVNIK, Member	652.85	217.1
Chair for Vehicle Systems	Z	A1/2
Asst. Prof. Dr. Robert MUHA, Head	284.89	184.19
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oliver BAJT, Member	699.76	564.77
Asst. Prof. Dr. Sebastjan ŠKERLIČ, Member	518.17	231.36
Chair for Transport Logistics	Z	A1/2
Asst. Prof. Dr. Patricija BAJEC, Head	452.38	270.09
Chair for Foreign Languages	Z	A1/2
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Violeta JURKOVIĆ, Head	573.1	467.27
Chair for Traffic Safety	Z	A1/2
Prof. Dr. Milan BATISTA, Head	1350.4	513.51
Prof. Dr. Vlado MALAČIČ, Member	308.02	261.58
Asst. Prof. Dr. Aleksander GRM, Member	439.61	273.31
Prof. Dr. Jadran FAGANELI, External Member	437.7	226.87
Prof. Dr. Jože BALAŽIC, External Member	113.69	73.12
Prof. Dr. Matija SVETINA, External Member	327.66	259.51
Chair for Mechanical Engineering	Z	A1/2
Asst. Prof. Dr. Marko PERKOVIČ, Member	731.45	361.89
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Peter VIDMAR, Member	606.75	220.82
Chair for Law	Z	A1/2
Prof. Dr. Marko PAVLIHA, Head	270.33	100
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Patrick VLAČIČ, Member	205.56	75.66
Chair for Navigation	Z	A1/2
Asst. Prof. Dr. Andrej ANDROJNA, Head	289.26	161.93

 

 

SUGGESTED DOCTORAL DISSERTATION TOPICS - 2022/2023

Third-cycle doctoral degree study programme of Maritime and Transport Science

 

1) Asst. Prof. Dr. Patricija BAJEC

 

Title: Urban Cargo Distribution/Mobility to City Centres

 

Short content description: Qualitative/quantitative analysis in the use of innovative delivery methods and mobility and preferences of different groups of stakeholders, aiming to provide suggestions to governmental and municipal bodies, and IT designers. 

 

2) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oliver BAJT

 

Title: Environmental Pollution with Plastics and Microplastics 

 

Short content description: Plastics and microplastics in the environment are very long-lasting. The amounts of these substances in the environment are growing rapidly. Plastics have a detrimental effect on organisms. Maritime transport is an important source of plastics and microplastics in the sea.

 

Title: Road Transport as a Source of Microplastics in the Environment

 

Short content description: Particles accumulate on the road surface due to the wear of tires, other components of road vehicles, and cargo residues. Precipitation washes these particles off the road surface and with rainwater they enter the environment. The dissertation would include measurements on a specific road section.

 

Title: Accumulation and Washing of Hydrocarbons from Road Surfaces

 

Short content description: Hydrocarbons are an important group of pollutants that are strongly linked to transport. They accumulate on the road surface and are washed by rain into our environment, where they have a damaging effect. The dissertation would involve site measurements on a specific road stretch.

 

Interdisciplinary third-cycle degree study in Environmental Protection

 

Title: Environmental Pollution with Plastics and Microplastics 

 

Short topic description: Plastics and microplastics in the environment are very long-lasting. The amounts of these substances in the environment are growing rapidly. Plastics have a detrimental effect on organisms. Maritime transport is an important source of plastics and microplastics in the sea.

 

Title: Degradation of Contemporary Environmental Pollutants

 

 

Short topic description: Contemporary pollutants, such as medical and cosmetic pollutants, are becoming increasingly important. degradation takes place in the natural environment. It is important to determine the rate of degradation, the reaction pathways, as well as the products formed.

 

 

3) Asst. Prof. Dr. Franc DIMC

 

Title: Reduction of Multipath Effects on Navigational Safety in Multipath Conditions 

 

Short content description: Multi-beam propagation of electromagnetic waves from radio navigation satellites due to reflections from objects is a well-known phenomenon that is difficult to describe analytically and that increases the scattering of vessel's position results. The dissertation would include the analysis of raw data in the GNSS receiver. Following appropriate modelling of port facilities, it would show the advantages of using raw data of ships and GNSS compass in ship-independent integrity determination.

 

4) Prof. Jadran FAGANELI (co-supervisor; supervisor: Asst. Prof. Dr. Ingrid FALNOGA)

 

Title: Comparison between mercury pollution in the Gulf of Trieste and the Gulf of Minamata (Japan)

 

Short topic description: The objective of the doctoral dissertation thesis is to compare the mercury pollution in the Gulf of Trieste and the Gulf of Minamata, especially from an ecotoxicological point of view, given that despite the continuous input of Hg from the Soča River, no acute poisonings have been observed in the Gulf of Trieste to date.

 

5) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Damjan KLOBČAR

 

Title: Advanced Technologies for Joining Different Materials in Lightweight Ship Construction

 

Short content description: The use of advanced technologies for joining different materials facilitates vessel construction. The joining technology and materials allow the extension of the service life of the vessel while significantly reducing the need for vessel maintenance. Improvements in corrosion protection and optimisation of materials joining technology reduce energy consumption and emissions into the environment during vessel construction and use.

 

Interdisciplinary third-cycle degree study in Environmental Protection

 

Title: Advanced Technologies for Joining Different Materials in Lightweight Ship Construction in Terms of Corrosion, Strength and Environmental Effects

 

Short topic description: The use of advanced technologies for joining different materials facilitates vessel construction. The joining technology and materials allow the extension of the service life of the vessel while significantly reducing the need for vessel maintenance. Improvements in corrosion protection and optimisation of materials joining technology reduce energy consumption and emissions into the environment during vessel construction and use.

 

6) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Evelin KRMAC

 

Title: All topics involving the use of information technology and intelligent systems (artificial intelligence and machine-based learning) and multi-criteria decision-making methods aimed to optimise processes in logistics and/or transport. 

 

Short content description: AI techniques and algorithms enable the development of intelligent software machines that, given a large number of different, variable and unpredictable parameters, can successfully predict and forecast and thus support business decision-making, activity planning, etc. This can be achieved also by means of multi-criteria decision-making methods in conjunction with artificial intelligence and machine learning methods.

 

7) Asst. Prof. Dr. Blaž LUIN

 

Title: Energy Aspect of V2V and V2I Communication

 

Short topic description: Connected vehicle technologies, V2V and V2I, influence the reactions of the driver or autonomous vehicle. They contribute to both safety and the optimal reaction to avoid a traffic disturbance or obstacle and to route selection. Energy consumption is affected by influencing the driving dynamics and route selection. The dissertation would involve building a model for different data from connected vehicles, taking into account the limited communication ranges between vehicles.

 

Title: Impact of Road Network Optimisation on Energy Consumption and Emissions

 

Short topic description: Adaptive traffic light control and increasing traffic flow also have an impact on energy consumption in road transport. The dissertation would involve modelling the traffic network and the impacts of innovative junction management in conjunction with energy consumption models, which can be used to estimate direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Title: Marine Accident Risk Analysis Based on AIS Data

 

Short topic description: In progress. 

 

Interdisciplinary third-cycle degree study in Environmental Protection

 

Title:  Evaluation of Maritime Trasport Emissions Based on AIS Data

 

Short topic description: AIS data on vessel voyages are available for extensive areas. In combination with a fuel consumption and emissions model, the environmental impact of shipping on air quality could be assessed, in particular the impacts on coastal areas with intense maritime traffic.

 

Title: Modelling the Energy Consumption of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

 

Short topic description: As the share of electric and hybrid vehicles increases, vehicle consumption patterns and energy consumption assessments need to be adapted accordingly. The dissertation would entail the design and calibration of a basic energy consumption model suitable for microsimulation, a regression model for macrosimulation, and a more accurate model that takes into account the details of individual vehicle assemblies.

 

 

8) Asst. Prof. Dr. Sebastjan ŠKERLIČ  

 

Title: Methodology of Warehousing Process Management

 

Short content description: Warehousing as a support process within logistics plays an important function of coordinator between business functions in the material operations of a company, and bridges the differences between the time of production and the time of use of different products. It has a significant impact on the company’s costs. In fact, according to several international studies, warehousing costs represent the second largest category of logistics costs, second only to transport costs. The development of a systemic methodology can lead to the improvement of the warehousing decision-making process in companies and bridge the research gap in existing research studies.

 

Interdisciplinary third-cycle degree study in Environmental Protection

 

Topic: ​Methodology of Introducing Sustainable Packaging in a Company's Business Processes

 

Short content description: Efficient use of sustainable packaging helps reduce waste, costs and potential transport damage. Businesses and society as a whole can achieve economic benefits from reusable packaging and also make a significant contribution to environmental protection. The aim of the doctoral dissertation is to develop a methodology that allows the comparison of the use and implementation of different sustainable packaging systems (non-returnable packaging, returnable packaging and returnable foldable packaging) in a company's business process. The methodology should take into account both the economic and the environmental impacts of the choice of different packaging systems and, as such, upgrade existing research studies. In addition, it should also represent a practical decision-making tool for manufacturing companies and the logistics industry to provide an effective sustainable packaging management system.

 

9) Asst. Prof. Dr. Danijela TULJAK – SUBAN

 

Title: The doctoral dissertation topic will be defined based on the expectations of the doctoral candidate, and will include multicriteria decision-making, fuzzy logic, and numerical optimisation in transport and logistics. 

 

Short content description: The content will be defined based on the research interests/needs of the doctoral candidate and trends in operational research in transport and/or logistics.

 

Interdisciplinary third-cycle degree study in Environmental Protection

 

Topic: Using Fuzzy Logic and Multi-criteria Decision-making to Find a Sustainable (Optimal) Solution to the Vehicle Routing Problem

 

Short content description: The vehicle routing problem (VRP) is an example of a hard integer programming problem, where several factors have to be taken into account in the search for an optimal solution: fleet characteristics, time requirements of customers, location of warehouses, freight characteristics, environmental aspect, etc. In the dissertation, these conditions, which may have different weights in the process of finding an optimal solution, will be appropriately evaluated, using an appropriate multi-criteria decision making method, and applied to the definition, modelling and solution of the vehicle routing problem. The relevance and sensitivity of the model will be tested on a real case. The focus will be placed on finding an environmentally friendly solution.

 

10) Prof. Elen TWRDY

 

Topic: Identification of Factors of Sustainable Port Development

 

Short content description: Sustainable port development, analysis of the factors influencing the development of ports in the world, development of a framework for the evaluation of these factors, establishment of weights...

 

11) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Peter VIDMAR

 

Title: Safety Assessment of Maritime Transport Systems

 

Short content description: The dissertation includes the identification of appropriate methods for risk analysis in maritime transport systems, such as waterways, anchorages, or port terminals. Additional parameters concern the specific properties of ports located in the immediate vicinity of populated areas and the analysis of cross-border impacts.

 

Interdisciplinary third-cycle degree study in Environmental Protection

 

Topic: Risk Model for Increasing the Efficiency of Transport Systems

 

Short content description: The dissertation involves the design of a transport system risk model aiming to increase the efficiency of transport system management.

 

12) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Patrick VLAČIČ

 

Title: Liability for Damage Caused by Autonomous Ships

 

Short content description: Autonomous ships are no longer only a topic of science fiction films. In fact, the first ones are already sailing successfully. In addition to many interesting technological aspects of fully automated navigation, it is important to bear in mind the potential for injury to or death of persons and damage to property (cargo, other ships or infrastructure) when using such ships. The doctoral dissertation should seek to address the legal challenges of using autonomous ships.

 

Title: Ship Arrest for the Collection of Bunker Claims

 

Short content description: The arrest of ships is an instrument by which creditors obtain security for the payment of any amount awarded in court for an unpaid bunker claim. The characteristics of bunker procurement, where we have procurement intermediaries, actual bunker suppliers on one hand, and bunker purchasers who are not necessarily shipowners (e.g., time charterers) and shipowners on the other, may be quite confusing. The doctoral dissertation should address the right way to order, payment security for the seller, and other open questions among bunker suppliers and purchasers, and shipowners who, according to the 1952 or 1999 conventions, may experience ship arrest. Despite a single legal system, the observed practices worldwide still significantly vary.

Based on evidence of prior education (degree certificate, exam certificate, syllabuses of completed courses in prior education), the body competent for the recognition of first-year study requirements of 20 ECTS previously acquired within organised forms of study is the Commssion for Research and Development of the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport.

• 5 ECTS from organised study activities in the first year of study (Research Work Presentation),
• 25 ECTS from individual research work in the first year of study,
• 10 ECTS from individual research work in the second year of study.

 

Advancement into a higher year of study is open to all doctoral students that have completed the following study requirements and research tasks:

• For advancement into the second year of study, a minimum of 50 ECTS, of which a minimum of 20 ECTS earned in the first year for organised forms of study.
• For advancement into the third year of study, the completion of all organised study requirements from the first and second years of study. Additional conditions for advancement into the third year of study are the completion of the doctoral seminar with a successful presentation of the doctoral dissertation topic and results, and the approval of the dissertation topic by the Senate of the University of Ljubljana.
• For advancement into the fourth year of study, the completion of all study requirements from the first, second, and third years of study.

Transferring between study programmes

Transfer to the second year of the third-cycle doctoral degree study programme of Maritime and Transport Science is open to doctoral students that have completed a pre-Bologna master’s degree study programme. Recognition of a maximum of 60 ECTS may be granted:

• 30 ECTS for organised forms of study of the first year (the core elective course and both discipline-specific elective courses),
• 10 ECTS from organised forms of study of the second year (one elective course offered by other faculties of the University of Ljubljana),
• 5 ECTS from organised forms of study of the first year (Research Work Presentation),
• 15 ECTS from individual research work in the first year of study.

Transfer is also open to doctoral students that have completed other pre-Bologna master’s degree study programmes. In this case, 20 ECTS may be recognised for organised forms of study of the first year (the core elective course and one discipline-specific elective course, or two discipline-specific elective courses).

Part-time study. 

In order to graduate from this study programme and obtain a doctorate of science, the doctoral student must complete all study requirements and defend their doctoral dissertation, thus earning a total of 240 ECTS. An additional condition is the publication or acceptance for publication of at least one research paper in a relevant national or foreign journal with the doctoral candidate as the lead author not later than before the submission of the doctoral dissertation.  

Publication of the research paper

Not later than before the submission of the doctoral dissertation, the doctoral student must publish at least one research paper in an SCI national or international journal, approved by the Research and Development Committee of the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport. The Research and Development Committee may accept a decision that the research paper may be published as a national or international scientific monograph or a chapter thereof. Evidence of the acceptance of the research paper for publication is a certificate of acceptance for publication issued by the publisher. The body competent for the evaluation of the publication and lead or equivalent authorship of the doctoral student is the Research and Development Committee of the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport.

The doctoral student registers for the Research Work Presentation by completing and submitting the Research Work Presentation Application (Application Form). The attachments to the Research Work Presentation Application include a written report on their research work (a maximum of two pages). The Application is examined by the Research and Development Committee, who appoints a three-member Research Work Presentation Committee. One of the members of this Committee is the doctoral student's mentor. The date and time for the Research Work Presentation are defined in agreement with the other two members of the Committee and the doctoral student.

The Research Work Presentation consists of the presentation and defence of the scientific findings of the narrow field of the doctoral student's research work. The aim of the Research Work Presentation is for the doctoral student to display the relevant knowledge in the field under examination and their ability to use appropriate scientific research methodology and processes. The Research Work Presentation may be graded as successful or unsuccessful.

Upon successful completion of the Research Work Presentation, the doctoral student is granted 25 ECTS for their individual research work, a study requirement in the first year of study.

The mentor issues and signs a written statement (Written Statement Form), by which they confirm that the doctoral student has successfully completed their individual research work.

The individual research work of the doctoral student is supervised by their mentor. By issuing the written statement of the doctoral student's individual research work, the mentor approves the scope of the completed research work:

• Research work in the first year of study in the amount of ___ ECTS of 20 ECTS (first semester) and/or
• Research work in the first year of study in the amount of ___ ECTS of 5 ECTS (second semester) and/or
• Research work in the second year of study in the amount of ___ ECTS of 10 ECTS (third semester) and/or
• Research work in the second year of study in the amount of ___ ECTS of 25 ECTS (fourth semester) and/or
• Research work in the third year of study in the amount of ___ ECTS of 30 ECTS (fifth semester) and/or
• Research work in the third year of study in the amount of ___ ECTS of 30 ECTS (sixth semester) and/or
• Research work in the fourth year of study in the amount of ___ ECTS of 30 ECTS (seventh semester) and/or
• Research work in the fourth year of study in the amount of ___ ECTS of 25 ECTS (eighth semester).

RULES ON DOCTORAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LJUBLJANA

 

 

APPLICATION FOR THE TOPIC OF THE DOCTORAL DISSERTATION PRIJAVA TEME DOKTORSKE DISERTACIJE

 

Registration and approval of the doctoral dissertation proposal

Article 35

In agreement with the supervisor and potential co-supervisor the doctoral candidate shall register the doctoral dissertation proposal in accordance with the rules and regulations of the UL member leading the procedure for obtaining a PhD.
A doctoral candidate may register the proposal of their doctoral dissertation proposal no more than twice in the same field of the doctoral study programme prior to submitting their doctoral dissertation for assessment. On the second registration, the doctoral candidate may register either a new proposal of the dissertation or an updated proposal of the dissertation which was already considered by the senate of the UL member. A second registration of a rejected dissertation proposal shall not be permitted. If the senate of a UL member or the UL Senate rejects the doctoral dissertation proposal which the doctoral candidate is registering for the second time, the candidate may no longer complete the doctoral programme in that field.

Article 36

A doctoral candidate shall submit an application for approval of the doctoral dissertation proposal to the responsible body in accordance with the rules and regulations of the UL member.
The application shall contain information on the doctoral candidate and:
1. the doctoral dissertation proposal (3 to 7 pages of text and a list of the main references and sources), comprising:
• the title of the dissertation in Slovenian and English, or in another foreign language in the case of the study of a foreign language and literature;
• the research field of the doctoral dissertation;
• a research description, including:
- a brief overview of the specific research field and a presentation of the research done to date in the field of the dissertation, and the purpose of the research;
- clearly presented hypotheses or research questions or objectives with a brief explanation;
- the research concept and a description of the research methods;
- the definition of expected results and the original contribution to science;
- a list of relevant references from the field of the dissertation;
• a draft of the research data management plan in accordance with Article 50 of these Rules;
2. the proposal for supervision and potential co-supervision, the consent of the supervisor and potential co-supervisor and an indication of their 3 to 5 scientific references in the broader field of the doctoral dissertation;
3. the CV of the doctoral candidate and bibliography (list of main scientific, professional, project and other publications and works);
4. the approval of the Medical Ethics Committee of the Republic of Slovenia or another ethics committee or the permission of the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Safe Food, Veterinary Medicine and Plant Protection to conduct tests on animals, where the nature of the proposed doctoral dissertation proposal requires it;
5. a possible request for approval of writing the doctoral dissertation in English, or in another language in the case of studying foreign languages in accordance with Article 44 of these Rules.
Upon registering the application for approval of the doctoral dissertation proposal the doctoral candidate shall also attach other required documents in accordance with the instructions of the UL member.
The application for approval of the doctoral dissertation proposal shall be written in Slovenian. If a candidate requests approval of writing the doctoral dissertation in English, they must also submit the proposal of the dissertation and their CV in English, in accordance with Article 44 of these Rules. If the doctoral candidate is a foreign national, the dissertation proposal and CV may be written only in English.
If the registration documentation is incomplete, the responsible body of the UL member shall call on the doctoral candidate to supplement it by a specific deadline that shall not exceed one year. If within this deadline the documentation is not supplemented, the application for approval of the dissertation proposal shall be discarded by a decision.

 

The doctoral candidate uses the VIS system to submit their dissertation proposal (End of study - theme application) by UPLOADING their disposition in a Word document format. 

 

The supervising professor can access the submitted file in the 'Zaključna dela - Prijava diplomske teme' folder.

 

Procedure:

1. The doctoral candidate fills out the electronic application form.

2. The doctoral candidate uses the VIS system to submit their dissertation proposal by UPLOADING their disposition in a Word document format (the filename must not contain the following consonants: č, š, ž).

3. The doctoral candidate prints and signs the application form.

4. The supervising professor signs the application form.

5. The application form and dissertation proposal (disposition) must be sent by regular mail to the address of the Student Administration Office, email of the Student Administration Office, or delivered in person to the Student Administration Office within the Office working hours. 

 

 

The doctoral candidate applies for the Preparation and Defence of the Doctoral Dissertation using the application form. The application is considered by the Development and Research Committee, which then appoints a three-member committee for the evaluation of the preparation and defence of the doctoral dissertation (the committee for the evaluation of the suitability of the doctoral candidate, dissertation topic, and supervisor/co-supervisor). This committee tends to consist of the same members as the as the Research Work Presentation Committee. The candidate’s supervisor is a member of the appointed committee. The date and time of the preparation and public defence of the doctoral dissertation is coordinated by the supervisor with the other two members of the committee and the doctoral candidate. The doctoral candidate delivers the presentation of the preparation and defence of the doctoral dissertation. The preparation and defence of the doctoral dissertation is assessed as successful or unsuccessful.

 

The doctoral candidate submits the Application Form for the Doctoral Dissertation Proposal in a Word format (typed, without signatures) and submits the same form, signed by the doctoral candidate and supervisor (and co-supervisor), to: referat@fpp.uni-lj.si.

University	University of Ljubljana
Faculty	Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport (0000065)
Abbreviated name of faculty	UL FPP
eVŠ code of the study programme	0001379
Name of the study programme	Maritime and Transport Science
Level	Third cycle
Type	Doctoral degree
KLASIUS_SRV	17003 – Education leading to doctorate of science (third Bologna cycle)
Duration in years	3 and 4
Number of ECTS	180 or 240
KLASIUS-P main	8400
KLASIUS-P other
KLASIUS-P-16 main
KLASIUS-P-16 other	1041
ISCED	84
Academic or professional title - masculine form	Doctor of science
Academic or professional title - feminine form	Doctor of science
Academic or professional title - abbreviated	Dr
Location	Portorož - POT POMORŠČAKOV 4, PORTOROŽ, PIRAN, 6320-PORTOROŽ - PORTOROSE (0003508)
Number and date of accreditation decision	2/57-2007 (05 October 2007)
Starting date of accreditation validity	19 May 2011

 

 

 

Link 

Qualification type	Doctorate of science
Qualification category	Education
Education type	Education leading to a doctorate of science
Number of ECTS	180 or 240 ECTS
Enrolment conditions	Enrolment is open to all candidates that completed: a post-Bologna second-cycle degree study programme, irrespective of the field of study, a single-cycle five-year master’s degree study programme if it consists of 300 ECTS providing education for occupations regulated by directives of the European Union, or another single-cycle five-year master’s degree study programme if it consists of 300 ECTS, a pre-Bologna academic degree programme, a pre-Bologna specialisation degree programme if before that they had completed a higher education professional degree programme in maritime studies-transport-traffic-transport logistics, or the natural, technical or social sciences. Before enrolment, the additional study requirements (from 30 to 60 ECTS) will be defined by the Research and Development Committee of the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport, an equivalent study programmed at a foreign university. The procedure for the recognition of prior foreign education is defined by the regulations of the University of Ljubljana.
ISCED broad field	Services
ISCED narrow field	Transport services
Qualification level	SQF 10 EQF 8 Third-cycle

In accordance with the Professional and Academic Titles Act, the title conferred upon the completion of the third-cycle doctoral degree study programme of Maritime and Transport Science is

 

Doctor of Science (abbreviated: Dr).