Construction of the Vrazov trg Campus is in its final stages: next year, the first students and researchers will move into the new facilities of the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Medicine
Construction of the new Vrazov trg I Campus of the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Medicine (UL MF) is progressing successfully and is nearing the final phase of structural work. The building, which is the first university project in Slovenia to receive the prestigious DGNB Gold Sustainability Certificate, will soon offer students and researchers modern, energy-efficient, and sustainably designed spaces for teaching, research, and collaboration. This is one of the most financially ambitious projects that Slovenia will carry out by 2026 with the help of European funds under the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Work is proceeding according to schedule, with the main construction work expected to be completed in early 2026. Currently, final reinforced concrete work, the installation of facade elements, the installation of utilities, and the finishing of interior spaces are underway.
»As we saw during today’s tour, construction of the new building for the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Medicine is proceeding according to plan. The new building is part of a major investment cycle in higher education and scientific research infrastructure currently underway throughout Slovenia. A new building for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is also under construction in Ljubljana. The Faculty of Pharmacy and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering will each receive new buildings. In Maribor, the largest data center in Slovenia is under construction, which will also house a supercomputer with an artificial intelligence facility; the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Maribor will also be renovated and expanded, and the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Primorska will receive a new building. A Center for the Development, Demonstration, and Training in Carbon-Free Technologies is being built in Zagorje, and some of the research equipment has already been installed in the building. “These are just a few of the largest investment projects that will contribute to even better study and research conditions in Slovenia,” said the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Dr. Igor Papič.
The Rector of the University of Ljubljana, Prof. Dr. Gregor Majdič, stated: “Construction of the new sustainable campus at Vrazov trg is proceeding exactly as planned and is making excellent progress. This ensures that in the 2026/2027 academic year, we will be able to admit a larger number of medical students to modern, sustainably designed facilities that will provide top-notch conditions for study and research. At the same time, we remain firmly committed to the comprehensive renovation of the Faculty of Medicine, including the construction of the Zaloška Campus, which will house modern diagnostic laboratories to support the Slovenian healthcare system, thereby ensuring that Slovenian patients continue to receive top-notch medical care. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with all stakeholders to jointly realize our vision of excellence in education and research in the field of medicine.«
"The Vrazov trg Campus project of the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Medicine is, both financially and symbolically, one of the most important projects of the Recovery and Resilience Plan. The NextGenerationEU funds we are using to implement the plan are specifically intended for recovery from the COVID-19 health crisis, which has had a profound impact on our lives. It was healthcare workers who were the first to realize just how important the preparedness and resilience of our social systems are. Ensuring appropriate conditions for educating new generations of medical students is crucial to this. I am pleased that we are seeing significant progress in the implementation of this project, which will contribute to the common goal of greening the educational infrastructure in Slovenia and thereby fulfill one of the many conditions for the inflow of available funds for recovery and resilience. The European Commission recently approved the fourth payment request, which Slovenia expects to receive later this year. Once the funds are disbursed, we will have received 69 percent of the available funds. “We are directing these funds toward a wide variety of projects—including the greening of the education system, flood protection projects, as well as the economy and railways, to name just a few areas,” emphasized the director of the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Recovery and Resilience, Mag. Josip Mihalic.
The Head of the European Commission Representation in Slovenia, Dr. Jerneja Jug Jerše, expressed her satisfaction with the progress made so far on the project, which is of crucial importance to the Slovenian healthcare system. She also thanked all those involved for their exceptional dedication and professionalism in managing such a significant investment. “With a European Union contribution of 40 million euros, the project addresses one of the most important concerns of the Slovenian population—health and healthcare. This investment supports key measures to strengthen the healthcare system: it will increase the number of doctors and other healthcare professionals in the country and provide them with modern training facilities. This will directly contribute to better healthcare and the health of all residents of Slovenia.”
“The new campus represents one of three planned campuses of the Faculty of Medicine and accounts for approximately one-third of the total planned capacity. The faculty has entered a significant investment cycle that will last for the next ten years and encompass the comprehensive renovation and construction of all faculty facilities. This will ensure conditions for education and research in the fields of medicine and dentistry comparable to those at prestigious European faculties. We would also like to emphasize that other construction and renovation projects, which are currently in the stages of preparing project and investment documentation, are proceeding according to schedule. The Faculty is currently financing them entirely from its own resources,” stated the Dean of the UL MF, Prof. Dr. Ksenija Geršak.
The 2025/26 academic year has welcomed the last cohort of students who will begin their entire degree program in the faculty’s current facilities, as next year students and faculty will partially relocate to the new Vrazov trg I Campus, where modern facilities for teaching and research will await them.
The project is estimated at 93.5 million euros and is primarily co-financed by the European Union under the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation.
Photo: Slovenian Press Agency STA
ideo: Makro 5 gradnje d. o. o.
