The triple Medical Campus at the University of Ljubljana

At its meeting on July 10, 2025, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia included the project for the construction of the new Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Ljubljana (UL FFA), estimated to cost 133 million euros, in the 2025–2028 Development Program Plan. At the same time, it also approved a new source of funding for the Vrazov trg Campus project of the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Medicine (UL MF) in the amount of 17.6 million euros.

“Both projects are of exceptional importance to the University of Ljubljana. After decades of operating in inadequate facilities, students, faculty, and researchers will finally have working conditions comparable to those at universities abroad. The University of Ljubljana continues to invest in high-quality higher education infrastructure. In addition to the construction of the UL MF Vrazov trg Campus, construction is also underway on the new building for the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, which is expected to open in 2026. Work is proceeding according to plan; currently, the construction, trade, and installation (CTI) phase is underway, along with the final public procurement processes for selecting equipment suppliers. An investment project for the new Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana is also underway; it received a comprehensive building permit in July 2024. Construction will be co-financed under the European Cohesion Policy Program for the 2021–2027 period in Slovenia. A public tender for the selection of a contractor for construction, installation, and finishing works is scheduled for 2025. “We would like to thank the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation for supporting the development of the University of Ljubljana’s spatial infrastructure by providing financial resources,” said the University of Ljubljana’s Chief Secretary, Mihaela Bauman Podojsteršek.

 

The new UL FFA building will cover 33,790 square meters and will meet the highest standards for education and research. The goal of the project is to eliminate spatial and technical constraints on teaching, research, and professional activities. The project will also enable an increase in the number of enrollment slots in the pharmacy and laboratory diagnostics programs.

“At UL FFA, we are currently facing a shortage of space, particularly laboratories and lecture halls, and consequently the need to rent space, which divides our operations across multiple locations. The new facilities, with significantly more floor space, will meet the highest standards of functionality, sustainable construction, and all aspects of technical, biological, and chemical safety. “With the new building, we will be able to provide our students with a modern approach to the educational process, which is not possible without sufficient, technically and technologically advanced, and well-equipped laboratories,” said the dean of the UL FFA, Prof. Dr. Rok Dreu.

The total value of the project is 133.08 million euros, including VAT, and funding will be provided from three sources:

• 97.6 million euros from the state budget under the Health Investment Act,
• 18.7 million euros from the Ministry of Higher Education,
• and 16.8 million euros will be contributed by the University of Ljubljana from its own funds.

In July 2024, the UL FFA already obtained a comprehensive building permit for the new construction. The faculty will have new premises at Večna pot 113, next to the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, the Faculty of Computer Science and Informatics, and the planned new building of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana. The public tender for the selection of a contractor for the construction, installation, and finishing works was published on July 18, 2025.

For the UL MF Vrazov Trg Campus project, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation and the University of Ljubljana will sign an addendum to the existing co-financing agreement under the Recovery and Resilience Plan. The new source of funding will be provided from the budget for investments in public healthcare institutions in 2026. Funds amounting to 17.6 million euros will enable the project to proceed, and approval has also been obtained from the Ministry of Health, specifically the Office for Supervision, Quality, and Investments in Healthcare.

“The Government of the Republic of Slovenia’s approval of the new funding source represents a crucial step toward fulfilling our commitment to complete the Vrazov trg Campus project—the first of three planned campuses—within the scheduled timeframe. This is a strategic investment in the future of medicine, through which we will ensure modern conditions for study, research, and clinical work. It will provide students with a better educational experience and staff with a stimulating and creative work environment. “This will strengthen the role of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ljubljana as the central academic and professional institution in the field of medicine in Slovenia and enable its further development,” said the Dean of the UL Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Igor Švab.

Work is proceeding according to plan; currently, the construction phase is underway, and the final public tenders for the selection of equipment suppliers are being conducted. Construction is expected to be completed in mid-2026.

Photo: Makro5

Progress on the construction of the Triple Campus at Vrazov Trg as of day June 24, 2025.