PhD Degree (3rd cycle) in Engineering & Automotive Industry

Postgraduate PhD study programme – 3rd cycle

Strokovni naziv

Doctor of Science

PhD or Dr abbreviated in front of name

Majors

The programme does not have majors, but a choice of 4 modules

Type and location of studies

Novo mesto – part time studies and distance learning (e-learning)

Content

• technologies,
• materials,
• designing,
• automobilism,
• environment management,
• information technology and communication,
• commercial law and property,
• logistics,
• marketing, production, technology and development,
• business communication and relationships,
• quality and business excellence,
• appliance maintenance,
• work safety.  

Enrolment requirements

1st year

The first year of full-time and part- time higher education study programme Engineering and Vehicles can be entered by someone who has (according to the 38th article of Higher Education Act, Official Gazette, No. 100/04):

• successfully passed the matura exam,
• successfully passed the vocational matura exam or final exam after 4 years of secondary school

In case of limited enrolment candidates will be selected according to:

• grade point average of the final exam, vocational matura exam and general matura exam (60% of points)
• grade point average in the 3rd and 4th year of secondary school (40% of points).  

Enrolment requirements for partial programme are the same as for higher professional study programme Engineering and Vehicles.

2nd year

A candidate that has successfully finished a vocational college, accredited after 1st January 1994, if fulfilling all admission requirements, can enter directly into the 2nd year of higher education study programme Engineering and Vehicles. Admission requirement for the direct entry into the 2nd year is finished diploma of vocational college. Students have to pass bridge exams that cover the differences between the study programmes before entering the 3rd year. Bridge exams are defined by a competent faculty body.

Also, a candidate that has successfully finished other higher education study programme can enter directly into the 2nd year of higher education study programme Engineering and Vehicles. A competent faculty body defines the requirements that a candidate has to fulfil before entering the 3rd year. 

In case of limited enrolment candidates will be chosen according to the average grade at vocational college.

3rd year

To enter directly into the 3rd year of study programme Engineering and Vehicles a candidate has to: 

• successfully finish vocational college, accredited before 1st January 1994. The entry is possible if a candidate fulfils the requirements to enter into higher education study programme. The requirement is finished diploma of vocational college. All candidates have to pass bridge exams of chosen subjects from the 1st and 2nd year, maximum 60 credit points, before the diploma title registration. The exams are defined by a competent faculty body.  
• be a graduate of any higher education or university study programme if fulfilling the requirements to enter into higher education study programme. All candidates have to pass bridge exams of chosen subjects from the 1st and/or 2nd year, maximum 60 credit points, before the diploma title registration. The exams are defined by a competent faculty body on the basis of differences between study programmes defined by a faculty report.
• successfully finish two years of other higher education professional programme. On the basis of written request a competent faculty body defines requirements that a candidate has to fulfil before diploma title registration.

For more information please visit the European Area of Recognition Manual.

Curriculum

Year One

No.	Course	1st Semester			2nd Semester
		L	LW	ECTS	L	LW	ECTS
1.	Seminar for dissertation proposal	60	30	10	–	–	–
2.	Required 1st Module Course	60	30	10	–	–	–
3.	Required 2nd Module Course	60	30	10	–	–	–
4.	Elective Course Module	–	–	–	60	30	10
5.	Elective Course	–	–	–	60	30	10
6.	Doctral Dissertation Proposal	–	–	–	30	–	10
Total		180	90	30	150	60	30

Year Two

No.	Course	3rd Semester			4th Semester
		L	LW	ECTS	L	LW	ECTS
7.	Individual Research Work I I	75	–	30	–	–	–
8.	Individual Research Work II	–	–	–	75	–	30
Total		75	–	30	75	–	30

3. letnik

No.	Course	5th Semester			6th Semester
		L	LW	ECTS	L	LW	ECTS
9.	Individual Research Work III	75	–	30	–	–	–
10.	Doctral Dissertation	–	–	–	90	–	30
Total		75	–	30	90	–	30

Elective Modules

No.	Course
		L	LW	ECTS	L	LW	ECTS
	Elective MODULE I: Electromechanical Systems
1.	Nonlinear dynamics in engineering (REQ)	60	30	10	–	–	–
2.	Advanced mechatronic systems (REQ)	60	30	10	–	–	–
3.	Research methods in nonlinear dynamics*	–	–	–	60	30	10
4.	Servo-Hydraulic in Pneumatic Systems*	–	–	–	60	30	10

No.	Course
		L	LW	ECTS	L	LW	ECTS
	Elective MODULE II: Intelligent Systems
1.	Artificial intelligence methods and tools	60	30	10	–	–	–
2.	Intelligent systems to manage – control devices and automobiles	60	30	10	–	–	–
3.	Selected Topics in Mathematicial Methods	–	–	–	60	30	10
4.	Integrated intelligent sensors	–	–	–	60	30	10

No.	Course
		L	LW	ECTS	L	LW	ECTS
	Elective MODUL III: Automative Energy
1.	Automative Energy (REQ)	60	30	10	–	–	–
2.	Automative Energy Sensors(REQ)	60	30	10	–	–	–
3.	Design of Virtual Prototypes *	–	–	–	60	30	10
4.	Integrated Intelligent Sensors *	–	–	–	60	30	10

No.	Course
		L	LW	ECTS	L	LW	ECTS
	Elective MODULE IV: Operations Management
1.	Selected Topics in Mathematicial	60	30	10	–	–	–
2.	Systems approach and structure of systems	60	30	10	–	–	–
3.	Operation research *	–	–	–	60	30	10
4.	Automative Development Processes *	–	–	–	60	30	10

Elective Courses

No.	Course
		L	LW	ECTS	L	LW	ECTS
1.	Queueing systems	–	–	–	60	30	10
2.	Modeling and simulation of discrete processes	–	–	–	60	30	10
3.	Design and Manegement of Supply Chains	–	–	–	60	30	10
4.	Editing Images	–	–	–	60	30	10
5.	Fatigue and facture of materials	–	–	–	60	30	10
6.	Heat treatment and surface engineering of metals	–	–	–	60	30	10
7.	Contact mechanics and tribology	–	–	–	60	30	10
8.	Maintenance and Technical Diagnostic	–	–	–	60	30	10
9.	Regulations of materials	–	–	–	60	30	10

Competences

General competences

Students of the higher education study programme Engineering and Vehicles will acquire the following general competences:

• ability of analysis and synthesis in problem-solving on technical field,
• ability of managing modern methods, procedures and processes,
• ability of critical judgement,
• ability to use theoretical knowledge in practice,
• ability to be independent at professional work,
• knowledge of social systems in business world,
• development of communication skills in domestic and international business with the use of Slovene and foreign languages,
• ability to work in teams and manage projects,
• ability to link and use knowledge from different fields,
• ability to observe business ethics,
• ability to implement constant business improvement,  
• knowledge of professional terminology,
• knowledge and use of information communication technology by using software, computer systems and electronic business,
• knowledge of safety at work and environment protection,
• knowledge of motivation and conflict-solving.

Subject-specific competences

Students of the higher education study programme Engineering and Vehicles will acquire the following subject-specific competences:

• ability to understand and use modern theories of production, technology and development,
• ability of mathematical understanding, particularly statistics, probability and technique, and their practical applications,
• ability of interdisciplinary linking of knowledge of different subjects,
• knowledge of technical characteristics of materials and products,
• knowledge and use of information communication technologies,
• knowledge and use of the methods of overall quality of products and services,
• knowledge of technical and business legislation,
• ability to manage work,
• ability to communicate with suppliers, customers, competition, etc.,
• ability to transfer knowledge to partners,
• ability to learn about company operation,
• knowledge of organisational structures and process organisation,
• knowledge of marketing as a basic business process,
• knowledge of work legislation,
• ability to develop and implement new technical procedures and processes
• ability to ensure compliance of products and processes with prescribed requirements
• knowledge of product maintenance methods, 
• knowledge of methods of following the sold product,
• knowledge of specificity of automobile industry development, 
• ability of diagnose and repair of production machines,
• knowledge and use of energy machines and appliances.

Terms of advancement

To be promoted from the 1st into the 2nd study year students have to achieve at least 45 credit points in the 1st study year. To advance into the 3rd year a student has to fulfil all requirements from the 1st year and have at least 45 credit points from the second year. If a student enters into the 2nd year after finishing vocational college study programme, accredited after 1st January 1994, he/she has to pass all prescribed bridge exams before entering into the 3rd year.

The faculty can allow the entry into higher study year even if a student did no fulfil all requirements in case of special circumstances: motherhood, longer illness, special family and social conditions, participation in significant cultural, sport and professional events.

A student who does not fulfil requirements to enter higher study year can repeat a year once or change a study programme due to unfulfilled requirements of a study programme. The third year cannot be repeated as students have graduation year to fulfil missing obligations.

According to the current legislation a student can extend a student status for maximum one year if:

• he/she does not enter into the next year due to justifiable reasons,
• he/she does not graduate within 12 months after the end of last term due to justifiable reasons,
• student gives birth in the course of study.

Student can graduate before it is defined in the study programme.

Conditions for completion of study

Conditions for completion of studyare finished all study requirements defined by the study programme collecting 180 credit points according to ECTS.

A student of the 2nd year of the study programme Engineering and Vehicles that has successfully finished vocational college study programme, accredited after 1st January 1994, has to pass all bridge exams and fulfil current study requirements of the 2nd and 3rd year collecting at least 120 credit points.

If a student enters into the 3rd year after finishing vocational college study programme, accredited before 1st January 1994, he/she has to pass all bridge exams and fulfil current study requirements of the 3rd year collecting at least 60 points.

A study is finished with preparation and oral defence of a diploma paper.