Study

Special and rehabilitation pedagogy

The study programme prepares students for high-quality work with individuals with special needs across all stages of life. This work takes place in various organisational forms (individual, group), different settings (preschool institutions, schools, institutions, counselling centres), and within different programmes that include individuals with special needs.

Opportunity for further studies

Undergraduate study programme

General baccalaureate

4 years

Opportunity for further studies

Undergraduate study programme

General baccalaureate

4 years

Featured

Highlighted

Who is this programme for?

If individuals with special needs have sparked in you a special interest and a desire to help them develop their potential and overcome obstacles in their development and learning, then you are on the right path. Our mission is to train students for quality work with individuals with special needs at every stage of life. This work takes place in various organizational forms (individual, group), across different settings (preschool institutions, schools, facilities, counseling centres), and within diverse programmes that include individuals with special needs. It requires a comprehensive body of knowledge, as understanding and working with individuals with special needs is challenging, responsible, and dynamic. Additionally, it necessitates the ability to collaborate with numerous other professionals and parents, and, not least, the expertise to engage with the broader community—which sometimes tends to forget that individuals with special needs are an integral part of it.

Our legislation (the Act on the Orientation of Children with Special Needs) defines groups of individuals who, during their development or later in life, require certain forms of assistance or accommodations designed to enable them to develop their potential to the fullest extent. These groups include: children with intellectual disabilities; blind and visually impaired children, or children with visual impairments; deaf and hard-of-hearing children; children with speech and language disorders; children with physical disabilities; children with chronic illnesses; children with learning deficits in specific areas; children with autistic disorders; and children with emotional and behavioural disorders. Individuals with special needs require different types and levels of assistance, as well as varying durations of support—some for only a short period, and others for their entire lives.

Within the Special and rehabilitation pedagogy programme, you will be trained to work with:

individuals with intellectual disabilities;
individuals with physical disabilities;
individuals with chronic illnesses;
individuals with autistic disorders;
individuals with learning difficulties.

What is study like?

The delivery of the programme takes place:

Through lectures: Mostly held in well-equipped multimedia lecture theatres at the faculty.
Through seminars: Where students present specific professional work by other authors, share the achievements of their own theoretical and/or empirical research on various topics, or discuss practical work.
Through practical exercises: Conducted analytically in smaller groups in dedicated rooms at the faculty, as well as through individual and group observation and the delivery of educational and rehabilitation sessions in various institutions such as facilities, schools, counselling centres, health centres, hospitals, specialised clinics, associations, etc.
Through hands-on pedagogical and rehabilitation training: In direct work with individuals with special needs under the guidance of mentors, who are practitioners and teachers from the faculty.

Even during your studies, it is recommended that you volunteer with institutions and associations that work with individuals with special needs, so you can familiarise yourself with the challenges of future work. Each year, these institutions and associations communicate their needs to us, and they consistently commend the collaboration with our students.

Programme objectives

The primary objective of the programme is to equip students with the skills necessary for the effective delivery of a continuum of inclusive educational and rehabilitation programmes for individuals with special needs. This is achieved across various organisational formats, in both institutional and non-formal settings, and throughout all stages of life.

Throughout the course of their education, students in the Special and Rehabilitation Pedagogy programme will acquire:

Foundational theoretical knowledge: A thorough understanding of both general and specialised pedagogical studies, as well as the rehabilitation of individuals with special needs.
Practical competences: Skills for identifying and assessing special needs and for planning, implementing, and evaluating programmes tailored to these individuals.
Communication and teamwork skills: The ability to collaborate effectively with school professionals and with parents or guardians of individuals with special needs.
Additional specialised knowledge: Gained through elective courses, as well as seminar and project work.
Fundamental knowledge for lifelong learning: That supports ongoing professional development.

Admission requirements

To enroll in the Special and rehabilitation pedagogy study programme, candidates must have:

Completed the Matura exam or
Completed any four-year secondary school programme before June 1, 1995.

Selection criteria in case of limited enrollment

If enrollment is limited, candidates will be selected based on:

Overall success in the Matura exam or final exam (60% of points)
Overall success in the 3rd and 4th year of secondary school (40% of points)

Specialna in rehabilitacijska pedagogika 2024/25

Specialna in rehabilitacijska pedagogika 2023/24

Specialna in rehabilitacijska pedagogika 2022/23

Studying Special and rehabilitation pedagogy at the Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana, with its engaging content and dedicated professors, ignited a spark within me—a sense of mission and pride in being a special pedagogue. It provided me with the breadth of knowledge and experience necessary to tackle practical challenges, and laid the foundation for my ongoing learning.

Nina Fricelj, administrative officer at University of Ljubljana

Enroll at Faculty of Education

Start studying
Special and rehabilitation pedagogy

Enroll

Speech and language therapy

Social pedagogy

Primary teacher education

Other first-cycle programmes