Izmenjava na St. Mary's College of Maryland v ZDA (2026/2027)

Notice of Slovene Exchange Program with St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Study Abroad in America for One Semester!

Each year, the University of Ljubljana English Department and St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) sponsor a semester abroad experience in the United States. The selected student will take courses at St. Mary’s, a public honors college in Maryland. Preference will be given to students who haven’t previously studied abroad in an English-speaking country. Questions may be directed to Dr. Anamarija Šporčič, English Department, Faculty of Arts (anamarija.sporcic@ff.uni-lj.si).

To apply, applicants should submit:

—a cover letter describing your interest in literature and explaining why you would like to study in the United States and why you think you would be a good candidate;

—an academic essay on a literary subject, either one that you have submitted for a course or one written for the occasion;

—the name and email address of a faculty member at the Ljubljana English Department who knows your work; 

—a transcript of the courses you have taken at the University of Ljubljana thus far (please submit the transcript in English, you can obtain it from the relevant FF Referat or find it in VIS).

—exchange application form from VIS.

Submitting the application:

—The materials above should be sent to Dr. Jennifer Cognard-Black (jcognard@smcm.edu), Coordinator of the Slovene Exchange Program, by January 10, 2026 at 11.59 PM (CET). Please also CC: anamarija.sporcic@ff.uni-lj.si as you submit your application.

—All applicants must fill in the exchange application form in VIS (also by January 10, 2026 at 11.59 PM) in order to be eligible for the Erasmus+ scholarship. You may enter alternative Erasmus destinations as your second and third wish or only apply for the St Mary’s College of Maryland exchange. 

—Besides the above requirements, all applicants must submit the basic application information on the general SMCM Inbound Exchange Application on Via TRM.  

Online interviews will be arranged in the week after the application deadline; the scholarship recipient will be notified by  January 22, 2026.

Exchange Program Arrangements:

Acceptance to the program includes:

—tuition for three four-credit courses (8 ECTS each) in the value of $8,000.

—all campus privileges enjoyed by St. Mary’s students, including use of the gym, pool, kayaks and other facilities and participation in student clubs and activities; 

—the support of the Office of International Education (OIE), which includes orientation and specially designed field trips.

The awardee is responsible for:

—visa costs (around $340);

—costs of accommodation and meals (around $8500);

—health insurance (around $900 for the Fall semester);

—required shots;

—the student will be asked to apply for travel funds from Slovenia; if they don’t receive these funds, the student will receive up to $400 to help with travel expenses.

Students experiencing financial hardship may also request further funds.

The chosen candidate will be able to apply for Erasmus+ funding for 2026/27, as a call has also been issued for non-EU countries. The application deadline for funding (i.e. submitting your application in VIS) is January 10, 2026. Most costs can usually be covered through available funding, please contact Dr. Šporčič for further information. 

After the student awardee is accepted but before arrival, they will also be asked to furnish:

—a copy of their immunization record (in English);

—results of a TB (Tuberculosis) Test, administered by a doctor or hospital;

—proof of a US-approved COVID-19 vaccination and booster.

Student orientation for the Fall 2026 semester begins about a week before classes start at the end of August. Student visas allow students to remain in the country a month past the end of the semester. The semester begins in late August and ends mid-December. 

Details about the school:

Information about the college can be found at www.smcm.edu. You are welcome to browse our general international student web resources, including Life at SMCM, How to Apply, Required Health Insurance, and FAQ pages.

doc. dr. Anamarija Šporčič