Faculty Education in Figures

The number of students at the faculty between 2018 and 2025 was characterized by an initial period of stability, a decline during the pandemic years, and a robust recovery culminating in a record-high enrollment by late 2025. 

Overall Student Enrollment Trends

The total student population moved through a clear cycle of contraction and growth:

• 2018–2019: Enrollment remained stable at1,334 students
• 2020–2021: Total numbers declined, falling to 1,297 in 2020 and reaching a low of 1,222 in 2021.
• 2022–2024: Enrollment rebounded steadily to 1,281 in 2022 and 1,287 in 2023. By October 2024, the faculty reached 1,337 students, the highest level in the seven-year period.

A significant shift occurred in the form of study. Full-time enrollment grew from 1,089 in 2018 to 1,175 in 2024, while part-time enrollment dropped from 245 to 162 over the same period.

Evolution by Study Level

The different levels of study showed diverging trends toward the end of the period:

• Bachelor’s Degree (Bc.): This level saw the most substantial growth. After dipping to 720 students in 2021, Bc. Enrollment surged to 893 students by 2024. In 2022 alone, the faculty recorded a 42% increase in new enrollments for full-time bachelor's programs.
• Master’s Degree (Mgr.): Master's enrollment fluctuated, peaking at 406 students in 2019. However, it entered a period of decline thereafter, dropping to 259 students by 2024. Notably, part-time master's study, which had 44 students in 2018, was **completely phased out** by 2024.
• Doctoral Degree (PhD.): Doctoral enrollment saw a general downward trend, falling from 80 students in 2018 to 53 students in 2024. The faculty attributed earlier drops to lower interest among master's graduates and the difficulty of entrance exams.
• Further Teachers Study (Rozširujúce štúdium): This category, aimed primarily at practicing teachers, grew consistently from 89 students in 2018 to 132 students in 2024, driven largely by increased interest in physics and mathematics qualifications.

The structure of study programs at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics evolved between 2018 and 2026, maintaining a core of scientific and teacher training programs while adding new specializations in informatics and digital fields.

Bachelor’s Level (Bc.)

Bachelor's studies are divided into professional scientific programs and teacher training combinations.  Professional (Non-teacher) Programs (2026):

• Applied Ecology and Environmentalistics
• Applied Informatics (offered in both full-time and part-time forms)
• Biology
• Physics
• Geography in Regional Development
• Mathematical-Statistical and Information Methods in Economics and Finance
• Digital Economy (the newest program, launched in 2024)
• Artificial Intelligence - Natural Language Processing (the newest program, launched in 2025)
• Teacher Training Programs (2018–2024).  These are typically offered as double-subject combinations. The faculty provides combinations for teaching
• Biology, Ecology, Physics, Geography, Chemistry, Informatics, and Mathematics.
• Professional Economic Subjects (in combination).

Master’s Level (Mgr.)

Master's programs focus on advanced scientific research and professional teaching qualifications. Professional (Non-teacher) Programs (2026):

• Applied Informatics (full-time and part-time)
• Biology
• Digital Economy (the newest program, launched in 2024)
• Environmentalistics in Landscape Planning and Practice
• Materials Physics
• Geography in Regional Development
• Mathematical-Statistical and Information Methods in Economics and Finance
• Teacher Training Programs (2026): Similar to the bachelor's level, these programs qualify graduates to teach subject combinations at the secondary school level:
  • Combinations include Biology, Ecology, Physics, Geography, Chemistry, Informatics, Mathematics, and Professional Economic Subjects.

Doctoral Level (PhD.)

Doctoral studies focus on independent scientific research in specific fields. As of 2024, the faculty offers six programs:

• Applied Informatics
• Environmentalistics
• Geography (the newest program, launched in 2026)
• Materials Physics
• Molecular Biology
• Theory of Teaching Chemistry
• Theory of Teaching Mathematics