Nursing is an independent field focused on the individual, family, and community in both health and illness. As a scientific discipline, it integrates knowledge from other fields that study humans, society, and the environment. Its core principles are based on a broad understanding of the importance of professional nurses, who form the largest group of healthcare professionals and are considered key to implementing reform strategies in healthcare as well as in home nursing care.
Nurses play a major role in the humanisation of patient care, which highlights the need for well-prepared professionals in the nursing profession—flexible, responsible for their work, and competent to work in multiprofessional teams in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and communities.
The Nursing study programme consists of a set of courses delivered mainly through lectures, seminars, practical classes, and professional training—clinical practice, continuous professional practice, and summer practice. Nursing is one of five regulated healthcare professions recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Graduates of Bachelor’s nursing studies (1st level) are able to provide professional nursing care to individuals, families, groups, or communities in health and illness, and contribute to health, recovery, or dignified natural dying. They can work in outpatient and inpatient healthcare and may practise independently within current legislation.
Successful graduates with the Bachelor’s degree (Bc.) may continue in a follow-up Master’s programme (Mgr.) in Nursing. The programme meets the requirements of Directive 2013/55/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council for the education of nurses, enabling graduates to work across the European Union.
Master’s graduates (2nd level) have comprehensive knowledge integrating nursing, research, pedagogy, and management. They have the theoretical and practical potential needed to develop nursing in education, management, research, and clinical practice.
They understand and apply pedagogical principles and methods in professional nursing education, and they know management principles at all levels. They can identify and present their own solutions to problems within nursing research. Graduates gain competencies as managers, mentors, and educators, provide nursing care independently, and can manage nursing services at all levels. They may organise and contribute to the professional preparation of nurses, plan and work independently on public health projects, and participate in interdisciplinary teams.
By passing the rigorous examination and defending a rigorous thesis (PhDr.), the candidate demonstrates—through independent study—deeper knowledge in the given field and the ability to independently acquire new scientific and practical knowledge and apply it creatively in practice.
Under the Higher Education Act No. 131/2002 Coll., the degree “Doctor of Philosophy” (abbr. PhDr.) is awarded in the field of Nursing.
Graduates of doctoral studies (PhD.) – 3rd level – have extensive expert knowledge across several areas of the field, serving as a basis for research and development and for creating and implementing innovative and original knowledge in nursing. They are capable of independent scientific research work.
Graduates work as lecturers at universities (departments, faculties, and nursing institutes) and at secondary medical schools, and they may also work as top-level managers in healthcare facilities.
Practical training is an essential part of the professional preparation of future Bachelor’s and Master’s nursing graduates.
Our contracted training partners include leading healthcare institutions such as university, faculty, specialised, and regional hospitals, as well as nursing centres, treatment facilities, and home nursing care agencies.
Students complete professional practice consisting of clinical, continuous, and summer training in the number of hours specified in the course information sheet for the relevant academic year. This ensures high-quality preparation while reflecting the specific requirements of clinical workplaces. Through practice, students gain the skills necessary for professional employment.
Employer demand for our graduates is very high, both in Slovakia and abroad. Master’s (Mgr.) students also complete practice focused on developing management abilities and skills for leading nursing practice.
The admission process is governed by the Study Regulations of St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work in Bratislava.
Requirements are the same as the general university admission requirements, plus the following specific conditions:
Completed full secondary vocational education with a school-leaving exam (maturita), or
Completed general secondary education with a school-leaving exam (grammar school/gymnázium)
Medical fitness to practise the profession in accordance with Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic No. 364/2009
Completion of 1st level university studies (Bachelor’s) in the field of Nursing
Completion of 2nd level university studies (Master’s) in the field of Nursing
Successful completion of the admission procedure
Admission conditions are published on the university website at the beginning of the calendar year preceding the academic year in which the applicant applies. Students who meet the requirements are notified by an official decision of admission.