Enroll in the University of the Third Age and study digital media or healthy nutrition

Education with No Age Limit

Anyone who has at least a high school diploma and is at least 40 years old can apply to study. There is no upper age limit. All you need, besides a desire to learn, is to pay the application fee and submit your application by September 20, 2026.

The program lasts one academic year and is divided into two semesters. Instead of lectures like at a “traditional” university, classes are held once a month, which makes it possible to balance studies with work or family responsibilities.

How Not to Get Lost in the Digital Age?

For the upcoming academic year, UCM has prepared two very different but equally appealing topics. The Faculty of Mass Media Communication is launching the program “How Not to Get Lost in the Digital Age?”, which addresses the growing need for digital literacy among the older generation. Over the course of nine sessions, participants will learn to navigate the online world safely, recognize hoaxes and manipulative news, use email and social media effectively, and understand how artificial intelligence works in everyday life. The program will also cover advertising and marketing, feature a surprising section on digital games for seniors, and even include a visit to the FMK student podcast studio, where participants will try their hand at live recording. The instructors are experienced faculty members who present the topics in a clear and practical way, without unnecessary technical jargon.

Plants, Food, and Our Health: A Modern Scientific Perspective

The Faculty of Natural Sciences, in turn, offers the program “Plants, Food, and Our Health Through the Lens of Modern Science.” This course guides students through the world of plants that surround us every day—from poisonous plants in our surroundings, to medicinal substances and pesticides in food, all the way to genetic modifications and so-called functional foods. Scientists from the faculty will also explain how diet and the environment influence our genes and how plants “live” in in vitro conditions outside of soil. The series consists of nine sessions packed with cutting-edge scientific insights, presented in a way that anyone—not just biologists—can understand.

How to apply?

You can submit your application along with your high school diploma (or college degree, if applicable) and proof of payment by mail, email, or in person at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava.

The academic year begins in October 2026, and the program is contingent on a sufficient number of applicants—so the sooner you apply, the greater the chance that the program will actually be offered.

Basic Information

Website: https://www.ucm.sk/sk/studuj-ucm/celozivotne-vzdelavanie/univerzita-tretieho-veku/

Application Fee, Tuition, and Payment

Payment to:

 

You can submit your application:

• by mail to the following address: University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, University of the Third Age, Nám. J. Herdu 577/2, 917 01 Trnava
• by email to: ivana.svikruhova@ucm.sk
• in person at: University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Nám. J. Herdu 577/2, Trnava, Room: S06, Ivana Švikruhová

Basic Information

• Start of the academic year – October 2026,
• Each faculty will designate its own lecture room,
• registration—we will inform you of the details in a timely manner,
• Ceremonial opening of the academic year and matriculation of first-year UTV students—we will inform you of the details in a timely manner,
• Students in the one-year program attend classes according to the curriculum in accordance with the study schedule they receive upon enrollment.

Why It’s Worth Enrolling

The University of the Third Age is not just about knowledge. It is a space where people with similar life experiences and a desire to discover new things come together—whether it’s understanding the digital world in which their grandchildren now live, or gaining a deeper understanding of what we eat and how it affects our health. Studying at the University of the Third Age thus combines intellectual development with social life, which many graduates describe as one of the most enriching experiences of recent years.

The University of the Third Age operates under UCM’s Center for Lifelong Learning, and UCM organizes it in cooperation with the Association of Universities of the Third Age in Slovakia.