This article examines the studies and later professional careers of the Slovenian students who obtained a doctorate of philosophy with a specialization in zoology at the University of Vienna up to the end of World War I. Drawing on extensive archival sources, it reconstructs their academic trajectories and analyses the broader scientific and societal roles these individuals assumed after completing their studies. The introductory section outlines the development of zoology at the University of Vienna and highlights the influence of two leading professors, Berthold Hatschek and Karl Grobben, in shaping the scientific orientation of Slovenian students. The central section outlines biographical profiles of the doctoral graduates, focusing on their scientific specialization, interdisciplinary education, and professional paths. Particular attention is given to whether they remained engaged in zoology or shifted toward other scientific, educational or cultural fields. The conclusion argues that the Viennese university system provided not only disciplinary knowledge but also functioned as a form of cultural capital, enabling graduates to actively participate in the development of scientific, educational, and public institutions in the Slovenian context. The diversity of their professional trajectories illustrates the role of higher education in the modernization of Slovenian science and society in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
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