Officially called the Slovak Republic, Slovakia is a Central European country bordered by Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Ukraine. Visitors can explore UNESCO-listed historic towns and cultural monuments, including Banská Štiavnica, Bardejov, Levoča, and Spiš Castle.
Slovakia’s higher education institutions offer study and research opportunities to domestic and international students. Prospective students should review each university’s admission, tuition, language, and scholarship requirements before applying.
Slovakia offers several scholarship and mobility opportunities for international students and researchers. The options below include national mobility funding, university-based financial support, and scholarships offered under international agreements.
Top Scholarships in Slovakia for International Students
| Scholarship Name | Scholarship Type | Eligible Degrees | Scholarship Value |
|---|
| National Scholarship Program of the Slovak Republic | Government-funded mobility scholarship | Master’s-level mobility
Students with at least 2.5 years of university study
PhD mobility
University teachers, researchers, and artists | €620 to €1,470 per month, depending on the applicant category |
| Motivational Scholarships | University motivational scholarship | University of Žilina students who meet the applicable criteria | Financial award; amount varies by scholarship type and faculty |
| Bilateral and Multilateral Programmes | Government and international mobility programs | Varies by program and international agreement | Varies by program and agreement
Standard 2026/2027 bilateral rates ranged from €620 to €1,420 per month |
1. National Scholarship Program of the Slovak Republic
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: €620 to €1,470 per month, depending on the applicant category; eligible students and PhD students may also receive a distance-based travel grant
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s-level mobility, students who have completed at least 2.5 years of university study, and PhD mobility; university teachers, researchers, and artists may also apply
The National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic supports temporary mobility by international students, PhD students, university teachers, researchers, and artists at eligible higher education institutions and research organizations in Slovakia. It is financed by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic and provides monthly support for living costs. It does not fund complete bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree programs in Slovakia.
Eligible university students must be enrolled at a university outside Slovakia. They must either be master’s-level students or have completed at least 2.5 years of university study in the same or a similar program. They must also be accepted by an eligible Slovak institution for academic mobility. PhD applicants must study or conduct their scientific training outside Slovakia and be accepted for a mobility, research, or artistic stay. Citizens of any country except Slovakia may apply if they satisfy the relevant conditions.
Required documents depend on the applicant category. University students generally submit a curriculum vitae, motivation letter, detailed study program, two recommendations, proof of enrollment, relevant academic documents, and an acceptance letter from the host institution. PhD students, teachers, researchers, and artists have different document requirements, so applicants should follow the checklist for their category on the official scholarship page.
2. Motivational Scholarships (University of Žilina)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Financial award; the amount varies by scholarship type and faculty
- Eligible Degree/s: University of Žilina students who meet the criteria for the relevant scholarship type
The University of Žilina traces its history to 1953 and offers programs to domestic and international students. Its students may be considered for several types of motivational scholarships under the university’s scholarship rules.
These scholarships are financial awards rather than tuition fee discounts. They include field-specific scholarships for designated areas of study, merit scholarships for strong academic performance, and extraordinary scholarships for notable achievements in study, research, development, artistic activities, sports, or the representation of the university.
Merit scholarships are based on academic results from the previous year, including the student’s weighted grade average and repeated examinations. The university states that merit scholarships may be awarded to no more than 10% of its students. Students do not submit a separate application for the merit scholarship; eligible students are assessed under the applicable criteria, and the proposed recipient list is published. International students should confirm any faculty- or program-specific conditions with the university.
3. Bilateral and Multilateral Programmes
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Varies by program and agreement; standard 2026/2027 bilateral rates ranged from €620 to €1,420 per month unless an agreement specified otherwise
- Eligible Degree/s: Varies by program and country agreement; bilateral scholarships generally support bachelor’s and master’s study mobility, PhD research stays, and, under some agreements, university teachers and researchers
The Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic lists several separate bilateral and multilateral mobility programs. These include Action Austria–Slovakia, the Fulbright Program, and CEEPUS. Bilateral scholarships offered under agreements between Slovakia and participating countries are published through a separate annual call.
Under the latest posted bilateral call, applicants had to be citizens of an eligible country and be nominated by the competent authority in their home country. Applications submitted directly by individual applicants to the Slovak ministry were not processed. The awards generally supported temporary study or research stays rather than complete degree programs, although the exact categories and conditions depended on the relevant international agreement.
Applicants were required to use the ministry’s official form and submit it through their national authority with the applicable supporting documents. Depending on the applicant category, these could include a curriculum vitae, motivation letter, study, teaching, or research proposal, acceptance or invitation letter, passport copy, academic transcript, recommendations, publication list, or PhD diploma.
The standard monthly rates for the bilateral call were €620 for bachelor’s and master’s students, €1,025.50 for PhD students, €1,025.50 for university teachers or researchers without a PhD, and €1,420 for university teachers or researchers with a PhD, unless the relevant agreement provided a different amount.
We hope that this article on scholarships in Slovakia for international students was helpful. Visit our Study in Europe Page and available courses for international students!
