Slovakia is a landlocked country in Central Europe with more than 180 castles and 425 palaces. Slovakia’s tourism authority states that the country has the highest number of castles per capita in the world. Bratislava, the capital, borders Austria and Hungary, and Vienna is less than an hour away by train.
Students younger than 26 may qualify for zero-fare travel on trains operated by the Slovak rail company ZSSK. Eligibility depends on citizenship or residence status, and students must register and obtain the required rail card. A zero-fare ticket or seat reservation may still be required for a particular train. Let’s take a look at these cheapest universities in Slovakia for international students.
Affordable Schools in Slovakia for International Students
1. University of Žilina
- Admissions
- Tuition Fees: EUR 3,500 per academic year for full-time English-language study; study in Slovak is free
The University of Žilina was established in 1953 as the University of Railway Transport. It now has six faculties and nearly 7,800 students enrolled in more than 200 accredited programs. Its principal academic fields include transport, technology, information and communication technology, mechanical and civil engineering, management, security, and social sciences.
2. The University of Economics in Bratislava
- Admissions
- Tuition Fees: EUR 1,500 a year for English-language bachelor’s programs | EUR 2,500 a year for English-language master’s programs | EUR 3,000 a year for English-language doctoral programs
The university’s origins date to October 1940. Its current English name is the Bratislava University of Economics and Business, or EUBA. It provides education in economics and management at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.
EUBA currently has seven faculties and approximately 7,100 students. Six faculties are in Bratislava, while the Faculty of Business Economics is based in Košice.
3. Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica
- Admissions
- Tuition Fees: EUR 0–2,000 a year for bachelor’s programs | EUR 0–2,300 a year for master’s programs | EUR 0–2,500 a year for doctoral programs, depending on the faculty
Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica was established in 1992 and currently has seven faculties. Its official 2026/2027 fee schedule shows that some foreign-language programs are tuition-free, while the Faculties of Economics and Natural Sciences charge tuition at certain degree levels.
Current options include the bilingual bachelor’s program in English Language and Culture – Philosophy and the English-taught master’s program in Economics and Management in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. Applicants should use the university’s degree finder to confirm the language, availability, and admission conditions of individual programs.
4. Pavol Jozef Safárik University in Kosice
- Admissions
- Tuition Fees: EUR 13,000 a year for General Medicine | EUR 13,500 a year for Dental Medicine
Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice was established in 1959. Its English-language medical offerings include General Medicine and Dental Medicine. The university’s official 2026/2027 fee schedule lists different amounts for nonmedical programs, so applicants should consult the relevant faculty before applying.
The university currently has five faculties: Medicine, Science, Law, Public Administration, and Arts. It also includes the Institute of Physical Education and Sport.
5. The Technical University of Kosice
- Admissions
- Tuition Fees: Up to EUR 5,000 a year for bachelor’s study | Up to EUR 6,000 a year for master’s study | Up to EUR 7,000 a year for doctoral study in full-time programs taught exclusively in a foreign language
The Technical University of Košice was established in 1952. It currently has nine faculties, eight in Košice and one in Prešov, and offers education in technical, economic, and artistic fields.
TUKE reports more than 11,000 students and 327 study programs. The tuition figures above are the university’s maximum annual amounts for full-time programs taught exclusively in a foreign language; the actual fee may depend on the faculty and program.
6. The Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava
- Admissions
- Tuition Fees: EUR 2,000–4,000 a year for bachelor’s study | EUR 3,000–7,000 a year for master’s study | EUR 600–3,500 a year for doctoral study in full-time programs taught exclusively in a foreign language
The Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava has seven faculties and the Institute of Management. Six faculties and the institute are in Bratislava, while the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology is based in Trnava.
In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, STU placed 651st–700th worldwide in Computer Science and Information Systems. Mechanical Engineering placed 401st–450th, while Electrical and Electronic Engineering placed 451st–500th. STU was also ranked 951st–1,000th overall in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
STU offers programs in areas including engineering, architecture and design, informatics, management, materials science, and chemical and food technology. Tuition varies substantially by faculty and degree level.
We hope that this article on affordable universities in Slovakia was helpful. If you are interested, make sure to check out the Available Programs in Europe for International Students!
