The scholarship situation in Slovakia is at its most important point for the 2026–2027 school year as of April 25, 2026. This week and next month are important deadlines for the two biggest national funding programmes: the National Scholarship Programme (NSP) and the Government of the Slovak Republic Development Scholarship.
The following are the main funding opportunities that are currently available for international students in Slovakia:
1. National Scholarship Programme (NSP) Call for 2026
The Slovak Academic Information Agency (SAIA) runs this programme, which helps students, PhD candidates, and researchers from all over the world move around.
- Current Status: The deadline for the first round is April 30, 2026, at 4:00 PM CET.
- • Rates for stipends (2026):
- Students in a master’s programme: €620 a month.
- • For PhD students, it’s €1,025.50 a month.
- • Researchers and professors make between €1,025 and €1,470 per month, depending on how much experience they have and whether or not they hold a PhD.
- • Extra benefits: a travel allowance based on how far you have to go (for example, up to €1,500 for distances over 7,000 km).
- Next Cycle: If you miss this round, the second-round deadline for the summer semester (which starts in February 2027) is October 31, 2026.
2. Development Scholarships from the Government of the Slovak Republic
Slovakia’s official development assistance includes these scholarships, which are only for students from developing partner countries.
- The deadline is May 25, 2026.
- Online Portal: You must submit your applications through the vladnestipendia.sk portal, which went live on March 23, 2026.
- Target: mainly full-time Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
- Benefits: Full tuition coverage, monthly stipends, and a 10-month Slovak language course for students who don’t already speak the language.
3. Scholarships for International Students Who Are Smart
A new program, partly funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), aims to bring top talent from around the world.
- The deadline is May 25, 2026.
- Requirement: SAT scores are a big part of who gets in. The last SAT dates that will work for this cycle are May 2 and June 6, 2026.
- Coverage: This initiative is for students who are studying full-time in programmes that fit with Slovakia’s “Smart Specialisation Strategy”, such as tech, biotech, and engineering.
4. Scholarships for students at specific universities
Some Slovak institutions offer internal grants to encourage students from other countries to enrol.
- Comenius University Bratislava gives merit-based scholarships to doctoral students and the best Master’s students in different faculties, like Medicine and Law.
- Slovak University of Technology (STU): Offers grants for international students in Informatics and Engineering that are specific to their field of study.
- Technical University of Košice (TUKE): Often gives international PhD students free tuition or research assistantships.
5. Important 2026 Strategy for Applicants
To secure a spot and funding in Slovakia this year, you must promptly complete the following three tasks:
- The “SAIA” Rule for the NSP (National Scholarship Programme) says that you need to upload an Admission or Invitation Letter from a Slovak host university. If your deadline is April 30, please ensure that your host professor or department has sent you a scanned copy by today.
- Original Documents: You must bring the original printed copy of your admission letter to the SAIA office in Bratislava no later than three business days after the online deadline for the Government Scholarship.
- Language Preparatory Year: If you’re applying for the Government Development Scholarship, keep in mind that ywill receiveget an extra 10 months of paid language training before your degree starts. This opportunity is a huge benefit for your long-term career prospects in Central Europe.
6. A breakdown of costs and funding for 2026
- The average cost of living is €600 to €900 per month, which means that the NSP and government benefits cover most, if not all, of your basic needs.
- Proof of Funds: For visa purposes in 2026, Slovakia usually wants to see proof of about €5,000 in a bank account. However, a scholarship award letter is usually enough to meet this requirement. Scholarships at Universities in Slovakia The scholarship situation in Slovakia is at its most important point for the 2026–2027 school year as of April 25, 2026. This week and next month are important deadlines for the two biggest national funding programmes: the National Scholarship Programme (NSP) and the Government of the Slovak Republic Development Scholarship. The following are the main funding opportunities that are currently available for international students in Slovakia: 1. National Scholarship Programme (NSP) Call for 2026 The Slovak Academic Information Agency (SAIA) runs this programme, which helps students, PhD candidates, and researchers from all over the world move around.
- Current Status: The deadline for the first round is April 30, 2026, at 4:00 PM CET.
- • Rates for stipends (2026):
- Students in a master’s programme: €620 a month.
- • For PhD students, it’s €1,025.50 a month.
- • Researchers and professors make between €1,025 and €1,470 per month, depending on how much experience they have and whether or not they hold a PhD.
- • Extra benefits: a travel allowance based on how far you have to go (for example, up to €1,500 for distances over 7,000 km).
- Next Cycle: If you miss this round, the second-round deadline for the summer semester (which starts in February 2027) is October 31, 2026.
- The deadline is May 25, 2026.
- Online Portal: You must submit your applications through the vladnestipendia.sk portal, which went live on March 23, 2026.
- Target: mainly full-time Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
- Benefits: Full tuition coverage, monthly stipends, and a 10-month Slovak language course for students who don’t already speak the language.
- The deadline is May 25, 2026.
- Requirement: SAT scores are a big part of who gets in. The last SAT dates that will work for this cycle are May 2 and June 6, 2026.
- Coverage: This initiative is for students who are studying full-time in programmes that fit with Slovakia’s “Smart Specialisation Strategy”, such as tech, biotech, and engineering.
- Comenius University Bratislava gives merit-based scholarships to doctoral students and the best Master’s students in different faculties, like Medicine and Law.
- Slovak University of Technology (STU): Offers grants for international students in Informatics and Engineering that are specific to their field of study.
- Technical University of Košice (TUKE): Often gives international PhD students free tuition or research assistantships.
- The “SAIA” Rule for the NSP (National Scholarship Programme) says that you need to upload an Admission or Invitation Letter from a Slovak host university. If your deadline is April 30, please ensure that your host professor or department has sent you a scanned copy by today.
- Original Documents: You must bring the original printed copy of your admission letter to the SAIA office in Bratislava no later than three business days after the online deadline for the Government Scholarship.
- Language Preparatory Year: If you’re applying for the Government Development Scholarship, keep in mind that you will receive an extra 10 months of paid language training before your degree starts. This opportunity is a huge benefit for your long-term career prospects in Central Europe.
- The average cost of living is €600 to €900 per month, which means that the NSP and government benefits cover most, if not all, of your basic needs.
- Proof of Funds: For visa purposes in 2026, Slovakia usually wants to see proof of about €5,000 in a bank account. However, a scholarship award letter is usually enough to meet this requirement.