As of April 25, 2026, Slovenia has become a popular place for international students who want a good education at a low cost of living. The first big application window for the 2026/2027 school year closed in March, but there are still important deadlines coming up for secondary intakes and certain government funds.
The following are the main scholarship opportunities for international students in Slovenia for the 2026–2027 school year.
1. Public Fund (Ad futura) – Scholarship for the Western Balkans
This is one of the biggest grants for students from certain nearby areas.
- The Award (Public Call 380): Gives up to €9,600 a year for living expenses.
- People from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia are the target countries.
- Eligible Fields: Master’s degrees in STEM (natural sciences, ICT, engineering), agriculture, and healthcare after college.
- • The deadline for applying is September 2, 2026.
- • Requirement: By the deadline, applicants must have either arranged a temporary residence permit or given someone in Slovenia power of attorney.
2. CMEPIUS Bilateral Scholarships
Slovenia gives exchange scholarships to students from more than 15 partner countries through bilateral agreements.
- • The award includes a monthly stipend of about €300 to €400, free housing in student dorms, and meals that cost less.
- The targeted countries include India, China, Japan, Mexico, Turkey, Poland, Italy, Hungary, and several Balkan nations.
- Time frame: short-term mobility lasts from 3 to 10 months.
- • Deadlines for 2026:
- June 15, 2026: This applies for the entire school year or the beginning of the winter semester.
- October 31, 2026, for the summer semester, which starts in February 2027.
3. CEEPUS and Erasmus+ travel
Slovenia takes part in many activities with the Erasmus+ network and the Central European Exchange Programme for University Studies (CEEPUS).
- • CEEPUS: A programme for students from Central and South-Eastern Europe. It gives out mobility grants based on networks and “Freemover”.
- • Erasmus+: If you are already a student at a partner university outside of Slovenia, you can get a monthly grant of €400 to €700 for a semester-long exchange.
- 2026 Deadline: The deadline for CEEPUS “Freemover” applications for the winter semester is usually in early June.
4. Merit Awards for Specific Universities
The University of Ljubljana and the University of Maribor, for example, help elite international talent in specific ways.
- • University of Ljubljana: Offers different types of tuition waivers and research grants for doctoral students.
- The University of Nova Gorica often gives out scholarships for its master’s and PhD programs in environmental sciences and physics that focus on research.
- 2026 Status: The second application deadline for many first-cycle programmes is between August 20 and August 27, 2026.
5. Important Application Strategy for 2026
To obtain a spot and money in Slovenia this year, you need to go through the national eVŠ portal:
- First, you need to get an admission letter or proof of enrolment for most scholarships, especially Ad Future and Bilateral. If you missed the March deadline, you can still apply in August.
- The 24-Month Rule: Slovenia is offering 24 total scholarship months for short-term study in 2026/2027. The sooner you apply, the better your chances of getting a block of these months.
- Language Proficiency: Even though most Master’s programmes are in English, the Bilateral Scholarship may require you to know some Slovenian for some administrative or social integration purposes.
6. A list of costs and stipends (2026)
- Cost of living: Plan on spending between €500 and €700 a month.
- Value of the Stipend: Most state scholarships cover most of this, especially if you get a spot in a government-subsidised student dormitory (about €100–€200 per month).
- Tuition: For people from the EU and some Balkan countries, public universities in Slovenia don’t charge tuition. Most non-EU students pay between €2,000 and €5,000 a year, but the Ad futura grants can help with that.