Slovenia has become a popular place for international students to study in 2026 because public universities have low tuition rates and the government and regions offer a wide range of scholarships. The 2026/2027 school year will prioritise cooperation in the Western Balkans, STEM fields, and academic exchanges between two countries.
1. The Bilateral Scholarships from the Slovenian Government
The Republic of Slovenia and partner countries have made agreements that these scholarships are based on. These scholarships primarily cater to short-term study abroad (3 to 10 months) rather than full-degree funding.
Countries that can apply in 2026 and 2027 – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Mexico, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Turkey – are all currently on the list of partner countries.
Benefits and Coverage
- Monthly Stipend: About €350 to €400 a month.
- Housing: Free or low-cost stays in student dorms.
- Food: “Student Bon” coupons that can be used at local restaurants are available at a discount.
- Basic health insurance is available for the whole time of the exchange.
How to Apply in 2026
- Deadline: By March or April 2026, most bilateral applications for the 2026/2027 school year must be sent to the Ministry of Education in your home country or the Slovenian Embassy. The deadline for students from India was March 20, 2026.
2. 380th Public Call: Scholarships for People in the Western Balkans
This is one of the best funding opportunities for students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia in 2026.
Help with money If you gain admission to a master’s programme, you can receive up to €9,600 annually to assist with your living expenses. This is often done with free enrolment at public universities.
Deadlines and Requirements for 2026
- The last day to apply is September 2, 2026.
- Age Limit: As of October 1, 2026, applicants must be 28 years old or younger.
- Academic Merit: You need to have at least an 8.0/10 average grade in your previous studies.
- Residency: To be eligible, applicants must live in Slovenia while they study and apply for a temporary residence permit for study purposes by October 1, 2026.
3. Scholarships from the Public Scholarship Fund for Ad Futura
The Republic of Slovenia’s Public Scholarship, Development, Disability, and Maintenance Fund (often called the “Fund”) runs several “Ad Futura” calls every year.
PhD Scholarships in Quantum Technologies In January 2026, there was a specific call (Public Call 377) for international PhD students who were studying physics and quantum technologies. This usually includes full tuition and a monthly stipend in exchange for doing research.
Contests and Visits: The Fund also gives smaller grants to international students in Slovenia so they can go to competitions or scientific visits in other countries. These calls for 2025/2026 often end in January or March.
4. Grants for merit and need based on the university
Many of Slovenia’s top universities offer internal funding to assist international students who don’t qualify for government programs.
UL, the University of Ljubljana, is the biggest university, and every year in February and March, it holds a lot of “Information Days” to help international students with their faculty grants.
- MBA Scholarships: The School of Economics and Business (SEB LU) gives partial tuition waivers to the best MBA candidates.
- Tuition Waivers: EU citizens and citizens of some Balkan countries can get free tuition for many bachelor’s and master’s programmes. Other international students can apply for merit-based waivers if they are in the top 5% of their class.
The UP Scholarship Fund is open for the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 school years at the University of Primorska (UP).
- The application period for the next cycle usually ends in September, so the deadline is 2026. You need a CV and a strong letter of motivation.
5. Papers Needed for 2026
The centralised eVS portal is where all applications for public universities are sent. In most cases, you will need the following things to be able to obtain a scholarship:
- Academic Records: Copies of your old diplomas and transcripts that have been certified and translated.
- Language Skills: You need to show that you can speak English or Slovenian at the B2 level, depending on the language of the programme.
- CV and Motivation Letter: Talk about your academic successes and why you chose Slovenia.
- Letter of Acceptance: Before you can apply for bilateral scholarships, you need to get an acceptance or “confirmation letter” from the Slovenian faculty that will be hosting you.
6. Advice for applicants in 2026
Apply at the Same Time You shouldn’t wait for an admission decision before applying for a scholarship in Slovenia. Most government calls require that you apply for both the scholarship and the university program at the same time.
The “Info Tujci” Resource: If you come to Slovenia to study in late 2026, refer to the new “Info Tujci” information centre in Ljubljana. It helps international students with healthcare, social rights, and temporary residence permits in a way that is specific to them.
Balance Between Work and Study “Student Work” (študentsko delo) gives international students in Slovenia the right to work. After taxes, the minimum hourly wage in 2026 will be about €6.50 to €7.50. Many students do part-time jobs to make extra money on top of their stipends.
Are you interested in getting a full master’s degree through the Western Balkans call, or do you want to do a shorter exchange program?