🎓 Scholarships — Slovakia

Slovakia is smaller than Germany, France or Hungary, but it has useful official scholarship routes for MENA students. The National Scholarship Programme supports mobility to Slovak universities, while Government of the Slovak Republic scholarships support citizens of selected partner countries, often linked to development cooperation priorities.

Scholarship map

Detailed guide

National Scholarship Programme - NSP is not a full-degree scholarship for a complete bachelor or master. It is a mobility scholarship for students, PhD students, teachers, researchers and artists. For MENA students already enrolled in a master or PhD outside Slovakia, it can fund a semester or research stay at a Slovak host.

Government of the Slovak Republic Scholarships - These are the closest Slovakia has to a country-quota degree route. The annual list determines which citizenships and levels are included. Benefits and monthly amounts are published in the call terms, and PhD support is higher than bachelor/master support.

Talented Students programme - This route supports full-time study in fields linked to Slovakia’s development and innovation priorities. It is relevant for strong applicants in selected technical, STEM and priority programmes.

University-level options - Slovak public universities can be affordable compared with Western Europe, particularly in Slovak-language programmes. English-taught medicine and technical programmes can be more expensive, so scholarship value must be compared with real tuition.

Erasmus+ exchange - Applicants enrolled in a MENA university should check if their home university has Erasmus+ mobility agreements with Slovak universities. This is usually short-term but can strengthen future degree applications.

Application strategy for this country

• If you are seeking a full degree, check the Government scholarship country list first. If your country is not listed, focus on university affordability or Erasmus routes.
• For NSP, secure host acceptance early. The host letter is central to the application.
• Consider Slovak-language preparation if your target programme is cheaper or more available in Slovak.
• Check whether scholarship benefits are enough for residence and living costs, especially in Bratislava.
• Use Slovakia as a strategic Central Europe option alongside Hungary, Czechia and Poland.

Documents to prepare early

• Passport valid beyond the intended start date, plus scans of any second nationality if relevant.
• Bachelor or master diploma, transcripts and official grading scale. For Italy, Spain and Portugal, plan for legalisation or apostille and sworn translation if requested by the university or visa office.
• English test such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Cambridge, or proof that the previous degree was taught in English when the programme accepts it.
• CV, motivation letter or statement of purpose, recommendation letters and, for PhD routes, a research proposal and supervisor match.
• Financial and family income documents when applying for need-based regional or university support, especially in Italy and some public-university routes.
• For NSP: invitation or acceptance letter from Slovak host institution, study/research plan and proof of current enrolment outside Slovakia.

Official sources to verify before applying

• National Scholarship Programme - foreign applicants: https://www.scholarships.sk/en/main/programme-terms-and-conditions/foreign-applicants
• NSP grant details and deadlines: https://grants.saia.sk/Pages/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=296
• Government scholarships of the Slovak Republic: https://www.minedu.sk/scholarships-of-the-government-of-the-slovak-republic/
• Government scholarship portal: https://www.vladnestipendia.sk/en/
• Scholarships for talented students: https://scholarships.portalvs.sk/
• Study in Slovakia - talented students: https://www.studyinslovakia.saia.sk/en/main/scholarships/scholarships-for-bachelor-study/full-time-bachelor-study

This is starter guidance and changes often — always confirm on the official source before applying.