National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic 2026: Fund Your Stay in Slovakia

National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic for International Students

The Government of the Slovak Republic established the National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic (NSP) to support the international mobility of students, PhD students, university teachers, researchers, and artists. The programme is financed by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic and supports scholarship stays at higher education institutions and research organisations in Slovakia.

Citizens of any country in the world, except citizens of Slovakia, can apply for a scholarship stay in Slovakia in the framework of the NSP.

Eligible Applicants

Master’s Students

To be eligible, you must be a university student outside Slovakia studying at the second level of higher education (master’s level). Alternatively, you must have completed at least 2.5 years of your university studies in the same or a similar study programme at the time of the application deadline. You must be accepted by a public, private, or state higher education institution in Slovakia for an academic mobility to study in Slovakia.

The duration of the scholarship stay for students is 1 to 2 full semesters (4 to 5 or 9 to 10 months) or 1 to 3 full trimesters (3 to 4, 6 to 7, or 9 to 10 months).

PhD Students

Eligible applicants are PhD students whose higher education or scientific training takes place outside Slovakia. You must be accepted by a public, private, or state higher education institution or a research institution in Slovakia that is eligible to carry out a doctoral study programme, such as the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

The duration of the scholarship stay for PhD students is 1 to 10 months.

University Teachers, Researchers, and Artists

You must be invited to a teaching, research, or artistic stay in Slovakia by an institution with a valid certificate of eligibility to carry out research and development. The inviting institution cannot be a business company and must have its seat in Slovakia.

Applicants without a PhD degree (or its equivalent) and with more than 4 years of work experience are generally not eligible, though exceptions for force majeure may be considered.

The duration of the scholarship stay for university teachers, researchers, or artists is 1 to 10 months.

Who Cannot Apply

The National Scholarship Programme does not support international students and PhD students accepted for full-degree higher education (bachelor, master, doctoral) in Slovakia. It also does not support applicants who have spent 15 or more months in the territory of the Slovak Republic within the 36 months prior to the application deadline. Furthermore, you cannot apply if you are accepted for a scholarship stay in Slovakia through other scholarship programmes funded from public resources, such as Erasmus+, CEEPUS, or bilateral agreements.

If you are re-applying for a scholarship, the application can only be approved if at least 2 years have passed between the current application deadline and the deadline by which the NSP scholarship was last awarded to you.

Scholarship Amount and Travel Grant

Monthly Stipend

The scholarship is intended to cover living costs related to staying in Slovakia, such as food and accommodation.

University student of the second level of higher education: 620 EUR per month
PhD student: 1025.50 EUR per month
University teacher, researcher, or artist without a PhD degree and less than 4 years of work experience: 1025.50 EUR per month
University teacher, researcher, or artist with a PhD degree and less than 10 years of work experience: 1370 EUR per month
University teacher, researcher, or artist with a PhD degree and more than 10 years of work experience: 1470 EUR per month

Travel Allowance

Students and PhD students can be awarded a travel allowance if they apply for it along with their scholarship application. The grant is awarded as a lump sum paid at the end of the stay, based on the distance between the applicant’s permanent address and the host institution in Slovakia.

Distance up to 200 km: 0 EUR
Distance more than 200 km, max 300 km: 50 EUR
Distance more than 300 km, max 500 km: 100 EUR
Distance more than 500 km, max 1000 km: 250 EUR
Distance more than 1000 km, max 2000 km: 350 EUR
Distance more than 2000 km, max 3000 km: 500 EUR
Distance more than 3000 km, max 5000 km: 750 EUR
Distance more than 5000 km, max 7000 km: 1100 EUR
Distance more than 7000 km: 1500 EUR

Important Application Deadlines

April 30 at 16.00 CET: For scholarship stays during the next academic year
October 31 at 16.00 CET: For scholarship stays during the summer semester of the current academic year

One applicant is allowed to submit only one application per application call.

How to Apply

Scholarship applications are submitted online at www.scholarships.sk. The online application system is opened at least 6 weeks prior to the application deadline. Applications and required attachments can be filled in and submitted in Slovak or English language only.

In addition to the online submission, it is necessary to deliver the original of the acceptance or invitation letter to SAIA in Bratislava. This document must be delivered no later than the 3rd working day after the application deadline by 12 p.m. (Slovak time).

Required Documents for Master’s Students

Curriculum vitae
Motivation letter
Detailed study programme indicating the host institution, duration, start date, list of subjects, and number of credits
Two recommendation letters issued by university teachers (not older than 3 months)
Confirmation officially issued by the home higher education institution confirming regular student status (not older than 3 months)
Bachelor’s diploma, diploma supplement together with the state examination certificate (if applicable)
Acceptance or invitation letter issued by the host higher education institution in Slovakia (not older than 3 months)

Required Documents for PhD Students

Curriculum vitae
Motivation letter
Detailed study, research, or artistic programme including a time plan
Recommendation letter issued by the dissertation supervisor (not older than 3 months)
Confirmation officially issued by the home institution confirming regular PhD student status (not older than 3 months)
Master’s diploma, diploma supplement together with the state examination certificate (if applicable)
List of publications or artistic activities, or a statement of no publications
Acceptance or invitation letter issued by the host institution in Slovakia (not older than 3 months)

Required Documents for Teachers, Researchers, and Artists

Curriculum vitae
Detailed teaching, research, or artistic programme including a time plan
Diploma of the highest academic degree achieved
List of publications or artistic activities
Acceptance or invitation letter issued by the host institution in Slovakia (not older than 3 months)