The Slovakia National Scholarship Programme is an opportunity for international university students, PhD candidates, university teachers, researchers and artists who want to spend a temporary period at a higher education institution or research organisation in Slovakia.
Funded by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic and administered by the Slovak Academic Information Agency (SAIA), the programme is designed to support international academic mobility, research collaboration and knowledge exchange. The programme was established by the Government of the Slovak Republic in 2005.
For the 2026/27 academic year, the programme continues to provide monthly financial support to eligible international applicants. Depending on the applicant category, the monthly scholarship can range from €620 to €1,470. PhD students currently receive €1,025.50 per month, while university students receive €620 per month. Eligible students and PhD candidates may also apply for a separate travel allowance.
However, applicants should understand an important point before applying: the National Scholarship Programme does not normally finance a complete Bachelor’s, Master’s or doctoral degree in Slovakia. Instead, it supports a temporary study, research, teaching or artistic stay while the applicant remains enrolled or affiliated with an institution outside Slovakia.
Slovakia National Scholarship Programme 2027 at a Glance
Scholarship Name: National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic
Host Country: Slovakia
Funding Authority: Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic
Programme Administrator: Slovak Academic Information Agency (SAIA)
Eligible Applicants: International university students, PhD students, university teachers, researchers and artists
Study Level: Master’s-level university students and PhD students for the relevant mobility categories
Duration for University Students: 1 or 2 semesters
Duration for PhD Students: 1 to 10 months
Monthly Scholarship for University Students: €620
Monthly Scholarship for PhD Students: €1,025.50
Application Deadline: 31 October 2026 at 16:00 CET for the summer semester of the current academic year
Other Annual Deadline: 30 April at 16:00 for stays during the following academic year
Application Method: Online
Application Portal: scholarships.sk
Eligible Nationalities: International applicants from countries around the world, subject to the programme’s eligibility rules
Important: This is a mobility programme rather than a scholarship for completing an entire degree in Slovakia.
What Is the Slovakia National Scholarship Programme?
The National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic, commonly referred to as the NSP, was established to encourage international mobility in Slovak higher education and research.
The programme allows eligible international applicants to spend a defined period at a Slovak university, research organisation or other eligible institution. Depending on their category, participants can study, conduct research, undertake doctoral research, teach or carry out artistic activities.
The programme is administered by SAIA, a Slovak non-governmental, non-profit organisation that has been involved in international education and research mobility since 1990.
The scholarship is primarily intended to help with living expenses during the approved stay, including costs such as accommodation and food. The scholarship should therefore not automatically be interpreted as a complete tuition-free degree package.
Is This a Full Scholarship for a Master’s or PhD Degree?
This is one of the most important points applicants need to understand.
The Slovak National Scholarship Programme supports temporary academic mobility. It does not generally pay for an applicant to enrol in and complete an entire Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree in Slovakia.
For example, a student already pursuing higher education outside Slovakia may be able to spend one or two semesters at a Slovak university as part of their existing studies.
Similarly, an international PhD student who is enrolled at a university or research organisation outside Slovakia may undertake a research or study stay of between one and ten months at an eligible Slovak institution.
The official programme rules specifically exclude international students and PhD students who have been accepted for full-degree higher education in Slovakia and want to use the NSP to finance that full degree.
Therefore, applicants searching for a scholarship that covers an entire Master’s or PhD programme should distinguish the NSP from other Slovak government or university scholarship schemes.
Who Can Apply for the Slovakia Scholarship?
The programme has different eligibility categories, and applicants should apply under the category that matches their current academic or professional status.
Master’s and University Students
Students studying at universities outside Slovakia can apply for a study stay at an eligible Slovak higher education institution.
For the university-student category, applicants may be students at the second level of higher education, such as Master’s students, or students who have completed at least 2.5 years of university study in the same programme by the relevant deadline.
The purpose of the scholarship must be an academic mobility stay in Slovakia rather than starting a completely new full-degree programme there.
The Slovak host institution must accept the applicant for the proposed academic mobility.
PhD Students
PhD students whose doctoral education or scientific training is taking place outside Slovakia may apply for a study, research or artistic stay in Slovakia.
Applicants need to be accepted by an eligible Slovak university or research organisation capable of carrying out doctoral-level study or research.
The PhD mobility category allows stays of between one and ten months.
University Teachers, Researchers and Artists
The programme is not limited to students.
University teachers, researchers and artists working outside Slovakia can also apply for temporary teaching, research or artistic stays.
The duration for this category is generally between one and ten months. The amount of the monthly scholarship depends on academic qualifications and professional experience.
How Much Money Does the Slovakia Scholarship Provide?
The amount depends on the applicant’s category.
University Students
Eligible university students receive €620 per month.
The payment is designed to contribute towards living expenses during the stay, including accommodation and food.
PhD Students
PhD scholarship holders receive €1,025.50 per month.
In addition, PhD students can apply for a separate travel allowance when submitting their scholarship application.
University Teachers, Researchers and Artists
The monthly support varies according to qualifications and professional experience.
Applicants without a PhD and with less than four years of relevant experience may receive €1,025.50 per month.
Applicants with a PhD and less than ten years of relevant experience may receive €1,370 per month.
Applicants with a PhD and more than ten years of relevant experience may receive €1,470 per month.
The programme uses the applicant’s relevant experience as of the application deadline when determining the applicable scholarship amount.
Travel Grant Under the Slovakia National Scholarship Programme
Students and PhD candidates may also be eligible for a separate travel allowance if they request it as part of their application.
The travel grant is calculated according to the direct-line distance between the applicant’s place of residence and the place of the scholarship stay in Slovakia.
The current published travel-grant scale ranges from €0 for distances up to 200 km to as much as €1,500 for distances exceeding 7,000 km.
The published amounts are:
Up to 200 km: €0
More than 200 km up to 300 km: €50
More than 300 km up to 500 km: €100
More than 500 km up to 1,000 km: €250
More than 1,000 km up to 2,000 km: €350
More than 2,000 km up to 3,000 km: €500
More than 3,000 km up to 5,000 km: €750
More than 5,000 km up to 7,000 km: €1,100
More than 7,000 km: €1,500
Applicants should remember that the travel grant is a separate component and is not the same thing as the monthly scholarship.
What Expenses Does the Scholarship Cover?
The main purpose of the monthly scholarship is to contribute towards the living expenses of the scholarship holder during the approved stay.
This includes expenses associated with staying in Slovakia, such as accommodation and food.
The programme does not mean that every cost connected with international study will automatically be paid by the Slovak government. Applicants should separately consider costs such as visa or residence procedures, travel and any expenses not covered by the scholarship.
The official programme also states that the scholarship does not support full-degree studies in Slovakia.
Which Fields of Study Are Available?
The programme is open across a broad range of academic and research areas.
The current SAIA database lists areas including:
Natural Sciences
Technical Sciences
Medicine
Agricultural Sciences
Social Sciences
Humanities
Arts
This makes the programme relevant to applicants from a wide variety of academic backgrounds, although the proposed study or research plan must be suitable for the Slovak host institution.
Is IELTS Required for the Slovakia Scholarship?
Applicants should be careful with the common claim that the programme is universally “No IELTS Required.”
The official NSP information requires applications and supporting documents to be submitted in Slovak or English, or accompanied by appropriate translations where necessary. However, the official programme page does not establish a universal IELTS exemption for every applicant or every host institution.
Individual Slovak universities or departments can have their own language requirements. For example, Bratislava University of Economics and Business asks applicants for proof of English proficiency in its own NSP application process, while another Slovak university may have different requirements.
Therefore, applicants should not assume that IELTS is automatically unnecessary. The language requirement should be checked with the specific Slovak university, faculty or host department before applying.
Is There an Application Fee?
The online NSP application itself does not list an application fee in the official SAIA application procedure.
Applicants should nevertheless distinguish between the scholarship application and other potential costs associated with preparing an application. Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, expenses may arise for document translation, certification, travel, visa procedures or residence formalities.
The scholarship programme itself is administered through an online application system, and applications are submitted through the official scholarship portal.
Slovakia Government Scholarship Deadline 2026 for 2027 Stays
The National Scholarship Programme has two main application deadlines each year.
The April deadline is for scholarship stays taking place during the following academic year.
The October deadline is for scholarship stays during the summer semester of the current academic year.
For the current 2026 application cycle, the official SAIA database lists:
30 April at 16:00 CET: Applications for stays during the following academic year
31 October 2026 at 16:00 CET: Applications for stays during the summer semester of the current academic year
The 31 October 2026 deadline is therefore particularly relevant for applicants planning an eligible mobility stay during the 2026/27 summer semester, including stays beginning in 2027.
Applicants should check the official call when planning their dates because the exact permitted period of the stay can depend on the applicant category and the relevant call.
How to Apply for the Slovakia National Scholarship Programme
The application process involves more than simply completing an online form.
Step 1: Find a Suitable Slovak Host Institution
Applicants should first identify an appropriate Slovak university or research organisation that matches their academic or research interests.
For many applicants, obtaining an acceptance or invitation from a Slovak host is one of the most important parts of the preparation process.
The host institution must be willing to accept the applicant for the proposed study, research, teaching or artistic stay.
Step 2: Obtain an Acceptance or Invitation Letter
The acceptance or invitation letter is a key part of the application.
For PhD applicants, the invitation should reflect genuine interest from the Slovak host institution in the applicant’s proposed study or research stay rather than simply being a formal document.
The letter generally needs to identify the host institution, the applicant, the planned period of the stay and the relevant study or research activity.
Step 3: Prepare the Required Documents
The exact documents depend on the applicant category.
PhD applicants, for example, are required to provide documents including:
A curriculum vitae
A motivation letter
A detailed study, research or artistic programme
A recommendation letter from the dissertation supervisor
Confirmation that the applicant is currently enrolled as a PhD student
A copy of the Master’s diploma and relevant academic documents
A list of publications or artistic activities, where applicable
An admission or invitation letter from the Slovak host institution
Students, researchers, teachers and artists have category-specific documentation requirements, so applicants should follow the current call rather than relying on an old checklist.
Step 4: Prepare Documents in the Correct Language
The application and supporting documents may be submitted in Slovak or English.
Documents issued in other languages generally need to be accompanied by the required official translation into Slovak or English.
Applicants should retain the original documents because SAIA may require originals or certified copies during the selection or award process.
Step 5: Complete the Online Application
Applications are submitted online through the official scholarship application system.
The online system is opened at least six weeks before the relevant application deadline.
Applicants should not wait until the final hours to submit their applications because SAIA specifically warns that heavy traffic close to the deadline can affect the response time of the online system.
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Step 6: Submit the Application Before the Deadline
The application must be completed, all required documents uploaded and the application formally submitted through the online system.
For the October 2026 call, the deadline is 31 October 2026 at 16:00 CET.
Simply saving an application or uploading documents is not enough. The applicant must actually submit the completed application.
Step 7: Provide Original Documents When Required
Successful applicants may be required to provide original documents, including the original admission or invitation letter.
Applicants should therefore keep the original versions of everything submitted electronically.
SAIA provides specific instructions concerning the delivery of original documents following selection.
Important Eligibility Restrictions
Although the programme is open internationally, not everyone is eligible.
The NSP does not support international students or PhD students who have been accepted for full-degree Bachelor’s, Master’s or doctoral studies in Slovakia and want to use the programme to finance that complete degree.
Applicants who are already studying a full degree in Slovakia are also generally excluded from using the NSP for that purpose.
The programme also excludes applicants who have spent 15 months or more in Slovakia during the 36 months before the application deadline.
Applicants who are already receiving financial support in Slovakia through another publicly funded scholarship programme, such as certain Erasmus+, CEEPUS or Visegrad Fund programmes, may also be excluded.
These restrictions are important because many online articles incorrectly describe the NSP as a general full-degree scholarship.
Who Should Consider Applying?
The programme can be relevant to several types of international applicants.
A Master’s student studying outside Slovakia who wants to spend one or two semesters at a Slovak university may be eligible.
A PhD student enrolled outside Slovakia who wants to conduct research with a Slovak university or research organisation may also qualify.
University teachers and researchers can use the programme for temporary academic or research activities.
Artists may apply for eligible artistic stays.
The key requirement is that the proposed stay must fit the programme’s mobility objectives and satisfy the specific requirements for the applicant category.
What Makes a Strong Application?
Meeting the basic eligibility conditions does not automatically guarantee a scholarship.
The selection process considers factors such as the reason the applicant has selected the particular Slovak host institution, the quality and relevance of the proposed study or research programme, how the applicant intends to use the results of the stay, professional and personal qualities, and recommendations provided with the application.
A clear and realistic study or research plan is therefore important.
Applicants should explain why the proposed Slovak institution is relevant to their academic or professional development rather than submitting a generic motivation letter.
Can Indian Students Apply for the Slovakia Scholarship?
Yes. The National Scholarship Programme is open to international applicants from countries around the world, subject to the programme’s specific eligibility conditions.
Indian applicants can therefore be considered for eligible mobility categories.
The programme’s published selection results have also included Indian scholarship holders. For example, SAIA’s published results for an earlier call include Indian recipients hosted by Slovak institutions.
Indian applicants should nevertheless check the current eligibility requirements and make sure they can obtain the required host acceptance or invitation.
Visa and Residence Considerations for International Students
Receiving the scholarship does not automatically remove immigration requirements.
International applicants who require a visa to enter Slovakia should allow sufficient time for the visa process.
Applicants from outside the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland whose scholarship stay lasts longer than 90 days may also need to consider temporary residence requirements.
SAIA specifically advises applicants to take visa and residence processing times into account when choosing their proposed start date.
This is particularly important for applicants planning a 2027 stay because the scholarship application, selection, visa and travel arrangements all need to fit within the available timeline.
Slovakia Scholarship 2027: Important Things to Remember
Before submitting an application, applicants should keep the following points in mind.
The NSP is primarily a mobility scholarship, not a full-degree scholarship.
Master’s-level university students can receive €620 per month.
PhD students can receive €1,025.50 per month.
University teachers, researchers and artists can receive between €1,025.50 and €1,470 per month depending on qualifications and experience.
Students and PhD students may also apply for a travel grant.
The PhD mobility period can last from one to ten months.
University students can receive support for one or two semesters.
A Slovak host institution is an important part of the application.
Applications are submitted online.
The October 2026 deadline is 31 October 2026 at 16:00 CET.
The April deadline is 30 April at 16:00 for stays during the following academic year.
Applicants should not assume that IELTS is universally waived because language requirements can depend on the host university or faculty.
Conclusion
The Slovakia National Scholarship Programme offers international students, PhD candidates, researchers, university teachers and artists an opportunity to undertake temporary academic or research mobility in Slovakia with financial support.
For the current 2026 application cycle, university students can receive €620 per month, while PhD students receive €1,025.50 per month. Other academic and research categories can receive higher monthly amounts depending on their qualifications and experience. Eligible students and PhD candidates may also apply for a separate travel allowance.
The most important point for prospective applicants is to understand that this programme is designed for academic mobility rather than funding an entire Master’s or PhD degree in Slovakia. Applicants normally need to be studying or working outside Slovakia and need an appropriate Slovak host institution for their proposed stay.
For applicants targeting the 2027 period, the 31 October 2026 deadline is particularly important. Preparing the host invitation, study or research plan, recommendation letters and other documents well before the deadline can make the application process considerably easier.
Applicants should always verify the latest requirements on the official SAIA scholarship platform before submitting an application because deadlines, documentation requirements and programme conditions can change between calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Slovakia Government Scholarship 2027 fully funded?
The programme provides financial support for living expenses during the approved mobility stay and may provide a separate travel allowance to eligible students and PhD students. However, it should not be described as a full-degree scholarship covering an entire Master’s or PhD programme in Slovakia.
How much does a Master’s student receive?
Eligible university students receive €620 per month under the current programme terms.
How much does a PhD student receive?
PhD scholarship holders receive €1,025.50 per month.
How long can a PhD student stay in Slovakia?
The PhD category supports study or research stays lasting from one to ten months.
Can I complete my entire Master’s degree through this scholarship?
No. The National Scholarship Programme is intended for temporary academic mobility. It does not normally finance a complete Master’s degree in Slovakia.
Can I complete my entire PhD through the NSP?
No. International PhD students can apply for a temporary study or research stay in Slovakia, but the NSP does not normally finance a complete doctoral degree in Slovakia.
Is IELTS compulsory?
There is no single programme-wide IELTS requirement stated on the central SAIA page. However, the Slovak host university or faculty may require proof of English proficiency. Applicants should therefore check the requirements of their intended host institution before applying.
Do I need an invitation letter from a Slovak university?
Yes, applicants in the relevant mobility categories need an acceptance or invitation from an eligible Slovak host institution. For PhD applicants, the invitation should demonstrate the host’s interest in the proposed study or research stay.
What is the application deadline for the 2027 intake?
For the current 2026 call, the October deadline is 31 October 2026 at 16:00 CET. The programme also has an April deadline of 30 April at 16:00 for stays during the following academic year.
Can Indian students apply?
Yes. Indian citizens can apply if they meet the relevant eligibility conditions and secure an appropriate Slovak host institution. Published SAIA selection results also show Indian recipients in previous calls.
Is there an age limit?
The central SAIA programme information does not state a general age limit for the university-student or PhD-student mobility categories. Applicants should focus on satisfying the academic and programme-specific eligibility requirements.
Does the scholarship pay for accommodation?
The monthly scholarship is intended to cover living costs such as accommodation and food. Applicants should arrange accommodation with the host institution or through the available local arrangements and should budget according to their individual circumstances.
Can I apply without a Slovak language certificate?
The application can be completed in Slovak or English, and documents in other languages generally need appropriate translations. However, language requirements for the actual study or research stay can be determined by the host institution.
How do I apply?
Applicants need to identify an eligible Slovak host, obtain the required acceptance or invitation, prepare the category-specific documents and submit the online application through the official scholarship system before the relevant deadline.
