An independent guide for international students, PhD students, university teachers and researchers who want to spend part of their studies or research in Slovakia.

Upcoming deadlines

ProgrammeDeadlineApply at
National Scholarship Programme30 April 2027, 16:00 Bratislava time (CEST), for stays in the academic year 2027/28scholarships.sk
CEEPUS1 June (networks) and 1 July (freemovers) for the winter semester, 1 November for the summer semesterceepus.info
Government scholarships of the Slovak RepublicOne call per academic year; the 2026/27 call closed on 25 May 2026vladnestipendia.sk

The autumn call of the National Scholarship Programme (NSP) closed on 31 October 2026. The online system for the April call opens at least six weeks before the deadline, that is by 19 March 2027.

Which scholarship fits you?

Erasmus+ works differently. If your university has an Erasmus+ agreement with a Slovak university, you apply through the international office at your home university, not in Slovakia.

National Scholarship Programme in five steps

  1. Find a host department at a Slovak university or research institute and agree on the dates and content of your stay.
  2. Ask the host for an acceptance or invitation letter that states the exact period of the stay.
  3. Prepare your CV, the programme of your stay and the other attachments in English or Slovak. Letters of recommendation and confirmations must not be older than three months on the deadline day.
  4. Submit the online application at www.scholarships.sk before 16:00 Bratislava time on the deadline day.
  5. Make sure the original acceptance or invitation letter reaches SAIA in Bratislava by 12:00 on the third working day after the deadline. Results usually come within eight weeks.

The complete guide covers eligibility, monthly amounts, travel grants and the documents for each category.

Before you travel

Holders of NSP and CEEPUS scholarships from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland can enter and stay on a national visa (type D) issued for the whole stay, and NSP scholarship holders get free public health insurance. Coming to Slovakia on a scholarship explains the visa, insurance, accommodation and Slovak language courses.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the official website of the National Scholarship Programme?

No. The official website is www.scholarships.sk, with an “s” at the end, and the Slovak version is www.stipendia.sk. Both are run by SAIA, n. o. Many university and ministry websites link to scholarship.sk by mistake, which is why you may have landed here.

Can the National Scholarship Programme pay for a full degree in Slovakia?

No. It only funds stays in Slovakia that form part of studies or work at your home institution. Students who want a full bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in Slovakia can look at the Government scholarships of the Slovak Republic, which are open to citizens of selected countries.

Can I apply for two programmes for the same stay?

You can apply, but you cannot hold two publicly funded scholarships for the same stay. The National Scholarship Programme excludes stays that are already funded by Erasmus+, CEEPUS, the International Visegrad Fund or a bilateral agreement.

I study at a Slovak university. Is there something for me?

Yes. Students and PhD students of Slovak universities can get an NSP scholarship for a stay abroad, and there are social and merit scholarships at home. See the Slovak version of this site.