This scholarship programme is designed for all international students worldwide, including Slovaks living abroad, who plan to pursue higher education in Slovakia in the academic year 2026/2027. The scholarship is exclusively designated for full-time bachelor's, full-time combined bachelor's and master's studies, and full-time master's studies at a selected public Slovak higher education institution (HEI).

Bachelor's studies scholarships are available for applicants from abroad who intend to pursue their bachelor's studies in Slovakia in the academic year 2026/2027.

Master's studies scholarships are available for students who were supported by the previous scholarship scheme under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) at the bachelor's level as well as for applicants from abroad who intend to pursue their master's studies in Slovakia in the academic year 2026/2027.

The scholarship does not apply to doctoral studies.

Applicants may choose from one of selected public HEIs, at which they want to study one of selected full-time study programmes that fall under the areas of the Smart Specialisation Strategy of the Slovak Republic (SK RIS3 2021+). To view the List of selected smart specialization study programmes SK RIS 3 2021+, please visit the following website.

For more information about studying in Slovakia, please check out the following resources: https://www.minedu.sk/7507-en/study-in-slovakia/ and https://www.studyinslovakia.saia.sk/ or the website of any HEI in Slovakia you are interested in.

We strongly advise individuals to thoroughly initiate communication with their preferred HEI in a timely manner. Early communication can help clarify questions, save time, and prevent potential misunderstandings.

Important information regarding the tuition fee, health insurance, visa and migration:

Based on the current legislation, scholarship recipients accepted into this scholarship scheme and enrolled and entered to a full-time study programme taught in foreign language to a public HEI may have their tuition fees waived in accordance with Section 92, Para 11 of Act No. 131/2002 Coll. on Higher Education, however waiving the tuition fees is exclusively on HEIs decision.

According to Act No. 580/2004 Coll. on Health Insurance in the Slovak Republic, a person who does not have a permanent residence in the territory of the Slovak Republic, is also publicly health-insured if he/she is not health-insured in another European Union member state or in a contracting state of the European Economic Area Agreement or in the Swiss Confederation, and is a scholarship holder under a program approved by the Government of the Slovak Republic. More information available here: https://www.minedu.sk/list-of-programs-public-health-insurance-in-slovak-republic/ 

Visa and temporary residence

If you are currently abroad, you must apply for national visas (type D visa) at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic abroad or through an external service provider designated by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and accredited for the country where the applicant resides. We recommend that you apply for a 120-day national D visa in connection with submitting your application for temporary residence for the purpose of study, which allows you to enter Slovakia and later apply for temporary residence, since your studies will last more than one year.

After arriving in Slovakia, you must apply for temporary residence for the purpose of study within those 120 days.

For more information about national visas, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs: https://www.mzv.sk/en/web/en/visa-and-services/national-visa

If you are already in Slovakia, you can apply for temporary residence at any of the 13 Foreign Police offices (if applying for the first time).

More information is available on the Ministry of the Interior website: https://www.minv.sk/?residence-of-an-foreigner

You may contact the Centres of Services for Foreigners (CSC), which operate as specialized units under the Department of Services for Foreigners of the Migration Office of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic (MO MoI SR).

Contact information:

• CSC Bratislava – Regrútska 4, 831 07 Bratislava
• CSC Žilina – Janka Kráľa 4, 010 40 Žilina
• CSC Košice – Trieda SNP 35, 040 11 Košice

Office hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Phone: +421 961 570 333
Email: csc@minv.sk

https://www.minv.sk/?centres-of-services-for-foreigners

The range of provided services may include, for example:

• Assistance with choosing the appropriate type of residence permit based on the client's individual situation
• Verification of completeness of documents and help with filling out applications (e.g., for visa/residence)
• Support in navigating the reservation system of the Ministry of the Interior
• Services in areas such as employment, integration, housing, and health insurance

In addition to the previously mentioned support, you may also contact the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Slovakia.
In case you need any help or support regarding migration inquiries as well as any issues related to your stay in Slovakia — such as legal advice, administrative processes, health insurance, Slovak language courses, other educational activities, integration support, cooperation with migrant communities, common Q&A, and many other areas — IOM provides a wide range of support services for foreigners and migrants in Slovakia.

Contact information:

Phone: +0850 211 478 (from Slovakia)

+421 2 5263 0023 (from abroad)

Email: mic@iom.int

We strongly advise individuals to personally verify all the necessary requirements related to a potential study-related stay in Slovakia and act in time.

A total of 150 successful applicants at the first level of study (bachelor’s or combined bachelor’s and master’s studies) may be awarded the scholarship every year during the scholarship scheme:

• 100 scholarships funded by ESIF, intended for applicants studying at public HEIs located in regions other than the Bratislava region,
• 50 scholarships funded by the state budget, intended for applicants studying at public HEIs located in the Bratislava region.

At the second level of study (master’s), a total of 45 successful applicants may be awarded the scholarship every year during the scholarship scheme:

• 30 scholarships funded by ESIF, intended for applicants studying at public HEIs located in regions other than the Bratislava region,
• 15 scholarships funded by the state budget, intended for applicants studying at public HEIs located in the Bratislava region.

The Ministry may adjust the number of scholarships awarded as needed. If necessary, during the evaluation process, applicants will be divided into five groups based on their geographical location. These five categories are as follows:

• Europe
• USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania
• South America
• Central America and Africa
• Asia

The complete list of countries by category is available at this link.

The scholarship programme grants up to €15,000. The scholarship is paid out monthly over the first three continuing academic years of the bachelor’s degree programme, combined bachelor’s and master’s degree study programme or two continuing academic years of master’s degree programme in Slovakia, with a payment of €500 per month.  The academic year in Slovakia starts on September 1st and ends on August 31st of the following year. The scholarship is provided for a duration of ten months each year, from September through June.

After the application deadline, the Ministry or HEIs will start to thoroughly verify and approve each application, as well as check whether all the criteria and requirements were met. Please note that the evaluation of applicants will take place after the students are officially enrolled in their selected study programmes.

Following this, the preliminary list and later the final list of successful applicants will be released. The HEIs and applicants will be informed about the status and the upcoming procedure. Administrative work, mainly related to the Contracts, will begin. After the Contracts are signed, the funds are transferred from the Ministry to the HEIs.

The HEIs will then start paying the scholarship to the individual scholarship holders / successful applicants based on the preliminary / final list of successful applicants, in accordance with their internal processes and capabilities. The funds will be sent to the holders / applicants as soon as the HEIs verify and process the data necessary for the correct administration of the scholarship, including issuance of Decisions on awarding a scholarship.

The HEI pays the scholarship to the scholarship holder / applicant only if he / she is officially enrolled and has commenced the study programme. For all months in which the holders are eligible (from September of the 2026/2027 academic year), the funds will be paid, even retroactively in the first batch of your scholarship if a delay occurs.

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• citizenship of a country other than Slovakia, which must be confirmed by an acceptable form of identification (generally a passport; those from countries within the European Union, EEA and Switzerland can use a national ID card). Dual citizenship than includes Slovak and another citizenship is allowed. This does not apply to Slovaks living abroad with the Slovak citizenship, who submit a copy of the Certificate in accordance with § 7 of Act No. 474/2005 Coll. on Slovaks Living Abroad, along with their scholarship application.
• no permanent or temporary residence in Slovakia since January 1st, 2021 until the date of submitting the scholarship application (demonstrated by the applicant's solemn declaration, template is available for download during the application process), with the exception of temporary residence for attending a Slovak language or study preparation course (which must be confirmed by the applicant's HEI), or with the exception of temporary residence for participating in an activity or programme under the Erasmus+ programme or the European Solidarity Corps  programme (which must be confirmed by a Certificate of Participation), or other academic mobility. This does not apply to applicants for a scholarship at the master's level of study who have previously been supported by a scholarship scheme financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) during their bachelor's studies (demonstrated by the applicant's solemn declaration, template is available for download during the application process),
• no prior study at a secondary school or higher education institution (HEI) in Slovakia, except for academic mobilities. Studies completed outside of Slovakia are not a contradicting factor for applying for this scholarship. This condition does not apply to applicants for a scholarship at the master’s level who have already been supported by a scholarship scheme financed by the RRP during their bachelor’s studies. In the case of study at a secondary school, this condition does not apply to Slovaks living abroad with Slovak citizenship who submit a copy of the Certificate in accordance with § 7 of Act No. 474/2005 Coll. on Slovaks Living Abroad along with their scholarship application.
• for applicants for a scholarship at the bachelor's or combined bachelor's and master's level: admission to a public Slovak HEI for a supported bachelor's study programme or a supported combined bachelor's and master's study programme, with studies taking place in the territory of the Slovak Republic (at the time of submitting the scholarship application, it is sufficient to have applied to a public Slovak HEI). For applicants for a scholarship at the master's level: admission to a public Slovak HEI for a supported master's study programme, with studies taking place in the territory of the Slovak Republic (at the time of submitting the scholarship application, it is sufficient to have applied to a public Slovak HEI),
• full time, in-person study programme,
• the scholarship application must include a structured CV in English and a motivation letter in English (template will be available for download), in which the applicant has to specifically explain their motivation for studying in Slovakia, as well as simply demonstrate their talent characteristics,
• no upper age limit, applicants under the age of 18 will need a hand-signed approval from their legal guardian (template will be available for download).

The fulfilment of the conditions will be demonstrated by the applicant's solemn declarations (templates will be available for download, all must be hand-signed) or by meeting the conditions for starting studies at a public Slovak HEI, which fact will be confirmed by the HEI (template will be available for download).

Please note that exceptions cannot be granted for these conditions.

The order of applicants in the respective category will be determined on the basis of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT test) score results. To be considered for the scholarship, a minimum SAT score of 1100 is required, whether you are applying for bachelor's or master's level studies. Applicants with the SAT score result lower than 1100 will not be considered. SAT scores will be the only criterion for the selection of successful applicants. We will accept results of SAT tests taken in the period from January 1st, 2021, up to the deadline set for the applicant submission. The SAT test is a must for applying for this scholarship scheme and it must be uploaded before the deadline.

Please note that the SAT test is an essential requirement for this scholarship application and cannot be substituted with any other alternative or waived.

What is the SAT test? 

The SAT test, short for Scholastic Aptitude Test, is an internationally recognized standardized test issued by the College Board that measures students' knowledge of math, reading, and writing, as well as their college readiness. The test comprises of three sections: (1) the Reading Test, (2) the Writing and Language Test, and (3) the Math Test. The test is offered several times a year. May–June 2026 test dates: May 2th, June 6th. For further information about fees, deadlines, and applications, please visit the https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat. 

The application registration is not yet open. Please monitor this website for the official start date. 

Please note that the application must be submitted exclusively electronically online at this website, and it is not possible to request the scholarship via email.

Do not forget that receiving a scholarship does not mean acceptance or enrolment at a HEI.

Thanks to everyone for the expressed interest in our scholarship programme.

1. ID or Passport

A certified copy of a valid identity document or passport.

2. Solemn Declaration of Permanent Residence

A hand-signed solemn declaration. The template is available for download during the application process. You are eligible to apply only if you have not had a permanent residence in Slovakia at any time between January 1, 2021, and the application deadline.

3. Slovak Living Abroad with Slovak Citizenship (if applicable)

Upload a copy of the Certificate issued in accordance with § 7 of Act No. 474/2005 Coll. on Slovaks Living Abroad.

4. Solemn Declaration of Temporary Residence (if applicable)

A hand-signed solemn declaration. The template is available for download during the application process.

Note: You are eligible to apply only if you have not had a temporary residence in Slovakia at any time between January 1, 2021, and the application deadline. In some cases, exceptions are accepted — for example, if your temporary residence was granted due to participation in Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps, academic mobility, or language/professional course preparation for university/college studies, or if you were supported by a scholarship scheme funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) during your bachelor’s studies.

Please read carefully and select the option that applies to your situation.

5. Solemn Declaration – Language / Professional Course Preparation or Previous Bachelor’s Studies Supported by the Scholarship Scheme under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (if applicable)

A hand-signed solemn declaration. The template is available for download during the application process.

A declaration confirming that the applicant attended a language or professional course in Slovakia as preparation for university/college studies or completed a bachelor's degree supported by a scholarship scheme funded under the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

6. Confirmation of Exception – Temporary Residence due to Language/Professional Course (if applicable)

A document issued by a higher education institution confirming that the applicant’s temporary residence in Slovakia was granted due to participation in a language or professional preparation course. The template is available for download during the application process.

7. Solemn Declaration – Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, or Academic Mobility (if applicable)

A hand-signed solemn declaration. The template is available for download during the application process. 

A declaration stating the applicant’s temporary residence was granted due to participation in Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, or another academic mobility programme.

8. Certificate or Confirmation of Participation in Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, or Academic Mobility (if applicable)

If a Youthpass is not available, upload an official confirmation of your participation.

9. Consent of the Legal Guardian for Processing of Minor Applicant’s Personal Data (if applicable)

Required only for applicants under the age of 18 at the time of application.

10. Certificate with SAT Test Results

 A valid certificate showing the SAT score. Minimum score required is 1100.

11. Acceptance Letter from Higher Education Institution (if available)

 A document confirming admission to a Slovak higher education institution.

12. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

The template is available for download during the application process.

Note: This is an essential document for the evaluation of your application.

13. Motivation Letter

The template is available for download during the application process.

Note: This is an essential document for the evaluation of your application.

Successful scholarship holders will then be required to submit original documents uploaded in the scholarship application (e.g. diplomas, certificates of disadvantage, etc.) to the higher education institution at which they enrol. If the documents are found to be false or have been altered in an unauthorised manner, the scholarship holder will be withdrawn from the scholarship and will also be obliged to repay the scholarship already awarded, which was paid as ineligible on the basis of non-compliance with the conditions.

All scholarship applicants and successful scholarship recipients are required to accept the inspections carried out in connection with the award and payment of the scholarship.

The application registration is not yet open. Please monitor this webpage for the official start date.

Once registration opens, a complete application must include all necessary attachments, SAT test results, and solemn declarations.

The verification process of each applicant will be carried out by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic or by the HEI to which the applicant has applied and enrolled. To become a scholarship holder, the applicant must be officially enrolled in the first year of a selected study programme starting in the autumn of 2026.

Your success depends on you! All required attributes must be fulfilled: timely registration, timely submission of a complete application, meeting all criteria and requirements, SAT test score results, and timely enrollment and commencement of studies at a public Slovak HEI in the academic year 2026/2027 (around September 2026).

Your overall rank among all accepted applicants will also be important. The rank is determined based on the point ranking of each applicant.

After the Scholarship is awarded to a successful applicant, we would like to remind you of the following situations where you still may lose your scholarship entitlement:

1.  The entitlement to the scholarship ceases upon the applicant's termination of studies according to Section 66 (para 1) of the Higher Education Act, this does not apply if the applicant starts studying another selected study programme in full-time form exclusively at the same HEI (regardless of the faculty), during the study. However, the start of studies must be no later than the day following the end of the previous studies, so that the student status is not lost for even one day. At the same time, the continuity of studies must be respected when the change of studies is made, so that the student does not repeat a year, i.e. it is not possible to pay the Scholarship during two first years, nor is it possible to repeat the same year twice in subsequent years. If a student transfers to another selected study programme within the same HEI within the same academic year and the study does not start afresh but continues continuously within that academic year, the entitlement to the scholarship does not cease. 
2. It is not possible to transfer the scholarship between studies at different HEIs. 
3. The entitlement to the scholarship also ceases if the student changes the form of study from full-time to part-time (external) study. As the scholarship is granted exclusively to students enrolled in full-time study programmes, the scholarship cannot be paid for the period during which the student is enrolled in part-time (external) study.
4. The entitlement to the scholarship also ceases upon interruption of studies pursuant to Section 64 of the Higher Education Act, for the period of interruption of studies, and is automatically restored on the date of re-enrolment pursuant to Section 69 of the Higher Education Act, if the interruption of studies did not last individually or in total more than 180 days. During the period of interruption of studies, the scholarship will not be paid to you due to the loss of student status.

• Please note that this website is to be used only for submitting scholarship applications and cannot be used for study applications. The applicants will need to submit a separate application for the studies directly to a HEI of their choice. 
• Please note that this scholarship is tied to a specific study, and a change of a HEI will not be possible after the scholarship has been awarded. A change of the selected study programme within the same HEI is permitted only if the studies remain continuous and the applicant does not lose the status of a student. The studies must be continuous for the three years of bachelor’s degree studies or combined bachelor’s and master’s degree studies and for the two years of master’s degree studies, without re-enrolling into a new first year of a new study programme or without repeating any same year of study (as stated in the above stated section “How can I lose the scholarship entitlement?“). 
• Applicants coming from non-EU countries, please note that the scholarship does not affect visa policies (with the exception of Slovak national visas) or procedures for incoming international students. The information on the process of obtaining a visa can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic.
• The scholarship is a motivational tool for the student who receives it and is intended, for example, but not exclusively, to cover students' living costs.

Here you can find methodological documents:

Methodological document on the provision of scholarships for talented foreign students for the purpose of their studies at higher education institutions in the Slovak Republic for the academic year 2025/2026_version 1.0

Methodological document on the provision of scholarships for talented foreign students for the purpose of their studies at higher education institutions in the Slovak Republic for the academic year 2025/2026_version 1.1

Methodological document on the provision of scholarships for talented foreign students for the purpose of their studies at higher education institutions in the Slovak Republic for the academic year 2025/2026_version 1.1 with changes

Methodological document on the provision of scholarships for talented foreign students for the purpose of their studies at higher education institutions in the Slovak Republic for the academic year 2025/2026_version 2.0

Methodological document on the provision of scholarships for talented foreign students for the purpose of their studies at higher education institutions in the Slovak Republic for the academic year 2025/2026_version 2.0 with changes