The National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic is intended to support mobility of foreign students, PhD students, university teachers and researchers to stay at Slovak universities and research institutions.

Types of scholarships

a) Scholarships for foreign university students (enrolled at least in the 6th semester) to take part in Master study over a period of 1 to 2 semesters (from 5 to 10 months) at Slovak universities. b) Scholarships for foreign PhD students to take a part of PhD study over a period of 1 to 12 months at Slovak universities or research institutes. c) Scholarships for foreign university teachers and researchers over a period of 1 to 12 months to carry out teaching or research at Slovak universities, research institutes or nongovernmental organisations on the basis of an invitation.

Citizens from following countries can apply for scholarships

a) European Union member states; b) other countries participating in the Bologna process (listed are only countries that are not EU member states) – Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Russian Federation, Serbia, Switzerland, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine; c) Belarus;
d) Canada, Central American countries, Latin American countries, Mexico, the United States of America;
e) Australia, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.

The Scholarship Programme does not support:

* foreign students and PhD students accepted for entire Master or PhD studies in Slovakia, specifically those who are already studying in Slovakia and would like to cover part of their costs from the National Scholarship Programme;
* foreign university teachers and researches who are already teaching or researching at Slovak universities and research institutes;
* citizens of the Slovak Republic studying, teaching or researching at foreign universities or research institutes;
* foreign applicants accepted for other scholarship programmes in Slovakia (for example Visegrad Fund, Erasmus, CEEPUS, bilateral agreements, etc.).

Scholarship designation

The scholarship is designated to cover living costs (accommodation, boarding, etc.) of a study, research and teaching stay of foreign applicants at Slovak universities and research institutions. The applicants can ask their host institution to assist them to arrange their accommodation and necessary documents regarding the stay in Slovakia, or they have to arrange it by themselves. The Scholarship Programme does not cover the travel costs to and from Slovakia.

Amount of a monthly scholarship

a) university students 7 000 SKK b) PhD students 14 000 SKK c) university teachers: lecturers with or without a PhD degree 20 000 SKK associated professors 25 000 SKK professors 30 000 SKK
d) researchers: young researchers (< 4 years of experience) 20 000 SKK PhD holders (or > 4 years of experience) 25 000 SKK senior researchers (>10 years of experience) 30 000 SKK 1 EUR 33 SKK 1 USD 22 SKK

Application procedure

The on-line application system opens 6–8 weeks before the deadline. The application form is accessible only after the on-line application system is opened. In order to submit the on-line application, it is necessary to fill in the on-line application form (in Slovak, English, French, Spanish or Russian version), attach all required documents (in .doc or .pdf format) and press the “submit” button. Applications must be submitted on-line and documents marked with asterisk must be sent by post and received by the deadline at SAIA, n. o. (see further List of required documents that must be attached to the on‑line application
form). The submitted documents must be originals.

Applications deadlines:

30 April – for the next academic year

31 October – for the summer semester

Documents must be received by deadline at

SAIA, n. o. | Námestie slobody 23 | 812 20 Bratislava 1 | Slovak Republic

List of required documents that must be attached to the on-line application form by foreign students and PhD students applying for a study/research stay:

* structured Curriculum Vitae; * motivation letter; * detailed study programme in case of students (incl. date of arrival and period of stay);
* detailed research programme in case of PhD students (incl. date of arrival, period of stay and detailed programme time schedule);
* two recommendation letters provided by applicant’s university teachers in case of students, one recommendation letter provided by applicant’s supervisor in case of PhD students;
* confirmation letter from a sending university certifying that applicant is a full-time student enrolled in min. 6th semester, in case of a PhD student a confirmation certifying enrolment in a PhD study ;
* certified copy of a Bachelor’s diploma or Master’s diploma and a certificate of a state exam (if any);
* admission or invitation letter from a host university or research institute in Slovakia proclaiming commitment that applicant will be enrolled in a study or research programme (incl. period of stay). The admission or invitation letter
must be printed on official letter head paper of the host institution, including a signature of the person in charge and a stamp.

List of required documents that must be attached to the on-line application form by foreign university teachers and researchers:

* structured Curriculum Vitae; * detailed teaching and/or research programme (including date of arrival, period of stay and detailed programme time schedule); * invitation letter from a host university or research institute in Slovakia (incl. period of stay). The invitation letter must be printed on official letter head paper of the host institution, including a signature of the person in charge and
a stamp.

The documents must be sent by post and received by the deadline at SAIA, n. o.
The submitted documents must be originals. The original admission or invitation letter from the Slovak host university or research institute can be sent by post from the host institution in Slovakia directly to SAIA n.o.