Slovak Government Scholarship for International Students

Slovak Government Scholarship Overview

The government of the Slovak Republic approved the establishment of the National Scholarship Program of the Slovak Republic in 2005. The educational assistance fund program is intended to support the mobility of students, PhD students, university lecturers, researchers and artists.

The National Scholarship Program from the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as the “Slovak Government Scholarship”) is fully funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sports of the Slovak Republic.

The Slovak Government Scholarship encourages students, PhD students, lecturers, researchers and artists to study at higher education institutions and research organizations in Slovakia.

Slovak Government Scholarship Benefits

The Slovak Government Scholarship aims to fund the living costs of scholarship holders, such as expenses related to living in Slovakia (food, accommodation, etc.), during their study, research / artistic or teaching periods at universities and research institutions in Slovakia .

Scholarship holders can ask for guidance regarding accommodation and formalities related to entering or living in a territory of the Slovak Republic, either in their host institution, or they can take care their own needs for themselves.

The following are details of the number of Slovak Government Scholarships that are entitled to be received by holders each month.

• € 400 for university students from higher education at the second level
• € 734 for university teachers / researchers / artists without a PhD and at the same time has less than four years’ work experience in their profession
• € 980 for university teachers / researchers / artists with PhD degrees and at the same time has less than ten years of work experience in the profession
• € 1,050 for university teachers / researchers / artists with PhD degrees and at the same time has more than ten years of work experience in his profession

Slovak Government Scholarship holders whose stay in Slovakia lasts more than 90 days, and are citizens of countries outside the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland are required to submit a confirmation to the foreign police station that they do not suffer from any illness potentially threatening public health within 30 days of receiving temporary shelter.

In addition, scholarship holders will also receive compensation from costs related to medical assessments and submit the confirmation, up to € 250 per scholarship holder, after sending the original bill issued by the medical institution to SAIA, no., in Bratislava.

Furthermore, students and PhD students can receive a travel allowance if they apply for the option together with their Slovak Government Scholarship application.

Eligibility Criteria of Slovak Government Scholarship

Candidates who are declared eligible to apply for the Slovak Government Scholarship must meet the criteria below.

• Candidates are foreign students from universities outside Slovakia;
• Candidates are second-level students from higher education institutions (postgraduate students), or are students who, by the application deadline, have completed at least 2.5 years of their university studies in the same study program; and
• Candidates are willing to stay in Slovakia to study during their studies at higher education institutions outside of Slovakia and will be accepted by public, private or public universities in Slovakia for an academic mobility to study in Slovakia.

Please note that all three conditions must be fulfilled by Slovak Government Scholarship applicants. As for this, the following categories do not apply to doctoral studies (PhD) or equivalent.

• The duration of stay in Slovakia ranges from one to two full semesters (four to five or nine to ten months) or one to three full trimesters, with a note if one academic year is divided into three trimesters (three to four or six to seven or nine up to ten months).

For PhD students whose higher education or scientific training takes place outside of Slovakia and for those who are accepted by public, private or state universities or a research institution in Slovakia are declared eligible to carry out a doctoral study program. This program aims to increase the rate of academic mobility both in study programs or conducting research or artistic stay in Slovakia.

• The duration of the Slovak Government Scholarship for the above categories (for PhD students) ranges from one to ten months.

Furthermore, for international university teachers, researchers and artists who receive invitations to a teaching or research or artistic stay in Slovakia by an institution with a valid certificate explaining the institution’s eligibility to carry out research and development, which is not a business company , and has its seats in Slovakia.

• The duration of the Slovak Government Scholarship for the above categories (for university teachers, researchers and artists) ranges from one to ten months.

In short, citizens from any country in the world (except Slovak residents) are welcome to apply for a Slovak Government Scholarship provided that it meets the established criteria.

How to Apply

Submit your Slovak Government Scholarship application online at www.scholarships.sl. The online application system will open at least six weeks before the application deadline. These applications can only be filled out after the online application system has been officially opened.

Candidates must fill out an online application form and upload all required documents in accordance with the format specified. For this reason, participants are allowed to submit their applications in both Slovak and English only. Documents written in other languages must be formally translated into these two languages. The translation must be formalized by the same institution that was issued in each document.

For international students, please prepare a scan of the following documents before you apply.

• Two recommendation letters issued by your university teachers
• Curriculum Vitae
• Motivation Letter
• Detailed study program
• Confirmations of study issued by your home university confirming that you are a regular student of your university
• Diploma/diploma supplement/state examination certificate
• Admission/invitation letter issued by your host university in Slovakia

Meanwhile, international PhD students are requested to prepare the following documents for application.

• Curriculum Vitae
• Motivation Letter
• Detailed study/research/artistic program
• Recommendation letter issued by your dissertation supervisor
• Confirmation issued by your home university/research institution confirming that you are a regular PhD student of your university/research institution
• Scan of your master’s diploma, diploma supplement and state examination certificate
• List of publications/artistic activities in required form
• Admission/invitation letter issued by your host university in Slovakia

Finally, international teachers / researchers / artists are requested to prepare the following documents for application.

• Curriculum Vitae
• Detailed teaching and/or research/artistic program
• Scan of your diploma of the highest academic degree achieved
• List of publications/artistic activities in required form
• Invitation letter issued by your host university/research organization in Slovakia

Submit your application by clicking the “SEND” button after your application form has been completed and all the necessary documents have been attached to the form.

Closing Date

1. 30 April, 16:00 CET – for the scholarship stay for the next academic year
2. 31 October, 16:00 CET – for the scholarship stay during the summer semester of the ongoing academic year

Contact Person

Ondrej ARADSKY (program administrator)

Email: nsp-foreign@saia.sk
Tel: +421 2 5930 4733

SAIA, n.o.
Sasinkova 10

812 20 Bratislava 1
Slovak Republic

Tel: +421 2 5930 4700, +421 2 5930 4711
Fax: +421 2 5930 4701

Link to Official Website

www.scholarship.sk or www.saia.sk