Scholarships

Slovakia Scholarship 2026 — €500/Month for International Students

Faseeh Sultan

July 21, 2026
No Comments

Slovakia Scholarship 2026 — €500/Month for International Students (Prepare & Apply Now)

Slovakia is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets for international students — and its government is actively funding talented students from every corner of the world to come study there. The Scholarships for Talented Students from All Over the World programme for academic year 2026/2027 is launched again this year, offering €500 per month for up to three years at bachelor’s level or two years at master’s level — a total package of up to €15,000. The application portal is open, and the eligibility criteria, required documents, and selection process are all published and confirmed. This is your complete preparation guide — read it now, gather your documents, and be ready the moment registration opens.

Detail	Information
Organisation	Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic
Country	Slovakia (Slovak Republic)
Degree / Level	Bachelor’s, Combined Bachelor’s + Master’s, Master’s
Monthly Stipend	€500/month
Total Value	Up to €15,000
Duration	10 months/year × 3 years (bachelor’s) or 2 years (master’s)
Total Slots	Up to 195 per year (150 bachelor’s + 45 master’s)
Open To	All nationalities worldwide
Selection Criterion	SAT score (minimum 1,100)
Application Status	Portal Open — 8^th September 2026
Official Portal	scholarships.portalvs.sk

🎓 About This Scholarship

The Slovak Ministry of Education runs this scholarship scheme as part of the country’s commitment to attracting global talent to its public universities. Funding comes from two sources — the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) for students at institutions outside the Bratislava region, and the state budget for those studying in Bratislava — making it one of the most government-backed international scholarship programmes in Central Europe.

What makes this scheme genuinely stand out is its reach: no age limit, no restriction on nationality, and a straightforward selection process based purely on a single internationally recognised test — the SAT. There is no essay panel, no interview, no complex nomination process. Your SAT score determines your ranking among applicants from the same geographical group, and the top scorers receive the scholarship.

The scholarship is tied to Smart Specialisation Strategy (SK RIS3 2021+) study programmes — fields that Slovakia has identified as strategic for its economic and research development. Not every programme at every university qualifies, so checking the official list of supported programmes before applying to a university is a critical first step.

🎓 Benefits and Funding

Here is exactly what this scholarship provides:

€500 per month, paid for 10 months per academic year (September through June)
Bachelor’s level: paid across 3 continuing academic years — total of €15,000
Master’s level: paid across 2 continuing academic years — total of €10,000
Health insurance coverage: scholarship holders are publicly health-insured in Slovakia under Act No. 580/2004 Coll., provided they are not insured in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland — a significant benefit for students coming from outside the EU
Possible tuition fee waiver: recipients enrolled in a full-time foreign-language programme at a public Slovak HEI may have their tuition fees waived under Section 92, Para 11 of the Higher Education Act — however, this decision rests entirely with the individual university, not the Ministry. Verify with your chosen HEI before applying. (verify on official website)

The scholarship does not cover doctoral (PhD) studies. It is exclusively for bachelor’s and master’s-level full-time programmes.

🎓 Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for this scholarship, you must meet all of the following requirements:

Non-Slovak citizenship — you must hold citizenship of a country other than Slovakia (dual citizenship including Slovak is permitted if you hold the Certificate for Slovaks Living Abroad under Act No. 474/2005)
No permanent or temporary residence in Slovakia since 1 January 2021 up to the application deadline — exceptions exist for Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, academic mobility, and language preparation courses (verify your situation carefully on the official page)
No prior study at a Slovak secondary school or HEI, except for academic mobilities — this condition does not apply to master’s applicants previously supported under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) scholarship at bachelor’s level
Enrolled or applying to a supported full-time study programme at a public Slovak HEI — at the time of applying, it is sufficient to have submitted your university application; admission/enrolment is verified later
Full-time, in-person study only — part-time or external study programmes do not qualify
SAT score of at least 1,100 — this is non-negotiable and cannot be substituted with any other test
Structured CV in English and a Motivation Letter in English — templates are provided during application
No upper age limit — applicants under 18 require a hand-signed guardian consent form

🎓 Who Should Apply — Who Shouldn’t

✅ Strong candidates:

International students from any country planning to start a bachelor’s or master’s degree at a Slovak public university in September 2026
Students who already have an SAT score of 1,100 or above, or who have time to sit the SAT before the portal deadline
Applicants interested in STEM, engineering, IT, medicine, economics, or other smart specialisation fields — these align strongly with Slovakia’s supported programme list
Slovaks living abroad who hold the official Certificate under Act No. 474/2005

❌ This scholarship is not right for you if:

You want to pursue a PhD — doctoral studies are explicitly excluded
You have had permanent or temporary residence in Slovakia since January 2021 (with limited exceptions)
You cannot or will not take the SAT test — there is no alternative and no waiver
Your chosen programme is not on the official supported smart specialisation list (check before applying)
You plan to study part-time or via external/distance learning

🎓 Available Study Areas and Universities

The scholarship applies to selected full-time study programmes that fall under Slovakia’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (SK RIS3 2021+). These span fields such as:

Information and communication technologies (ICT)
Engineering and manufacturing technologies
Biomedical and health sciences
Environmental sciences and sustainable energy
Economics and innovation management
Mathematics and natural sciences

To find the exact list of eligible programmes and universities, visit the official scholarship portal and look for the “List of selected smart specialisation study programmes SK RIS3 2021+”. You can apply to any public Slovak HEI listed there — note that a scholarship once awarded cannot be transferred between universities.

For general information about Slovak universities and study programmes, visit Study in Slovakia or the Slovak Ministry of Education study page.

🎓 How Many Scholarships Are Available?

The total annual allocation is 195 scholarships — split across two study levels and two funding sources:

Bachelor’s (and combined bachelor’s + master’s): 150 scholarships total

100 funded by ESIF → for HEIs outside the Bratislava region
50 funded by the state budget → for HEIs in the Bratislava region

Master’s: 45 scholarships total

30 funded by ESIF → for HEIs outside the Bratislava region
15 funded by the state budget → for HEIs in the Bratislava region

Applicants are divided into five geographic groups for ranking purposes:

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

Within each group, ranking is determined purely by SAT score — highest to lowest. The Ministry may adjust the number of scholarships awarded as needed.

🎓 Required Documents

Prepare these documents before the portal opens so you can submit the moment registration goes live:

Certified copy of valid passport or national ID (EU/EEA/Swiss citizens may use national ID)
SAT score certificate — minimum score of 1,100; results from January 2021 onwards are accepted
Structured CV in English — template provided during application
Motivation Letter in English — template provided during application; explain your motivation for studying in Slovakia and demonstrate your talent
Solemn Declaration of Permanent Residence — hand-signed; confirms no permanent residence in Slovakia since 1 January 2021
Solemn Declaration of Temporary Residence (if applicable) — hand-signed
Acceptance Letter from Slovak HEI (if already admitted — optional at application stage but required for final verification)
Guardian consent form (for applicants under 18 only)
Certificate for Slovaks Living Abroad (if applicable, under Act No. 474/2005)
Additional declarations for Erasmus+/academic mobility exceptions (if applicable)

All solemn declarations must be hand-signed — digital or typed signatures are not accepted. Templates will be available for download when the portal opens.

🎓 Step-by-Step Application Process

Sit the SAT — if you haven’t already, register at satsuite.collegeboard.org and aim for 1,100 or above. 2026 remaining test dates to target include those after this article’s publication date (verify current available dates on the College Board website)
Identify your university and programme — check the official smart specialisation list on the portal and contact your chosen Slovak HEI early; apply for admission directly to the university separately from this scholarship
Prepare all documents — gather your passport copy, CV, motivation letter, and solemn declarations now; do not wait for the portal to open
Monitor scholarships.portalvs.sk — the opening date will be announced on this page; applications are accepted only through this portal and not by email
Submit your complete application before the deadline — incomplete applications cannot be submitted; once submitted, you will see a confirmation screen (no email confirmation is sent)
Await the preliminary list — the Ministry and/or HEIs verify applications after the student is officially enrolled; the preliminary and final lists of successful applicants are published on the portal
Sign your contract and await payment — the scholarship is paid by your HEI from September 2026, including retroactively if any administrative delay occurs

Practical tip: Contact your preferred Slovak university before the portal opens. Admissions processes and language requirements vary by institution, and some competitive programmes fill early. Securing your admission letter in advance gives you a stronger application when the scholarship portal goes live.

🎓 Visa and Residence — What International Students Need to Know

If you are coming from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland, apply for a Type D national visa (120-day) at the Slovak Embassy in your country. This visa allows you to enter Slovakia and then apply for temporary residence for the purpose of study within those 120 days.

Key contacts for migration support in Slovakia:

Centres of Services for Foreigners (CSC): Bratislava, Žilina, Košice — phone: +421 961 570 333 | email: csc@minv.sk
IOM Slovakia (migration support): phone: +0850 211 478 (from Slovakia) | +421 2 5263 0023 (from abroad) | email: mic@iom.int
Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa info: mzv.sk/visa-and-services

Start your visa process as early as possible — do not wait for scholarship confirmation before beginning your university admission and visa applications.

🎓 Important Dates

Milestone	Date
SAT test dates (recent/upcoming)	Verify at College Board for later dates
Application portal opening	TBA — monitor scholarships.portalvs.sk
Application deadline	8^th September 2026
Verification and evaluation	After official enrolment at Slovak HEI
Academic year begins	TBA — announced on the portal
First scholarship payment	September 2026 (retroactively if delayed)

Bookmark this page and check back for updates. When the portal opening date is announced, this article will be updated accordingly.

🎓 Why Study in Slovakia

Slovakia sits at the heart of Central Europe, bordering Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Ukraine. It is an EU member state with access to the Schengen Area, meaning a Slovak student visa opens up travel across most of Europe.

Slovak public universities offer programmes at internationally competitive quality, with several institutions recognised by the QS and Times rankings. Tuition fees for foreign-language programmes can be significant at some HEIs — which makes the potential tuition waiver element of this scholarship particularly valuable, even if it is not guaranteed.

The cost of living in Slovakia is among the lowest in the EU — Bratislava and other cities like Košice, Nitra, and Žilina are genuinely affordable for students on a €500 monthly stipend. Rent, food, and transport costs are considerably lower than in Germany, France, or Scandinavia. For students from South Asia, Africa, or Southeast Asia in particular, Slovakia offers a rare combination of European quality education and manageable living costs.

🎓 FAQ

Q: The portal is not open yet — can I still prepare? A: Absolutely. The eligibility conditions, document requirements, and selection criteria are fully confirmed and published. You can prepare every document on the list right now, take your SAT if you haven’t, and apply to Slovak universities. The only thing you cannot do yet is submit the scholarship application itself.

Q: Is the SAT really the only selection criterion? A: Yes. Within your geographic group, applicants are ranked purely by SAT score. A score below 1,100 means your application will not be considered. There is no interview, no panel review of your personal statement for ranking purposes — only the SAT determines your position.

Q: Can I apply to multiple Slovak universities? A: You apply to universities directly and separately from this scholarship. The scholarship application is one application covering your chosen HEI and programme. Once awarded, the scholarship cannot be transferred to a different university.

Q: Does this scholarship cover doctoral studies? A: No. The scholarship explicitly excludes PhD/doctoral programmes. It covers bachelor’s, combined bachelor’s + master’s, and master’s-only programmes.

Q: What happens if my enrolment gets delayed? A: The scholarship is paid from September 2026 for all eligible months. If there is an administrative delay, the payments for missed months are made retroactively in the first batch.

Q: Can I lose the scholarship after receiving it? A: Yes — if you stop studying full-time, transfer to a different university, switch to part-time study, or interrupt your studies for more than 180 days total. Changing programmes within the same university is permitted under specific conditions.

🎓 Official Source

Scholarship portal (applications and updates): scholarships.portalvs.sk
Study in Slovakia resources: studyinslovakia.saia.sk
Slovak Ministry of Education — Study in Slovakia: minedu.sk/study-in-slovakia
Contact for scholarship queries: scholarships.esif@minedu.sk
SAT registration: satsuite.collegeboard.org
Visa information: mzv.sk — National Visa

🎓 Summary Table

Detail	Information
Country	Slovakia (EU member, Schengen Area)
Level	Bachelor’s, Combined Bachelor’s + Master’s, Master’s
Monthly Stipend	€500/month (10 months/year)
Max Total Value	€15,000 (bachelor’s) / €10,000 (master’s)
Total Annual Slots	195 (150 bachelor’s + 45 master’s)
Selection Basis	SAT score — minimum 1,100 required
Open To	All nationalities worldwide; no age limit
Health Insurance	Publicly covered under Slovak law
Tuition Waiver	Possible — at HEI’s discretion (verify separately)
Portal Status	Open — Visit scholarships.portalvs.sk
Academic Year Start	TBA — announced on the portal