The National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic (NSP) funds short mobility stays in Slovakia for international master’s students, PhD students, and university teachers, researchers, and artists. It is financed by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic and administered with support from the Slovak Academic Information Agency (SAIA). The next deadline for stays in the summer semester of the current academic year is 31 October 2026 at 16:00 Central European Time (CET).
Quick facts
- Host country: Slovakia
- Funding type: Monthly mobility scholarship (living costs) plus optional travel grant for students and PhD students
- Who can apply: Citizens of any country except Slovakia
- Levels: Master’s mobility, PhD mobility, and teaching/research/artistic stays (not full-degree study)
- Monthly award: From 620 EUR (master’s students) up to 1,470 EUR (senior teachers/researchers/artists)
- Stay length: Students: about 1-2 semesters (or equivalent trimesters); PhD and teachers/researchers/artists: 1-10 months
- Next deadline: 31 October 2026, 16:00 CET (summer-semester stays)
- Also note: 30 April deadline each year for stays in the next academic year
What the funding covers
The NSP monthly scholarship is meant to cover living costs in Slovakia (food, accommodation, and related expenses) during an approved study, research, artistic, or teaching stay.
Monthly scholarship amounts
- University student of the second level of higher education (master’s): 620 EUR
- PhD student: 1,025.50 EUR
- University teacher / researcher / artist without a PhD (or equivalent) and with less than 4 years of relevant work experience: 1,025.50 EUR
- With a PhD (or equivalent) and less than 10 years of relevant work experience: 1,370 EUR
- With a PhD (or equivalent) and more than 10 years of relevant work experience: 1,470 EUR
Travel grant (students and PhD students only)
Eligible students and PhD students can request a lump-sum travel allowance with their application. The amount depends on the straight-line distance between the applicant’s place of residence (or home institution) and the Slovak host institution, from 0 EUR (up to 200 km) up to 1,500 EUR (over 7,000 km).
The NSP does not fund full-degree bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral programmes in Slovakia, and it does not fund applicants who are already enrolled in full-degree study in Slovakia and want to use the NSP to pay for that degree.
Eligibility
Citizens of any country in the world except Slovakia may apply. Categories:
A) Master’s / second-level students
- Enrolled at a university outside Slovakia
- Second-level (master’s) students, or students who by the deadline have completed at least 2.5 years in the same or a similar programme
- Accepted by a Slovak public, private, or state higher education institution for academic mobility to study in Slovakia
- Stay length: 1-2 full semesters (about 4-5 or 9-10 months), or 1-3 trimesters where the academic year uses trimesters
B) PhD students
- Higher education or scientific training outside Slovakia
- Accepted by an eligible Slovak higher education or research institution (for example the Slovak Academy of Sciences) for a study, research, or artistic mobility stay
- Stay length: 1-10 months
C) University teachers, researchers, and artists
- Invited for a teaching, research, or artistic stay by an eligible Slovak institution that holds a valid certificate to carry out research and development and is not a business company
- Stay length: 1-10 months
Fields of study are not narrowly limited: stays take place at Slovak higher education institutions and research organisations across disciplines, subject to host acceptance or invitation.
Key dates
- 31 October at 16:00 CET: deadline for scholarship stays during the summer semester of the current academic year (next: 31 October 2026)
- 30 April at 16:00 CET: deadline for scholarship stays during the next academic year
- The online application system usually opens at least 6 weeks before each deadline
Applicants who need a visa or temporary residence permit for Slovakia should allow extra time for documents issued by SAIA and for embassy appointments.
How to apply
- Confirm you fit one of the eligible categories and that a Slovak host will accept or invite you for a mobility stay (not a full degree).
- When the online system is open, submit your application at the official National Scholarship Programme website.
- Prepare required attachments in Slovak or English (or with certified translation where needed).
- Students and PhD students who want the travel grant should request it in the same application.
- Submit well before the 16:00 CET deadline; last-minute traffic can slow the system.
FAQ
Is the National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic a full-degree scholarship?
No. The NSP supports temporary mobility stays. It does not fund full bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degrees in Slovakia.
Who is excluded?
Slovak citizens cannot apply for the international track. Full-degree students already studying in Slovakia also cannot use the NSP to fund that degree. Some teacher/researcher/artist profiles without a PhD and with more than 4 years of experience are outside the funded bands; check the official terms for the exact rules.
Do I need a host in Slovakia before I apply?
Yes. Students and PhD students need acceptance for academic mobility. Teachers, researchers, and artists need an invitation from an eligible Slovak institution.
When is the next deadline?
31 October 2026 at 16:00 CET for summer-semester stays. There is also a regular 30 April deadline for the following academic year.
What does the monthly award pay for?
Living costs during the stay in Slovakia. Students and PhD students may also receive a separate travel grant if requested and approved.
Official sources
Read the full terms for international applicants on the official National Scholarship Programme site, and submit through the online application system when it opens.
