Scholarships from the Government of the Slovak Republic for the 2026/2027 academic year
The Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Ukraine has officially announced the opening of applications for state scholarships under the Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme. This initiative offers students and researchers the opportunity to study at higher education institutions in Slovakia during the 2026/2027 academic year.
The registration period for candidates will run until 25 May 2026 inclusive. Applications must be submitted exclusively in electronic form via the dedicated web portal www.vladnestipendia.sk, where detailed instructions for applicants are also available. Please note that materials not submitted electronically will not be accepted for consideration in paper form.
The programme provides for monthly payments, the amount of which depends on the level of study. For undergraduate and master’s students, the monthly scholarship is €700. PhD students receive €1,100 per month. The same scholarship amount of €700 applies during the language and professional training period. In addition, a one-off grant of €100 is paid upon enrolment and €200 upon completion of studies. For outstanding academic performance (an average grade of 1.3 or above) a monthly supplement of €50 is provided.
Scholarship holders should take into account the current cost of living in Slovakia. The average cost of accommodation in a hall of residence is €115–140 per month, whilst food costs are approximately €510–600 per month. At the start of their studies, candidates must pay for a medical examination for the immigration authorities (€120–180) and the entrance examination fee (€20–100) themselves. Upon completion of their studies, there are also costs associated with the preparation of a thesis or dissertation and the certification of documents.
The official review of applications will be carried out by the Commission of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic. The main assessment criteria are a nomination from the relevant Ukrainian ministry or embassy, excellent academic performance throughout the applicant’s previous studies, and the relevance of the chosen field of study. Candidates must have a sufficient command of the Slovak language to be able to follow the programme at a state higher education institution.
Successful applicants will receive free language and professional training at Matej Bel University (Banská Bystrica) from 1 September 2026 to 30 June 2027. Upon arrival for their studies, scholarship recipients are required to provide the originals of all documents submitted electronically, without which payment of funds will not be possible.
If you encounter any technical difficulties during registration, please contact helpdesk@smsez.sk or call +421 907 551 404. Studies at Slovak higher education institutions must commence no later than 30 September 2026.