The National Scholarship Programme (NSP) of the Slovak Republic provides an incredible opportunity for international students, PhD candidates, university teachers, researchers, and artists.
Established in 2005 and funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Sport, this program supports academic mobility, enabling scholars from around the world to study and conduct research in Slovakia.
Who Can Apply?
Master’s Students:
- Must be enrolled at a university outside Slovakia.
- Should be in the second level of higher education or have completed at least 2.5 years in their undergraduate program.
- Accepted applicants can stay for 1-2 semesters or 1-3 trimesters at Slovak institutions.
PhD Candidates:
- Must be enrolled in a PhD program outside Slovakia.
- Should be accepted for research or artistic mobility by a Slovak institution.
- The duration of stay can last 1-10 months.
University Teachers, Researchers, and Artists:
- Need an invitation from a Slovak institution.
- Can stay for 1-10 months to teach or conduct research.
Scholarship Benefits
The NSP provides a monthly stipend to cover living costs, which varies based on the applicant’s category:
- Master’s Students: €620 per month
- PhD Students: €1,025.50 per month
- University Teachers/Researchers/Artists:
- Without PhD (and less than 4 years of experience): €1,025.50
- With PhD (and less than 10 years of experience): €1,370
- With PhD (and more than 10 years of experience): €1,470
Additionally, PhD and master’s students are eligible for a travel allowance ranging from €50 to €1,500, depending on the distance of their home country from Slovakia.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be non-residents of Slovakia.
- International students enrolled in full-degree programs in Slovakia or those who have already stayed in Slovakia for more than 15 months within the past three years are not eligible.
- Applicants cannot receive simultaneous scholarships from other Slovak funding programs like Erasmus+.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted online through the official NSP portal, and should include:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Motivation letter outlining the purpose of stay
- Study or research plan
- Recommendation letters (two for master’s students, one for PhD candidates)
- Proof of enrollment from the home institution
- Invitation or admission letter from the Slovak host institution
Key Deadlines
- For the summer semester of the 2024/2025 academic year, the application deadline is October 31, 2024.
- The online application system opens six weeks prior to the deadline, and applicants are advised to apply early to avoid last-minute issues.
How to Maximize Your Chances
- Ensure all documents are complete and submitted in either English or Slovak. If they are in another language, certified translations must be provided.
- Submit the application well before the deadline to avoid system delays.
- If successful, scholars can expect a transformative experience in Slovakia, contributing to their academic growth and research endeavors.
For more information and to apply, visit the official NSP website.
