The National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic (NSP) for the 2026–27 academic year is now open for international students, PhD candidates, university teachers, researchers and artists. The programme supports short-term study, research, teaching and artistic mobility stays at Slovak universities and research institutions.
For the summer semester of the 2026–27 academic year, applications must be submitted online by 31 October 2026 at 16:00 CET. Eligible applicants can receive a monthly allowance of up to €1,470, while students and PhD candidates may also receive a travel grant of up to €1,500, depending on the distance between their home address and their host institution in Slovakia.scholarships+1
What Is the Slovakia NSP Scholarship?
The NSP is a mobility scholarship funded by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic and administered by SAIA, n. o., the Slovak Academic Information Agency. It is designed to support international applicants undertaking a temporary academic stay in Slovakia, rather than funding a full degree programme.
The scholarship is intended to help cover living costs during the stay, including food and accommodation. It is available for study, doctoral research, university teaching, academic research and artistic activities at eligible Slovak higher-education institutions and research organisations.
Who Can Apply?
Citizens of any country except Slovakia may apply. However, applicants must belong to one of the eligible categories and must be accepted or invited by a Slovak host institution.
| Applicant category | Eligible activity | Duration of stay | Monthly allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master’s-level university students | Study mobility at a Slovak university | 1–2 semesters or 1–3 trimesters | €620 |
| PhD students | Study, research or artistic mobility | 1–10 months | €1,025.50 |
| University teachers, researchers and artists without a PhD and with less than four years’ experience | Teaching, research or artistic stay | 1–10 months | €1,025.50 |
| University teachers, researchers and artists with a PhD and less than 10 years’ experience | Teaching, research or artistic stay | 1–10 months | €1,370 |
| University teachers, researchers and artists with a PhD and more than 10 years’ experience | Teaching, research or artistic stay | 1–10 months | €1,470 |
These figures are confirmed in the official NSP terms and conditions for international applicants.
Requirements for Students
International students must be enrolled at a university outside Slovakia and must be studying at the second level of higher education, commonly known as master’s level. Applicants who have completed at least 2.5 years of university study in the same or a similar programme may also qualify. They must be accepted by a Slovak higher-education institution for an academic mobility stay.
This category does not cover students applying for a full bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in Slovakia. It is specifically for temporary study mobility while the applicant remains enrolled at their home university.
Requirements for PhD Students
PhD students whose doctoral training takes place outside Slovakia may apply for a research, study or artistic stay in Slovakia. They must be accepted by a Slovak university or an eligible research institution, such as the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The stay may last between one and 10 months.
Requirements for Teachers, Researchers and Artists
University teachers, researchers and artists may apply if they are invited by an eligible Slovak institution for a teaching, research or artistic stay. The host institution must have valid eligibility to carry out research and development and must not be a business company. The stay may last between one and 10 months.
Scholarship Benefits
The main benefit is a monthly allowance paid to support living expenses during the scholarship stay. The exact amount depends on the applicant’s category, academic level and professional experience.
In addition, students and PhD students may request a travel allowance when submitting their scholarship application. This is a separate lump-sum payment based on the straight-line distance between the applicant’s permanent address or home institution and the Slovak host institution.
| Distance from home to host institution | Travel grant |
|---|---|
| Up to 200 km | €0 |
| More than 200 km up to 300 km | €50 |
| More than 300 km up to 500 km | €100 |
| More than 500 km up to 1,000 km | €250 |
| More than 1,000 km up to 2,000 km | €350 |
| More than 2,000 km up to 3,000 km | €500 |
| More than 3,000 km up to 5,000 km | €750 |
| More than 5,000 km up to 7,000 km | €1,100 |
| More than 7,000 km | €1,500 |
The travel grant is paid at the end of the stay together with the final scholarship payment, provided the applicant requested it and it was approved.
Important Deadline and Stay Dates
The online application deadline for the summer semester of the 2026–27 academic year is 31 October 2026 at 16:00 CET. Applicants must complete and submit the online form before this time.
After submitting online, applicants must also deliver the original admission or invitation letter to SAIA, n. o. in Bratislava no later than the third working day after the deadline by 12:00 noon. An online submission alone is not enough; the original document must reach SAIA within the required period.
For this call, student stays may begin between 1 February 2027 and 1 April 2027 and must end by 31 August 2027. PhD students, university teachers, researchers and artists may begin between 1 February 2027 and 31 August 2027, with stays ending no later than 30 November 2027.
How to Apply for the Slovakia NSP Scholarship 2026–27
Step 1: Secure a Host Institution
Before applying, contact a Slovak university, research institute or eligible host organisation. Applicants need an official acceptance letter for study mobility or an invitation letter for research, teaching or artistic mobility. The letter must state the period of the proposed stay and must not be older than three months on the application deadline.
Step 2: Prepare the Required Documents
Required documents differ by applicant category, but commonly include:
Curriculum vitae
Motivation letter
Detailed study, research, teaching or artistic programme
Acceptance or invitation letter from the Slovak host institution
Recommendation letter or letters
Confirmation of current enrolment or employment
Relevant academic documents, such as diplomas and diploma supplements
List of publications or artistic activities, where applicable
All documents must be submitted in Slovak or English. Documents in other languages require an official translation into Slovak or English, unless issued in Czech.
For students, the application must include two recommendation letters from university teachers, a confirmation of student status, a detailed study programme and the acceptance letter. Recommendation letters and confirmation of studies must not be older than three months at the application deadline.
For PhD students, the application must include a recommendation letter from the dissertation supervisor, confirmation of PhD enrolment, a detailed research or study plan, academic documents, a publication list and the invitation or acceptance letter.
Step 3: Submit the Online Application
Applications must be submitted through the official NSP portal at www.scholarships.sk. The online system opens at least six weeks before the deadline, and each applicant may submit only one application per call.
Applicants should upload all required attachments and click “SEND” before the deadline. The application is considered complete only when all required fields are filled in and all documents have been uploaded.
Step 4: Send the Original Letter to SAIA
After online submission, the original admission or invitation letter must be delivered to SAIA, n. o., Sasinkova 10, 812 20 Bratislava 1, Slovakia. It must arrive no later than the third working day after the application deadline by 12:00 noon.
How Applicants Are Selected
SAIA first checks whether applications meet the formal requirements. Applications that pass this stage are forwarded to a Selection Committee appointed by the Slovak Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth.
The committee considers the quality and relevance of the proposed stay, the applicant’s academic or professional achievements, motivation, recommendation letters, the benefit to the host institution and the overall consistency of the application. Available programme funding also affects the final number of awards.
SAIA usually informs applicants whether they have been selected within eight weeks of the application deadline. Meeting the requirements does not automatically guarantee an award, because scholarships and travel grants are competitive and depend on available funds.
Who Is Not Eligible?
The NSP does not support international students or PhD students who have been accepted for a full degree programme in Slovakia. It also does not fund applicants who are already studying for a full degree in Slovakia and want to use NSP funding for that degree.
Other exclusions include applicants who have spent 15 or more months in Slovakia during the 36 months before the application deadline, and applicants already receiving funding for the same stay from other public scholarship programmes such as Erasmus+, CEEPUS, International Visegrad Fund or bilateral agreements.
Practical Tips for a Strong Application
Contact potential Slovak host institutions early, as the acceptance or invitation letter is compulsory.
Choose a host institution and research area that clearly match your current studies, doctoral research or professional experience.
Write a specific motivation letter explaining why Slovakia, the host institution and the proposed stay are important for your academic or career development.
Prepare a realistic study or research plan with clear activities, dates and expected outcomes.
Request recommendation letters early and ensure they are signed, recent and on official letterhead where possible.
Submit the online application well before the deadline, then arrange delivery of the original admission or invitation letter to SAIA.
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