Czech Government Scholarships 2027/2028: Full Guide to Eligibility, Benefits, and How to Apply

If you’re a student from one of a select group of developing countries, the Czech Republic is once again offering one of Europe’s longest-running fully funded scholarship schemes. Applications for the 2027/2028 academic year are open now, but the window is short — so it’s worth understanding exactly who qualifies, what’s covered, and how to apply before the 30 September 2026 deadline.

What Is the Czech Government Scholarship for Developing Countries?

This program has run since the late 1950s as part of the Czech Republic’s foreign development cooperation strategy, and more than 20,000 students from developing and transitioning economies have completed degrees at Czech public universities through it over the decades. It’s jointly run by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Health, and is currently governed by Government Resolution No. 870 (adopted November 2024).

Unlike short-term exchange grants, this scholarship funds an entire Master’s or PhD program from start to finish, as long as the student keeps up satisfactory academic progress.

Which Countries Are Eligible for 2027/2028?

Eligibility is restricted to citizens of countries the Czech government has named as development-cooperation priority partners. For this cycle, that list covers:

1. Bosnia and Herzegovina
2. Georgia
3. Ukraine
4. Belarus (democratic forces specifically)
5. Ethiopia
6. Gabon
7. Mauritania
8. Zambia
9. Bangladesh
10. Cambodia
11. Palestine
12. Guatemala
13. Honduras

Citizens of the Czech Republic, other EU member states, or anyone holding permanent residency in the Czech Republic are excluded, regardless of their original nationality. And meeting the country/eligibility criteria doesn’t guarantee a scholarship — the number of awards each year is capped.

Degree Options and Language Tracks

There are two distinct application paths, and which one you can take depends on your nationality:

Czech-Taught Master’s Track

Open only to applicants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, and Belarus, this track covers two-year follow-up Master’s programs delivered in Czech. Because instruction is in Czech, admitted students first complete a fully funded one-year preparatory Czech-language course at Charles University’s Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies before the degree itself begins.

English-Taught Master’s and PhD Tracks

Applicants from all 13 eligible countries can apply here. This track includes:

• Two-year follow-up Master’s programs
• Three-to-four-year Doctoral programs

No preparatory language year is attached, but applicants must instead pass a mandatory online English entrance test as part of the application.

Approved subject lists for both language tracks are published by the Ministry as downloadable spreadsheets each cycle — checking these before applying matters, since funding only applies to listed programs and subjects.

Academic Requirements

• Master’s applicants need a completed Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) before applying.
• PhD applicants need a completed Master’s degree (or equivalent) before applying.
• English-track applicants must also pass the online English proficiency test.

These aren’t flexible minimums — you generally need to have already finished the prior qualification at the time you apply, not partway through it.

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

Based on the current governing guidelines, scholarship holders receive:

• Full tuition waiver for the standard length of their Master’s or PhD program at a Czech public university
• A monthly stipend — most recently published at roughly CZK 16,000/month for Master’s students and CZK 17,000/month for PhD students (these figures can shift each cycle, so always check your official Decision on Granting a Scholarship for the confirmed amount)
• A free one-year Czech language preparatory course for those on the Czech-taught Master’s track
• Health coverage broadly equivalent to what Czech citizens receive, through the Ministry of Health, for standard care
• Arrival support, including registration help through the International Student Office for those starting the preparatory language year

Worth flagging clearly: the stipend is meant to cover your own rent, food, and transport — just as it would for a Czech student — and travel to and from the Czech Republic isn’t covered by the scholarship itself. The award also can’t be transferred, extended informally, or shifted to a different program once granted, and repeating a year means losing scholarship-holder status (and becoming liable for standard fees going forward).

How to Apply: Step by Step

1. Register on the StudyIn.gov.cz portal. You can only register once and submit one application per cycle, so double-check details before finalizing.
2. Complete the electronic application form with your personal, academic, and program-preference information.
3. Write a motivation letter. This is a required part of the application — incomplete without it.
4. Sit the required test(s). Everyone takes a general study-prerequisites test; English-track applicants also take the English proficiency test.
5. Submit before 30 September 2026. The portal opened 21 August 2026, and late applications aren’t accepted.

Given how many applicants typically compete for a limited number of places, it’s worth starting your documents, language-test prep, and motivation letter well before the final week.

Key Documents to Review Before Applying

Before you submit anything, read the official “Guidelines for Granting Scholarships of the Government of the Czech Republic” (available in Czech and English on the Ministry’s site) — this is the binding reference for scholarship value, renewal conditions, and grounds for losing funding. A companion FAQ document from the Ministry answers many practical questions, and unresolved queries can go directly to the program administrator at registr@dzs.cz.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to speak Czech to apply? No. Applicants from any of the 13 eligible countries can apply to English-taught programs and take an English test instead. Only applicants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, and Belarus can access the Czech-taught Master’s track (which includes a free preparatory language year).

Is the scholarship guaranteed if I meet the eligibility criteria? No — meeting the criteria only makes you eligible to compete. Awards are limited and selection isn’t automatic.

What’s the application deadline? The portal is open from 21 August 2026 through 30 September 2026. Late submissions, or applications missing the motivation letter or required tests, won’t be considered.

Does the scholarship cover flights? No. Travel to and from the Czech Republic is the applicant’s own responsibility (or their sponsor’s), separate from the tuition, stipend, and health-coverage benefits.

Can EU citizens or Czech permanent residents apply? No. The scholarship is restricted to citizens of the 13 listed developing countries who don’t hold Czech or EU citizenship or Czech permanent residency.