Slovakia NSP 2026-27: Funded Study & Research Stays

The National Scholarship Programme (NSP) of the Slovak Republic offers mobility scholarships for international students, PhD candidates, university teachers, researchers, and artists to undertake study, research, teaching, or artistic stays in Slovakia. This program, administered by SAIA (Slovak Academic Information Agency) and funded by the Slovak government, supports temporary academic mobility rather than full degree programs. The current call is for stays during the summer semester of the 2026-27 academic year.

The scholarship provides a monthly living allowance to cover accommodation, food, and daily expenses. The amount varies by applicant category: - University students: €620 per month. - PhD students: €1,025.50 per month. - Teachers, researchers, and artists without a PhD and less than four years of experience: €1,025.50 per month. - PhD holders with less than ten years of relevant experience: €1,370 per month. - PhD holders with more than ten years of relevant experience: €1,470 per month. Eligible university students and PhD candidates may also request a travel grant, ranging from €0 to €1,500 based on distance (over 7,000 km). This travel support is paid at the end of the stay. It is important to note that this is a mobility scholarship and does not cover a complete degree in Slovakia, nor does it guarantee reimbursement of every expense.

This program is open to citizens of all countries except Slovakia. Eligibility also depends on your current academic status and the purpose of your visit: - University Students: Must be enrolled at a university outside Slovakia, studying at master's level or having completed at least 2.5 years of university study. Your Slovak host institution must accept you for academic mobility during your studies abroad. Support typically covers one or two full semesters or an eligible trimester arrangement. - PhD Candidates: Must be undertaking doctoral studies or scientific training outside Slovakia. An acceptance letter from an eligible Slovak university or research institution is required for a study, research, or artistic stay, with a permitted duration of one to ten months. - University Teachers, Researchers, and Artists: Must be invited by an eligible Slovak institution for a teaching, research, or artistic visit. Stays can last one to ten months. Applicants without a PhD should check specific experience restrictions. Restrictions: The NSP does not fund complete bachelor's, master's, or PhD degrees in Slovakia. Applicants who have spent 15 months or more in Slovakia during the previous 36 months are excluded. Overlapping support from other publicly funded scholarships in Slovakia is restricted. Previous NSP recipients generally need a two-year interval before reapplying.

Applicants must prepare clear scans of documents and ensure they meet Slovak or English language requirements, including official translations where necessary. Documents generally should not be older than three months at the deadline. - General for all applicants: Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a motivation letter. - University Students: Detailed study plan (subjects, credits, host institution, dates), two recommendation letters from university teachers, recent confirmation of current studies from your home university, Bachelor's diploma and supplement (if applicable), and an acceptance/invitation letter from the Slovak host. - PhD Candidates: CV, motivation letter, detailed study/research plan, one recommendation from your dissertation supervisor, confirmation of doctoral enrolment, Master's qualification documents, host invitation, and a list of publications or artistic activities (or a declaration if none). - University Teachers, Researchers, and Artists: CV, detailed program of the visit, highest-degree diploma, list of publications or artistic activities, and host invitation. Language Proficiency: There is no universal IELTS requirement. However, your host institution will determine the necessary language ability for your planned work, so obtain their requirements in writing.

1. Find a Suitable Host: Identify a university department or research team in Slovakia whose work aligns with your proposed visit. Research staff profiles and course/research information before making contact. 2. Secure an Acceptance Letter: Discuss your activities and exact dates with your chosen host. Request a formal NSP acceptance or invitation letter, ensuring it is not an informal email. Inform your host about both the online application deadline and the requirement to deliver the original letter to SAIA. 3. Complete the Online Application: Prepare all required documents for your specific applicant category. Then, complete and submit the application through the official NSP portal. Ensure all dates in your form, invitation, and work plan are consistent. Upload every required attachment and complete the final online submission by the deadline. 4. Deliver Original Host Letter: The original acceptance or invitation letter must physically reach SAIA in Bratislava by 12 noon on the third working day after the online application deadline, according to Slovak working-day rules. Posting it by this date is not sufficient; coordinate early with your host for timely delivery.

SAIA typically informs applicants of the selection results within eight weeks of the deadline. Selection is competitive and based on the quality and consistency of the application, academic achievements, the purpose of the visit, and its value to the host institution. Meeting basic conditions does not guarantee an award. - Online Application Deadline: 31 October 2026, 16:00 CET. - Original Host Letter Delivery Deadline: 12 noon on the third working day after 31 October 2026. - Stay Start Dates (Summer Semester 2026-27): - University students: Between 1 February and 1 April 2027, finishing no later than 31 August 2027. - PhD candidates and professional applicants: Between 1 February and 31 August 2027, finishing no later than 30 November 2027. Ensure your chosen dates fit the permitted duration for your category (e.g., students one to two semesters, PhD/professionals one to ten months).