Government Of Slovak Republic Scholarships for Foreign Students for PhD

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants for a scholarship in the framework of the NSP:

A) students who:

• Are university students at universities outside Slovakia;
• Are students of the second level of higher education (master's students), or are students who at the time of the application deadline have already completed at least 2.5 years of their university studies in the same/similar study programme;
• Will be on a study stay in Slovakia during their higher education outside Slovakia and who will be accepted by a public, private or state higher education institution in Slovakia for an academic mobility[1] to study in Slovakia.

All 3 conditions must be met. This category does not apply to doctoral (PhD) studies (or their equivalent).

• Duration of a scholarship stay (students): 1 – 2 full semesters (i.e. 4 – 5 or 9 – 10 months) or 1 – 3 full trimesters, in case the academic year is divided into trimesters (i.e. 3 – 4 or 6 – 7 or 9 – 10 months).

B) PhD students whose higher education or scientific training takes place outside Slovakia and who are accepted by a public, private or state higher education institution or a research institution in Slovakia eligible to carry out a doctoral study programme[2] (e.g. the Slovak Academy of Sciences) for an academic mobility[1] to study/conduct research/artistic stay in Slovakia.

• Duration of a scholarship stay (PhD students): 1 – 10 months.

C) international university teachers, researchers and artists who are invited to a teaching/research/artistic stay in Slovakia by an institution with a valid certificate of eligibility to carry out research and development, which is not a business company[3] and it has its seat in Slovakia.

• Duration of a scholarship stay (university teachers, researchers or artists): 1 – 10 months. 

[1] Section 58a of the Act No. 131/2002 on higher education institutions, as amended.

[2] External education institution according to the Act No. 131/2002 on higher education institutions, as amended.

[3] Legal entity according to the section 7 letters a) – d) of the Act No. 172/2005 on organisation of state research and development funding, as amended, which has a valid certificate of eligibility to carry out research and development according to the section 26a article 11 or article 12 of the same Act – i.e. public, private or state universities, research institutions eligible to carry out a doctoral (PhD) study programme (i.e. external education institutions), Slovak Academy of Sciences and its institutes, departmental research institutes or non-governmental organisations carrying out research and development.

Note: If the study/research/artistic stay must last at least 1 month, it is necessary to ensure the length of the stay is for 1 full calendar month (e.g. March 5 - April 4). The same applies for calculating the duration of the stay when assessing the fulfillment of the condition for the minimum length of stay in other cases, if this length is determined in months (e.g. February 5 - June 4 for a 4-month stay).

Citizens of any country in the world (except the citizens of Slovakia) can apply for a scholarship stay in Slovakia in the framework of the NSP.

Offered Benefits

Travel Grant

Travel allowance amount depends on the distance (in a direct line) between applicant’s place of residence (the permanent address; resp. address of home institution) and the place of his/her stay in Slovakia (the address of the host institution)[5]:

• distance up to 200 km – 0 €,
• distance more than 200 km, max. 300 km – 50 €,
• distance more than 300 km, max. 500 km – 100 €,
• distance more than 500 km, max. 1 000 km – 250 €,
• distance more than 1 000 km, max.2 000 km – 350 €,
• distance more than 2 000 km, max.3 000 km – 500 €,
• distance more than 3 000 km, max. 5 000 km – 750 €,
• distance more than 5 000 km, max. 7 000 km – 1 100 €,
• distance more than 7 000 km – 1 500 €.

Application Process

Required Documents:

• Curriculum vitae;
• Motivation letter;
• Detailed study programme
• Two recommendation letters issued by applicant’s university teachers
• Confirmation officially issued by the applicant’s home higher education institution confirming that the applicant is a regular student of the respective higher education institution at the time of applying
• Bachelor’s diploma, diploma supplement together with the state examination certificate (if applicable);
• Admission/invitation letter issued by applicant’s host