The NSP National Scholarship Program 2026 in Slovakia is a government-funded mobility scholarship for international students who want to spend 1 or 2 semesters at a Slovak host university, with a monthly grant of 620 EUR plus possible travel support. For the 2026 call for study stays during the following academic year, the listed application deadline is 30 April 2026 at 16:00 CET, and applications are submitted online through the official scholarships portal.
Basic Information
If you are searching for the NSP National Scholarship Program 2026 in Slovakia, this scholarship is one of the most attractive short-term study opportunities in Europe for international master’s students. The National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic supports study mobility in Slovakia and is financed by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic.
This scholarship is designed for study mobility, not full-degree funding, which means it supports students coming to Slovakia for a temporary academic stay rather than for a complete bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree. For university students, the target group listed in the official programme detail is Master’s students, and the scholarship duration is 1 or 2 semesters.
The official submission schedule states:
- 30 April 2026 at 16:00 CET for scholarship stays during the following academic year.
- 31 October at 16:00 CET for scholarship stays during the summer semester of the current academic year.
University/Institution Details
The NSP does not limit students to one university. Instead, applicants must first secure admission or an invitation from a host university in Slovakia, and that admission or invitation letter is mandatory for the scholarship application.
The host institution must officially confirm that it accepts the student for a study stay during the stated period. The programme detail also says the study plan should clearly name the Slovak higher education institution, the duration of stay, starting date, and the list of subjects the student will study.
Examples of Slovak higher education institutions commonly associated with NSP mobility opportunities include:
- Comenius University in Bratislava.
- Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava.
- University of Economics in Bratislava.
- Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice.
- Technical University of Košice.
- University of Žilina in Žilina.
- Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra.
- Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica.
This gives international applicants flexibility because they can choose a university that matches their field, academic goals, and preferred city in Slovakia.
Study Areas
According to the official programme information, the NSP for student study stays covers broad academic fields such as Natural Sciences, Technical Sciences, Medicine, Agriculture Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts.
That means there is no single fixed list of one universal NSP degree program name. Instead, the available study options depend on the courses and subjects offered by the host Slovak university that accepts you. In practice, students may find programs and course options in areas such as:
- Engineering and technical sciences.
- Information technology and computer science.
- Medicine and health-related fields.
- Agriculture and environmental studies.
- Economics, business, and finance.
- Social sciences and humanities.
- Arts, design, and culture.
Some example program names found at Slovak institutions include Applied Economics, Business Economics and Management, Finance, Banking and Investments, Corporate Business and Marketing, Tourism Management, and several engineering-related programs offered in English. Because the NSP is a mobility scholarship, students should always verify the exact course list directly with the intended host university before applying.
NSP National Scholarship Program Benefits
Main scholarship benefits include
Monthly Scholarship Amount
- 🎓 Master’s student: 620 EUR
- 🎓 PhD student: 1025.50 EUR
- 👨🏫 Teachers/Researchers:
- Without PhD: 1025.50 EUR
- With PhD (<10 yrs exp): 1370 EUR
- With PhD (>10 yrs exp): 1470 EUR
- Covers:
- Food 🍽️
- Accommodation 🏠
- Living expenses
Travel Grant (Extra)
- Based on distance:
- 200–300 km → €50
- 300–500 km → €100
- 500–1000 km → €250
- 1000–2000 km → €350
- 2000–3000 km → €500
- 3000–5000 km → €750
- 5000–7000 km → €1100
- 7000+ km → €1500
Benefits Not Included
Costs that are commonly not included or not clearly guaranteed by the official programme page include:
- Full-degree tuition funding, because the NSP does not support full degree study in Slovakia.
- Visa application fees and residence permit processing costs.
- Health insurance.
- Personal expenses, phone bills, leisure, and extra travel.
- Any shortfall if your monthly expenses exceed the scholarship amount.
Eligibility Criteria for NSP National Scholarship Program
A) University Students (Master’s level)
- Must:
- Study at a university outside Slovakia
- Be a Master’s student OR completed at least 2.5 years of study
- Be accepted by a Slovak university for exchange/mobility
- ❌ Not for full-degree or PhD students
- Duration:
- 1–2 semesters (4–10 months)
B) PhD Students
- Studying outside Slovakia
- Accepted by a Slovak university/research institute
- 📅 Duration:
- 1–10 months
C) Teachers / Researchers / Artists
- Invited by a Slovak institution
- Institution must be eligible for research
- 📅 Duration:
- 1–10 months
🌍 Eligibility (General)
- Open to all countries except Slovakia
- Cannot:
- Already study full-time in Slovakia
- Receive another public scholarship (e.g. Erasmus+)
- Have stayed in Slovakia 15+ months in last 3 years
Re-application Rule
- Must wait at least 2 years before applying again
- Exception: special cases (e.g. pandemic, war)
Selection Criteria
- Motivation & goals
- Study/research plan quality
- Academic achievements
- Recommendations
- Overall application quality
Required Documents
Required documents include:
- CV
- Motivation letter
- Study/research plan
- Recommendation letter(s)
- Proof of student status
- Diploma(s)
- Acceptance letter from Slovak institution
- Must send original acceptance letter within 3 working days
Important Rules
- ❌ Cannot fund full degree studies
- ❌ Cannot extend scholarship duration
- ✔️ Must follow approved study/research plan
- ✔️ Must submit reports (interim + final)
- Extra (For Non-EU Students)
- If staying >90 days:
- Must submit medical certificate
- Up to €250 reimbursement
- If staying >90 days:
NSP National Scholarship Program Application Process
Applying for the Slovakia NSP scholarship 2026 is straightforward when you prepare early. The most important thing is to secure your Slovak host institution first, because without the admission or invitation letter you cannot submit the online application.
Here is the step-by-step application process:
- Choose a Slovak university or institution that matches your field of study.
- Contact the host university and obtain an admission or invitation letter for your study stay.
- Prepare your required documents, including CV, motivation letter, study plan, recommendation letters, student confirmation, and academic records where applicable.
- Visit the official NSP application portal at www.scholarships.sk and complete the online application.
- Upload all documents in the required format and language.
- If eligible, request the travel allowance within the same application.
- Submit the application by clicking the final “SEND” button before the deadline.
- Wait for the selection results, which are usually communicated within about 8 weeks from the application deadline.
Applicants are advised not to wait until the last minute because the official notice warns that heavy last-minute system activity may affect response time.
Tips for a Successful Application
A strong NSP application is not only about meeting formal requirements. It is also about showing that your stay in Slovakia has a clear academic purpose and real value.
Useful tips include:
- Write a focused motivation letter that clearly explains why you chose Slovakia and the host institution.
- Make your study programme realistic, relevant, and aligned with your current degree.
- Ask teachers for recommendation letters early so they are recent and properly signed.
- Make sure your documents are complete, readable, and properly translated if needed.
- Apply early to avoid deadline stress and technical issues.
The official selection procedure states that evaluators focus on the reasons for choosing the host institution, the quality of the proposed study programme, the applicant’s qualities and achievements, and the overall quality of the application. So a polished, well-structured application can make a real difference.
Monthly Living Expenses in USD
For international students, Slovakia is generally more affordable than many Western European countries, though costs vary by city. In Bratislava, one university estimates that students may need about 260 to 718 EUR per month for basic living expenses excluding tuition and leisure, with food at 150 to 190 EUR, transportation at 15 to 30 EUR, accommodation at 65 to 450 EUR, health insurance at 20 to 26 EUR, and mobile phone at 10 to 22 EUR.
Using the USD figures provided by current study cost sources, a practical monthly estimate for international students in Slovakia is:
A realistic student budget in Slovakia can therefore range from around $450 to $900+ per month, depending on city, housing type, and lifestyle. This matters because the scholarship helps significantly, but some students may still need personal savings for comfort and flexibility.
Why Choose This Scholarship?
The NSP is popular for good reasons, especially among students looking for European scholarships for international students. Here are at least five strong reasons to choose it:
- It offers a monthly scholarship and possible travel grant, reducing the financial burden of studying abroad.
- It allows you to study in Slovakia at recognized universities across many academic fields.
- It supports short-term mobility, which is ideal if you want international exposure without committing to a full degree abroad.
- Slovakia is more affordable than many Western European destinations for student living costs.
- You gain academic, cultural, and international networking experience in the heart of Europe.
- The programme covers broad fields including sciences, social sciences, humanities, medicine, agriculture, and arts.
- The application is fully online through the official scholarship portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NSP National Scholarship Program 2026 in Slovakia fully funded?
It provides a monthly scholarship of 620 EUR for students and may also include a travel allowance, but it mainly supports living costs rather than every expense.
Can I apply without a host university in Slovakia?
No. The official rules state that without the admission or invitation letter from the Slovak host institution, the online application cannot be submitted or further assessed.
Does the scholarship support full bachelor’s or master’s degrees in Slovakia?
No. The programme specifically does not support international students accepted for full degree higher education in Slovakia who want to fund those studies through the NSP.
What level of student is targeted in this study-stay category?
The official programme detail lists Master’s student as the target group for this study mobility category.
How long can the scholarship stay last?
For university students, the duration is 1 or 2 semesters.
In what language should I submit my application documents?
Applications and attachments can be submitted in Slovak or English, and documents in other languages generally require translation into one of those languages.
Is Slovakia affordable for international students?
Yes, compared with many European destinations, Slovakia is considered relatively affordable, though costs are higher in Bratislava than in smaller cities.
Application Deadlines
- 30 April 2026 at 16:00 CET → for next academic year
- 31 October → for the summer semester
