The Slovakia scholarships for talented students from abroad are run by the Slovak Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth. They pay €5,000 a year (€500 a month for ten months) to international students who start a full bachelor’s or master’s degree at a public Slovak university. The maximum is €15,000 over three years for a bachelor’s and €10,000 over two years for a master’s. Selection is by SAT or SCIO test score.
The 2026/27 round closed on 31 July 2026 at 23:59 Central European time, so it is too late for this academic year. The deadline for the 2027/28 round, for students starting in September 2027, is 31 July 2027. The real work for that round starts now: SAT dates and university admissions come months before the scholarship form.
Slovakia scholarships for talented students: what you get
| Item | Bachelor’s (or first 3 years of an integrated programme) | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly amount | €5,000 | €5,000 |
| Monthly payment | €500, September to June | €500, September to June |
| Maximum length | 3 years | 2 years |
| Maximum total | €15,000 | €10,000 |
| Places in 2026/27 | 170 (110 outside the Bratislava region, 60 in it) | 55 (35 outside Bratislava, 20 in it) |
Places at universities outside the Bratislava region are funded by the EU through the Programme Slovakia 2021 to 2027. Places in Bratislava come from the state budget. Students who received the scholarship for a bachelor’s in Slovakia can continue it into a master’s.
The scholarship does not pay tuition. The Ministry’s leaflet says only that some programmes are tuition-free, and English-taught programmes often charge fees, so ask your university for the exact fee. You also pay for housing, a residence permit or D visa, and health insurance (public insurance is available on request).
How this differs from the Slovakia National Scholarship Programme
Do not confuse this scheme with the National Scholarship Programme (NSP), which SAIA runs. They are separate awards with separate portals.
| Feature | Talented Students scholarship | National Scholarship Programme |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | Ministry of Education | SAIA, funded by the Ministry |
| Purpose | A full degree in Slovakia | A short stay (1 to 10 months) while enrolled abroad |
| Selection | SAT or SCIO score | Study plan, record and Slovak host letter |
| Amount | €500 a month | €620 to €1,470 a month |
| Portal | scholarships.portalvs.sk | scholarships.sk |
| Deadlines | Once a year, 31 July | 30 April and 31 October |
If you want a semester or research stay rather than a full degree, read our guide to the Slovakia National Scholarship Programme. Its deadline is 31 October 2026.
Who is eligible for the Slovakia talent scholarship
- You are a citizen of any country other than Slovakia. Slovaks living abroad can also apply with a certificate under Slovak law, and dual nationals are accepted.
- You finished secondary school outside Slovakia.
- You have not had permanent residence in Slovakia since 1 January 2021. Slovak language or preparatory courses, Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps do not count against you.
- You enrol full-time and in person at a public or state university in Slovakia. Private universities and branch campuses abroad are excluded.
- Your programme is on the Slovak smart specialisation list (RIS3 2021+), which covers innovative industry, mobility, digital transformation, a healthy society, and food. Programmes taught in English can qualify.
- For a master’s: you finished your bachelor’s abroad, or you finish a bachelor’s in Slovakia in the application year.
- There is no upper age limit. Applicants under 18 need a hand-signed consent from a parent or guardian.
SAT and SCIO score requirements
For international applicants, the test score is the only ranking criterion. Grades, essays and competitions do not change your rank. The Ministry converts scores into percentiles.
| Test | Minimum | Valid results |
|---|---|---|
| SAT (College Board) | 1100 | Taken from 1 January 2021 up to the deadline |
| SCIO tests (Mathematics and General Study Prerequisites) | Average 63rd percentile | Same dates; an official certificate is required |
1100 is only the minimum. With 225 places worldwide, I would aim well above it. SAT dates fill up and results take a few weeks, so book a spring 2027 sitting now if you are aiming for the next round.
Admission is separate
Winning the scholarship does not give you a university place, and a university place does not give you the scholarship. You must apply to and enrol at a Slovak public university yourself. The Ministry checks enrolment before it pays anything.
Documents for the Slovakia scholarship application
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport or national ID | Notarised copy |
| SAT or SCIO certificate | Uploaded with the application |
| CV | Short and factual |
| Motivation letter | Why the programme and why Slovakia |
| Solemn declarations | On the portal’s templates, signed by hand |
| Parent or guardian consent | Only if you are under 18, signed by hand |
| University acceptance letter | If you have it; enrolment is checked later anyway |
| Certificate for Slovaks living abroad | Only for that group, notarised |
Your secondary school diploma is not needed at submission. Plain phone photos are not accepted where a notarised copy is required. You may send only one application.
Key dates for the 2027/28 round
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Valid SAT or SCIO results | Tests taken from 1 January 2021 up to the deadline (2026 rule) |
| University admission | Set by each university, usually in the first half of the year |
| Deadline | 31 July 2027, 23:59 Central European time |
| Notice if enrolled at two universities | 30 September 2027 |
| First monthly payment | After the Ministry confirms enrolment; payments run September to June |
(based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens)
How to apply for the 2027/28 round
- Choose a programme (now to January 2027): Pick a full-time programme at a public Slovak university that is on the RIS3 list. Ask the university whether it is eligible and what tuition it charges.
- Sit the SAT or SCIO (January to May 2027): Register on the College Board site for the SAT, or with SCIO, and send results in time.
- Apply for admission (January to May 2027): Follow your university’s own deadlines and entrance requirements.
- Register on the portal: Create an account on scholarships.portalvs.sk, confirm your email and fill in your profile.
- Upload and submit (by 31 July 2027): Upload the documents and signed declarations, then submit and confirm. Email applications are not accepted.
- Get your visa and enrol: Arrange a D visa or residence permit, enrol in person, and tell the Ministry by 30 September if you enrolled at two eligible universities.
- Check the result: For international applicants there is no provisional list. The Ministry publishes a final ranking after it checks eligibility and enrolment.
Getting your SAT or SCIO result ready
Because the score is the whole competition, the test deserves most of your preparation time. The portal asks you to upload the certificate, so plan for the paperwork as well as the exam.
- Pick the test: the SAT is offered at test centres in many countries through the College Board. SCIO tests are run by the Czech organisation Scio and suit applicants who can sit them; you need both the Mathematics and the General Study Prerequisites tests.
- Book early: SAT seats in some cities fill weeks ahead. Choose a sitting that leaves time for a retake before July.
- Prepare seriously: the College Board offers free full-length practice tests in its Bluebook app, which is also the app used for the digital SAT. Take full timed tests, not just topic drills.
- Download your official score report: save it as a PDF from your College Board account, or keep the official SCIO certificate. A screenshot is weak evidence.
- Keep older scores: results from 1 January 2021 onward counted in the 2026 round, so an older SAT may still be valid.
How to write the motivation letter
For international applicants the Ministry ranks on the test score alone, so the letter in the documents list does not move you up the ranking. It still matters in two ways: Slovak universities often ask for a similar statement for admission, and a clear letter shows the Ministry you understand what you are applying for. Keep it to one page:
- Paragraph 1: the programme, the university and the city, and the RIS3 area it falls under.
- Paragraph 2: what you have studied or done that prepares you for it.
- Paragraph 3: why Slovakia, and how you will cover tuition and living costs beyond the scholarship.
A sample opening, for illustration only: “I am applying for the bachelor’s programme in Applied Informatics at a public university in Košice, which sits within Slovakia’s digital transformation priority. My interest began when I rebuilt our school’s attendance spreadsheet into a small database that the office still uses.” Name a real programme you have checked, not the example here.
Eligibility edge cases
- You did part of secondary school in Slovakia: the methodology requires secondary education completed outside Slovakia. If you finished there, you are out; if you only spent a term there, ask the Ministry.
- You have already lived in Slovakia: time there on language or preparatory courses, Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps does not count against you, but permanent residence since 1 January 2021 does.
- Your programme is at a private university: not eligible, even if it is in a RIS3 field.
- You want to study medicine or law: eligibility depends on whether the programme is on the RIS3 list for the year. Check the list before you build your plan around it.
- You are finishing a Slovak bachelor’s: you can apply for a master’s in the year you graduate.
What happens after you apply
After the deadline, the Ministry checks each application for eligibility, converts test scores into percentiles and ranks applicants, with separate pools for Bratislava and the other regions. For international applicants there is no provisional list. The Ministry then checks that you have enrolled in person and publishes the final ranking. Payments of €500 a month run from September to June while you remain enrolled full time. If you are admitted to two eligible universities, you must tell the Ministry by 30 September which one you chose.
Costs the scholarship does not cover
| Cost | Notes |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Not covered. Some programmes are free; many English-taught ones charge a fee set by the university |
| SAT or SCIO fees | Paid to the College Board or Scio |
| Notarised copies and translations | Paid locally before you apply |
| Visa and residence permit | Fees and documents set by Slovak authorities |
| Health insurance | Public insurance is available on request; check what it costs you |
| Housing, food and travel | The €500 a month goes furthest with a university dormitory place |
| July and August | Payments run September to June, so budget for the summer months |
Common mistakes
- Choosing a programme that is not on the RIS3 list, or one at a private university.
- Sitting the SAT too late to retake it before 31 July.
- Uploading a plain photo of your passport where a notarised copy is required.
- Sending more than one application. Only one is allowed.
- Assuming the scholarship covers tuition, then finding a fee on the admission letter.
- Forgetting to enrol in person, which stops payment even after you are ranked.
Slovakia’s talent scholarship compared with other Central European awards
| Scholarship | What it pays | Who can apply | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slovakia Scholarships for Talented Students | €500 a month for 10 months a year; no tuition | Any non-Slovak with a qualifying SAT or SCIO score | 31 July 2027 |
| Slovakia National Scholarship Programme | €620 to €1,470 a month for a short stay | Students and researchers enrolled abroad | 31 October 2026 |
| Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary) | Free tuition, monthly stipend, housing and insurance | Citizens of partner countries | 15 January 2027 |
| NAWA Banach (Poland) | PLN 2,500 a month for master’s students | Citizens of 36 developing countries | See our Poland guide |
Stipendium Hungaricum covers far more, including tuition, but only for partner countries. The Slovak scheme pays less but is open to every nationality and turns on one number, your test score.
Who should apply, and who should not
I would apply if you test well, can score comfortably above 1100 on the SAT, want a degree in engineering, IT, health, mobility or food science, and can cover tuition and the summer months yourself or through a tuition-free programme.
I would look elsewhere if you need tuition paid, if your strengths are grades and activities rather than standardised tests, or if your field is outside the RIS3 areas. A fuller award such as Stipendium Hungaricum will suit you better if your country is a partner.
Slovakia scholarships for talented students FAQs
What SAT score do I need for the Slovakia scholarship?
At least 1100, or an average 63rd percentile in the SCIO tests. Places go to the highest scores, so a higher score improves your chance.
Is the Slovakia talent scholarship fully funded?
No. It pays €500 a month for ten months a year but not tuition, travel or housing. It helps most on a tuition-free programme with a dormitory place.
Can I apply for the Slovakia scholarship before I get admission?
Yes. The acceptance letter is optional at submission, but you must be enrolled before any money is paid.
When is the 2027 deadline for the Slovakia scholarship for talented students?
31 July 2027 at 23:59 Central European time, the same date the 2025 and 2026 rounds used. Apply on scholarships.portalvs.sk.
Sources and updates
Eligibility, the RIS3 rule, SAT and SCIO as the only ranking criterion, the test date window, place numbers, the EU and state budget split, documents and the 30 September notice rule come from the Ministry’s methodological document for the 2026/2027 academic year (version 1.0, 11 June 2026) on minedu.sk. Amounts, monthly payments and the indicative timeline come from the Ministry’s 2026/2027 information leaflet, circulated by universities abroad. The 1100 SAT and 63rd percentile SCIO minimums, the 31 July 2026 deadline and the residence rule come from the Study in Slovakia listing on Mastersportal. Applications go through the official portal, scholarships.portalvs.sk. The 31 July 2025 deadline comes from Právne noviny. Checked on 24 October 2026. The 31 July 2027 date repeats the 2025 and 2026 deadline one year on. Stipendium Hungaricum and NAWA figures come from our own guides to those programmes. I will update this page when the Ministry opens the 2027/28 round.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
