The Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic launched a new scholarship scheme in January 2025 from the European Structural and Investment Funds. The national project Providing scholarships for talented domestic and foreign students for their studies at universities in the Slovak Republic offers a systematic solution to retain bright young people at home while ambitiously attracting students from abroad.
Scholarships as a Tool for Change
The main pillar of the project is a scholarship scheme for talented students – both domestic and foreign. The eligibility criteria that must be met when applying for a talent scholarship are defined by the methodology for the respective academic year, whereby:
- domestic students can receive up to €4,000 per year,
- foreign students up to €5,000 per year.
Scholarship provision will be ensured until the end of 2029.
From September 2025, the support has been systematically extended not only to the bachelor’s but also to the master’s degree programs. Scholarships are also available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as for those who choose to study in fields leading to professions in high demand.
Strategic Goal: Less Brain Drain, More Opportunities
The project responds to the long-term problem of brain drain abroad. Its goal is not only to retain quality students in Slovakia but also to support the so-called “talent circulation” – the arrival of foreign students who enrich the academic environment and the labor market.
More Than Just Finances
The project also includes a strong information and motivation campaign. The ALMA MATER initiative has already connected high school students with universities in 12 Slovak cities and helps young people make informed decisions about their future studies. The project also enhances the media presentation of Slovak universities at home and abroad.
An Opportunity for the Future
The new scholarship scheme represents a concrete step towards modern, open, and competitive higher education. For universities, it means an opportunity to attract quality students, and for young people, it’s a chance to develop their talents without having to go abroad. Slovakia thus sends a clear signal: talent has a place at home – and its development is a priority.
More Information and Contacts
- For more detailed information regarding scholarship applications, students should follow the website stipendia.portalvs.sk
- For questions regarding the ESIF scholarship scheme from 2025, students can contact the email address stipendia.esif@minedu.sk.
- If a student who is already supported by the Recovery and Resilience Plan funds in the years 2022-2024 (with a transition until 2027) needs to make an inquiry, they can address their requests to the email address stipendia.talenty@minedu.sk.
Providing scholarships for talented domestic and foreign students for their studies at universities
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