Slovak Government National Scholarship Program (NSP) 2024: A Global Opportunity

The Slovak Government National Scholarship Program (NSP) for the year 2024 presents an excellent chance for international students, PhD candidates, university educators, researchers, and artists to participate in academic and professional pursuits in Slovakia. This initiative, funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Sport of the Slovak Republic, aims to facilitate the mobility of international scholars within Slovak higher education institutions and research establishments.

Scholarship Benefits:

The NSP offers substantial financial assistance to cover living expenses in Slovakia, ensuring that recipients can concentrate on their academic or professional growth without the burden of financial constraints. The scholarship amounts are categorized as follows:

Second-level higher education students receive a monthly stipend of 620 EUR.
PhD students are granted 1025.50 EUR per month.
University teachers, researchers, and artists receive varying monthly allowances based on their qualifications and experience, ranging from 1025.50 EUR to 1470 EUR.
Moreover, eligible students and PhD candidates can apply for a travel grant, determined by the distance from their residence to Slovakia, ranging from 50 EUR to 1500 EUR. This travel allowance is disbursed at the end of the scholarship holder's stay alongside the final scholarship payment .

Eligibility Criteria:

The NSP is accessible to: Master's students enrolled in programs outside Slovakia, having completed a minimum of 2.5 years of study, eligible for 1-2 semester stays.
PhD students involved in higher education or scientific training outside Slovakia, eligible for stays ranging from 1 to 10 months.
University teachers, researchers, and artists, namely international academics and artists invited for teaching, research, or artistic engagements in Slovakia, with eligibility for stays extending from 1 to 10 months.
The program supports diverse disciplines and encourages applications from worldwide candidates, provided they meet language requirements and have not spent more than 12 months in Slovakia within the 36 months preceding the application deadline.

Application Process:

Applicants must submit their applications online through the official NSP website. The application package should include a CV, a motivation letter, a detailed study/research plan, and relevant confirmations or invitation letters from Slovak institutions. Applying before the deadline is crucial to avoid system overloads and ensure smooth processing of applications.

NSP Application Deadlines for 2024:

There are two primary application deadlines: April 30, 2024, at 16:00 CET: For scholarship stays during the upcoming academic year. October 31, 2024, at 16:00 CET: For scholarship stays during the summer semester of the ongoing academic year.
Applicants, particularly those requiring a visa, are advised to consider the time needed for visa application procedures when planning their scholarship stay. For comprehensive information and applications, interested individuals can visit the official Slovak Government NSP website or contact program administrators via email at nsp- foreign@saia.sk or nsp-foreign2@saia.sk.