Study in Slovakia
Slovakia higher education is comprised of public, state, and private schools of higher education (colleges):
- Public schools of higher education are the basic case. The vast majority of schools of higher education are public. They are financed by the government and business activities.
- State institutions of higher education are military, police and medical schools. Corresponding ministries in the government finance these programmes.
- Private institutions of higher education are rare. They are established and financed by non-government institutions, but approved by the Ministry of Education.
If you're looking to study at a university in Slovakia, you will find various education choices with a focus on modernisation and internationalisation. Find the best information about what it’s like to study in Bratislava, including degree course offers, career opportunities, student life, living costs, and more.
Academic organization
Studies are organized within the following study programmes and "stages":
- Stage 1: Bachelor's study programmes taking 3 to 4 years
- Stage 2: Master's study programmes lasting 1 to 3 years
- Some programmes include Stage 1 and 2 studies in one single study
- Stage 3: Doctorate study programme lasting 3–4 years
- Specialization studies in Medicine
University-type schools of higher education provide study programmes at all three academic stages. Non-university-type schools of higher education or professional schools of higher education usually provide Bachelor studies only.
Foreign applicants who do not meet all the requirements for admission may be required to attend preparatory courses, including Slovak language courses. Courses of Slovak language are also organised by respective universities.
General application requirements
The main requirement for entering a Bachelor degree programme or a combined 2nd level degree programme is the completion of high school studies with a “maturita” – schoolleaving examination. Admission to a follow up Master’s degree programme depends on the completion of the relevant Bachelor degree programme.
Students who would like to study a full study programme should apply directly at the respective higher education institution.
Admission requirements for international students are generally the same as for Slovak nationals. International Baccalaureate holders meet general requirements for admission to higher education institutions in Slovakia. Every faculty determines its own criteria for students’ admissions.
Students should ask for detailed information and apply for admission at the faculty of their choice.
Tuition fees and admission
Studies at the state and public universities is available free of charge for Slovak students and international students coming from EU countries. Non-EU students have to pay fees of 2000 to 5000 EUR per academic year.
In some cases, higher education applicants have to pass entrance examinations. The "maturita", (high school graduation exam) results of the applicant are usually also taken into account when evaluating whether he may be admitted.
Study method
Teaching includes various forms of instruction such as lectures, seminars, exercises, laboratory work, projects, practical training, consultations, etc.
Programmes in Slovakia are delivered full-time or part-time and can be pursued on campus or by enrolling in a distance study programme, or a combined method of learning.
English language preparation for studying in Slovakia
Develop your academic English language skills in order to meet the English language requirements at Slovak universities offering degree studies for international students.
Choose an English language school anywhere in the world and pick your preferred English exam preparation course from diverse language course options. Universities accept these official English exams:
- IELTS
- TOEFL
- C1 Advanced
Living in Slovakia
- Most higher education institutions offer housing in dormitories. The price of accommodation in a dormitory vary from 100 € per month.
- A one bedroom flat can cost around 370 € per month including utilities, while a 3-bedroom flat outside city centre is about 600 € per month.
- If you can live on a small budget, your monthly living costs will be about 500 EUR/month. But average living costs can also go up to 800 EUR/month.
- Great number of gothic churches, medieval towns and macabre medieval torture inventions.
- In Slovakia, there are state and private health care providers. State or private general practitioners provide an initial medical examination.
- The theatre network consists of 4 state funded professional theatres, 22 theatres under the competence of selfgoverning municipalities, more than 40 independent theatres established by private owners/legal entities and 4 minority language theatres throughout Slovakia.
- Lunch is the main meal and Slovaks are more used to eating out for lunch than for dinner.
- Great hiking routes in the mountains and national parks.
- Take a cruise on river rapids on a traditional wooden flatboat.
- Beautiful castles from all periods abound in Slovakia - some as eerie ruins and others as fully restored museum pieces. These are usually a short trip away from a major city.
- Slovaks and Czechs are one of the best hockey players in the world, along with Canada and the Scandinavians.
About Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is located in Central Europe and is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south. The largest city is the capital, Bratislava, and the second largest is Košice.
The ancestors of the Slovaks are the Slavs, a migrating people who arrived in the territory of present-day Slovakia in the 5th and 6th centuries. During the 9th century, Slavic ancestors of the Slovaks established a political entity called the Great Moravia. After the 10th century, the territory of today's Slovakia was integrated into the Kingdom of Hungary, which later became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After WWI, the nation of Slovaks and Czechs established the single state of Czechoslovakia. A separate Slovak state existed during World War II and was a client state of Nazi Germany. In 1945, Czechoslovakia was re-established. The present-day Slovakia became an independent state on 1 January 1993 after the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia.
Slovakia is a high-income advanced economy with one of the fastest growth rates in the European Union, NATO and the OECD. The country joined the European Union in 2004.
The official language is Slovak.
Universities, colleges and schools in Slovakia
Banská Bystrica
- Matej Bel University (4 Masters)
Bratislava
- Comenius University in Bratislava (22 Masters)
- College of Management - City University of Seattle (1 Master)
- University of Economics in Bratislava (7 Masters)
- Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (20 Masters)
- The School of Management (VSM) (2 Masters)
Košice
- Pavol Jozef Safárik University in Kosice (1 Master)
- Ulysseus European University (2 Masters)
- University of Economics in Bratislava (7 Masters)
- The Technical University of Kosice (TUKE) (25 Masters)
Interested in scholarships for Slovakia? Check out our scholarship search page.
How to Apply to a Master's in Slovakia
If you've decided to study a Master's degree at a university in Slovakia, you will have to gather the right documents to prove that you fit the university requirements. Provide complete personal information, previous qualifications, financial information, and a personal statement.
What documents do I need to provide to apply in Slovakia?
To apply to a university in Slovakia you will likely be asked to provide some of the following documents:
- birth certificate;
- recent photos;
- your passport or national identity card;
- one or more reference letters from past employers or teachers;
- copies of past diplomas or certificates, including your graduated Bachelor's degree;
- academic transcripts;
- letter of intent;
- Curriculum Vitae;
- Some form of proof that you can support your stay in the country during your studies.
Depending on the subject or specialization of your chosen Master's, you might also be asked to provide scores for additional tests like the GRE, GMAT or LSAT. Check if your programme requires any of these, or others.
The list of documents depends on the specific requirements of universities in Slovakia so you might be asked to include additional documents. It’s also likely you’ll have to provide official English translations of your documents, or translations in the local language.
Prove your English skills
Because you’ll study an international degree in English, you'll have to present a language certificate. Some popular options for international students are IELTS, TOEFL or C1 Advanced language certificates. You’ll have to meet a minimum language score set by the university, and your test scores shouldn’t be older than 1-2 years. If you don’t meet the minimum language requirements, you will have to improve your skills and scores by taking an English preparation course.
Application deadlines for Slovakia
The deadlines for applying to a Master's in Slovakia are usually during summer (June-July), or in winter (January-February). Keep in mind that some universities don’t have application deadlines, which means you can apply whenever you are ready.
To avoid delays or missed deadlines send your required documents with plenty of time in advance.
