Everything you need to know about higher education in Slobakia: how to enroll, advantages and disadvantages, fees and universities.
Free consultationHigher education in Slovakia is suitable for those who care about affordable education — Slovak universities offer programs in Slovak and English, while the cost of education is lower than the average in Europe. In the article, we will discuss the requirements for admission, features of education, and employment prospects.
| Type of training | Duration | Min. cost per year | Avg. cost per year |
| Language courses | 6-12 months | Free | 2,260 USD |
| Bachelor's | 3-4 years | 1,130 USD | 3,955 USD |
| Master's | 2-3 years | 1,130 USD | 4,520 USD |
| Integrated programs | 5-6 years | 5,650 USD | 9,040 USD |
| PhD | 3-4 years | 1,130 USD | 5,650 USD |
| Cost | Average amount |
| Administrative fee | 34-90 USD |
| Flight | 198 USD |
| Accommodation | 533 USD/419 USD/113 USD/month |
| Utilities | 189 USD/month |
| Meals | 113 USD/month |
| Public transportation | 27 USD/month |
| Fitness club | 32 USD/month |
| Cinema | 7 USD/session |
The admission procedure differs depending on the faculty and study program, but usually takes place in 2-3 stages:
Applicants must apply directly to the university. You can apply for several study programs at various universities and faculties. The deadlines vary depending on the program, usually being at the end of February or March. The date, content, and form (oral or written examinations, interviews) of the entrance examinations are determined by the relevant faculty. Therefore, it is important to follow the news on the website of the chosen university. Entrance exams are held from June to September. Examinations at art schools start earlier — in January, and the application deadline is at the end of November[3].
As a rule, universities do not require confirmation of language proficiency, but some faculties include a certificate of English (IELTS/TOEFL) or Slovak (Certificate of Slovak Language Proficiency) proficiency in the list of required documents.
What remains is to wait for the decision of the admissions committee. Having successfully passed the entrance exams, the entrant receives an acceptance letter with a "conditional" invitation. The final decision is made after nostrification — confirmation of the documents on previous education. The process can take up to 30 days from the date of the initial application.
Foreign applicants who do not meet all the requirements for admission can be sent to preparatory courses, including Slovak courses — when choosing a program in the local language[14].
Up-to-date information on admission conditions should be clarified on the websites of universities.
Not all universities:
Vocational education in Slovakia is represented by secondary vocational schools (stredné odborné učilište) and vocational schools (odborné učilište). You can enter such schools after 9th grade. The training lasts 4 years, during which students master practical skills in addition to the high school program.
After graduation, students receive a certificate of study (učňovský list) and a certificate of passing the final exam (vysvedčenie o maturitnej skúške). Graduates usually look for work after vocational school, but many enter a university for undergraduate programs[15].
For admission, you need to familiarize yourself with the list of available educational institutions, and then contact the chosen one to clarify the availability of placements and admission procedure. Most vocational schools do not charge tuition[16]. However, college admission is not common among international students.
The higher education system in Slovakia is divided into three levels. Bachelor's studies are the first stage of education. Depending on the form of study (full-time/part-time), studies can take from 3 to 4 years. The academic year consists of two semesters (the winter semester lasts from September to January, and the summer semester from February to June) or three terms, depending on the charter of the university.
The educational process includes lectures, seminars, laboratory work, projects, practical exercises, consultations, etc. To assess the achievements of students, the ECTS credit system is used. The standard workload of a bachelor student is 60 credits per year. A bachelor’s degree (bakalár) requires 180 credits[17].
The average tuition fee for undergraduate programs is 3,955 USD/year[18].
The next level of education is a master's degree, which usually takes two years to obtain. Some qualifications, such as teaching, require only one year. To get a master's degree (magister) or master of arts (magister umenia), you need to attain 60-120 credits.
In Slovakia, there is also an option to study under combined bachelor's and master's programs. These are usually medical and engineering programs. Training lasts 5-6 years, and the number of required credits is 300-360[19], respectively. Upon completion, students receive a master's degree in one of the following specializations: engineering (inžinier), general practitioning (doktor všeobecného lekárstva), dentistry (doktor zubnej medicíny), or veterinary medicine (doktor veterinárskeho lekárstva)[20].
Graduates of master's programs can take the Examina rigorosa, which consists of a written exam and the defense of a thesis (thesis rigorosa). After a successful defense, higher education institutions award the so-called "minor" doctoral degree (malého doktorátu): RNDr, PharmDr, PhDr, JUDr, PaedDr, ThDr.[21] They relate to a master's degree, but testify to a more in-depth knowledge of the specialty.
The main condition for admission to a master's program is a bachelor's degree in the same or a related field of study. Other requirements are established directly by the university or faculty.
The average cost for master's studies is 4,520 USD/year[22].
A doctorate degree is the highest level of university education in Slovakia. The standard duration of full-time studies is 3-4 academic years.
Doctorate programs at Slovak universities provide deep theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary for independent scientific activity. Students attend lectures and conduct research under the guidance of a supervisor. For the entire period of study, you need to attain 180-240 credits. Then, students take an exam on the topic of research and defend their scientific work in front of a commission. As a result, graduates are awarded a Candidate of Science (PhD) or Doctor of Arts (ArtD) degree.
The average cost of education in doctorate programs is 5,650 USD/year[24].
Scholarships that fully cover tuition are not common in Slovakia. However, there are various mobility programs. Detailed information about them can be found on the SAIA (Slovak Academic Information Agency) website in the Scholarships and Grants section. We discuss the most common options[26].
The National Scholarship Program of the Slovak Republic is designed to support the mobility of foreign students, postgraduates, and university professors. The program lasts 1-10 months, depending on the type of program.
Scholarship sizes:
To apply for a scholarship, you must meet one of the following requirements:
Potential fellows must also receive an invitation from an educational institution that implements academic mobility.
In 2015, the Government of the Slovak Republic entered into bilateral agreements on cooperation in education, research and culture with several countries to support exchange programs.
The program covers airfare to Slovakia, a monthly stipend of 316 USD for undergraduate and graduate students, and a 373 USD stipend for doctorate students[28]. For each country, a quota of students, the duration of study, and an application deadline are determined. Scholarship applications must be submitted by April 1st.
The University of Žilina, founded in 1953, ranks 168th in the QS EECA[2]. Undergraduate and graduate students can apply for a motivational scholarship (motivačné štipendium)[29]. However, it is not easy to obtain — only 10% of students who demonstrate excellent results in their studies are awarded this scholarship. The payment amount is determined on an individual basis[30].
A temporary residence permit, which foreign students obtain to study in Slovakia, also allows you to work part-time for 20 hours a week without additional permission. The most popular option is to work in the service sector. These vacancies are in high demand among Slovak students, and there can be a lot of competition for a job offer. And given that locals do not always know English well, preference is given to applicants with a high level of Slovak proficiency.
The minimum wage in Slovakia is 4 USD/hour — students can receive an average of 588 USD per month with part-time employment[31]. Considering the low living costs in Slovakia, the average salary is enough to pay for food and accommodation[13].
If a student is unable to find a job during their studies, it is worth considering internships in areas relevant to the field of study. This kind of experience is especially valuable in the eyes of employers. The main idea of an internship is that the student exchanges their time for knowledge and skills that will help them get a job in the future.
Diplomas received at Slovak universities correspond to the pan-European model and are accepted in all EU countries and outside of the EU.
After graduation, a student can get a full-time job. The advantage is that a graduate of a Slovak university does not need to apply for a work permit. No later than 30 days after graduation, you can apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a residence permit for employment or a job-seeking residence permit[32].
However, Slovakia has a fairly high unemployment rate — 6.4%[33], and the average salary per year is quite low (23,135 USD/year) compared to salaries in other European countries[34]. Often, a completed higher education is not enough for employment. Employers pay attention to relevant work experience.
Also, the probability of employment depends on the demand for the profession in the labor market. Currently, there is a high demand for workers in the fields of logistics, industrial production, marketing, and IT[35].
Slovakia is considered one of the most loyal countries for immigrants. Since many EU countries are already crowded with foreigners, they are gradually tightening entry criteria. However, there has not yet been such a strong influx of immigrants in Slovakia.
To obtain Slovak citizenship, you must meet a number of requirements:
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