2024-2025 competition is closed. 2025-2026 competition will open in April 2024. 

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Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

Artist

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

FPA

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org.

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

Slovak Republic

2 Open Study/Research Award

Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Grant Period
Fall Start
Grant Length
9 Months
Award Type
Open Study/Research
Award Profile

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program to Slovakia offers two open study or research grants. The award is open to graduating college seniors, graduate students, Ph.D. candidates, artists, and young professionals from all over the United States to study or conduct research in Slovakia for one academic year (9 months) in all kinds of disciplines. These awards aim to strengthen educational and cultural relationships between the United States and Slovakia and to provide grantees with opportunities for research collaboration that extend into the future.

Slovakia is situated in the heart of Central Europe. It is a small country with rich history, traditions, beautiful scenery, and high-quality culture. Slovakia has gone through interesting political development in the last 30 years (the country itself was founded in 1993 by the division of former Czechoslovakia), and, therefore offers wide possibilities for research in social, political, and economic sciences.

To get an insight into what being a Fulbrighter in Slovakia looks like, you can watch a series of short videos in which our former U.S. grantees share their experiences - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrcOc6g5s0CB5S_nrif0J7n8hVNecWO6A

Grant Length
9 Months
Grant Period
Fall Start

Grants are offered for 1 academic year, i.e. 9 months. Grantees are expected to schedule their academic programs to coincide with the Slovak academic year (September/October 2024 – May/June 2025) while exact arrival and departure times may vary. In well-justified cases research activities can begin a few weeks earlier.

The academic year at Slovak institutions of higher education starts September 1st and runs through the end of August, divided into two terms (semesters) – winter and summer term. Each term consists of a minimum of 12 weeks of educational activities (lectures, seminars) and at least 4 weeks of the exam period. Winter courses run from mid-September through Christmas break with an exam period from January to mid-February. Summer courses start in mid-February through May with an exam period in June. However, the exact dates of the terms can slightly differ from university to university.

Orientation
In-Country Orientation

Upon the arrival of grantees in Slovakia in September, the Commission organizes a mandatory 5-day orientation seminar in the capital of Bratislava to introduce them to the country, its specifics, and culture, higher education, healthcare system, and provides grantees with information about the specifics of the Fulbright grants, a crash course in the Slovak language, and some networking and social activities.

Grantees also participate in a 4-day mandatory mid-year conference hosted by the Commission in late January/early February where grantees share their experience and best practices and meet new grantees coming to Slovakia for the Spring semester. The venue of the conference is outside the capital of Bratislava and it might change every year (last year’s conference took place in Trenčianske Teplice, a small spa town in Western Slovakia). 

Grantees can be occasionally invited to attend events hosted by the Commission or the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava (receptions, meet-ups in American centers, seminars, workshops, conferences, or webinars) as well as other cultural events.

There is no pre-departure orientation for the grantees held in the U.S. before their departure. However, the Slovak Fulbright Commission organizes an introductory Q&A webinar before grantees arrive in Slovakia.

Candidate Profile

Awards are open to graduating seniors, recent graduates, advanced graduate students, doctoral candidates, and those with previous research experience in all disciplines.

Well-qualified candidates at all degree levels will be considered. Candidates pursuing their doctoral degrees can also apply but cannot hold a doctoral degree at the time of application. Candidates must be mature, self-motivated individuals who are capable of working independently with little supervision. The Commission encourages applicants to familiarize themselves with Slovakia and its contemporary situation, culture, and educational system before applying. For more details about the country, school system, and other useful information, please visit the section About Slovakia on the Commission’s website.

The Commission reviews project proposals for their coherence and quality, and also takes into account the candidate's ability to contribute to the promotion of mutual understanding between the people of Slovakia and the United States. Projects dealing with contemporary issues are especially encouraged.

In addition to their primary research activities, grantees are expected to support the Commission and the mission of the Fulbright Program by delivering presentations, seminars, and workshops on U.S. higher education and culture. The grantees will also have the opportunity to participate in various enrichment activities and seminars organized by other Fulbright Commissions in Europe.

Eligibility
Dual citizens of this country are NOT eligible
Residency in host country NOT permitted in year prior to grant
Indicate how many months is considered residency:
6 Months

Candidates must be citizens or nationals of the United States of America at the time of application (permanent residence is not sufficient).

Dual citizens of the U.S. and Slovakia, or U.S. citizens currently residing in Slovakia are ineligible for consideration.

Candidates with dual U.S./other country citizenship may be accepted for a Fulbright grant to Slovakia but must always enter Slovakia on their U.S. passports and must have permanent residence in the U.S.

Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
Not Required

Additional Information: Slovak language proficiency is not required, unless necessary for the successful completion of the proposed projects in fields such as Slovak literature, language, history, anthropology, and political science. Some study of the Slovak language before arrival is encouraged to promote deeper engagement and grantee’s integration within the host community.

 

The in-country orientation held in late August/September will include a crash course in the Slovak language to equip grantees with basic Slovak phrases, greetings, and questions. Grantees can enroll in the Summer School of Slovak Language and Culture Studia Academica Slovaca, held in Bratislava during the summer. The Commission can partially cover the tuition fees for summer school. Grantees can also sign up for an e-learning portal offering courses in Slovak to help them acquire basic language skills before they arrive: https://www.e-slovak.sk/ 

Fulbright Proposal Types
Independent Study/Research:
Yes
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
Yes
Affiliation
Independent Study/Research:
Letter required for independent study or research at deadline
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
Letter required at deadline

In Slovakia, the higher education system follows the Bologna system principles. According to the character and type of activities, the Slovak institutions of higher education can be divided into university-type institutions providing education up to the Ph.D. level of study, and non-university type institutions providing education up to the Bachelor's level. All study programs must be accredited by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Sport of the Slovak Republic. There are 20 public, 3 state, and 11 private universities and colleges. The list of all universities can be found on the Register of Slovak Universities website.

It is the candidate's responsibility to identify appropriate host institution(s) for their projects and to include affiliation letters (invitation letter, recommendation letter) with their Fulbright applications. Appropriate institutions include Slovak institutions of higher education, research institutes, governmental agencies, museums, or other organizations providing higher education and/or conducting research. If needed, the Slovak Fulbright Commission can assist applicants to establish contacts with appropriate Slovak institutions.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to consider affiliations located outside of Bratislava, including Nitra, Žilina, Banská Bystrica, Prešov, Košice, and the Slovak Academy of Sciences which is the main scientific and research institution in Slovakia fostering basic and applied research. Long-term academic and research partnerships between Slovak and U.S. institutions in the field of joint research, publications, people-to-people exchanges, and exchanges of know-how are highlighted in the U.S.-Slovak Cooperation Map.

Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Affiliation Fees/Tuition offered at discretion of host university/Award

Tuitions and fees do not apply to public higher education institutions in Slovakia with Slovak as a language of instruction. Limited tuition and exceptional fees may apply to private higher education institutions or programs with English as a language of instruction. The Commission will help cover these fees for graduate study or research if they occur.

Housing Arrangements

Grantees are responsible for arranging their housing by themselves and should allow ample time to secure housing before departing for Slovakia. The host institutions are not obliged to find housing for grantees. The Slovak institutions of higher education usually offer accommodation for their students at university dormitories and may be able to offer some support to grantees, as well. The monthly rent differs, depending on the type of accommodation and placement. University dormitories are the most affordable type of accommodation. Rent in bigger cities is higher than in smaller towns. Private apartments in Slovakia are usually furnished with basic equipment (bed, wardrobe, table, chairs, stove, refrigerator). The Commission provides grantees with a monthly stipend sufficient to cover housing, as well as food, and daily needs.

Dependents
Dependent financial support is NOT available

The Commission will assist dependents to obtain a national visa to join grantees during their grant and this visa is exempt from the visa fees. They are also invited to participate in some of the grant-related activities for the grantees, such as the in-country orientation, mid-year conference, and other cultural events organized by the Commission.

Visas

The Commission will assist dependents to obtain a national visa to join grantees during their grant and this visa is exempt from the visa fees. They are also invited to participate in some of the grant-related activities for the grantees, such as the in-country orientation, mid-year conference, and other cultural events organized by the Commission.

Grant Benefits

The standard grant benefits planned for the academic year 2024 – 2025 include the following (please note these may be subject to change):

Monthly stipend – $1,300 per month

One-time payments:

  • Professional allowance (intended to cover expenses to obtain visas) – $ 300 to 500 depending on the permanent residency
  • Round-trip air travel allowance – $1,500

The stipend is disbursed in USD as specified in the Terms and Conditions of the Award. The EUR amounts are subject to slight changes due to exchange rates and currency fluctuations. Information on the cost of living in Slovakia can be found here.

Fulbright Program Management Contact
FBstudent.EUR@iie.org
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
http://www.fulbright.sk/en/
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Silvia Miadoková: silvia@fulbright.sk
Additional Online Resources
Being a Fulbrighter in Slovakia: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrcOc6g5s0CB5S_nrif0J7n8hVNecWO6A
Register of Universities: https://www.portalvs.sk/en/informacie-o-vysokych-skolach
US – Slovak Cooperation Map: https://www.skuscooperation.sk/en/
Slovak Academy Of Sciences: https://www.sav.sk/?lang=en
About Slovakia (country overview and school system): https://www.fulbright.sk/en/about-slovakia
Fulbright Slovakia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FulbrightSlovakia
Fulbright Slovakia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FulbrightSlovakia
Fulbright Slovakia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4UQsVS87VQK97EM_JgEWtA/featured
Fulbright Slovakia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fulbright-slovakia