NSP Stipend Rates (2025–2026)
The NSP stipend is paid monthly for the duration of your approved stay. The amount depends on your category — master's student, PhD student, or researcher — and on your level of academic experience. These figures are from the current programme cycle; verify the latest amounts at scholarships.sk before applying.
| Category | Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|
| Master's students | €620 |
| PhD students | €1,025.50 |
| Researchers & teachers (no PhD, or under 4 years post-PhD) | €1,025.50 |
| Researchers & teachers (PhD, 4–10 years post-PhD) | €1,370 |
| Researchers & teachers (PhD, over 10 years post-PhD) | €1,470 |
Travel Allowance (lump sum at end of stay)
| Distance (home country to Slovakia) | Travel Grant |
|---|---|
| Under 200 km | €0 |
| 200 – 500 km | €150 |
| 500 – 2,000 km | €300 |
| 2,000 – 4,000 km | €600 |
| 4,000 – 7,000 km | €1,000 |
| Over 7,000 km | €1,500 |
The travel allowance is paid as a single lump sum at the end of the scholarship period, not at the start. You will need to cover your initial flight costs from your own funds and claim the allowance when your stay concludes. Plan for this in advance.
For stays over 90 days, you will need to register as a temporary resident and undergo a medical check as part of the residence permit process. NSP reimburses up to €250 for this examination. Keep your receipts — reimbursement requires original documentation.
ODA Scholarship — Monthly Allowances and Bonuses
The ODA Government Scholarship provides full tuition coverage plus a monthly living allowance. Unlike the NSP, the ODA programme also includes a university fee stipend paid directly to the host institution and bonus payments for arrival and graduation.
The ODA scholarship does not pay a separate accommodation allowance. The monthly stipend is intended to cover food, housing, transport, and personal expenses. Scholarship holders can apply for a dormitory place at their host university, and many receive one, but it is not guaranteed. If you do not receive dormitory accommodation, your €700/month must cover rent in the private market as well as all other living costs.
What €620 to €700 Actually Covers in Slovakia
Slovakia is more affordable than Western Europe, but living costs vary significantly between Bratislava and other university cities. Bratislava, as the capital and the location of several major universities, is notably more expensive than Košice, Nitra, Banská Bystrica, or Prešov.
In practical terms, the NSP master's stipend of €620 covers minimum living costs in Košice if you receive dormitory accommodation — but is tight in Bratislava even in a dormitory. PhD students and researchers on €1,025–€1,470 are more comfortably placed, particularly in cities outside Bratislava. ODA bachelor's students on €700 can manage in most Slovak cities provided they obtain a dormitory place, but any unexpected cost — medical, travel, equipment — will strain the budget. There is no allowance for international airfare at the start of the ODA programme; you need to fund your initial travel independently.
Health Insurance
NSP holders from outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland who are not already insured under a comparable scheme in their home country are automatically entitled to public health insurance in Slovakia for the duration of their scholarship. This is a real and meaningful benefit — private health insurance in Slovakia for international students can cost €30–80 per month, so public coverage represents significant savings over a semester or year-long stay.
There is one important procedural step: you must actively register with a Slovak health insurance company within 3 working days of receiving your residence permit card. The scholarship alone does not trigger registration automatically. If you miss this window, you are technically uninsured during the gap, which creates problems if you need medical care and also causes administrative complications when you later try to register.
ODA scholarship holders are covered under the Slovak public health insurance system as enrolled students at Slovak public universities.