Scholarships from the Government of the Slovak Republic

Programme for the Support of Mobility of Students, PhD. Students, University Teachers and Researchers
http://www.scholarships.sk

About the Programme

Establishment of the National Scholarship Programme for the Support of Mobility of Students, PhD students, University Teachers and Researchers was approved by the Government of the Slovak Republic in 2005. The National scholarship programme of the Slovak Republic is funded by the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS, PhD STUDENTS,
UNIVERSITY TEACHERS AND RESEARCHERS

The National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic is intended to support mobility of foreign students, PhD students, university teachers and researchers to stay at Slovak universities and research institutions.

Types of scholarships
a) Scholarships for foreign university students (enrolled at least in the 6th semester) to take part in Master study over a period of 1 to 2 semesters (from 5 to 10 months) at Slovak universities.
b) Scholarships for foreign PhD students to take a part of PhD study over a period of 1 to 12 months at Slovak universities or research institutes.
c) Scholarships for foreign university teachers and researchers over a period of 1 to 12 months to carry out teaching or research at Slovak universities, research institutes or nongovernmental organisations on the basis of an invitation.

Citizens from following countries can apply for scholarships
a) European Union member states – Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom,
b) other countries participating in the Bologna process (listed are only countries that are not stated in item a) – Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Switzerland, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine,
c) Belarus,
d) Canada, Central American countries, Latin American countries, Mexico, the United States of America,
e) Australia, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.
Due to the mobility nature of the programme applicants cannot be considered if they have been studying, teaching or researching in Slovakia at the time of submitting their application.

The Scholarship Programme does not support:
a) foreign students and PhD students accepted for entire Master or PhD studies in Slovakia, specifically those who are already studying in Slovakia and would like to cover part of their costs from the National Scholarship Programme;
b) foreign university teachers and researches who are already teaching or researching at Slovak universities and research institutes;
c) citizens of the Slovak Republic studying, teaching or researching at foreign universities or research institutes;
d) foreign applicants accepted for other scholarship programmes in Slovakia (for example Visegrad Fund, Erasmus, CEEPUS, bilateral agreements, etc.).

Scholarship designation

The scholarship is designated to cover living costs (accommodation, boarding, etc.) of a study, research and teaching stay of foreign applicants at Slovak universities and research institutions. The applicants can ask their host institution to assist them to arrange their accommodation and necessary documents regarding the stay in Slovakia, or they have to arrange it by themselves. The Scholarship Programme does not cover the travel costs to and from Slovakia.

Amount of a monthly scholarship

a)university students 240 EUR

b)PhD students 470 EUR

c)university teachers:
lecturers with or without a PhD degree 670 EUR
associated professors 835 EUR
professors 1 000 EUR

d) researchers:
young researchers (< 4 years of experience) 670 EUR PhD holders (or > 4 years of experience) 835 EUR
senior researchers (>10 years of experience) 1 000 EUR

Application procedure

The on-line application system at www.scholarships.sk opens 6 – 8 weeks before the deadline. The application form is accessible only after the on-line application system is opened. In order to submit the on-line application, it is necessary to fill in the on-line application form (in Slovak, English, French, Spanish or Russian version), attach all required documents (in .doc or .pdf format) and press the "submit" button.

Applications must be submitted on-line at www.scholarships.sk and documents marked with asterisk (*) (see the List of required documents that must be attached to the on-line application form) must be sent by post and received by the deadline at SAIA, n. o. The submitted documents must be originals.

Foreign applicants who need to apply for entrance visa to Slovakia should consider the necessary visa processing period when planning the starting date of their scholarship stay. Information about visa conditions is provided by Slovak Embassies.

Documents must be received by deadline at:
SAIA, n. o.
Námestie slobody 23
812 20 Bratislava 1
Slovak Republic

Applications deadlines:

30 April 2009 (until 16:00 CET) - for academic year 2009/2010
31 October 2009 (until 16:00 CET) - for summer semester 2009/2010

List of required documents that must be attached to the on-line application form by foreign students and PhD students applying for a study/research stay:

· structured Curriculum Vitae,
· motivation letter,
· detailed study programme in case of students (incl. date of arrival and period of stay),
· detailed research programme in case of PhD students (incl. date of arrival, period of stay and detailed programme time schedule),
· two recommendation letters provided by applicant's university teachers in case of students, one recommendation letter provided by applicant's supervisor in case of PhD Students,
· confirmation letter from a sending university certifying that applicant is a full-time student enrolled in min. 6th semester, in case of a PhD student a confirmation certifying enrolment in a PhD study (*),
· certified copy of a Bachelor's diploma or Master's diploma and a certificate of a state exam (if any),
· admission or invitation letter from a host university or research institute in Slovakia proclaiming commitment that applicant will be enrolled in a study or research programme (incl. period of stay). The admission or invitation letter must be printed on official letter head paper of the host institution, including a signature of the person in charge and a stamp. (*)

List of required documents that must be attached to the on-line application form by foreign university teachers and researchers:

· structured Curriculum Vitae,
· detailed teaching and/or research programme (including date of arrival, period of stay and detailed programme time schedule),
· invitation letter from a host university or research institute in Slovakia (incl. period of stay). The invitation letter must be printed on official letter head paper of the host institution, including a signature of the person in charge and a stamp. (*)

(*) The documents must be sent by post and received by the deadline at SAIA, n. o. The submitted documents must be originals. The original admission or invitation letter from the Slovak host university or research institute can be sent by post from the host institution in Slovakia directly to SAIA n.o.

Selection procedure of applicants from abroad
The selection committee, appointed by the Minister of Education of the SR, carries out the selection of scholarship holders.

SAIA, n. o. will send the e-mail notification of granting or refusing a scholarship to all applicants within six weeks after the application deadline.

The selected scholarship holders will receive "Letter of award" and "Letter of acceptance" of the scholarship by post. The "Letter of acceptance" should be signed and send back to SAIA, n. o.

Contact:
SAIA, n. o., Námestie slobody 23, 812 20 Bratislava 1, Slovak Republic

Silvia Kotulièová, Programme Co-ordinator
Tel.: +421 2 544 11 426 (436)
Fax: +421 2 544 11 429

E-mail: silvia.kotulicova@saia.sk, www.scholarships.sk