Study in Slovakia

The next stop on our study in Europe series is Slovakia. Slovakia is profoundly a special, motivating country. No place else on the planet would you be able to discover such a scope of characteristic history, rich old stories, one of a kind attractions and beauty inside such a little nation.

Aside from their academics, foreign students have come to love Slovakia for its magnificent nature views, its celebrated history, welcoming citizens, unfiltered culture, and traditional customs – situated in the core of Europe.

Slovakia has a longstanding commitment to academic advancement when it comes to university education. The oldest higher institution that still exists in Slovakia was established in 1465. The principal specialized college on the planet was established by Maria Theresia in 1762 in Banská Štiavnica, a previous European focal point of mining and mechanical technology.

These days, Slovakia has a good number of internationally-acclaimed universities that follow the standards of the Bologna Declaration. Slovakia furnishes students with three degrees of study: Bachelor's (3-4 years), Master’s (4-6 years), and Ph.D. (3 years notwithstanding the Magister program).

Learning in Slovakia incorporates different types of guidance, for example, classes, courses, quizzes, research, laboratory work, practical lessons, discussions, and so forth. University programs in Slovakia are taught either full-time on-campus or part-time through the effective distance education programs made available by many institutions in the country.

RocApply offers you an abundance of information and valuable resources about studies in Slovakia in English for international students. RocApply also offers visa guidance, functional counsel on the programs and courses available, important details about Slovakia for a foreigner, factors like school choices, and more just to further enable individuals to choose where to concentrate and how to plan.

Here at RocApply, experts are available to answer all your study abroad questions. Slovakian institutions are welcoming international students to apply to one of over 500 higher education programs available in the country. Students learn first-hand the multidimensional usefulness of European studies and how their degrees are globally-acclaimed with the highest repute. Choose Europe, Choose Slovakia.

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About Slovakia

Slovakia is a central European country bordering Czechia, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, and Austria. The country has a population of 5.4 million people which is about the same as countries like Finland, its land area is about 49,035 sq km which is about the same size as the Dominican Republic. This landlocked country has flat geography towards the south and a mountainous region towards the north.

Slovakia’s highest peak called “Gerlachovský štít” can be found in the Tatras range measuring 2,655m. About 40% of Slovakia’s land is forested and around 30% is arable. The Danube River flows through the capital city Bratislava, while a reservoir in the Osada River is the largest lake in the country.

Of the 5.4 million population that live in Slovakia, 80.7% identify as ethnic Slovaks, 8.5% are Hungarian, a small 2% are Romanis while about 1.6% are a mixture of different ethnic groups in Europe. The majority of the Slovakian population is located in the south, with around a large number of them situated in the capital. Bratislava is the only world capital that stands as a border city, bordering both Hungary and Austria respectively.

Slovakia is divided into 8 provinces or regions called “Krejov” and they are further split into municipalities or counties. Slovak is the main language spoken by the populace and it is a member of the Slavic language family with variations spoken in Czechia and Slovenia. About 62% of Slovaks are Roman Catholic, with 8.9% as Protestants and, around 13.4% being atheists or non-religious.

In general, the west is richer than the east with the Bratislava region being the third-largest wealthiest region in the EU after Hamburg and Luxemburg. Although Bratislava is the biggest city in Slovakia, other major cities include Kosice, Presov, and Zilina.

Historically, Slavs first settled in present-day Slovakia in the 5th century, and the land became the height Hungary in the 10th century and the later Austria-Hungarian Empire. As the years progressed it became the height of Czechoslovakia after World War 1 and served as a German puppet state in World War 2.

Czechoslovakia had a communist regime until 1989 where democracy finally came in what was declared as one of the most peaceful separations in modern history. The country split from Czechoslovakia in 1993 and joined the EU in and NATO in 2004, subsequently in 2009, Slovakia became an official member of the Eurozone. Slovakia is also a member of the Visegrad (V4) group which is a cultural and political alliance with Hungary, Poland, and Czechia.

About Slovakia Economy

Despite its troubled past Slovakia is now one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe. Slovakia is a progressive European country, this growing heart of Europe has been a member of the Eurozone since 2009. With impressive countryside, great location, and a well-developed infrastructure with a rich potential of ideas, Slovakia is truly Europe's economic tiger.

Slovakia has the most open economy in the EU, it is the CEE leader in bringing new technology to the host country. Its multilingual abilities, safe environment, educative workforce (over 90% of the population have at least secondary school education) and one of the best credit ratings in all of CEE make this country a great opportunity to expand and grow.

Although a significantly small country, Slovakia is a financial heavyweight in Europe. As a member of the EU, they use the European Euro, a stable currency, and have trade agreements with the union. Slovakia is also a member state of reputable organizations such as NATO, UN. OECD, and WTO. Slovakia experienced very strong economic growth from 2000 to 2008 and continues to grow by at least 2% with each year.

Slovakia is grouped as a high-income developed economy and has a GDP (PPP) of $187, 264 billion as of 2020. The country’s main economic sectors include agriculture, industry, and service, with services being the largest contributor to its GDP.

Slovakia’s primary industries include automobile, pharmaceuticals, metal and metal products, electricity and electrical products, natural resources such as coke, nuclear oil, gas, wood, and its derivatives. The textile industry coupled with food and beverage products has seen a surge in the last few years.

Slovakia’s exports come in at $80.8 billion and of this value, the largest export products are automobiles and their parts, machines, and electrical types of equipment, others being fuel and mineral oils. Slovakia’s main export countries are Czechia, Germany, France, Poland, Italy, UK, and its neighbors Austria and Hungary. Slovakia stands as the number 1 car manufacturer in the world with 103 cars per 1,000 inhabitants.

Now when it comes to imports, Slovakia presently rakes in $80.7 billion and of this value, the highest import products are machines and electrical equipment, automobiles and its parts, and fuels and nuclear oils. Slovakia’s primary import partners are Germany, Austria, Poland, South Korea, France, Russia, China, and Poland.

Slovakia has created a favorable environment for foreign direct investment, with a very simple and fair tax system. 10 out of the top 15 most admired companies already have operations in Slovakia e.g Amazon, IBM, Microsoft, Google, Coca Cola.

Why Study in Slovakia

Affordable Tuition Fees in Slovakia
High Quality of Education & Research

The quality and standard of Slovakian education is pretty high and there are a good number of higher institutions that provide education in a broad scope of study programs and courses at all levels, bachelor's, masters, and Ph.D.

Students come from different countries globally to pursue advanced education either as short term programs, long term programs, and even research programs. Slovakia has some of Europe’s top-tier universities. The oldest university in the country was first established in 1465, and it stands today as Slovakia’s largest and foremost higher institution. Every university in the country is a growing hub for research and advancement seeing as the country is excelling in that front.

Affordable Accomodation in Slovakia
Affordable standard & cost of living

The everyday life in Slovakia as a foreigner is not as expensive as many other western countries in Europe, the life of a student is even more so affordable. The country offers free transportation and subsidized costs on accommodation for foreign students regardless of where they are in the country. Similarly, education is free for foreign students who study in the Slovak language and although programs in a foreign language require tuition, the amount is very less compared to many other countries on the continent.

As a student in Slovakia, you get first-hand exposure to a new language and a new culture, some foreign students take courses in the Slovak language and quickly learn the language. Slovak culture is unique and only distinct to them, this is a chance to study and live in a new environment, learn new things and associate with people from a different culture than yours, giving you an open perspective on the world.

International Environment in Slovakia
International Employability

Pursuing a higher degree in Slovakia is a brilliant opportunity to gain international exposure and gain a unique experience that sets you apart from the rest. Slovakian degrees are recognized all over the world, and graduates from the country typically excel in the job market in any society. Students are trained to be self-sufficient and progressive thinkers backed up with excellent education and practical skills to maneuver real-world challenges.

During your studies in Slovakia, you have the unrivaled liberty to not just make new connections and friendships but to also build a professional network of experts like yourself. In Slovakia, there is the opportunity to work part-time, volunteer, and even intern in the many international establishments, companies, and organizations in the country. Lastly, you can travel and explore Europe and the Schengen Area as a student in Slovakia.

Great Weather in Slovakia
Scholarship Opportunities
Study abroad can be quite a financial commitment, but this is not a major concern for many students in Slovakia. The government through the ministry of education offers a series of scholarship programs for foreign students such as; the National Scholarship Program and Slovak Ministry of Education Scholarships, with a good number of other funding opportunities across Slovakian universities.

Scholarships in Slovakia

Explore the world, study in the heart of Europe with countless opportunities for your career. Graduate from a prestigious European university with a globally recognized EU diploma, and learn the Slovak language effortlessly. The country is a brilliant study abroad destination with full scholarship opportunities at one of Slovakia’s top universities.

The government of Slovakia through its Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture has created a scholarship scheme for all international students. This program offers full-ride tuition scholarships for both new and existing foreign students in Slovakia, the program also spans across different fields and at different levels (Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D.). All nationalities are welcome to apply.

Slovakia Student Visa

Slovakia is a country within the Schengen Area, and as such adopts the same visa processes as the union. Students from countries in the EU/EEA do not need a visa to come into the country for study purposes for less than 90 days. For study periods longer than 90 days, foreign students must apply for a temporary residence visa that grants them student status in the Slovak Republic.

A direct application for a visa must be made and submitted personally at the nearest Slovakian Consulate to the applicant. RocApply can help you to manage your visa application process and ensure that you successfully meet all the requirements.