Public and state universities in Slovakia charge no tuition for full-time study in Slovak as long as the student stays within the standard length of the programme. Citizenship makes no difference: a Slovak, a Russian and a Kazakh student get the same deal. Tuition applies in four situations: you exceed the standard length, you study a second programme at the same level in parallel, you choose part-time study, or you take a programme taught only in a foreign language and the university charges for it. These rules come from the new Higher Education Act No. 300/2025, in force since 1 September 2026.
"Free" covers tuition only. Application fees, certificate recognition, language preparation, dormitory, insurance and living costs remain yours, and they make up the real budget. Below: the exact conditions, what paid scenarios cost at Comenius University and EUBA in 2026/27, how not to lose your free years and when an English-taught programme is the better deal.
When study is free: five conditions
All five must apply at the same time.
| Condition | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Public or state university | Private universities set their own fees and publish them two months before the application deadline |
| Full-time study (denná forma) | Part-time (externá) study is charged every year |
| Programme taught in Slovak | A programme taught only in a foreign language may be charged if the university decides so |
| Within the standard length | Bachelor's 3–4 years, master's 1–3 years, combined programmes such as medicine 5–6 years; every extra year is charged |
| Your first programme at that level this year | A second parallel programme at the same level is charged |
The Act also exempts students on EU exchange and academic mobility programmes, and those granted asylum, subsidiary or temporary protection. For students under intergovernmental agreements the agreement governs fees; if it is silent, students on a Slovak state-budget scholarship pay nothing. The Act sets no age limit for tuition-free study. A holder of the Slovak "Slovak living abroad" certificate counts as a Slovak citizen for tuition purposes.
When tuition applies: four scenarios
| Scenario | Legal rule | Example: Comenius University, 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| Exceeding the standard length | Annual fee, pro rata to the credits you enrol for | Faculty of Arts $1,712 (€1,500); FMFI $1,712–2,054 (€1,500–1,800); Faculty of Medicine $2,796 (€2,450) |
| Second parallel programme at the same level | You pay for the second and further programmes; by 30 September you tell the university which one is free | Same rates as for exceeding the length |
| Part-time study | Fee every year | Faculty of Law, 3-year bachelor's: $1,710 (€1,499) a year |
| Programme taught only in a foreign language | Fee every year if the university sets one; the cap does not apply | FMFI bachelor's $2,282 (€2,000); Faculty of Medicine, general medicine $14,834 (€13,000) |
Fees are capped. For full-time Slovak programmes the annual fee may not exceed five times the "base". The base is 10% of the average amount the state gave universities per full-time student in the previous year, rounded down to the nearest €5. The ministry publishes it for each academic year: $890 (€780) for 2026/27 and $987 (€865) for 2027/28, giving caps of $4,450 (€3,900) and $4,935 (€4,325). The cap does not apply to foreign-language programmes, which is why English-taught medicine costs more than $14,000 a year.
What English-taught programmes cost: 2026/27 examples
Figures come from the universities' official 2026/27 fee schedules and apply to students starting that year.
| University and programme | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Comenius, Faculty of Medicine (Bratislava): general medicine | $14,834 (€13,000) |
| Comenius, Faculty of Medicine: dentistry | $16,546 (€14,500) |
| Comenius, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine (Martin): general medicine | $13,123 (€11,500) |
| Comenius, Faculty of Pharmacy: pharmacy | $8,558 (€7,500) |
| Comenius, Faculty of Law: bachelor's "Law and International Law" | $2,282 (€2,000) |
| Comenius, Faculty of Law: other bachelor's / master's | $4,563 (€3,999) / $5,704 (€4,999) |
| Comenius, Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences: bachelor's / master's | $3,766 (€3,300) / $3,423 (€3,000) |
| Comenius, Faculty of Management: management, bachelor's / master's | $2,271 (€1,990) / $2,841 (€2,490) |
| Comenius, FMFI: bachelor's / master's | $2,282 (€2,000) / $2,054 (€1,800) |
| EUBA: English bachelor's / master's beyond the standard length | $1,712 (€1,500) / $2,853 (€2,500) |
EUBA's 2026/27 schedule lists only fees for exceeding the standard length for its English programmes and no annual amount within it. Before you plan a budget around that, ask admissions to confirm in writing that no fee applies in your year of entry.
Free English-taught programmes do exist. On its page for Russian-speaking applicants, Comenius University describes its English-taught programmes in biology, chemistry, ecology, natural sciences and European studies as free, and its 2026/27 schedule lists no foreign-language tuition for the Faculty of Natural Sciences. The list changes, so check the language and conditions of the specific programme for your year on Portál VŠ and in the faculty's admission conditions. For national price ranges see our guide to the cost of studying in Slovakia; medicine is covered in studying medicine in Slovakia.
How the standard length is counted
This is where international students most often lose their free status.
- All time at the level counts, not just one programme. If you spend a year on one bachelor's programme, drop out and start another, that year is already used; you reach the limit sooner on the new programme.
- Parallel programmes count as one year. If you were enrolled in two programmes in one year, one year counts.
- Years in which you paid tuition do not count. A year on a paid English programme does not use up the free time on a Slovak one.
- The first extra year is sometimes free. No fee for the first year beyond the limit if the delay came from an exchange mobility, if you received a social scholarship in the final standard year, or because of pregnancy or care for a young child.
The practical takeaway: pick the right programme the first time. Switching in your second year almost always means a paid final year.
Getting onto a tuition-free programme: five steps
- Pick a Slovak-taught programme at a public university on Portál VŠ and check that it is full-time (denná). Deadlines and the faculty calendar are in our guide to applying to universities in Slovakia.
- Assess your Slovak. Faculties usually expect B1–B2. If you have none yet, budget time and money for a preparatory year.
- Get your certificate recognised. A Russian attestat only needs the ministry's recognition statement; Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Belarus need a RÚŠS decision. See our guide to recognition of school certificates.
- Apply on time and pay the fees — $17 to $114 (€15–100) per application at Comenius in 2026/27.
- After admission, get study residence and watch the clock. Free study lasts only until the end of the programme's standard length.
What a "free" first year actually costs
Tuition is not the only line. For a student from the CIS starting a Slovak programme after a year of language preparation:
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Application fees | $17–114 (€15–100) per application | Comenius 2026/27; legal cap $247 (€216.25) for 2027/28 |
| Certificate recognition | $0 for Russia (recognition statement); $46 (€40) for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus | Plus official translations |
| Language preparation | E.g. $3,982 (€3,490) for EUBA's 2026/27 year programme | If you do not speak Slovak |
| Dormitory | E.g. $103–143 (€90–125) a month at EUBA dorms | Not every university has places |
| Living costs | Minimum about $399 (€350), comfortable $571–799 (€500–700) a month | European Commission estimate |
| Residence card | $11 (€10) | The study residence application itself is free |
| Health insurance | Insurer's rate | Required within three working days of receiving the residence card |
For residence, the police may check that you have money to live on: at least the subsistence minimum for each remaining month, up to one year ahead. From 1 July 2026 that is $337 (€295.22) a month, up to $4,043 (€3,542.64) a year. This money is not spent on fees, but it must be in your account. Details in our guide to the student residence permit.
Scholarships: what an international student can realistically expect
- Social scholarship — only for students with permanent residence in Slovakia or with international, subsidiary or temporary protection. Not available on a study residence permit.
- Motivation scholarship — awarded by the university from state funds for excellent results in study, research, arts or sport, and in priority fields. Each university sets conditions in its scholarship rules.
- "Talent" scholarship of $456 (€400) a month — in 2026 all 1,206 scholarships went to "domestic" applicants, so do not build a plan on it.
- Fee reductions and deferrals. Universities may reduce, waive or defer fees based on results, social or health circumstances. At EUBA, 2026/27 requests go to the dean by 31 October 2026.
Free in Slovak or paid in English: how to choose
| Situation | Usually better | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 3-year bachelor's, no Slovak, tight budget | Run both scenarios | A preparatory year ($2,385–3,982) plus an extra year of living often comes close to three years of English tuition ($6,800–13,700 at Comenius 2026/27 rates). Decide by whether you need Slovak after graduation |
| Medicine, 6 years | Slovak programme, if you accept a language year | Six years of English-taught medicine in Bratislava at the 2026/27 rate is about $89,000 (€78,000) |
| 1–2-year master's, strong English | English programme | A language year cancels out the benefit of a short programme |
| You plan to work in Slovakia | Slovak programme | You need the language for placements and jobs |
| Not ready for a new language but want affordable EU study | English programmes in Slovakia or neighbours | Compare with Czechia |
Common mistakes
- Assuming every public-university programme is free. English and part-time programmes are usually paid.
- Switching programmes "without consequences." Time on the first programme counts towards the level's limit.
- Enrolling in two programmes as a safety net. The second at the same level is charged.
- Budgeting only for tuition. Living costs, insurance and a language year cost more than fees.
- Taking "free English" on trust. Check the university's fee schedule for your entry year and get written confirmation.
FAQ
Yes, for full-time study in Slovak at a public or state university within the standard length. Citizenship does not matter.
The Act lets universities charge for programmes taught only in a foreign language, and most programmes are paid. There are exceptions: Comenius University describes some English-taught programmes in the natural sciences and European studies as free. Confirm this in the university's fee schedule for your year of entry.
The university sets it. At Comenius in 2026/27 it ranges from $685 (€600) at the Roman Catholic Faculty of Theology to $3,081 (€2,700) at the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences. For full-time Slovak programmes the cap is five times the base: $4,450 (€3,900) in 2026/27.
Yes, if it is a full-time Slovak programme and you stay within the master's standard length. Bachelor's years do not count against the master's limit because they are a different level.
Under § 96 of the Act, the total counts time enrolled at a Slovak public or state university in a programme of the same level. The rule does not mention studies at universities in other countries. If you already hold a Slovak bachelor's degree, however, your years at that level are used up, and a second Slovak bachelor's will usually be charged.
Public universities charge for pre-admission preparation. Free Slovak courses are usually offered after admission: the Technical University of Košice, for example, teaches Slovak free of charge in the first semesters to international students on Slovak programmes. Options are in our guide to preparatory courses.
Under a contract, we calculate a full budget for both the Slovak and English scenarios, shortlist programmes, verify fees and requirements and prepare an admission plan. Whether you pay and how much is decided by the university.
Sources
- Act No. 300/2025 on Higher Education, version from 1 September 2026 — § 96 (tuition, standard length, exemptions), § 97 (fees), §§ 111–112 (social and motivation scholarships) — checked 24 Sep 2026
- Comenius University: information for Russian-speaking applicants — free English-taught programmes — checked 24 Sep 2026
- Ministry of Education: tuition base by year — checked 24 Sep 2026
- Comenius University: tuition and fees 2026/27 — checked 24 Sep 2026
- EUBA: fees 2026/27 and language preparation for foreigners — checked 24 Sep 2026
- SAIA, Study in Slovakia: admission and tuition — checked 24 Sep 2026
- European Commission: Slovakia country profile, living costs — checked 24 Sep 2026
- Portál VŠ: talent scholarship 2026 — checked 24 Sep 2026
- Ministry of Labour: subsistence minimum from 1 July 2026 — checked 24 Sep 2026
- Technical University of Košice: Slovak course — checked 24 Sep 2026
- Exchange rate: ECB reference rate of 23 Sep 2026, €1 = $1.1411
Next steps
- Cost of Studying in Slovakia: 2026/27 Tuition, Dormitories and a First-Year Budget
- Studying Medicine in Slovakia: Faculties, Entrance Exams, 2026/27 Fees and 2027/28 Dates
- Student Residence Permit in Slovakia: Documents, Timelines, Funds and Visas in 2026
- Slovak Language Preparatory Courses Before University: Options, Costs and Immigration Status
- Free University Education in Czechia: Conditions, What You Still Pay and the Real Annual Cost
- Applying to Universities in Slovakia: Deadlines, Documents and Entrance Exams for 2027/28
