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Last modified: 2026-09-30

# Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica: Admission 2027/28

Matej Bel University (Univerzita Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystrici, UMB) is a public comprehensive university in central Slovakia with seven faculties, from economics, law and international relations to education, natural sciences and sport. Full-time study in Slovak is free, and for international students who do not yet speak Slovak UMB offers an unusual entry point: a bachelor's in Slovak Language and Culture for International Students, which admits applicants on an English motivation letter without a Slovak certificate. For 2027/28 UMB recruits in English for Business Economics and Management (bachelor's), Economics and Management in SMEs (master's) and a joint master's in International Relations. The main application deadline for 2027/28 is 30 April 2027.

The Faculty of Economics building of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica. Photo: Patrik Kunec / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bansk%C3%A1_Bystrica_-_budova_Ekonomickej_fakulty_UMB.jpg), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

| At a glance | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Type | public university in Banská Bystrica |
| Founded | 1 July 1992 by merging the University of Economics of Services and Tourism with the Faculty of Education |
| Faculties | 7: Economics; Political Science and International Relations; Natural Sciences; Sports Science and Health; Arts; Education; Law |
| Admission | exams or selection under each faculty's rules for most programmes |
| Slovak for international applicants | B1 certificate; B2–C1 for some programmes |
| Tuition in Slovak | $0 within the standard length |
| 2027/28 deadline | 30 April 2027 (earlier for some programmes) |
| Application fee for 2027/28 | $23–65 (€20–57) depending on faculty and level |
| Dormitory from 1 Sept 2026 | $87–100 (€77–89) per bed in a double or triple room |

## Who UMB suits {#section-1}

Consider UMB if you are interested in economics and tourism, international relations, political science, law, languages and translation, education or sport, and would rather study outside the capital. Banská Bystrica is a regional capital in the Hron valley surrounded by mountains, and it is much smaller and quieter than Bratislava.

Choose another university if:

- you want engineering or technical computing. Look at the [Technical University of Košice](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-tu-kosice) or the [University of Žilina](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-zilina);
- you want to study medicine. Banská Bystrica hosts a health-care faculty of [SZU](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-szu-bratislava), but General Medicine is not taught there;
- you want economics in Bratislava with a wider choice of programmes. Compare with the [University of Economics in Bratislava (EUBA)](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-euba);
- you want a humanities programme partly taught in Russian. One exists at [Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-ukf-nitra).

## Faculties and fields {#section-2}

| Faculty | Fields | Admission notes for 2027/28 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Economics (EF) | business economics and management, finance and banking, tourism, public economics; management in Poprad | two written tests, a foreign language (English or German) and economics basics, 100 points each; an oral video exam for the English-taught programmes |
| Political Science and International Relations (FPVaMV) | political science, international relations, risk management, security studies; a joint bachelor's with UKF Nitra in Central European Studies and International Relations (20 places) | test on 22–23 June 2027; master's without an exam |
| Natural Sciences (FPV) | applied informatics and software development, mathematics, applied geosciences, environmental biology, forensic chemistry, teacher-training combinations | programme conditions |
| Sports Science and Health | coaching, sports science, physical education teaching | physical and theory exams on 12–23 April 2027 |
| Arts (FF) | English and Slovak language and culture, translation, history, philosophy, sociology; Slovak for international students | PE teacher-training combinations close on 28 February 2027 |
| Education (PF) | psychology, social work, pre-school and primary education, evangelical theology | programme conditions |
| Law (PrF) | law | programme conditions |

UMB also runs an "Oxford-type" bachelor's in Philosophy, Political Science and Economics with 30 places. Applications for 2027/28 close on 30 April, and eligibility checks take place from 3 May to 4 June 2027.

## English-taught programmes {#section-3}

| Programme | Level | Places for 2027/28 | Selection |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Economics and Management (EF) | bachelor's, 3 years | 60 | oral exam in English by videoconference: English and basics of economics, 100 points each |
| Economics and Management in SMEs (EF) | master's, 2 years | 30 | oral exam in English by videoconference on the language and core bachelor's subjects, up to 100 points; graduates of a related bachelor's from the European Higher Education Area are admitted without the exam |
| International Relations, joint programme with universities in Kraków, Plzeň and Pécs (FPVaMV) | master's, 2 years | 5 | under the four-university consortium agreement; the programme coordinator explains the procedure |

Applicants to the Faculty of Economics' English-taught programmes who completed their previous education outside the European Higher Education Area need IELTS 6.0 or higher in every component. A notarised paper copy must reach the faculty by 30 April 2027; an electronic copy is not accepted.

The 2027/28 admission conditions do not state a tuition fee for the English-taught programmes. The Ministry of Education's register (Portál VŠ, checked 30 Sept 2026) lists €0 standard-length tuition for the Faculty of Economics' English-taught bachelor's and master's. Before relying on that, ask the faculty to confirm in writing for your intake year.

## Slovak: what you need and where to get it {#section-4}

International applicants to Slovak-taught programmes who have not passed a Slovak school-leaving exam must submit a certificate in Slovak as a foreign language at B1 at least, or B2–C1 for some programmes. Certificates come from language schools in Slovakia's official school network or from a university that runs preparation for study. Czech citizens and applicants to programmes taught entirely in a foreign language are exempt. If you do not have the certificate when the committee meets, you may be admitted conditionally, but you must present it by enrolment day.

Where to prepare:

- UMB's Institute of Language and Professional Preparation (IJOP). A ten-month, full-time programme with at least 30 academic hours a week: language in the winter semester, then language plus subject preparation in your chosen area (medical and biological, technical, natural science, economics, humanities or law) in the summer. The target level is B2. Classes are held at the Faculty of Education, with housing in residence No. 5 on the same site. The published timetable is for the previous intake and the programme page gives no price, so confirm both when you register.
- Slovak exams at the Universa language school. UMB points applicants there for an official certificate; students admitted to UMB get a 15% discount on the exam fee.

Other options are compared in our guide to [Slovak preparatory courses](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-slovak-language-preparatory-courses).

### The bachelor's in Slovak for international students

This Faculty of Arts programme (3 years, 30 places) is open only to international applicants and requires no Slovak certificate. The compulsory attachment is a motivation letter in English of up to one page covering your background and interests, why you want to study Slovak and live in Slovakia, your achievements and your plans. Letters are scored on genre, content and originality; you need 61 to 100 points to pass. Without a letter by the deadline, the application is void. The ministry register lists €0 standard-length tuition for this programme.

## Deadlines and fees for 2027/28 {#section-5}

| Faculty or programme | Deadline | Exams | Online application fee |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Economics | 30 April 2027 | 7–18 June 2027 | $45 (€40) bachelor's, $51 (€45) master's |
| Political Science and International Relations | 30 April 2027; second round until 11 June | 22–23 June 2027; second round 6 July | $65 (€57) |
| Arts | 30 April 2027; PE teacher-training combinations by 28 February | programme conditions | $34 (€30) bachelor's, $23 (€20) master's |
| Philosophy, Political Science and Economics | 30 April 2027 | eligibility check 3 May – 4 June 2027 | $34 (€30) |

Pay the fee by bank transfer no later than the application deadline; unpaid applications are not accepted. For transfers from outside the EU the university lists an intermediary bank in each faculty's conditions. Faculty open days are on 11 November 2026 and in February 2027.

### Step-by-step plan

1. October – November 2026. Choose a faculty and language of study and attend the open day on 11 November.
2. December 2026 – February 2027. For a Slovak-taught programme, language preparation and a certificate; for an English-taught one, IELTS 6.0.
3. By 30 April 2027. Apply online at e-prihlaska.umb.sk, pay the fee and post any paper documents.
4. May – July 2027. Exams or eligibility checks, then the dean's decision.
5. July – August 2027. Certificate recognition, residence permit documents and housing.

## Recognition of your school certificate {#section-6}

Applicants from countries with a recognition statement (doložka) — EU members, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the UK, Iceland, Ukraine, Russia and China — send the statement on paper with a certified copy of their school-leaving certificate and an official Slovak translation, by post or in person. If your country has no statement (for example Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan or India), you need a certified copy of a recognition decision from a Regional Office of School Administration — for your region of permanent residence in Slovakia or the one in Banská Bystrica. The documents must reach the faculty before the admission conditions are checked. The two routes are compared in our article on [school certificate recognition in Slovakia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-recognition-of-school-certificates-slovakia).

## UMB residences {#section-7}

UMB runs five student residences in Banská Bystrica; residence No. 4 reopens in September 2026 after a full renovation.

| Residence | Address | Price per bed per month from 1 Sept 2026 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No. 1 | Tajovského 40 | $87 (€77); units of two triple rooms with a shared bathroom |
| No. 2 | Komenského 20 | $99 (€87); double rooms |
| No. 3 | Tajovského 51 | $90–140 (€79–126): triple, double and single rooms |
| No. 5 | Ružová 15 | $93–100 (€82–88): triple and double rooms |

On moving in you pay a one-off, non-refundable $17 (€15) fee for undetected damage. Build your full annual budget, including food, transport and insurance, with our guide to the [cost of studying in Slovakia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-slovakia); students paying from Russia should use only [legal payment routes](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia).

## Residence permit and timing {#section-8}

Non-EU students need temporary residence for the purpose of study, applied for at the Slovak embassy accredited to their country — for example Moscow for Russian citizens or Astana for Kazakh citizens — with confirmation of admission and an apostilled criminal record certificate. The police have up to 90 days to decide, so with June exams you should file as soon as the dean's decision arrives. Permit holders may be asked to show at least the subsistence minimum, $4,020 (€3,542.64) a year from 1 July 2026. Our [student residence permit guide](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-residence-permit-slovakia) walks through each document.

UMB has a Russian-language version of its website, but its content is several years old. Check current conditions in the Slovak or English version.

## Common mistakes {#section-9}

- Sending IELTS electronically. The Faculty of Economics accepts only a notarised paper copy; otherwise the application is cancelled.
- Missing 28 February. The Faculty of Arts' teacher-training combinations with physical education close two months before other programmes.
- Assuming the English programme is definitely free. The ministry register shows €0, but the admission conditions do not state a fee — get a written answer from the faculty.
- Applying without a Slovak certificate and not getting one by enrolment. Conditional admission then turns into a rejection.
- Looking for residence No. 4 on old websites. It was closed for renovation and reopens only from September 2026.

## How StudyU helps {#section-10}

The first consultation is free and serves for orientation only. Choosing the UMB faculty and route (Slovak, English or the Slovak-for-internationals programme), programme selection, a requirements check, a language preparation plan, help with the motivation letter, the application, certificate recognition and residence permit documents are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The UMB faculty dean decides on admission and the Slovak foreign police on the residence permit.

Other universities are in our [Slovakia study guide](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-slovakiya) and overview of [universities in Slovakia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-slovakia); the general procedure is in [applying to universities in Slovakia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-universities-in-slovakia), and tuition-free options are explained in [free university education in Slovakia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-free-university-education-slovakia).

## FAQ {#section-11}

### Can I get into UMB without speaking Slovak?

Yes, in two ways. You can choose an English-taught programme at the Faculty of Economics or in International Relations. Or you can apply for the bachelor's in Slovak Language and Culture for International Students, which admits on an English motivation letter without a certificate.

### How much does it cost to study at Matej Bel University?

Full-time Slovak-taught study within the standard length is free. For the Faculty of Economics' English-taught bachelor's and master's the ministry register shows €0, but confirm this with the faculty. Exceeding the standard length is charged: the ministry register in September 2026 shows, for example, $1,700 (€1,500) a year for several Faculty of Arts programmes and PPE.

### Are there entrance exams at UMB?

The Faculty of Economics sets two written tests, a foreign language (English or German) and economics basics, plus an oral video exam for its English-taught programmes. The Faculty of Political Science holds its test on 22–23 June 2027. Each faculty publishes the conditions for its programmes.

### When should I apply for 2027/28?

The main deadline is 30 April 2027. The Faculty of Arts' teacher-training combinations with physical education close on 28 February, and the Faculty of Political Science accepts second-round applications until 11 June.

### How much is student housing in Banská Bystrica?

From 1 September 2026 a bed in a double or triple room in UMB residences costs $87–100 (€77–89) a month, and a single room $140 (€126). A one-off $17 (€15) fee is paid on moving in.

### Does UMB offer a Slovak preparatory course?

Yes. UMB's Institute of Language and Professional Preparation runs a ten-month programme aiming at B2 and subject preparation for your chosen field. Confirm the price and intake dates with the institute when you register.

## Sources {#section-12}

- [UMB: history](https://www.umb.sk/univerzita/univerzita/o-univerzite/historia-umb.html) — checked 30 Sept 2026
- [UMB: 2027/28 admission conditions and requirements for international applicants](https://www.umb.sk/uchadzac/podmienky-prijatia-na-studium-na-akademicky-rok-2027-2028/) — checked 30 Sept 2026
- Faculty conditions for 2027/28: [Economics (PDF)](https://www.umb.sk/app/cmsFile.php?disposition=i&ID=8515), [Political Science and International Relations (PDF)](https://www.umb.sk/app/cmsFile.php?disposition=i&ID=8521), [Arts (Slovak, PDF)](https://www.umb.sk/app/cmsFile.php?disposition=i&ID=8528), [Philosophy, Political Science, Economics (PDF)](https://www.umb.sk/app/cmsFile.php?disposition=i&ID=8516), [Natural Sciences (Slovak, PDF)](https://www.umb.sk/app/cmsFile.php?disposition=i&ID=8526), [Sports Science and Health (Slovak, PDF)](https://www.umb.sk/app/cmsFile.php?disposition=i&ID=8527) — checked 30 Sept 2026
- [Portál VŠ: UMB programme fees](https://www.portalvs.sk/sk/poplatky?owner=714000000) — checked 30 Sept 2026
- [UMB: Institute of Language and Professional Preparation](https://www.umb.sk/uchadzac/institut-jazykovej-a-odbornej-pripravy-na-umb/informacie-o-institute-jazykovej-a-odbornej-pripravy-na-umb.html) and [Slovak language testing](https://www.umb.sk/uchadzac/institut-jazykovej-a-odbornej-pripravy-na-umb/testovanie-urovne-slovenskeho-jazyka.html) — checked 30 Sept 2026
- [UMB: student residences](https://www.umb.sk/student/sprava-ucelovych-zariadeni-umb/studentske-domovy/) and prices from 1 Sept 2026 for [No. 1](https://www.umb.sk/student/sprava-ucelovych-zariadeni-umb/studentske-domovy/studentsky-domov-1/cennik-ubytovania.html), [No. 2](https://www.umb.sk/student/sprava-ucelovych-zariadeni-umb/studentske-domovy/studentsky-domov-2/cennik-ubytovania.html), [No. 3](https://www.umb.sk/student/sprava-ucelovych-zariadeni-umb/studentske-domovy/studentsky-domov-3/cennik-ubytovania.html), [No. 5](https://www.umb.sk/student/sprava-ucelovych-zariadeni-umb/studentske-domovy/studentsky-domov-5/cennik-ubytovania.html) — checked 30 Sept 2026
- [Slovak Ministry of Education: recognition statements for secondary education](https://uznavanie.minedu.sk/en/category/recognition-statement) — checked 30 Sept 2026
- [IOM Slovakia: temporary residence — study](https://www.mic.iom.sk/en/residence/temporary-residence/985-temporary-residence-study.html) and [what changed on 15 July 2026](https://www.mic.iom.sk/en/news/981-changes-in-the-amendment-to-the-foreigners-residence-act.html) — checked 30 Sept 2026

Euro amounts were converted at €1 = $1.1355, the ECB reference rate published for 29 Sept 2026 and still the latest on 30 Sept; rounding is to $1 below $100 and to $10 above.

If you want to choose between the Slovak, English and language-first routes at UMB, send us a [request](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply).

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.

## Next steps

- [Slovak Medical University in Bratislava (SZU): Admission and Fees](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-szu-bratislava)
- [Technical University of Košice (TUKE): Admission and Fees](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-tu-kosice)
- [Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra (UKF): Admission](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-ukf-nitra)
- [University of Žilina (UNIZA): Admission for International Students 2027/28](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-zilina)
- [Studying in Slovakia for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-slovakiya)
- [Free University Education in Slovakia: Conditions for International Students and What You Still Pay](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-free-university-education-slovakia)

Updated: September 2026