Czech Government Scholarships 2027/2028: Full Guide to Eligibility, Deadlines, and Application

The Government of the Czech Republic continues its decades-long tradition of supporting international education by offering fully funded scholarships to students from selected developing nations. Administered under the country's Foreign Development Cooperation programme, this initiative allows eligible international applicants to pursue Master's and Doctoral degrees at public Czech universities, either in Czech or English, without bearing the financial burden of tuition or living costs.

For the 2027/2028 academic year, the application window is open from 21 August to 30 September 2026, giving prospective candidates a narrow but clear timeframe to prepare and submit their applications. This article breaks down everything you need to know - from eligible countries and study programmes to the application process, required tests, and frequently asked questions - in a clear, easy-to-follow format.

What Are the Czech Government Scholarships for Developing Countries?

This scholarship scheme is one of the oldest and most established components of the Czech Republic's foreign aid strategy. Since it began in the late 1950s, more than 20,000 international students from developing and transitioning economies have completed degree programmes at Czech public universities under this arrangement.

The programme is jointly coordinated by three government bodies:

1. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS)
2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
3. The Ministry of Health (which supports implementation in relevant fields)

It currently operates under Government Resolution No. 870, adopted on 27 November 2024, which sets out the legal and administrative framework for how scholarships are awarded each academic cycle.

Unlike many exchange or short-term scholarship schemes, this programme funds the entire standard duration of a degree, meaning students are supported from the start of their studies through to graduation, provided they maintain satisfactory academic progress.

Who Can Apply? Eligible Countries for 2027/2028

Not every nationality qualifies. The scholarship is reserved exclusively for citizens of countries that the Czech government has designated as priority partners in development cooperation. For the upcoming academic year, applicants must hold citizenship of one of the following countries:

1. Bosnia and Herzegovina
2. Georgia
3. Ukraine
4. Belarus (specifically democratic forces)
5. Ethiopia
6. Gabon
7. Mauritania
8. Zambia
9. Bangladesh
10. Cambodia
11. Palestine
12. Guatemala
13. Honduras

It is worth noting an important restriction: citizens of the Czech Republic, other European Union member states, or foreign nationals holding permanent residency in the Czech Republic are not eligible to apply, regardless of their country of origin. The programme is designed strictly to benefit nationals of the listed developing countries who do not already have settled status in the Czech Republic or the EU.

Applicants should also keep in mind that scholarship award is not a legal entitlement. Meeting the eligibility criteria makes a candidate eligible to compete for a place, but it does not guarantee selection, as the number of scholarships awarded each year is limited.

Study Programmes and Language Tracks

The scholarship structure varies depending on the applicant's country of origin and the language of instruction chosen. There are two main tracks:

Programmes Taught in Czech

This track is available only to applicants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, and Belarus. It covers two-year follow-up Master's degree programmes in a specific list of approved subject areas.

Because these programmes are delivered in Czech, successful applicants first complete a one-year preparatory course in the Czech language, which is included as part of the scholarship package. This intensive language course is delivered by the Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies at Charles University, one of the country's most respected institutions for foreign-language instruction.

Programmes Taught in English

Applicants from all thirteen eligible countries can apply for programmes delivered in English, which include:

1. Selected follow-up Master's degree programmes, typically lasting two years
2. Selected Doctoral degree programmes, typically lasting three to four years

Because these programmes are taught in English rather than Czech, there is no preparatory language year attached to them. Instead, applicants must demonstrate their English proficiency directly through a mandatory online entrance English test, completed as part of the application process.

Full lists of the approved subject areas and available degree programmes are published by the Ministry as downloadable spreadsheets, covering the Czech-taught Master's fields, English-taught Master's programmes, and English-taught Doctoral programmes for the current admissions cycle. Candidates are strongly encouraged to review these lists carefully before applying, since scholarship support is limited strictly to the subjects and programmes listed.

Academic Prerequisites for Applicants

Before applying, candidates should confirm that they meet the underlying academic qualification requirements for their intended level of study:

1. Applicants seeking a Master's-level scholarship must have already completed a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent).
2. Applicants seeking a Doctoral-level scholarship must have already completed a Master's degree (or equivalent).
3. Applicants applying for English-medium programmes must additionally pass the online English language entrance test, which verifies that their command of English is sufficient for postgraduate-level study.

These prerequisites are non-negotiable minimums; applicants who have not yet finished the relevant prior qualification by the time of application are generally not eligible to proceed.

What Does the Scholarship Actually Cover?

One of the biggest draws of this programme is how comprehensively it supports scholarship holders. Under the governing Guidelines issued alongside Government Resolution No. 870, successful applicants receive:

1. A full waiver of tuition fees for the standard length of their Master's or Doctoral programme at a Czech public university.
2. A monthly maintenance stipend intended to cover living costs while studying. Under the most recently published guidelines, this stipend was set at CZK 16,000 per month for Master's-level students and CZK 17,000 per month for Doctoral-level students, though the Ministry may adjust this figure from one cycle to the next, and the exact amount in force is always confirmed in each recipient's official Decision on Granting a Scholarship.
3. A fully funded one-year Czech language preparatory course, for those on the Czech-taught Master's track, delivered by Charles University's Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies.
4. Access to health services on broadly the same terms as Czech citizens, with the Ministry of Health covering costs of standard care; scholarship holders are still responsible for any treatment beyond standard coverage.
5. Support with settling in, including registration assistance on arrival through the International Student Office for those starting the Czech-language preparatory year.

It's worth being clear about what the stipend is meant to cover: the scholarship holder, not the Ministry, is responsible for paying rent, food, and public transport costs out of the monthly stipend, on the same basis as domestic Czech students. Travel costs to and from the Czech Republic, both at the start and end of the study period, are also the student's own responsibility (or that of the sponsoring body that nominated them), rather than being covered by the scholarship itself.

Because a scholarship funds a specific programme at a specific university for a specific standard length of study, it cannot be transferred to another person, extended informally, or shifted to a different course, university, or language of instruction once granted. Students who exceed the standard length of study - for example, by repeating a year - lose their scholarship-holder status and become liable for the same fees a Czech student would pay to continue studying.

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How to Apply: Step-by-Step Process

The entire application procedure is conducted electronically through the StudyIn.gov.cz portal. Here is how the process generally works:

1. Register on the application portal. Each applicant may register only once and may submit only a single application, so accuracy from the outset is essential.
2. Complete the electronic application form, providing personal, academic, and programme-preference details.
3. Write a motivation letter. This is a mandatory component, and the application is not considered complete without it.
4. Complete the required test(s). All applicants must sit the general study prerequisites test. Those applying for English-taught programmes must also complete the English proficiency test.
5. Submit before the deadline. The portal is open from 21 August 2026 and closes on 30 September 2026. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.

Successful candidates will begin their studies at the start of the 2027/2028 academic year. Given the volume of applicants each cycle, candidates are advised to begin preparing supporting documents, language test readiness, and their motivation letter well ahead of the closing date rather than waiting until the final days of the window.

Key Reference Documents

Before submitting an application, candidates should download and carefully read the official "Guidelines for Granting Scholarships of the Government of the Czech Republic," available in both Czech and English directly from the Ministry's website. These guidelines are the binding reference document for the programme and cover details such as scholarship value, renewal conditions, academic performance requirements, and grounds for termination of funding.

A separate FAQ document, also published by the Ministry, addresses many of the practical questions applicants commonly raise during the application period. If a question remains unanswered after reviewing the guidelines and FAQ, applicants can contact the programme administrator directly at registr@dzs.cz.

Data Protection and Applicant Privacy

As with any government application process involving personal data, applicants should review how their information will be processed. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, along with its subordinate agency, the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS), publishes detailed privacy notices in compliance with EU GDPR regulations. Prospective applicants are encouraged to review these notices before submitting any personal or academic information through the portal.

Other Study and Scholarship Opportunities in the Czech Republic

Beyond this development-cooperation scholarship, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports offers several related opportunities worth exploring, particularly for applicants interested in Czech language and culture or in broader study options for the coming academic year:

1. The Summer Schools of Slavonic Studies programme, aimed at students and academics interested in Czech language, literature, and culture through short-term intensive courses.
2. The Scholarships for the Academic Year 2026/27 page, which lists additional government scholarship opportunities open across different applicant categories.
3. The Czech for Foreigners initiative, designed for non-native speakers who want structured support in learning the Czech language, which can be a useful stepping stone for those planning to later apply for Czech-taught degree programmes.

Applicants comparing their options across Europe may also want to look at the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, another fully funded government-backed programme that supports international students and researchers, this time in Switzerland. It can be a useful benchmark for candidates weighing multiple European scholarship routes before deciding where to apply.

Candidates from eligible countries who are open to studying outside Europe altogether may also find it worthwhile to explore the best scholarships to study in Saudi Arabia, which rounds up several fully funded options for Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD students in the Gulf region.

Reviewing these related pages can help applicants build a broader picture of the support available to international students in the Czech Republic, even if they are not eligible for or successful in securing this particular scholarship.

Why This Scholarship Matters

For students from developing and transitioning economies, the value of this programme extends beyond simply avoiding tuition fees. It reflects a long-standing diplomatic and educational partnership between the Czech Republic and its partner countries, built on decades of academic exchange. Graduates of the programme often go on to hold influential roles in their home countries' public institutions, healthcare systems, engineering sectors, and academic communities, reinforcing ties between the Czech Republic and the wider developing world.

For the Czech Republic, the scholarship scheme also supports its universities' internationalisation goals, bringing diverse academic talent into Czech classrooms and research labs while strengthening long-term diplomatic and economic relationships with partner nations.

Official Website Link: https://msmt.gov.cz/en/scholarships/government-scholarships-developing-countries