Government Scholarships for International Students in Czechia 2027/2028

The Czech Government Scholarships for international students are among the strongest funding opportunities for students who want to complete a postgraduate degree in Czechia. The main government programme can cover tuition fees, provide a monthly living allowance and offer healthcare support during the standard period of study.

Applications for the 2027/2028 academic year are currently open, with a deadline of September 30, 2026. However, these scholarships are not available to every nationality. Applicants must carefully check the official list of eligible countries before preparing an application.

What Is the Czech Government Scholarship?

The Czech Government Scholarship is funded through the country’s Foreign Development Cooperation programme.

It is jointly administered by the:

• Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Czech National Agency for International Education and Research.
• Ministry of Health for relevant healthcare arrangements.

More than 20,000 international students have completed studies at Czech universities through government scholarships since the programme began supporting foreign students in the late 1950s.

Czech Government Scholarship 2027/2028 at a Glance

For the current application cycle:

• Host country: Czechia.
• Academic year: 2027/2028.
• Funding: Czech Government.
• Study level: Follow-up Master’s and PhD.
• Study mode: Full-time.
• Host institutions: Czech public universities.
• Application deadline: September 30, 2026.
• Master’s stipend: CZK 16,000 per month.
• PhD stipend: CZK 24,960 per month.
• Tuition fees: Paid by the Czech Government for scholarship holders.
• Application: Online through the official Study in Czechia portal.

Which Countries Are Eligible in 2027/2028?

This is one of the most important eligibility conditions. The Czech Government does not currently accept applications from international students of every nationality.

For the 2027/2028 academic year, eligible applicants must be citizens of:

• Bangladesh.
• Belarus – democratic forces/opposition.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Cambodia.
• Ethiopia.
• Gabon.
• Georgia.
• Guatemala.
• Honduras.
• Mauritania.
• Palestine.
• Ukraine.
• Zambia.

The official country list can change between application cycles, so students planning to apply in later years should check the Ministry’s latest announcement.

What Degree Levels Are Covered?

Master’s Scholarships in English

International students from all currently eligible countries can apply for selected follow-up Master’s programmes taught in English.

A follow-up Master’s degree normally requires applicants to have already completed a Bachelor’s degree.

Selected Master’s programmes under the scholarship are generally two years long.

PhD Scholarships in English

Applicants can also apply for selected doctoral programmes taught in English.

To qualify, students must already hold a relevant Master’s degree.

Doctoral programmes supported by the government scholarship generally have a standard duration of approximately three to four years.

Master’s Scholarships in Czech

There is also a Czech-language route, but it is available only to applicants from:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Georgia.
• Ukraine.
• Belarus – democratic forces.

Selected students receive a one-year Czech language and professional preparation course before beginning their follow-up Master’s programme.

The preparatory course is included within the scholarship period.

How Much Is the Czech Government Scholarship?

One of the biggest advantages of this programme is the monthly stipend.

The current official scholarship amounts are:

• CZK 16,000 per month for follow-up Master’s students.
• CZK 24,960 per month for doctoral students.

The scholarship is normally paid monthly by the host university after the student arrives in Czechia and is admitted to the relevant faculty.

The Ministry may change scholarship amounts, so applicants should always check the official scholarship decision applicable to their study year.

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

The Czech Government Scholarship is intended to cover essential study and living expenses.

Major benefits include:

• Tuition fees paid by the Czech Government.
• Monthly living allowance.
• Access to student dormitories where available.
• Access to subsidized student canteens.
• Healthcare under the conditions of the government scholarship programme.
• Funding for the standard period of the approved programme.

Students should note that accommodation, meals and public transportation are normally paid from the monthly scholarship, rather than being provided as separate cash benefits.

Personal expenses and some costs outside the scholarship conditions may still need to be paid by the student.

Who Cannot Apply?

According to the current rules, the scholarship is not available to:

• Czech citizens.
• Citizens of European Union countries.
• Foreign nationals holding permanent residence in Czechia.
• Applicants whose nationality is not included in the current eligible-country list.

For the 2027/2028 call, applicants under the development cooperation programme must also satisfy the conditions attached to their selected study route.

Documents and Requirements

The exact documentation can depend on the application stage and degree programme, but applicants should be prepared to provide information or documents relating to:

• Passport or travel document.
• Previous university education.
• Bachelor’s diploma for Master’s applicants.
• Master’s qualification for PhD applicants.
• Academic transcripts.
• Motivation letter.
• Previous study or research stays abroad.
• Medical documentation when requested.
• Other documents required for recognition of foreign education.

Applicants should prepare these documents early because certified copies or additional academic documentation may be required later in the selection process.

Is IELTS Required?

An IELTS certificate is not automatically listed as the only way to qualify for the Czech Government Scholarship.

Applicants seeking a scholarship for an English-taught programme must complete the compulsory online English-language test during the scholarship application process.

They must also complete the general academic aptitude test.

The application is considered complete only after the required tests and motivation letter have been submitted.

This distinction is important for students searching for Czech scholarships without IELTS: the government scholarship may not specifically require IELTS itself, but applicants still need to demonstrate adequate English and satisfy any language requirements imposed by the selected university.

How to Apply for the Czech Government Scholarship

The application process begins online.

Applicants should:

1. Create an account on the official Study in Czechia scholarship portal.
2. Select the appropriate Foreign Development Cooperation scholarship call.
3. Complete the online application.
4. Select the available study programme or study route.
5. Complete the motivation letter.
6. Take the required general academic aptitude test.
7. Complete the English test when applying for English-language studies.
8. Submit the application before the official deadline.
9. Follow instructions from the Czech authorities or embassy if selected for the next stage.

Each candidate may submit only one government scholarship application during the current call.

Application Deadline for 2027/2028

The current application period runs from August 21 to September 30, 2026.

Successful candidates will begin their studies during the 2027/2028 academic year.

Because September 30 is a strict deadline, applicants should avoid waiting until the final days to complete the required tests and documents.

Bilateral Czech Government Scholarships

Czechia also provides scholarships through bilateral international agreements with selected countries.

These opportunities are usually intended for university students, graduates, doctoral students and, in some cases, academic or research staff who want to undertake a study or research stay at a Czech public university.

Unlike the development scholarship described above, candidates normally cannot apply directly to the Czech Ministry. They must generally be officially nominated by the competent authority in their home country.

Applications for the 2026/2027 bilateral cycle have already closed, and the Czech Ministry states that information for 2027/2028 is expected to be announced in autumn 2026.

Final Thoughts

The Government Scholarships for International Students in Czechia can provide substantial financial support for eligible Master’s and PhD students. With tuition fees covered and monthly stipends reaching CZK 16,000 for Master’s students and CZK 24,960 for PhD students, the programme can significantly reduce the cost of studying abroad.

The key limitation is nationality eligibility. Students should therefore verify that their country appears on the current official list before spending time preparing an application.

For the 2027/2028 intake, applications close on September 30, 2026, making early preparation especially important.

Official Sources

• Czech Ministry of Education – Government Scholarships for Developing Countries
• Study in Czechia – Government Scholarship in English
• Study in Czechia – Government Scholarship in Czech
• Czech National Agency for International Education – Study Opportunities for Foreigners
• Czech Ministry of Education – Bilateral Scholarships