Czech Government Scholarships for Developing Countries 2027–2028

The Czech Government Scholarship is a fully funded award for citizens of 13 developing countries to study a follow-up Master’s or a Doctoral programme at a Czech public university. It is part of the foreign development cooperation of the Czech Republic, run jointly by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. The 2027/2028 round has closed.

Overview

Granting scholarships to citizens from developing countries for studies at Czech public higher education institutions is an important part of the foreign development cooperation of the Czech Republic and has a long tradition: from the late 1950s to the present day, over 20,000 foreign nationals have completed their studies at Czech universities with a scholarship of the Government of the Czech Republic. The scholarships are governed by Government Resolution No. 870 of 27 November 2024 and are granted to support the standard length of full-time study — follow-up Master’s programmes (two-year-long) and Doctoral programmes (three- to four-year-long) in English, and follow-up Master’s programmes in Czech preceded by a one-year preparatory Czech course. There is no legal claim to a scholarship award.

Scholarship Benefits

The scholarship is intended to cover the necessary costs related to staying and studying in the Czech Republic. It amounts to CZK 16,000 per month for students of a follow-up Master’s study programme and CZK 24,960 per month for students of a Doctoral study programme (2027/2028, per the binding Guidelines issued in August 2026; the amount may be adjusted by a decision of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports). Accommodation, food and public transport are covered by the scholarship holders from the scholarship, under the same conditions that apply to students who are citizens of the Czech Republic. Health services are reimbursed by the Ministry of Health, and scholarship holders are provided with health services to the same extent and under the same conditions as Czech insured persons.

What it does NOT cover: travel expenses for travelling to the Czech Republic and back to the student’s home country after graduation are paid by the student or by the party that nominated the student — they are not covered by the scholarship. Health services exceeding standard care are paid by the scholarship holder. Students should count on initial costs of approximately CZK 5,000 to CZK 8,000 from their own funds on arrival, for administrative fees, public transport and other costs of adapting to a new environment.

Eligibility Criteria

Government scholarships for the academic year 2027/2028 are offered only to the citizens of the following 13 countries: Bangladesh, Belarus (democratic forces), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Gabon, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mauritania, Palestine, Ukraine and Zambia. Neither a citizen of the Czech Republic, nor a citizen of the European Union, nor any other foreign national with a permanent residence permit in the territory of the Czech Republic may apply for a scholarship of this type.

The condition for a scholarship for a follow-up Master’s study programme is the completion of a Bachelor’s study programme; for a Doctoral study programme, the completion of a Master’s study programme. An applicant for a scholarship for English-medium studies must sit an online entrance English language test in the course of the application submission. The Czech-language track (follow-up Master’s in selected areas of study, preceded by a one-year preparatory Czech course at the Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies, Charles University) is open only to applicants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus. Each applicant can register once and submit only one application. Applicants who are already regular students enrolled at a Czech university at the application deadline may apply, but their applications are assessed only after applications submitted by applicants from abroad have been considered.

Available Fields

Selected follow-up Master’s study programmes (two-year-long) and selected Doctoral study programmes (three- to four-year-long) pursued in the English language, open to applicants from all 13 eligible countries. Follow-up Master’s study programmes pursued in the Czech language, in selected areas of study, are open to applicants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus. The list of selected study programmes is published on the Ministry’s page and is updated for every academic year in spring. There are no Doctoral study programmes in the Czech language under this scholarship.

Required Documents

For a follow-up Master’s programme: a motivation letter of one A4 page, with emphasis on the practical application of the learning and the benefit to the applicant’s country of origin after graduation; a CV with a focus on studies and employment; a photocopy of the passport, if issued; the Declaration about the Acceptance of the Terms and Conditions Governing the Granting of Scholarships, signed by hand; the Declaration about the Acceptance of the Terms and Conditions Governing the Provision of Health Services, signed by hand; the Affirmation on Return to the Country of Origin upon Completion of Studies, signed by hand; a legalised copy of the birth certificate with a certified translation into the Czech language; a medical confirmation about the applicant’s health no more than two months old, with a certified translation into English or Czech; a legalised copy of the Bachelor’s diploma, including the Diploma Supplement, with apostille or superlegalisation and a certified translation into the Czech language; a list of completed subjects and examinations including their scope and grades (for applicants with an incomplete Bachelor’s degree); additional information proving that the completed study programme was provided by an institution entitled to provide university education, with a certified translation into Czech; and additional information about the content of the foreign university education.

For a Doctoral programme pursued in English: the same core documents, with a motivation letter of two A4 pages describing the issues the applicant intends to focus on in the doctoral study programme, with emphasis on the practical application of the learning and the benefit to the applicant’s country of origin after graduation. Documents are submitted through the online portal; only the printed and personally signed application (with a current photograph) and proof of the highest level of education achieved are also submitted in paper form, on instruction from the Embassy. Incomplete applications are not accepted for further consideration.

Application Process

1. Submit the electronic application form at https://www.studying.gov.cz/ by 30 September 2026, within the relevant call under the Foreign Development Cooperation programme (or via the “Submit Application” link after registration on the portal).
2. Complete the motivation letter and the mandatory tests. The application is complete only after the motivation letter has been submitted and all mandatory tests have been completed: applicants for studies in the Czech language take only the General Study Prerequisites Test, while applicants for studies in the English language also take the English Language Test.
3. Embassy interview: after evaluating the applications, the Embassy of the Czech Republic responsible for the country asks the selected applicants to attend an interview and upload or submit the required documents, by a deadline set by the Embassy.
4. Decision: final proposals for the award of scholarships are forwarded to the Czech Republic for further consideration in January 2027. The decision on granting the scholarship is delivered to successful applicants through the respective Embassy by the end of June 2027. Successful applicants start studying in the academic year 2027/2028.

Important Dates

Applications for the 2027/2028 round closed on 30 September 2026. The next cycle has not been published yet — check the official page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Czech Government Scholarship worth?

CZK 16,000 per month for a follow-up Master’s programme and CZK 24,960 per month for a Doctoral programme (2027/2028), intended to cover the necessary costs of staying and studying in the Czech Republic.

Which countries are eligible?

Only citizens of the 13 countries listed in the Eligibility Criteria: Bangladesh, Belarus (democratic forces), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Gabon, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mauritania, Palestine, Ukraine and Zambia. Citizens of the Czech Republic, EU citizens and permanent residents of the Czech Republic cannot apply.

Does the scholarship cover travel to the Czech Republic?

No. Travel to the Czech Republic and back home after graduation is paid by the student or by the nominating party. Students should also budget around CZK 5,000–8,000 of their own funds for initial costs on arrival.

Is there an interview?

Yes. After the applications are evaluated, the responsible Czech Embassy invites selected applicants to an interview and asks them to submit the required documents, by a deadline set by the Embassy.

Can I apply if I am already studying at a Czech university?

Yes, but such applications are assessed only after applications from abroad have been considered, and additional paper documents (a printed, personally signed application and a current confirmation of studies) must be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by 20 December 2026.

Official source: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports — Government Scholarships – Developing Countries