Government Scholarships – Developing Countries
General Information
Granting scholarships to citizens from developing countries for studies at Czech public higher education institutions (referred to as “universities”) 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.
Government scholarships for studies at universities in the Czech Republic are governed by a Resolution of the Government of the Czech Republic No. 77 as of 28th January 2019 as part of a joint foreign development cooperation program pursued by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (https://msmt.gov.cz/) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (https://mzv.gov.cz/), implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Health (https://mzd.gov.cz/).
Eligible Countries and Study Programmes
Scholarships for the academic year 2025/2026 are offered only to the citizens of the following countries:
- Bosnia and Herzegovina,
- Cambodia,
- Ethiopia,
- Georgia,
- Moldova,
- Ukraine,
- and Zambia,
- Belarus (democratic forces).
The scholarships are dedicated solely to promoting the studies of foreign nationals from developing and specific third countries. 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, therefore, apply for a scholarship.
These so-called Government Scholarships are designed to cover the standard length of study:
- in Czech-medium Follow-up Master study programmes plus a one-year-long preparatory course of the Czech language (which is combined with other field-specific training). Government scholarships of this category are awarded to graduates of Bachelor’s degree programmes. They can enrol only in study programmes from selected areas of study in which instruction is given in the Czech language. Depending on the subject area, applicants are normally required to sit entrance examinations at the university concerned. Successful passing of entrance examinations constitutes a precondition for a scholarship award;
- in English-medium Follow-up Master study programmes or Doctoral study programmes. Government scholarships of this category are awarded to graduates from Bachelor or Master study programmes, respectively, who enrol in study programmes with instruction in the English language.
Application and submission deadline
Each applicant is obliged to fill in an electronic application form at the latest by 30 September 2024. The successful applicant starts studying in the academic year 2025/2026.
