EN

Admission deadlines in Slovakia 2027: a calendar by university

When to file your documents so you can start studying in Slovakia in September 2027: a month-by-month calendar, indicative application deadlines for the main universities — Comenius University, STU, TUKE, UPJŠ, EUBA and others — plus separate dates for grammar schools and colleges after 9th grade. Admission conditions for 2027/28 are published in autumn 2026, so the tables here follow the 2026/27 cycle and will be updated.
Updated: ·Author: Smart Study team, admission coordinators·Reviewed by: Smart Study coordinator, 3 Sep 2026
deadlines2027after high schoolafter 9th grade

In short: the key dates of the 2027 cycle

WhenWhatWho it applies to
November 2026 – January 2027Deadlines at creative faculties (architecture, design, music) — portfolio includedAfter high school
January – February 2027Recognition of the school certificate, sworn translationsAfter high school
By 20 February 2027Applications to all grammar schools, colleges and vocational schools — including schools with a talent exam (bilingual grammar schools, art and sports schools)After 9th grade
End of February 2027Deadline at medical facultiesAfter high school
22 and 31 March 2027Talent exams at secondary schools (sports: 15–31 March)After 9th grade
31 March – 30 April 2027Main deadline at most faculties (bachelor's, first round)After high school
3 and 10 May 2027Entrance exams at secondary schools (two dates); results in early June, second round on 22–23 JuneAfter 9th grade
May – June 2027University entrance exams and admission decisions; dormitory applicationsAfter high school
June – July 2027Filing for temporary residence for the purpose of studyEveryone
June – August 2027Second admission round at some facultiesAfter high school
September 2027Enrolment (zápis) and the start of the academic yearEveryone
About the dates
Every faculty sets its own deadlines and they change from year to year. Admission conditions for 2027/28 are published between September and December 2026. The tables below follow the 2026/27 cycle as a planning reference; before you apply, check the date on the faculty website or at portalvs.sk. Students we support get a personal reminder before every deadline.
Let us check your dates

Deadlines differ by university, programme and the country where you get your school certificate. Write to us and we will map the calendar to your case and tell you what to start right now.

Review my case

The admission calendar month by month

The overall cycle, from choosing a university to enrolment. The same calendar appears on the pages admission after high school and admission after 9th grade, filtered by age group.

Admission calendar for the 2027/2028 academic year

  1. September — December
    Choose the university and programme, start learning Slovak
    The earlier you start the language, the calmer the spring: A2 by the application, B1 by enrolment.
  2. January — February
    Translation and nostrification of the school certificate
    We file the recognition application so that by the university deadline there is a decision — or at least a proof of filing.
    after 11th grade
  3. By 20 February
    Applications to grammar schools, colleges and vocational schools — including schools with a talent exam
    Single statutory deadline under § 63 of the Education Act for all secondary schools; talent fields are listed in the same prihláška.
    after 9th grade
  4. End of February
    Deadline of medical faculties
    Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy — the earliest deadlines and entrance tests in biology and chemistry (check the faculty website).
    after 11th grade
  5. 22 and 31 March
    Talent exams at secondary schools
    Bilingual grammar schools, arts; sports: 15–31 March (check the school website).
    after 9th grade
  6. 31 March — 30 April
    Application deadline at most universities (bachelor's)
    Some faculties run a second round in summer — but places and dormitories are allocated in the first.
    after 11th grade
  7. May
    Entrance tests at secondary schools
    Two dates — 3 and 10 May; results in early June, then enrolment at the school; second round for remaining places on 22–23 June.
    after 9th grade
  8. May — June
    Entrance exams and admission decisions
    Many faculties admit without exams — based on the certificate; the decision arrives by post or in the online account.
    after 11th grade
  9. June — July
    Applying for the visa / temporary residence for the purpose of study
    You need the admission decision, passport and criminal record certificate; the consulate may ask for a bank statement, and insurance is arranged after the card is issued. Processing takes up to 30 days — do not delay.
  10. August
    Dormitory and the move
    Dormitory places are allocated, insurance arranged, tickets bought.
  11. September
    Enrolment (zápis) and the start of the academic year
    Personal attendance at enrolment is required; the academic year starts in mid — late September.

Approximate dates for the 2027/2028 academic year: every university and school sets its own — check the official website before applying.

Sources: university websites, portalvs.sk (Termíny), the Education Act (Act 245/2008 Coll.) — checked 08/2026.

Indicative application deadlines by university (bachelor's)

Based on the 2026/27 cycle — check the 2027/28 admission conditions on the faculty website
UniversityCityTypical first-round deadlineNotes
Comenius University (UK)Bratislava, MartinMedicine and pharmacy — end of February / March; most faculties — 31 March; some — until 30 AprilMedical faculties run entrance tests; FiF, FMFI, FM, PdF and FSEV mostly admit without an exam or with a test; e-prihláška is faculty by faculty
Slovak University of Technology (STU)Bratislava, TrnavaSvF — 31 March (second round until early August); FIIT — 31 March (exam in April); FEI — 31 March (second round until 30 June); MTF — 30 April (second round until 31 July); FAD — 30 November plus a talent examEngineering faculties admit on the school certificate; FIIT and FAD run a competitive selection or exam
Technical University of Košice (TUKE)KošiceApril – May; some faculties until the end of June, with a second round in summerMost faculties admit on the school certificate
Pavol Jozef Šafárik University (UPJŠ)KošiceMedicine — end of February; other faculties — March to MayLF UPJŠ runs tests; FF, PF and FVS — cross-check
University of Economics (EUBA)BratislavaUntil 30 AprilAdmission on the certificate or a test; marketing and finance are competitive
University of Prešov (UNIPO)PrešovMarch – AprilSome faculties close at the end of February
Matej Bel University (UMB)Banská Bystrica31 March – 30 AprilSecond round in summer
Constantine the Philosopher University (UKF)Nitra31 MarchTeacher training, humanities, natural sciences
University of Žilina (UNIZA)Žilina31 March – 30 AprilTransport, IT, engineering; second round
Slovak University of Agriculture (SPU)Nitra31 March – 30 AprilSecond round in summer
University of Veterinary Medicine (UVLF)KošiceMarchBiology and chemistry exam
Slovak Medical University (SZU)BratislavaEnd of FebruaryMedicine, nursing
VŠVU, VŠMU (arts)BratislavaNovember – JanuaryTalent exams in winter

Full profiles with faculties, exams and documents are in the university catalogue. You may submit several applications — we suggest 2–3 to different faculties so that you do not depend on a single selection process.

Deadlines for grammar schools and colleges after 9th grade

DeadlineWhat happensComment
By 20 February 2027Applications to all grammar schools, colleges (SOŠ) and vocational schools — including schools with a talent examSingle date under § 63 of the school act; talent fields are listed in the same prihláška; international applicants apply directly to the school
22 and 31 March 2027Talent examsBilingual grammar schools, art schools; sports: 15–31 March
3 and 10 May 2027Entrance exams (two dates)Slovak language and mathematics, or a specialist subject; international applicants often have an interview instead
Early June 2027Admission decisions, enrolment at the school; second round for remaining places — exam on 22–23 JuneBinding confirmation of the place (záväzné potvrdenie) by the date in the decision
June – July 2027Residence permit for a minor, appointment of a legal representative, school dormitory (školský internát)See the page on admission after 9th grade
After grade 9: make the 20 February deadline

Secondary schools accept applications until 20 February, while recognition of education and paperwork take months. Tell us the student's grade and your country and we will build a month-by-month plan.

Build my plan

Countdown: what to do each month

  1. September – October 2026

    Choose your field and 2–3 universities, and start Slovak (A2 by spring, B1 by September). Check whether your certificate needs an apostille.
  2. November – December 2026

    Creative faculties: apply. Everyone else: collect the certificate or school confirmation, notarised copies and the apostille at home. Admission conditions for 2027/28 come out — fix the exact dates.
  3. January – February 2027

    Sworn translations and recognition by the regional education office (RÚŠS). Secondary schools after 9th grade: applications by 20 February (single deadline, talent schools included). Applications to medical faculties close at the end of February.
  4. March – April 2027

    The main wave of e-prihlášky: 31 March and 30 April. Talent exams at secondary schools: 22 and 31 March. Pay the fees and monitor the statuses.
  5. May – June 2027

    Exams and interviews, admission decisions, dormitory applications. Prepare the residence permit file: criminal record certificate, passport, admission decision (the consulate may ask for a bank statement; insurance is arranged after the card is issued).
  6. June – July 2027

    File for temporary residence for the purpose of study (up to 30 days of processing). Second admission round for those who missed out in the first.
  7. August 2027

    D visa, tickets, moving into the dormitory, insurance.
  8. September 2027

    Report to the police, collect the residence card, enrol (zápis), first day of classes.

Deadlines that are easy to forget

  • Up to 2 months — statutory processing time for recognition at the regional education office (realistically allow 2–3 months including the translation); 30 days — processing of the residence permit application. Exams and admission fall in between, so the year cannot be compressed.
  • 90 days — the "shelf life" of certificates for the residence permit (criminal record, proof of purpose) on the filing date.
  • 3 working days after arrival — report to the police; 30 days — the medical report.
  • Dormitory application — the date is in your admission letter or on the dormitory website; miss it and you are on the waiting list.
  • The second round runs until August at some faculties, but dormitory places and scholarships are allocated on the first round.

All three sets of documents, in the order they are prepared, are in the document checklist; the housing and budget side is in the guide to dormitories and the cost of living.

FAQ

When should I apply to start studying in Slovakia in 2027?

The main wave of university applications runs from 31 March to 30 April 2027 (medical faculties close at the end of February, creative faculties from November to January). Grammar schools and colleges after 9th grade take applications until 20 February 2027 (a single deadline that includes talent schools; talent exams on 22 and 31 March, regular exams on 3 and 10 May). Recognition and translations are done in January and February, the residence permit in June and July.

Is there a second admission round?

At many faculties, yes — in summer (June to August), if places are left. But dormitory places, scholarships and a comfortable residence permit schedule all follow the first round, so treat the second round as a plan B rather than a strategy.

When do universities publish the 2027/28 admission conditions?

Usually between September and December 2026: the law requires a university to publish its admission conditions a set period before the deadline. Once they are out, we update the table and remind our students of the exact dates.

Is February too late to start?

For faculties with a 30 April deadline it is tight: up to 2 months of processing at the RÚŠS plus the translation and, where needed, the apostille. For medicine, with its February deadline, it is already too late.

What if I miss 20 February for a secondary school?

Some schools run an additional intake in summer for the places left, though the strongest grammar schools and colleges rarely do. We check with the specific school; sometimes the answer is a preparatory year with language study and a new application.

Is the university deadline the date of sending or of receipt?

For the e-prihláška it is the date of submission and payment in the system (and sometimes the payment has to arrive by the deadline). If the faculty requires a paper copy as well, the postmark date normally counts. We send everything 1–2 weeks early so there is nothing to argue about.
Would you rather not track the dates yourself?

We build a personal calendar for your university and country, remind you before every deadline and file your documents on time. Leave your contact and we will start with a free consultation.

Get a consultation

Sources

  1. Portál VŠ — Termíny podania prihlášok (2026-08)
  2. Comenius University — electronic application 2026/2027 (2026-08)
  3. STU — admission conditions for the 2026/2027 academic year (2026-08)
  4. University of Economics in Bratislava — bachelor's applications (2026-08)
  5. Zákon č. 245/2008 Z. z. (school act) — §63, §66 admission to secondary schools (2026-08)
  6. Zákon č. 300/2025 Z. z. o vysokých školách — admission procedure (§ 67, § 69) (2026-08)

Your European education starts here!
Get a free consultation

Smart Study consultation on admission to Slovakia
For over 5 years our team has been opening the doors of European education to students from many countries, supporting them at every step — from choosing a school to the move itself. With us, students are in safe hands and start their studies in Europe with confidence.
Leave your details and our team will contact you for a free consultation. We'll go through your case, name the deadlines that apply to you and tell you what to do in the coming month.
How should we contact you?
Where are you from?

Our contacts

Get in touch in whatever way suits you — we are always available and ready to help you take the first step towards studying in Slovakia
Phone: +421 952 380 383
Email: info@smartstudy.sk

"A European education is closer
than you think"