Study in Slovakia from Ukraine: how to enter a European university tuition-free

Why Slovakia works for school leavers from Ukraine

For Ukrainian families Slovakia is a neighbouring country with a very close language, free higher education and moderate living costs. We work with applicants from Kyiv, Lviv, Uzhhorod, Odesa, Dnipro and Kharkiv — and with those already in Slovakia under temporary protection. The path is much the same for everyone; only the residence status differs.

Where students from Ukraine go: universities, colleges, fields

After grade 11 — bachelor's programmes: IT and engineering, economics and management, medicine and pharmacy, psychology, education, international relations, design. Strong public universities are Comenius University and the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, the Technical University and Šafárik University in Košice, the University of Prešov (the closest to the border, with a Ukrainian studies department), and the universities of Žilina, Nitra and Banská Bystrica. See the full university catalogue.

After grade 9 — gymnasiums, colleges and vocational schools ending with the Slovak «maturita»: four years of secondary education in Slovakia, after which entering a university is easier than with a foreign certificate. How it works — on the page after 9th grade.

Documents: what is specific to a Ukrainian certificate

• Certificate of complete general secondary education (11 grades) with the transcript of grades — accepted directly for bachelor's programmes.
• An apostille is usually not needed. Slovakia and Ukraine have a legal-assistance treaty under which official documents are accepted without legalisation. A notarised copy is normally enough — but we check the practice of the particular authority before filing.
• Sworn translation into Slovak is done in Slovakia by a translator from the register of the Slovak Ministry of Justice — a translation made in Ukraine is not accepted.
• Nostrification — recognition of the certificate by the regional education authority; steps and timelines are in the nostrification guide. Simplified procedures have applied since 2022 for those unable to obtain original documents — check whether they cover your case.
• Criminal record certificate — needed for a residence permit (not for temporary protection); ordered online via Diia or the Ministry of Internal Affairs and valid for a limited period.
• Biometric passport — for visa-free entry and for filing documents; check that it stays valid well beyond your planned stay.
• For a master's — the bachelor's diploma with transcript and a translation; recognition is done by the university itself.

Status: temporary protection or residence for the purpose of study

This is the main difference of the route from Ukraine. Citizens of Ukraine enter Slovakia without a visa (up to 90 days on a biometric passport), and there are two lawful statuses for studying — we help you choose the one that fits your case.

1. Admission decision

   The university issues its decision (rozhodnutie o prijatí) — usually in May — June. It is required for either status.
2. Choosing the status

   If you are already in Slovakia under temporary protection, you can study on that basis; for a status independent of future EU decisions we suggest considering residence for the purpose of study. If you are in Ukraine, you file in Kyiv or Uzhhorod, or — after entering visa-free — at the Foreign Police department.
3. Processing and the residence card

   The law sets shortened deadlines for students (indicatively up to 30 days from a complete application); in practice allow 4–8 weeks. After approval come the residence card, a medical check and address registration.

Residence matters and renewals are handled by the lawyers of the AXORA group; we prepare the file together with the student and the family. The full list of what we do — in services and the FAQ.

Getting there from Ukraine and what to bring

• To Košice — the easiest option from western and central Ukraine: a train to Chop or Mukachevo, then a regional train or bus to Košice (about an hour from Uzhhorod). Košice is the country's second university city, with lower living costs than Bratislava.
• To Bratislava — overnight buses from Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa; a train to Vienna with a change (Vienna is 50 km from Bratislava, 45–60 minutes by bus to the centre); by air — from Rzeszów or Kraków to Vienna.
• Money. Cards issued by Ukrainian banks work in Slovakia; for the first weeks it is handy to have euros in cash for the housing deposit and one-off fees. Once the residence card is issued, the student opens an account with a Slovak bank.
• Documents in hand luggage. The original certificate, the university decision, insurance and proof of accommodation — you will need them at the Foreign Police and at university enrolment.
• Leaving Ukraine. Border-crossing rules for men of conscription age have changed more than once — check the current rules on the State Border Guard Service website before planning the trip.

Deadlines: admission calendar for 2027

The calendar below is the typical cycle for an applicant from Ukraine. Key points: Slovak from autumn, nostrification in winter, university applications by the end of March — April, the residence question in summer, moving in at the end of August.

Budget: what a year costs a family from Ukraine

The total for a 10-month academic year is roughly 4,500–8,000 € in Bratislava and 3,500–6,500 € in the regions. The cost calculator gives a closer figure for your city and housing type; the Smart Study support fee is quoted at the consultation.

FAQ