Czech Government Scholarships 2027–2028: Eligibility, Benefits & How to Apply

The Czech Government Scholarships 2027–2028 are government-funded study opportunities for citizens of selected developing and specific countries who want to pursue higher education at public universities in the Czech Republic.

For the 2027–2028 academic year, applications opened on 21 August 2026 and must be submitted by 30 September 2026. The programme supports selected follow-up Master’s programmes and Doctoral programmes taught in English, as well as selected Master’s programmes in Czech preceded by a one-year language and preparatory course.

Opportunity Overview

Detail	Information
Scholarship Name	Government Scholarships of the Czech Republic
Host Country	Czech Republic
Host Institutions	Public higher education institutions in the Czech Republic
Academic Year	2027–2028
Study Levels	Follow-up Master’s and Doctoral
Study Languages	Czech and English
Eligible Countries	13 countries/specific groups listed below
Master’s Duration	Normally 2 years in English; Czech programmes may be 2–3 years after preparation
Doctoral Duration	3–4 years
Czech Preparatory Course	1 year for eligible Czech-medium applicants
Master’s Scholarship	CZK 16,000 per month currently
Doctoral Scholarship	CZK 24,960 per month currently
Application Opens	21 August 2026
Application Deadline	30 September 2026
Study Start	Academic year 2027–2028
Application Portal	Study in Czechia government portal

The scholarship amounts are based on the current August 2026 Guidelines and may be adjusted by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

What Are the Czech Government Scholarships?

The Czech Government Scholarship Programme is part of the Czech Republic’s foreign development cooperation. It is administered through cooperation between the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other Czech institutions.

The programme has a long history. According to the Ministry, more than 20,000 foreign nationals have completed studies at Czech universities with support from Czech Government Scholarships since the late 1950s.

For 2027–2028, the scholarship is available only to citizens of countries specifically included in the annual call.

The programme is therefore not a general scholarship open to students from every developing country.

Study Levels and Programmes

The 2027–2028 programme has different options depending on the study language.

English-Taught Master’s Programmes

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

These programmes normally have a standard duration of two years.

Applicants must already have completed a Bachelor’s degree before being awarded a scholarship for a follow-up Master’s programme.

English-Taught Doctoral Programmes

Selected Doctoral programmes taught in English are also available.

The standard duration is generally three to four years.

Applicants must have completed a Master’s degree to qualify for a Doctoral scholarship.

Czech-Taught Master’s Programmes

Selected applicants can also study a follow-up Master’s programme in Czech.

For applicants who need language preparation, the scholarship includes a one-year Czech language and preparatory course at the Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies of Charles University.

The Czech-medium route is available only to applicants from the countries specified for this option, and the annual scholarship offer determines the relevant study areas.

Applicants who already have Czech language skills at approximately B2 level under the CEFR may not need the one-year preparatory course, but they must meet the additional admission requirements of the selected Czech public university.

Benefits and Funding

The Czech Government Scholarship provides a monthly financial allowance intended to support the necessary costs of living and studying in the Czech Republic.

According to the current 2026 Guidelines:

• Master’s students: CZK 16,000 per month
• Doctoral students: CZK 24,960 per month

The Ministry notes that these amounts may be adjusted and that the amount currently applicable to an individual recipient is stated in the scholarship decision.

What Does the Scholarship Support?

The monthly scholarship is intended to cover necessary costs connected with staying and studying in the Czech Republic.

Students use the scholarship for expenses such as:

• Accommodation
• Food
• Public transportation
• Other normal living and study expenses

The official Guidelines specifically state that accommodation, food and public transport are covered by scholarship holders from the scholarship under conditions applicable to Czech students.

Health Care

Government scholarship holders receive health services under the conditions described in the official Guidelines.

The Czech Ministry of Health reimburses eligible health services according to the applicable rules. However, students can still have certain co-payments or costs, and health services beyond standard coverage may have to be paid by the student.

Is the Scholarship Fully Funded?

It is safer not to describe this scholarship simply as “100% fully funded.”

The programme provides substantial government financial support, but the official Guidelines state that students must pay their own travel expenses to the Czech Republic and their return home after graduation, unless these costs are covered by the party that nominated them.

Applicants should also be prepared for initial expenses. The current Guidelines advise students to have approximately CZK 5,000–8,000 available for initial costs such as administrative fees, public transportation and settling into the new environment.

Eligibility Requirements

The main requirements for the 2027–2028 programme include:

For Master’s Applicants

Applicants generally need to:

• Be a citizen of one of the eligible countries.
• Have completed a Bachelor’s degree.
• Apply for an eligible follow-up Master’s programme.
• Meet the admission requirements of the selected university.
• Complete the online application.
• Submit the required motivation letter.
• Complete the mandatory tests.
• For English-medium study, take the required online English language test.

The official Ministry states that applicants for English-medium scholarships must demonstrate sufficient English ability through an online entrance English language test completed during the application process.

For Doctoral Applicants

Doctoral applicants generally need to:

• Be a citizen of an eligible country.
• Have completed a relevant Master’s degree.
• Apply for a selected English-taught Doctoral programme.
• Meet the university’s admission requirements.
• Complete the required online application and tests.
• Prepare the required academic and research documents.

The current Guidelines additionally require Doctoral applicants to provide items such as a publication overview, dissertation ideas and two recommendation letters from professors at an academic institution.

Eligible Fields of Study

The exact fields depend on the selected annual study programme list.

For English-medium applicants, the Czech Ministry publishes separate lists of selected:

• Follow-up Master’s programmes
• Doctoral programmes

Applicants should not assume that every Master’s or PhD programme at every Czech public university is covered.

The scholarship is connected to specific study programmes selected under the government scholarship scheme. The official Ministry page provides the current programme lists.

Required Documents

Applicants should begin preparing their documents early because some documents require legalisation and certified translation.

Master’s Applicants

The current Guidelines list documents including:

• Motivation letter
• CV
• Passport copy, if available
• Signed declarations required by the scholarship programme
• Affirmation concerning return to the country of origin
• Legalised birth certificate
• Recent medical confirmation
• Legalised Bachelor’s diploma and relevant academic documents
• Transcript or information about completed subjects and grades
• Information about the institution where previous higher education was completed
• Additional information about the content of the previous education

The Master’s motivation letter should be approximately one A4 page and should focus particularly on the practical application of the applicant’s future knowledge and its benefit to the applicant’s country after graduation.

Doctoral Applicants

Doctoral applicants have additional requirements, including:

• A two-page motivation letter
• CV
• Passport copy
• Required signed declarations
• Birth certificate
• Medical confirmation
• Legalised Master’s diploma and supporting academic documents
• Publication overview
• Dissertation research ideas of approximately 3–5 pages
• Two academic recommendation letters
• Evidence of relevant academic or scientific activity, where applicable

Document Legalisation and Translation

This is an important part of the application.

Foreign educational documents may need legalisation, apostille or superlegalisation depending on the country and applicable rules.

The current Guidelines state that foreign-language diplomas and other university documents generally require certified Czech translations. Documents issued directly by foreign universities in English may sometimes be accepted by public universities, but a translation can still be requested.

Practical advice: Do not wait until you are shortlisted to learn how your academic documents will be authenticated. Check the Czech Embassy responsible for your country and the university requirements as early as possible.

How to Apply for the Czech Government Scholarship

Step 1: Check Your Country

First, confirm that your nationality appears on the official 2027–2028 eligible-country list.

If your country is not listed, you cannot apply for this particular government scholarship call.

Step 2: Check the Study Programme

If you are eligible, review the official list of selected English-taught Master’s or Doctoral programmes.

Do not assume that every programme at a Czech public university is included.

Step 3: Prepare Your Documents

Start preparing your:

• Academic certificates
• Transcripts
• Passport
• CV
• Motivation letter
• Research documents, if applying for a PhD
• Recommendation letters, where required
• Medical documentation
• Legalised and translated documents

Step 4: Register Online

Applications for the 2027–2028 academic year are submitted electronically through the official Study in Czechia application system.

The application must be submitted by 30 September 2026.

Step 5: Complete the Motivation Letter and Tests

The application is not considered complete simply because an applicant has registered.

Applicants must submit the motivation letter and complete the mandatory tests.

Applicants for Czech-medium studies take the General Study Prerequisites Test.

Applicants for English-medium studies take both the General Study Prerequisites Test and the English Language Test.

Step 6: Wait for Further Selection

After applications are evaluated, selected applicants may be invited by the responsible Czech Embassy to attend an interview and provide the required documentation.

The embassy sets the deadline for the additional documentation.

The final scholarship proposals are forwarded for consideration in January 2027, while successful applicants are expected to receive the scholarship decision through the relevant Embassy by the end of June 2027.

Application Deadline

The official deadline for the Czech Government Scholarships 2027–2028 is 30 September 2026.

Applications opened on 21 August 2026.

Applicants should not wait until the final day because the application must include the motivation letter and mandatory tests.

Important Dates

Date	Event
21 August 2026	Applications open
30 September 2026	Online application deadline
January 2027	Final scholarship proposals forwarded for consideration
By end of June 2027	Successful applicants receive scholarship decisions
2027–2028 academic year	Studies begin

Important Tips for Applicants

1. Check Your Nationality First

This is the most important step. The scholarship is not open to all developing countries.

For example, Afghanistan is not eligible for the 2027–2028 call.

2. Do Not Use an Old Country List

Czech Government Scholarship eligibility can change between academic years.

Always use the current annual announcement instead of relying on an old blog post.

3. Prepare Legalised Documents Early

Degree certificates and other documents may require authentication and certified translation. These procedures can take time.

4. Write a Specific Motivation Letter

The motivation letter should explain your academic background, your reason for choosing the programme and how you intend to use your education after graduation.

The official Guidelines specifically emphasize the practical application of the education and its benefit to the applicant’s country of origin.

5. PhD Applicants Should Start Research Preparation Early

Doctoral applicants need more than a general statement of interest. The current requirements include dissertation ideas, academic recommendations and information about publication activity.

6. Keep Money for Initial Expenses

Even with government scholarship support, applicants should not assume that they will arrive with zero personal expenses.

The current Guidelines estimate initial costs of around CZK 5,000–8,000.

7. Do Not Assume Travel Is Covered

Travel to the Czech Republic and the return journey after graduation are generally the student’s responsibility unless covered by the nominating party.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Czech Government Scholarship fully funded?

The scholarship provides substantial financial support, including a monthly allowance intended to cover necessary living and study costs. However, applicants should not assume that every expense is covered. For example, international travel costs are generally the student’s responsibility.

Who can apply for the Czech Government Scholarship 2027–2028?

Only citizens of the countries listed in the official 2027–2028 call can apply. The list includes Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus (democratic forces), Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania, Zambia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Palestine, Guatemala and Honduras.

Can Afghan students apply?

No. Afghanistan is not included in the official eligible-country list for the 2027–2028 Czech Government Scholarship call.

What is the application deadline?

The deadline is 30 September 2026. Applications opened on 21 August 2026.

What degrees are available?

The 2027–2028 call supports selected follow-up Master’s programmes and Doctoral programmes in English. Selected Czech-medium follow-up Master’s programmes are also available for applicants from specified countries and are preceded by a one-year Czech language and preparatory course.

Is IELTS required?

The official programme requires applicants for English-medium scholarships to complete an online entrance English language test during the application process. The current call therefore does not simply state that an IELTS certificate is universally required for all applicants. Applicants should also check the admission requirements of their selected university and programme.

How much is the monthly scholarship?

The current Guidelines state CZK 16,000 per month for follow-up Master’s students and CZK 24,960 per month for Doctoral students. The Ministry may adjust these amounts, and the current applicable amount is stated in the scholarship decision.

Where do I apply?

Applications are submitted electronically through the official Study in Czechia government application portal under the relevant Foreign Development Cooperation call.

Related Articles

For applicants researching other international scholarships, GlobalScholarshipsHub also provides:

• How to Get a Scholarship in 2027: A Simple Guide for International Students
• Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme 2026–2027
• DAAD-EPOS SPRING Master Scholarship 2027–2028

These articles are useful for readers comparing government and international scholarship opportunities for Master’s and postgraduate study.

Final Thoughts

The Czech Government Scholarships 2027–2028 offer significant financial support for eligible international students who want to study at Czech public universities.

The programme currently supports selected Master’s and Doctoral programmes, with monthly scholarship amounts of CZK 16,000 for follow-up Master’s students and CZK 24,960 for Doctoral students under the current Guidelines.

However, the programme has a strict country-based eligibility system. Afghanistan is not eligible for the 2027–2028 call, so Afghan applicants should look for other Czech, European or international scholarship opportunities instead.

For eligible applicants, the most important action is to check the official programme list, prepare documents early and complete the online application, motivation letter and mandatory tests before 30 September 2026.

Official Application

Applicants should use the official Czech Government application system:

Study in Czechia — Official Application Portal

The official scholarship announcement and programme lists are available through the Czech Ministry of Education:

Czech Government Scholarships — Ministry of Education

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