Few government scholarships in Europe have the track record of this one. Since the late 1950s, the Government of the Czech Republic has funded more than 20,000 students from developing countries to study at its public universities — tuition covered, a monthly living stipend paid, no application fee. For the 2027-28 academic year the call is aimed at citizens of 13 eligible countries, with full Master's and PhD programmes taught in English, plus a Czech-language track that begins with a free one-year preparatory course in Prague.
In short: The Czech Government Scholarships 2027-28 are a fully funded government programme for citizens of 13 developing countries to study follow-up Master's or PhD programmes at Czech public universities, with tuition covered and a monthly stipend. Applications opened 21 August 2026 and close 30 September 2026. If your country is on the list, this is one of the most generous state-funded scholarships in Europe — and the window is short.
Quick Overview
- Host Country: Czech Republic
- Host Institution: Public universities in the Czech Republic (e.g. Charles University, Masaryk University, Czech Technical University in Prague)
- Degree Level: Follow-up Master's (two-year) and Doctoral (PhD, three to four years)
- Program Duration: Standard length of full-time study
- Funding Type: Fully funded (tuition covered + monthly stipend)
- Deadline: 30 September 2026, 23:59 CET (applications opened 21 August 2026)
Benefits of the Czech Government Scholarships 2027-28
The scholarship is designed to cover the standard length of full-time study, so you can focus on your degree instead of your bank balance. Here's what it actually includes:
- Full tuition coverage — your study at a Czech public university is covered for the full standard length of the programme.
- Monthly living stipend — currently CZK 16,000 per month for follow-up Master's students and CZK 24,960 per month for Doctoral students, from which you cover accommodation, food and personal costs. The Ministry can adjust these amounts; the figure that applies is the one stated in your scholarship decision.
- Free preparatory Czech course — if you choose the Czech-language track, a one-year intensive Czech language and preparatory course at the Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies, Charles University, is part of the scholarship.
- No application fee — the application is submitted free of charge through the official Study in Czechia portal.
One honest note: accommodation and meals are not handed to you for free — they come out of your monthly stipend. Czechia's living costs are moderate compared to Western Europe, and the stipend is set with that in mind. Also, read the official Guidelines on health insurance requirements before you travel.
Eligibility Criteria for the Czech Government Scholarships 2027-28
The eligibility rules are strict on one point above all others: nationality. Check this first before you spend a minute on the application.
- Eligible nationality — you must be a citizen of one of the 13 countries listed for 2027/2028: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus (democratic forces), Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania, Zambia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Palestine, Guatemala, Honduras.
- Not eligible — citizens of the Czech Republic, citizens of the European Union, and any foreign national holding a permanent residence permit in Czechia cannot apply. There is no legal claim to the scholarship.
- Degree requirement — a completed Bachelor's degree is the condition for the follow-up Master's track; a completed Master's degree is the condition for the Doctoral track. The degree must be finished before the scholarship is granted.
- One application only — each applicant may register once and submit a single application, so choose your programme carefully.
- Language — applicants for English-medium programmes must sit an online English test during the application itself (not IELTS — the test is part of the portal). Czech-track applicants take a general study-prerequisites test instead.
How to Apply for the Czech Government Scholarships 2027-28
Applications are submitted electronically — no paper, no embassy queue. The official portal is the Study in Czechia application platform, and the call sits under the Foreign Development Cooperation programme.
1. Read the Guidelines first. The binding "Guidelines for Granting Scholarships of the Government of the Czech Republic" (available in Czech and English on the official page) contains the full terms. Read it before you register. 2. Register on the Study in Czechia portal. Create your account at studyin.gov.cz and find the relevant call under the Foreign Development Cooperation programme, or use the "Submit an application" link shown after registration. 3. Fill in the electronic application form. Complete all sections, including the motivation letter. You can only register once, so get your programme choice right the first time. 4. Complete the mandatory tests. Your application is only complete once you have finished the motivation letter and the required tests — the general study-prerequisites test for everyone, plus the online English test for English-medium programmes. 5. Submit by 30 September 2026, 23:59 CET. Late applications are not accepted. Don't leave the tests for the final evening — the portal is busiest in the last days. 6. Wait for the results. Shortlisted candidates are notified through the portal and by email. Successful applicants start studying in the academic year 2027/2028.
Required Documents
The official page points applicants to the Guidelines and the FAQ documents for the full document list, and requirements differ slightly between the Master's and Doctoral tracks. Based on the official call documents, prepare:
- Completed electronic application form with motivation letter
- Copy of passport (or national ID)
- Bachelor's diploma and transcript (for Master's applicants)
- Master's diploma and transcript (for Doctoral applicants)
- Research proposal and recommendation letters (Doctoral applicants)
- Signed declarations as required by the Guidelines
- Legalised/translated copies of documents where the Guidelines require them
Documents must match exactly what the Guidelines ask for — missing or incorrectly legalised paperwork is the most common reason strong applicants get filtered out. If anything is unclear, write to registr@dzs.cz before the deadline, not after.
Czech Government Scholarship 2027-28 Deadline
Applications for the 2027-28 academic year opened on 21 August 2026 and close on 30 September 2026 at 23:59 CET. There are no extensions, no second rounds, and the call runs only once a year — miss this window and the next opportunity is the 2028-29 call. Because every applicant must complete the online tests inside the portal, aim to submit at least a week early in case anything needs fixing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Czech Government Scholarship really fully funded?
Yes, in the sense that tuition is covered and you receive a monthly stipend (currently CZK 16,000 for Master's, CZK 24,960 for PhD) to live on. Accommodation and food are paid from that stipend rather than provided free, and you should read the Guidelines on health insurance. It is still one of the most generous government scholarships in Europe — but budget honestly.
Is there a Bachelor's track in the 2027-28 call?
No. For 2027/2028 the official call covers only follow-up (two-year) Master's programmes and Doctoral programmes — in English for all eligible countries, plus a Czech-language Master's track with a preparatory year for applicants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus. If you need a Bachelor's degree, look at the call again next year or check bilateral scholarships.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL to apply?
No. Applicants for English-medium programmes take an online entrance English test as part of the application itself — it proves your command of English, and no external certificate is required by the programme. That said, check the admission requirements of your chosen university programme too, in case the university asks for more.
Which countries are eligible for 2027-28?
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus (democratic forces), Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania, Zambia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Palestine, Guatemala and Honduras. If your country is not on this list, you cannot apply this year — the list changes from call to call, so check again for 2028-29.
Can I apply if I am in the final year of my Bachelor's or Master's?
The official conditions state that completing the required degree is the condition for granting the scholarship — so the degree must be finished before the award is made. If you will graduate in time for studies starting in the 2027-28 academic year, read the Guidelines carefully and contact registr@dzs.cz to confirm your situation.
Do I need to speak Czech?
Only if you choose the Czech-language track, which begins with a free one-year preparatory Czech course in Prague. The English-medium Master's and PhD programmes require no Czech at all.
Can I submit more than one application to improve my chances?
No. Each applicant can register only once and submit only one application. Pick your strongest programme fit — quality of one application beats quantity here.
Is there an age limit?
The official 2027-28 call documents published on the Ministry's page do not state an age limit. The programme is aimed at recent graduates and early-career researchers, but there is no published cutoff.
When will I hear the results?
Results are announced after evaluation through the application portal and by email, typically in the summer of 2027 — successful applicants begin studies in the 2027-28 academic year. The exact timeline is set out in the official Guidelines.
Can I reapply if I was rejected last year?
Yes. A previous rejection does not disqualify you, as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria for the new call. Use the extra year to strengthen your motivation letter and academic record.
Final Words
The Czech Government Scholarships have been running since the late 1950s for a reason — Czechia keeps investing in students from its partner countries, and the deal on the table is genuinely strong: full tuition, a living stipend, and a degree from a respected European university system. The catch is the window: six weeks, once a year, one application, no extensions. If your country is on the list, start your documents this week, not this month.
