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How Much Does It Cost to Study in Slovakia? Tuition Fees and Living Costs

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

In Slovakia the price of a degree depends mostly on the language of the programme and the type of university, not on your passport. Study in Slovak at a public university and you pay no tuition. Study only in English and you usually pay a fee the university sets itself.

Who studies for free

Under the Higher Education Act (Act 300/2025), full-time study at a public or state university is free. A student pays tuition only in these cases:

The law makes no distinction by citizenship, so a student from outside the EU studying in Slovak pays nothing, like a Slovak student. Programmes in Hungarian, run for the Hungarian minority, are free too. Holders of a certificate of a Slovak living abroad count as Slovak citizens for tuition.

English-taught programmes at public universities

For programmes taught only in a foreign language, the law sets no maximum fee. Each university fixes its own amount, and it must publish the fee for every year of the programme at least two months before the application deadline. At public universities the same fee usually applies to EU and non-EU students.

Our catalogue lists 64 programmes taught in English, each with the fee the university published for 2026/27. Universities may reduce, waive or defer fees for good results or for social or health reasons, under rules in their statutes.

Private institutions

Private universities set their own fees, for everyone. For EU students they range from €816 to €3,690 a year in our catalogue. Some charge more to students from outside the EU, up to €8,500. Several private institutions quote their fee per semester, so check the unit before you compare.

Application fees

Faculties may charge a fee for the admission procedure. For 2026/27 the law caps it at €195, but real fees are usually far lower. The Slovak University of Technology (STU), for example, charges €30 for programmes in Slovak and €60 for programmes in a foreign language. See how to get into a university in Slovakia.

Housing

Most students who leave home live in university dormitories. Prices are set by each university. At STU's dormitories in Bratislava, the price list valid from 1 October 2026 runs from about €90 to €180 per bed a month, depending on the building and the room, and the 2026/27 contract asks for a €130 deposit. Private rooms and flats cost more, especially in Bratislava. More in student housing in Slovakia.

Living costs

There is no official national figure for student living costs. As an example, the Bratislava University of Economics and Business estimates €260–€718 a month in Bratislava, without tuition: about €150–€190 for meals, €65–€450 for accommodation, €15–€30 for public transport and €20–€26 for health insurance. Costs in Košice, Žilina, Nitra and smaller cities are usually lower than in the capital.

Money for the residence permit

Students from outside the EU do not attach proof of money to the residence application. They must, however, be able to show it at a residence check: at least the subsistence minimum for every remaining month of the stay, up to a year ahead. From 1 July 2026 the subsistence minimum for one adult is €295.22 a month, so a full year means €3,542.64. This is a legal floor, not a realistic budget. Details are in student visa for Slovakia.

How to keep costs down

For grants and jobs, read scholarships and student jobs in Slovakia.

Where to look next

Official sources

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.