Visegrad Scholarships 2026 to Study Across Central and Eastern Europe

The International Visegrad Fund has officially opened applications for its flagship Visegrad Scholarship Program, one of the most accessible and well-structured mobility scholarships available to students and researchers across Central and Eastern Europe. Whether you are finishing your bachelor’s degree or already deep into doctoral research, this program offers a genuine financial runway to study or conduct research at over 190 accredited universities spanning the Visegrad Four nations and their broader partner region. Unlike many European funding schemes that limit you to a narrow set of disciplines or institutions, this one keeps the door wide open across all fields of study, all languages of instruction, and both master’s and post-master’s levels for up to two full semesters. The 2026 call is now live, and the window closes in April 2026.

The visegrad scholarship program operates under the International Visegrad Fund, an intergovernmental body established by the governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia to strengthen cooperation and academic exchange in the region. That institutional backing gives the scholarship a level of credibility and continuity that standalone grants rarely match. For applicants from the Western Balkans, the South Caucasus, Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova, it represents one of the few structured pathways into the academic systems of the V4 countries without navigating complex bilateral agreements on your own.

What the Money Actually Covers?

The Visegrad Scholarship provides a straightforward, no-hidden-costs funding structure designed to support both the scholar and the institution hosting them.

• Scholars receive a fixed stipend of 3,500 euros per semester, disbursed directly to support living expenses, travel, and academic costs during the study or research period.
• Host institutions receive an additional 2,000 euros per semester, which ensures that universities have a financial incentive to actively support incoming scholars rather than treating them as administrative burdens.
• Funding covers a maximum of two semesters, meaning a full academic year of supported study or research is possible under a single award.
• The scholarship applies equally to master’s-level coursework and post-master’s research, including doctoral and postdoctoral work, so the financial support scales to your academic stage without requiring separate application tracks.

There is no tuition payment component listed separately, so applicants should confirm fee arrangements directly with their chosen host institution before applying.

Who Can Actually Apply?

Eligibility for the Visegrad Scholarship is built around citizenship, academic level, and geographic mobility rather than GPA thresholds or narrow disciplinary requirements, which makes it more inclusive than it might first appear.

• Citizens of the four Visegrad countries, namely Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, may apply to study at accredited institutions in any other V4 country or in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine.
• Citizens of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine may apply to study at institutions within the ViseGrad Four countries.
• Applicants must hold at least a completed bachelor’s degree for master’s-level scholarships or a completed master’s degree for post-master’s-level scholarships at the time of application.
• The country of your citizenship must be different from the country where your chosen host institution is located, and your previous degree must have been completed in a country other than the host country.
• A minimum distance of 150 kilometers must exist between your current employer, university, or permanent residence and the host institution.
• Preference is given to first-time applicants who have not previously received Visegrad Fund support and to those whose proposed study or research topics carry direct relevance to the Visegrad region.

Apply: https://www.visegradfund.org/visegrad-scholarship-program-apply

The Clock Is Ticking!

The application window for the 2026 cycle of Visegrad scholarship will remain open till April 15, 2026, at 12:00 PM noon and the results are expected to be announced by May 31, 2026.