Visegrad Scholarship Program 2027-2028: €3,500 per Semester in Central Europe

Quick Overview

Feature	Details
Full name	Visegrad Scholarship Program (International Visegrad Fund)
Funded by	International Visegrad Fund (Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia)
Coverage	€3,500/semester for the scholar + €2,000/semester paid to the host institution
Levels	Master’s and post-Master’s (PhD, postdoc, research)
Duration	1–2 semesters (minimum 5 months)
Call opens	January 1, 2027, 12:00 PM
Deadline	April 15, 2027, 12:00 PM (noon) CET
Results	May 31, 2027

The Visegrad Scholarship Program is one of the best-kept secrets in European funding: it pays €3,500 per semester directly to your bank account — no tuition deduction, no strings — for study or research at more than 190 accredited institutions across Central and Eastern Europe. The 2027/2028 call opens January 1, 2027, so now is the time to line up your host university and documents.

What Does It Cover?

Benefit	Details
Scholarship stipend	€3,500 per semester, paid to the scholar’s bank account, at the scholar’s full disposal
Host institution support	€2,000 per semester paid to the host (covers tuition at Master’s level; materials/assistance at post-Master’s level)
Flexible use	The Fund does not restrict how you spend the stipend — it covers living costs, books, or anything else
All disciplines	Any field, in any language of instruction
Duration	1–2 semesters of full-time study or research

How It Compares With Other Central European Options

Program	Coverage	Deadline	Guide
Visegrad Scholarship (this guide)	€3,500/semester to you + €2,000/semester to host	Apr 15, 2027	—
DAAD (Germany)	€992–1,400/month	Aug–Oct 2026	Read →
Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary)	Fully funded, no IELTS	Jan 15, 2027	Read →

Eligibility

The program runs three schemes. Your citizenship country must always differ from the host country.

Scheme	Who can apply	Where you can study
A. Intra-Visegrad	Citizens of Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia (V4)	Another V4 country
B. Out-Going	Citizens of V4 countries	Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine
C. In-Coming	Citizens of Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia) and Eastern Partnership (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine)	Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia

\Designation without prejudice to positions on status, in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.*

✅ You Must:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree (Master’s level) or a master’s degree (post-Master’s level)

• For Master’s: have completed at least six semesters of university study and/or hold a bachelor’s degree

• Be a citizen of an eligible country — V4, Western Balkans, or Eastern Partnership

• Apply to a host institution in a country different from your citizenship

• Have completed previous university levels in a country other than the host country

• Keep a distance of more than 150 km between your current employer/university or permanent residence and the host university

❌ Not Eligible If:

• You are a citizen of a country outside the V4, Western Balkans, or Eastern Partnership

• You apply to study in your citizenship country

• You want to return to a previous university (this is not allowed)

• Your current university/employer or permanent residence is within 150 km of the host

• You are applying for Bachelor’s level — EaP/WB citizens can only access Master’s or post-Master’s (Bachelor’s funding is limited to the Intra-V4 scheme)

Note: Preference is given to applicants who have not previously received Visegrad support and whose study/research topic is relevant to the V4 region.

How to Apply: Step by Step

Step 1: Find a Host University

Choose an accredited university or institute among 190+ institutions in the eligible host countries. You can apply before receiving acceptance — a letter of acceptance (or proof of application) is uploaded with the form.

Step 2: Prepare Your Documents (in English or with certified translation)

• Master’s level: scanned valid ID; scanned transcript covering the last two completed semesters or a diploma supplement; scanned letter of acceptance from the host (or proof of applying)

• Post-Master’s level: scanned valid ID; scanned letter of acceptance with a detailed work plan (no older than 4 months) confirming full-time research and its start/end months

Step 3: Apply Online via My Visegrad

The online system at my.visegradfund.org opens approximately 45 days before the deadline (early February 2027). Register, complete the form, and upload your PDF documents.

Step 4: Submit Before April 15, 2027, Noon

The deadline is strict — April 15 at 12:00 PM (noon) CET. Late applications are not accepted under any circumstances. Each applicant may submit only one application per deadline.

Step 5: Wait for Results (May 31, 2027)

All applicants (approved, rejected, or reserve list) are notified by email, and results are published on the Fund’s website no later than 45 working days after the deadline.

Insider Tips

1. You Can Apply Without Full Acceptance — Use It

Unlike Chevening or Rhodes, Visegrad accepts a proof of application to the host university at application time. That removes the biggest bottleneck: you don’t need a confirmed offer by April 15.

2. The 150 km Rule Filters Out Most Applicants

Many applicants fail this quietly. Measure the distance between your current university/employer or permanent residence and the host — if it’s under 150 km, pick a different host.

3. Target Less Competitive Hosts

Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, and Bratislava are popular. Universities in smaller cities (Olomouc, Košice, Lublin, Debrecen) accept the €2,000/semester host payment gladly and often have easier admission — and your stipend goes further.

4. Frame Your Topic Around the V4

Preference goes to applicants whose study/research topic is relevant to the Visegrad region. Even a small regional angle in your motivation can move you up the ranking.

5. The Stipend Is Yours — Budget Like a Local

€3,500/semester covers a comfortable student life in most Central European cities. Because the money is paid to you directly, you control accommodation and living costs — research rents before choosing your host.

6. Eastern Partnership & Western Balkans Applicants: This Is One of Your Best Deals

For citizens of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and the Western Balkans, a fully flexible €3,500/semester grant to study in the EU is rare. Compare it with DAAD or Stipendium Hungaricum and apply to all three.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply as a Bachelor’s student?

Only under the Intra-V4 scheme (a citizen of one V4 country studying in another V4 country). Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership citizens can only access Master’s or post-Master’s programs.

Is the €3,500 per semester really paid to me?

Yes. The Fund pays €3,500 per semester directly to each scholar’s bank account, at the scholar’s full disposal. The €2,000/semester goes to the host institution.

Can I already be enrolled at the host university?

Yes — applicants can already be enrolled at the university for which they seek support, as long as previous university levels were completed in a country other than the host country.

What if I miss the deadline?

There is no possibility to submit past the deadline — it is strict.

How many semesters can I get?

Support covers 1–2 semesters (minimum 5 months). Re-applying is possible, but no preference is given to consecutive applications.

Timeline Table

Date	Milestone
Now – Dec 2026	Research hosts, prepare documents, secure supervisor/acceptance leads
Early Feb 2027	My Visegrad online system opens (~45 days before deadline)
Jan 1, 2027	Call officially opens
Apr 15, 2027 (noon CET)	Application deadline
May 31, 2027	Results announced
Sep 2027	Earliest start of study/research

Your Action Plan

1. ☐ Confirm your citizenship qualifies (V4, Western Balkans, or Eastern Partnership)

2. ☐ Shortlist 2–3 host universities in a country different from yours (150 km rule!)

3. ☐ Request acceptance or proof of application from the host

4. ☐ Prepare transcripts, ID, and (for post-Master’s) a detailed work plan

5. ☐ Register on my.visegradfund.org when the system opens (~Feb 2027)

6. ☐ Submit before April 15, 2027, noon CET

7. ☐ Plan your semester budget around the €3,500/semester stipend

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The Visegrad Scholarship is a rare grant that puts real money in your hands to study across Central and Eastern Europe. Share this with someone from the V4, Western Balkans, or Eastern Partnership who deserves a funded semester abroad.