Czech Government Scholarships 2027/2028: Eligible Countries & Deadline

Application are open for fully funded Czech Government Scholarships 2027-2028 to study in any eligible countries of your choice –  The Czech Government Scholarships for developing countries are the best funded study opportunities in Central Europe. Their programmes  support Master’s and doctoral study at public universities in the Czech Republic, and they are aimed at students from countries that the Czech government has chosen as development-cooperation partners.

Many websites, including an earlier version of this article, present these scholarships as if any student from a developing country can apply. That is not correct. The programme is open only to citizens of a short list of countries, and the list changes from one call to the next. In addition, the call for the 2027/2028 academic year has already closed. This updated guide explains who is eligible, what the programme covers, what the deadline was, how the application works and what you can do if your country is not on the list.

Important for Nigerian readers: Nigeria is not on the eligible list for the 2027/2028 call. Please read the section on readers from other countries before you spend time or money preparing documents.

Disclaimer: This website is not connected to the Czech government or any Czech university. Always check the official page of the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports before you apply.

Quick Overview

Status of the 2027/2028 Call

According to the Ministry, applications for the 2027/2028 academic year were accepted from 21 August until 30 September 2026, and each applicant could register once and submit only one application. That deadline has passed, so you cannot start a new application for this call.

The earlier version of this article carried a deadline of 30 September 2023 and referred to the 2024/2025 academic year. Both are long out of date. If you are still interested, use this guide to prepare for the next call. Czech scholarship calls have followed a similar yearly pattern, with applications opening in late summer and closing at the end of September, but you must confirm each year’s dates on the official page because they can change.

Eligible Countries

For the 2027/2028 academic year, the scholarships were available only to citizens of the following countries:

Citizens of any other country, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, India and Pakistan, could not apply for this call. Our earlier article listed Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova and Zambia, which was the list for a past call. The list is reviewed regularly and can change, so check it every year.

Study Levels and Languages

The scholarship supports two kinds of full-time study:

• Follow-up Master’s degree: You must have completed a bachelor’s degree. Programmes may be taught in Czech or, for eligible nationalities, in English.
• Doctoral degree: You normally need a completed master’s degree and a research plan.

Reports on the 2027/2028 call say that the Czech-language Master’s route, which includes a one-year preparatory course in Czech, was open only to citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus (democratic forces). The English-language track, for both Master’s and doctoral study, was open to all 13 countries. Citizens of the African countries on the list, such as Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania and Zambia, therefore used the English-taught route.

The scholarship does not fund bachelor’s degrees. If you are still an undergraduate, you will need to finish your first degree before you can apply.

What the Scholarship Covers

The earlier version of this article described the scholarships as “fully funded” and then spent many paragraphs on general benefits. Here is a more practical summary. Government scholarships of this type typically include some combination of the following, but the exact items and amounts are set in the official guidelines, so read them before you apply:

• Payment of tuition or study-related fees where applicable
• A monthly living allowance
• Health insurance during the study period
• For Czech-language Master’s students, the one-year preparatory language course

The scholarship does not usually cover everything. Costs such as international travel, visa expenses and personal items may fall on you. Check the binding guidelines for the call to see exactly what is included.

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: You must be a citizen of one of the eligible countries for that year’s call.
• Not a resident of the Czech Republic or the EU: Citizens of the Czech Republic and EU member states are not eligible, and applicants should not already be residents in the Czech Republic.
• Education: A completed bachelor’s degree for a follow-up Master’s programme. A completed master’s degree for a doctoral programme.
• Language ability: For English-taught programmes, you must be able to study in English, and the university may ask for proof. For Czech-taught Master’s programmes, you complete a preparatory year first.
• Commitment to return: The programme is designed to build skills in partner countries, so you are expected to confirm that you will return home after your studies.
• Health: You need to be medically fit to study, and you may have to provide a recent medical confirmation.

The Ministry’s binding guidelines are the final authority. If anything in this article differs from them, follow the guidelines.

How to Apply for Czech Government Scholarships 2027

1. Before you apply Check your country. Verify if your country is on the eligible list for the call you are targeting.
2. Make sure you Read the guidelines. Download and read the binding guidelines for granting government scholarships.
3. Make sure you choose your programme. Search for a Master’s or doctoral programme at a Czech public university that fits your background. You will name your choices in the application.
4. Try and Register on the official portal. Use the link from the Ministry’s page. Each applicant can register only once.
5. Make sure you complete the online application form. Fill it in using the Roman alphabet, in English or in Czech.
6. And make sure you Upload your documents. Add your motivation letter, CV and other required documents. See the list below.
7. Try and submit before the deadline. Late applications are not accepted, and you can submit only one application per call.
8. Make sure you follow up on the next steps. Shortlisted candidates may be asked for additional or legalised documents, and the process may involve Czech diplomatic missions.

Documents You Should Prepare

The exact list is published with each call. Earlier calls required the following, and you should expect something similar:

For Master’s Applicants

• Application form and motivation letter
• CV showing education and work experience
• Copy of your passport
• Declarations accepting the scholarship terms and the health service terms
• A written commitment to return to your home country after your studies
• Birth certificate, legalised and translated if required
• Recent medical confirmation of fitness to study
• Bachelor’s diploma and transcript, legalised, with a certified translation where required

For Doctoral Applicants

All of the above, plus:

• Master’s diploma and supplement or list of completed subjects and exams, legalised and translated if required
• Information about the content of your previous university education
• List of publications, if you have any
• Overview of the topics you wish to research
• A dissertation idea or outline, typically three to five pages
• Two letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors

Some documents may be required at the application stage, while others are requested only if you are shortlisted. One source on the 2027/2028 call mentioned a later date in January 2027 for submitting documents, which suggests that not everything is due on the application deadline. Read the current call to see which documents are needed when.

Tips for Documents

• Request transcripts and certificates early, because universities can be slow.
• Find out how legalisation works in your country. This may involve an apostille or consular process.
• Use certified translators when documents are not in English or Czech.
• Keep digital copies of everything and make sure names and dates match across all documents.

Selection Timeline

For the 2027/2028 call, the process is reported as follows:

Selection involves several steps, and successful candidates are usually informed several months before they travel. If you are chosen, you will receive instructions about admission, visa procedures and arrival.

Writing a Strong Motivation Letter

The motivation letter is your chance to explain why you deserve a place. Selection committees read many letters, so clarity and specifics matter.

• Be specific about your programme. Name the course and university, and explain why it fits your background and goals.
• Link your studies to your country. This programme is built around development cooperation. Describe a real problem in your community or field and how your training will help you address it after you return.
• Show evidence. Mention relevant projects, research, jobs or volunteer work, and what you achieved.
• Be honest and concise. Avoid exaggeration and avoid copying templates. Reviewers notice generic text.
• Proofread carefully. Ask a teacher or mentor to review your draft.

If Your Country Is Not on the List

If you are from Nigeria or another country that is not listed, you cannot apply for this government scholarship in the current call. Do not use agents who claim to have a special route. Instead, consider these legitimate options:

• Czech university scholarships and tuition arrangements. Many Czech public universities offer programmes taught in Czech with no tuition for students who meet the language requirements, while English-taught programmes usually charge tuition. Check each university’s international admissions page for scholarships, fee waivers and deadlines.
• Erasmus+ and other European programmes. Some European funding schemes accept students from a wide range of countries. Check the official programme pages for current eligibility.
• Other country-specific scholarships. Look at scholarships open to your nationality, such as Chevening, Commonwealth, DAAD and university-based awards.
• The Fulbright Program. If you are interested in studying in the United States, read our guide to the Fulbright scholarship for international students, which explains how the rules differ by country.
• Future Czech calls. The eligible list can change from year to year, so check the Ministry’s page when the next call opens.

Scholarship Scams to Avoid

• There is no fee to apply for the government scholarship. Never pay anyone for “guaranteed selection.”
• Apply only through the official portal linked from the Ministry’s website.
• Be careful with emails and social media messages that claim you have won a Czech scholarship you never applied for.
• Never share passwords or send passport scans and bank details to unverified people.
• Confirm any award letter with the Ministry or the relevant Czech embassy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Czech Government Scholarship fully funded?

It is a government-funded scholarship that covers key study costs, but the exact items depend on the call. Read the official guidelines to see what is included and what you must pay yourself.

Which countries can apply for 2027/2028?

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus (democratic forces), Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania, Zambia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Palestine, Guatemala and Honduras.

Can Nigerians apply?

Not for the 2027/2028 call, because Nigeria is not on the list. The list can change in future calls.

What was the deadline?

The application deadline for 2027/2028 was 30 September 2026. It has passed.

When will the next call open?

Past calls have opened in late summer, but you should confirm the date on the Ministry’s page.

Does it cover bachelor’s degrees?

No. It covers follow-up Master’s and doctoral programmes.

Do I need to speak Czech?

Not for English-taught programmes. For Czech-taught Master’s programmes, successful candidates from the eligible nationalities complete a one-year Czech language preparatory course.

Is there an application fee?

No. Anyone who asks for a fee in exchange for selection is not acting for the programme.

Can I apply to more than one programme?

Each applicant can register once and submit one application per call. You may be able to list several programme choices within that application. Check the instructions on the portal.

Do I have to return home after my studies?

The programme expects scholarship holders to return home and use their skills there, and applicants must confirm this commitment.

Is there an IELTS requirement?

Requirements depend on the university and programme. Some universities ask for proof of English, while others accept other evidence. Check your chosen programme’s page.

Read also: 

• Collegedunia $150 Scholarship for Indian Students: Eligibility
•  Queen’s Entrance Scholarship 2026–2027: Eligibility, Value and How to Apply
• Fulbright USA Scholarship Program 2027/2028: Eligibility
• Alexander Rutherford Scholarship 2026/2027 – Apply

Conclusion

The Czech Government Scholarships are a valuable opportunity for students from a limited list of countries to study at a Master’s or doctoral level in the Czech Republic. For 2027/2028, 13 countries were eligible, the application period ran from 21 August to 30 September 2026, and that call is now closed. If your country is on the list, start preparing for the next call by gathering documents, drafting your motivation letter and researching programmes. If it is not on the list, explore the other routes above rather than relying on unofficial claims.

Always confirm the details on the Ministry’s official page, apply only through the official portal and never pay for a promise of selection. Leave a comment if you have questions, and share this guide with someone who is searching for scholarships.