Family & Education

If you live in Slovakia legally, you have got the right to access free education at all public primary and secondary schools and, with some limitations, at universities. Besides public schools there are also private schools and schools run by church, which may charge school fees. On principle, the same rules apply to foreigners with legal residence in Slovakia as to the Slovak citizens concerning education.

For children of foreigners whose parents have Slovak residence permit (including asylum seekers) the same rules as for the Slovak citizens apply – they are entitled to free education at public primary and secondary schools. Their studies at private schools and schools run by church are governed by the same rules as for the Slovak citizens, i.e. they can be charged for. Details are defined by the Act No. 245/2008 Coll., so called “school law”, which can be found on the website of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic (http://www.minedu.sk).

This law defines all types of educational establishments providing fundamental education in Slovakia. You can choose:

a) primary and lower general secondary school (základná škola);

b) primary & nursery and lower general secondary school (základná škola s materskou školou);

c) vocational secondary school (stredné odborné učilište);

d) general upper secondary school (gymnázium);

e) secondary specialised school (stredná odborná škola);

f)  special schools (špeciálne školy).

Slovakia has 10 years of compulsory school attendance. Children normally start school in the year in which they reach six years of age.

You have the right to free education at the public colleges and universities. However, the Slovak constitution guarantees this right only “depending on the abilities of an individual and the potential of the society”. In other words, you have the right to study for free at public universities if you meet requirements (successful entry exams etc.). With regard to admission of children of foreigners with legal stay on the territory of the Slovak Republic to colleges and universities the same rules apply as to the Slovak citizens.

The university studies can have two basic forms:

a) fulltime study (free of charge at public colleges and universities provided the length of study does not exceed stipulated time; private colleges and universities charge fees);

b) external study (also public colleges and universities charge fees).

Besides tuition fees which can be charged only in cases defined by law (at public-sector schools only if you exceed the stipulated time of study in both, full-time and external forms of study), schools can charge fees for different administrative acts (e.g. fees related to the admission procedure, procedures relating to doctoral dissertation, issue of documents or their copies certifying your study and graduation, or recognition of diploma).

Scholarship possibilities are defined by regulation of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic (No. 102/2006 Coll.; you can find its full version here, which applies also to students who are not Slovak citizens but have a residence permit in Slovakia. Besides that, students can apply for scholarships provided by individual colleges and universities – in this case each college or university defines its own rules.

Rules for recognition of diplomas acquired abroad are defined in Act No. 477/2002 Coll. on recognition of professional qualifications. We do offer you a smart guide on recognition of your diploma or certificate.

The complete list of schools and school establishments  

Review of primary schools  

The list and further information about secondary schools  

The list of colleges and universities (well-structured) with contacts