Updated: October 17, 2026 | Reading time: 10 min | Written by: StudyTribune Team
Czech Government Scholarships for developing countries closed for the 2027/28 year on 30 September 2026, but the programme repeats every year, so the smart time to prepare is now. The government pays tuition, a monthly stipend of CZK 16,000 for master’s students or CZK 24,960 for doctoral students, and health care, for follow-up master’s and doctoral degrees at public Czech universities. Citizens of 13 listed countries can apply, from Bangladesh and Ethiopia to Palestine and Guatemala. This guide to Czech Government Scholarships uses the official Study in Czechia and Ministry pages to explain the two language tracks, the two compulsory tests, the document list and a month-by-month plan for the next call.
Quick answer: the 2027/28 call closed on 30 September 2026 and the next one is not yet announced, but it opened on 1 August this year. Czech Government Scholarships cover tuition, health care and a stipend (CZK 16,000 for master’s, CZK 24,960 for doctoral) but not travel. Applications are complete only after a compulsory English test and a general academic aptitude test.
Table of Contents
Czech Government Scholarships at a Glance
| Item | Details (2027/28 call) |
|---|---|
| Funder | Government of the Czech Republic: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the Ministry of Health |
| Programme | Foreign development cooperation scholarships for public universities in Czechia |
| Levels | Selected follow-up master’s programmes (two years) and selected doctoral programmes (three to four years) |
| Languages | English programmes, or Czech programmes after a one-year Czech language and professional preparation course |
| Countries | Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania, Zambia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Palestine, Guatemala, Honduras, plus Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus (democratic opposition) |
| Stipend | CZK 16,000 a month (master’s) or CZK 24,960 (doctoral) |
| Tuition | Paid by the Government of the Czech Republic |
| Health care | Provided through the Ministry of Health, as for Czech insured persons, under the Guidelines |
| Travel | Not reimbursed |
| Call | Opened 1 August 2026 on the Study in Czechia portal; closed 30 September 2026 |
| Next call | Not announced; expect a similar August to September window in 2027 |
English or Czech: The Two Tracks of Czech Government Scholarships
The programme has two tracks, and which one you can use depends on your citizenship.
| English-language track | Czech-language track | |
|---|---|---|
| Programmes | Selected follow-up master’s and doctoral programmes taught in English | Selected follow-up master’s programmes taught in Czech |
| Language year | None | One-year Czech language and professional preparation course before university study |
| Countries in 2027/28 | The portal lists 13 countries; the Ministry’s English page lists the nine non-European ones | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus (democratic opposition) |
| Scholarship length | Standard length of full-time study | The one-year Czech course comes first, then the programme (check the Guidelines for how the scholarship counts it) |
| Compulsory tests | English language test and general academic aptitude test | English language test and general academic aptitude test (as on the official page) |
The official English page for the Ministry lists nine countries for English programmes, while the Study in Czechia portal lists all 13 countries for its English call. If your country is on the portal’s list, check the call page directly before you assume you are excluded.
Eligible Countries for Czech Government Scholarships 2027/28
| Region | Countries listed for 2027/28 | Also on Wageningen’s ABF list? |
|---|---|---|
| Africa | Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania, Zambia | Ethiopia, Mauritania, Zambia (not Gabon) |
| South and Southeast Asia | Bangladesh, Cambodia | Both |
| Middle East | Palestine | Yes |
| Latin America | Guatemala, Honduras | No |
| Europe and Caucasus (Czech track; also on the portal’s English list) | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus (democratic opposition) | No |
Six of the nine non-European countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Mauritania, Palestine and Zambia) are also on the Wageningen Anne van den Ban Fund list, which closes on 1 December 2026. Read our Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme and Anne van den Ban Fund guide if your country appears in both.
What Czech Government Scholarships Cover and Do Not Cover
- Tuition: paid by the Government of the Czech Republic.
- Stipend: CZK 16,000 a month for follow-up master’s students and CZK 24,960 for doctoral students.
- Housing, meals and public transport: you can use student dormitories and canteens, but you pay for them from the stipend on the same terms as Czech students.
- Health care: provided through the Ministry of Health, as for Czech insured persons, under the Guidelines.
- Travel: not reimbursed.
- Payment timing: the host university pays monthly, starting only after you arrive and are admitted. Schedules differ between universities and faculties, so keep savings for the first weeks.
The government states there is no legal entitlement to a scholarship, even if you meet every condition.
Who Can Apply
- You are a citizen of one of the listed countries.
- You were born between 1 September 1991 and 31 August 2008.
- You are not enrolled at a Czech university at the time you apply.
- You are not a citizen of Czechia or the EU, and you do not hold a permanent residence permit in Czechia.
- You hold the degree needed for the programme: a bachelor’s for a follow-up master’s and a master’s for a doctorate.
- You have read the binding Guidelines for Granting Scholarships of the Government of the Czech Republic before applying.
How the Application Works
The 2027/28 process ran online on the Study in Czechia portal:
- Register with a personal email address and enter the application sections in order: your details, application information, documents and then tests.
- Complete the application details and click “Continue to tests”.
- Take the English language test and the general academic aptitude test. They run separately and can be taken any time before the deadline.
- Once both tests are done, the application is forwarded for evaluation. It is not accepted or evaluated before that.
- Some applicants are invited to an interview, so the portal tells you to be ready to print your application.
Documents: Master’s vs Doctoral Applicants
| Document | Master’s | Doctoral |
|---|---|---|
| Passport valid for international travel | Yes | Yes |
| Overview of studies started, completed or not | Yes | Yes |
| Overview of study and research stays abroad in the last 5 years | Yes | Yes |
| Motivation letter | Yes, one A4 page | Yes, two A4 pages |
| Academic CV | Yes | Yes |
| Certified copy of diploma and transcript, with proof the institution is authorised | Yes | Yes |
| Statutory declaration of return to your country after studies | Yes | Yes |
| Overview of publications, research outline and idea for the dissertation | No | Yes |
| Two recommendation letters from professors | Not on the list | Yes |
Use certified copies and translations where the portal requires them, and allow weeks for this. For doctoral applicants, strong referees matter, so read our guides to a recommendation letter for a scholarship, a personal statement for a scholarship and a scholarship CV. See also the Stipendium Hungaricum documents checklist for how another government scheme handles certified copies.
Czech Government Scholarships: A Plan for the Next Call
The call opened on 1 August and closed on 30 September in 2026. If the next one follows the same pattern, work back from August 2027:
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Now to December 2026 | Check the official list of selected master’s and doctoral programmes, shortlist 3 to 5, and read the Guidelines for Granting Scholarships |
| January to March 2027 | Request certified copies of your diploma and transcript; start translations if needed |
| April to June 2027 | Draft your motivation letter and academic CV; doctoral applicants ask two professors for recommendation letters and write a research outline |
| July 2027 | Practise English and general aptitude tests; set up a personal email address for the portal |
| August 2027 | Watch the Study in Czechia portal for the call (it opened on 1 August in 2026) |
| By the deadline (30 September in 2026) | Complete the application and both compulsory tests early; do not wait for the last day |
Visa and Arrival in Czechia
If you win, you need a national long-stay visa for study, because your programme lasts more than 90 days. Czechia is in the Schengen Area, so read our Schengen scholarships guide for the difference between a short-stay visa and a long-stay visa, and how the 90-day travel allowance works. The scholarship does not pay for travel, and payment starts only after you arrive, so plan your first-month budget in advance.
If You Missed This Call: Other Options
- Wageningen scholarships (deadline 1 December 2026) for the Netherlands. See the Wageningen guide.
- Stipendium Hungaricum in Hungary, opening in November 2026. See the Stipendium Hungaricum guide.
- Tuition-free study in Czech. Study in Czechia offers a route to learn Czech and study tuition-free at public universities.
- More Europe options: our Europe scholarships hub and the top 25 fully funded scholarships for developing countries.
How to Apply for Czech Government Scholarships
- Check your country and track. Confirm that your citizenship is on the official list and decide between the English and Czech-language routes.
- Choose programmes from the official lists. Open the selected master’s or doctoral programme list and shortlist programmes that match your degree.
- Collect your documents. Gather your passport, certified diploma and transcript, an overview of studies abroad and a signed return declaration.
- Register on the Study in Czechia portal. Create an account with a personal email address when the call opens, then enter the application sections in order.
- Write your motivation letter and CV. Write one A4 page for a master’s and two A4 pages for a doctorate, and keep your CV focused on studies and work.
- Complete both compulsory tests. Take the English language test and the general academic aptitude test before the deadline; the application is complete only after both.
- Prepare for an interview and accept the conditions. If invited, print your application and be ready to discuss your plans, and read the terms of the scholarship.
Common Mistakes with Czech Government Scholarships
- Starting after the call opens. Certified copies and translations take weeks, so prepare earlier.
- Skipping the tests. An application without both tests is not evaluated.
- Waiting for the last day. Portals slow down near the deadline.
- Ignoring the age limit. Born between 1 September 1991 and 31 August 2008.
- Counting on travel money. Travel is not reimbursed.
- Assuming guaranteed payment from day one. The stipend starts only after arrival and admission.
- Choosing a programme that is not on the list. Only selected programmes qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions About Czech Government Scholarships
What are the Czech Government Scholarships for developing countries?
They are Czech government scholarships for citizens of selected developing countries to study follow-up master’s and doctoral programmes at public universities in Czechia, in English or in Czech. The government pays tuition and a monthly stipend, and the programme is run by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Is the 2027/28 call for the Czech Government Scholarships still open?
No. The call on the Study in Czechia portal opened on 1 August 2026 and closed on 30 September 2026. Expect the next call around August to September 2027, but it has not been announced.
Which countries are eligible for the Czech Government Scholarships in 2027/28?
The Ministry lists Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania, Zambia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Palestine, Guatemala and Honduras. The Study in Czechia portal also lists Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus (democratic opposition), who are the countries for the Czech-language route.
How much is the Czech Government Scholarship stipend?
CZK 16,000 a month for follow-up master’s students and CZK 24,960 a month for doctoral students. Accommodation, meals and public transport are paid from the stipend, and payment starts only after you arrive and are admitted.
Does the Czech Government Scholarship pay tuition and health care?
Yes. The Government of the Czech Republic pays tuition fees, and health care is provided through the Ministry of Health to the same extent as for Czech insured persons, under the conditions in the Guidelines.
Does the Czech Government Scholarship pay for travel to Czechia?
No. The Ministry does not reimburse travel costs, so budget for your flight and visa.
What tests do I have to take for the Czech Government Scholarships?
The application is complete only after you pass a compulsory English language test and a general academic aptitude test, both taken in the portal before the deadline. IELTS or TOEFL is not named in the official call.
Who can apply for the Czech Government Scholarships?
Citizens of the listed countries who were born between 1 September 1991 and 31 August 2008, who are not enrolled at a Czech university when they apply and who are not Czech, EU or permanent-resident nationals. There is no legal entitlement to the scholarship.
Do I need recommendation letters for the Czech Government Scholarships?
Doctoral applicants attach two letters of recommendation from professors, along with a research outline and publications overview. The attachment list for master’s applicants does not include them, although a good recommendation letter helps when you apply to the university.
Can I study tuition-free in Czechia without a government scholarship?
Study in Czechia promotes tuition-free study at public universities for programmes taught in Czech, so you can learn Czech first. Programmes in English at public universities generally charge tuition, so check each university; a scholarship matters most there.
Do I need a visa to study in Czechia?
Yes, for stays over 90 days you need a national long-stay visa for study. Czechia is in the Schengen Area, and our Schengen scholarships guide explains the difference between the short-stay and long-stay visa.
What should I do now if I missed the 2027/28 call?
Prepare for the next call, and apply this autumn to deadlines that are still open, such as Wageningen’s scholarships on 1 December 2026, which cover six of the same countries.
Related Reading
- Europe scholarships for international students
- Schengen scholarships
- Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme and Anne van den Ban Fund
- Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship
- Top 25 fully funded scholarships for developing countries
- 50+ fully funded scholarships guide
- Scholarship deadlines: apply now
Official sources: the Study in Czechia scholarship page (English programmes), the Czech-language programmes page and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports page.
Conclusion
Czech Government Scholarships are a strong route for master’s and doctoral students from the listed countries, but the call is short and the documents take time. Start preparing this autumn, check the official portal in August 2027 and confirm every date and requirement before you apply.