Guide to University Admissions in Slovakia 2026: a full step-by-step roadmap

1. Why Slovakia in 2026Slovakia is the most underrated EU destination for Ukrainians in 2026. The country offers three unique advantages: free tuition in Slovak at state universities for all foreigners (including Ukrainians), geographic proximity (5 hours by train Kyiv–Vienna + 1 hour to Bratislava), and a simplified regime for Ukrainian refugees via Tymočasná Ochrana (TT) status.Academically Slovakia has Comenius University in Bratislava (UK) — #651–660 QS 2026, Slovak University of Technology (STU) — #801–850, UPJŠ Košice with a strong medical school, plus Technical University of Košice in IT and engineering. 2. Choosing a university and programmeSlovakia has 20 public universities. Top picks for international applicants in 2026:Comenius University in Bratislava (UK): oldest and largest. Strong in medicine (LF UK), law, pharmacy, journalism. English-taught General Medicine 6 years — 9 500 €/year. Slovak-taught programmes — free.Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU): engineering, IT, architecture, chemical technology. The countrys best technical university. English-taught BSc in Computer Science — 3 000 €/year.Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice (UPJŠ): English-taught medicine — 10 500 €/year, the second most prestigious medical school after Comenius. Strong in pharmacy and natural sciences.3. Language tests and academic standardsFor Slovak-taught programmes:Slovak B1/B2 certificate (typically obtained through a 9-month preparatory course at the university — Studia Academica Slovaca at Comenius or Centrum jazykov at UPJŠ). Course fee: 2 800–3 500 €/year plus living costs.For medicine in Slovak — B2 mandatory, plus an in-house entrance exam in biology and chemistry in Slovak.For Ukrainians on TT, the preparatory course is often free via a Ministry voucher (check minedu.sk).For English-taught programmes:IELTS 6.0+ or TOEFL iBT 80+ for undergraduate. Medicine at Comenius and UPJŠ — IELTS 6.5+.For STU and TUKE masters — IELTS 6.0+ or an English-language bachelors degree.4. Documents, nostrification and academic requirementsThe key process for any Ukrainian is nostrification of the diploma (recognition of equivalence with the Slovak system). Without it you cannot apply:High-school diploma with apostille (Ukrainian Ministry of Education, ~3 working days, free).Transcript of grades with apostille.Notarised translation of the diploma into Slovak.Nostrification application — submitted at the District Education Office at your place of residence in Slovakia. Fee: 10 € for Ukrainians on TT, 30 € for others.Processing time: 30 days. You receive a "Rozhodnutie o uznaní rovnocennosti" certificate — this is the nostrification.IELTS/TOEFL (for English) or Slovak language certificate.Personal Statement / Motivačný list).Medical certificate confirming no contraindications to studies.For Medicine — additional in-house entrance exam in biology