Planning to continue your studies in Slovenia? Citizens of North Macedonia and several other Western Balkan countries can apply for an Ad futura scholarship for selected second-cycle master’s programmes in Slovenia during the 2026/2027 academic year.

The scholarship provides €800 per month, or €9,600 per academic year, for living expenses. Applications are open until 2 September 2026.

This guide is based on the official 380th Public Call for 2026. Requirements may change in future years, so always read the complete official call before applying.

1. Who can apply?

The scholarship is open to citizens of North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia.

Applicants must have permanent residence outside Slovenia and must not be Slovenian citizens or long-term residents of Slovenia. They must have completed, or be completing, their undergraduate degree at a higher-education institution in one of the eligible Western Balkan countries.

The scholarship is intended only for second-cycle master’s programmes. It is not available for undergraduate studies, doctoral studies, exchange programmes or integrated master’s programmes.

Applicants must also:

  • be younger than 28 on 1 October 2026;
  • have an undergraduate average grade of at least 8.0, after conversion to the Slovenian grading system;
  • enrol in an eligible master’s programme in Slovenia for 2026/2027;
  • begin studying during the 2026 calendar year;
  • live in Slovenia during the scholarship period.

2. Which study areas are eligible?

The scholarship is available only for master’s programmes classified in the following areas:

  1. Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
  2. Information and communication technologies
  3. Engineering, manufacturing technologies and construction
  4. Agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary medicine
  5. Health and social welfare

The Scholarship Fund decides whether a particular programme belongs to an eligible category by checking Slovenia’s official higher-education records. Applicants should confirm their programme’s classification before applying.

The scholarship can be used at an accredited higher-education institution anywhere in Slovenia, not only at the University of Ljubljana.

3. What does the scholarship cover?

Successful applicants receive €800 per month, equivalent to €9,600 for one academic year. The scholarship covers 12 months and is generally transferred as one payment for the full academic year. It may continue for the minimum duration of the study programme, provided the student meets the conditions for progression.

The official call provides support specifically for living expenses. It does not state that tuition fees, accommodation, health insurance, travel, residence-permit costs or study materials are covered. Applicants should therefore check whether tuition applies and prepare a realistic budget.

The scholarship is paid into the student’s personal bank account, which must be opened with a bank in Slovenia or another country in the European Economic Area.

4. What are the main conditions?

Recipients must have student status and live in Slovenia from 1 October 2026 onward. The programme cannot be conducted entirely through distance learning or only through occasional consultations in Slovenia.

During the funded period, recipients generally cannot:

  • receive a Slovenian state or Zois scholarship;
  • receive another scholarship or financial support intended for studying in Slovenia;
  • be employed or self-employed in Slovenia or abroad;
  • be registered as unemployed;
  • serve as the manager of a company or director of a private institution.

Study exchanges abroad may be possible with the Scholarship Fund’s prior approval, but they cannot take place in the student’s country of origin.

Applicants may submit only one application for one study programme.

5. Residence and the required representative in Slovenia

By the application deadline, applicants must either have registered temporary residence in Slovenia or appoint a representative who legally resides in Slovenia.

The representative receives official correspondence, helps the applicant understand documents issued in Slovenian and represents them during the scholarship procedure. The official power-of-attorney form must be signed by both the applicant and the representative.

Applicants must also apply for a Slovenian temporary residence permit for study purposes before 1 October 2026. The application can be submitted at a Slovenian embassy or consulate abroad or at the competent administrative unit in Slovenia.

Candidates who do not yet live in Slovenia should find a reliable person with residence in Slovenia who is willing to act as their representative.

6. Which documents are required?

The application package includes an original, fully completed and handwritten signed application form, together with documentation proving that all conditions are met.

The main documents include:

  1. The official application form
  2. A completed power of attorney or proof of registered temporary residence in Slovenia
  3. Proof of citizenship
  4. Proof of permanent residence abroad
  5. Proof that an application for a study residence permit has been submitted
  6. Proof of enrolment and information about the study programme
  7. A bachelor’s diploma or official proof of completion
  8. An official transcript containing all undergraduate grades
  9. An explanation of the grading scale when it differs from the Slovenian system
  10. Documentation about any previous postgraduate enrolment, when applicable

Candidates who completed their undergraduate degree after 31 December 2025 must submit an updated transcript issued after 1 January 2026, showing their grades and the dates on which they were obtained.

Documents may be submitted in a foreign language using the Latin alphabet, but the Fund may request a certified translation into Slovenian. Documents written in Cyrillic should not be submitted without an appropriate official translation. Originals and certified copies submitted to the Fund may not be returned.

Applicants who wish to receive additional selection points for scientific publications or relevant work experience must submit the prescribed supporting documents. Publications must be properly registered and classified in COBISS, while work experience must be confirmed by the relevant employer.

7. How are candidates selected?

The minimum required undergraduate average is 8.0. If the total amount requested by eligible applicants exceeds the available funding, applications are ranked according to:

  • undergraduate academic performance;
  • scientific publications and conference participation;
  • relevant professional experience.

Academic performance can provide up to 40 points, while publications can provide up to 30 points. Relevant work experience from 2023, 2024 and 2025 may also be considered when connected to the applicant’s field of study and lasting at least six months.

The official call contains an apparent inconsistency in this section: the heading states that work experience is worth up to 20 points, while the displayed scoring table lists awards of 5 or 10 points. Applicants relying on these points should request clarification directly from the Scholarship Fund.

8. How and when do you apply?

The complete application must be submitted in physical form to:

Javni štipendijski, razvojni, invalidski in preživninski sklad Republike Slovenije Dunajska cesta 20 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia

The envelope must be marked:

“prijava na 380. javni razpis”

Applications can be delivered personally during the Fund’s business hours or sent by post. Applications sent by email are not accepted.

The deadline is Wednesday, 2 September 2026. When sent by registered post, the date of posting is considered the submission date. For ordinary mail or personal delivery, the application must be received by the Fund before the deadline.

Because the application requires documents from universities, public authorities, employers and potentially a certified translator, candidates should start preparing well in advance.

9. What happens after receiving the scholarship?

The Fund issues an official decision to every applicant. Successful candidates then sign a scholarship agreement that defines the payment schedule and their obligations.

Recipients must regularly progress to the next study year, complete the programme within the contractual period and submit proof of successful completion to the Fund. Failure to meet the scholarship conditions can end the scholarship relationship and may create repayment obligations, depending on the agreement and applicable scholarship rules.

For students from North Macedonia, this scholarship can provide significant support for living expenses during a master’s degree in Slovenia. However, it applies only to selected study areas, has strict residence and employment conditions and requires a detailed physical application.

Start by confirming that your programme is eligible, checking whether tuition applies, finding a representative in Slovenia when necessary and collecting the documents well before 2 September 2026.

Author: MSOS Team

Sources

  1. Public Scholarship Fund of Slovenia: Official 380th Public Call and application documents
  2. University of Ljubljana: Scholarship announcement for Western Balkan students

Last checked: 2 August 2026