Scholarships for Slovakia
Eastern Europe Comes of Age
With Eastern Europe’s former bloc countries lining up to get into the European Union you get the idea that they all wish to play on the same global field. Slovakia is just one of the region’s countries where oppressive government regulation and social strictures hve fallen by the wayside. In their absence new free market games are being played and multinational companies are seriously considering the riches to be had in return for investing the Slovakian market.
This environment balanced as it is with one foot still in the past and the other firmly rooted in the present, offers students an experiential classroom experience and once in a lifetime cultural exchange. Students with an interest in business, language and the sciences are typically well-engaged in Slovakia.
Federal Scholarships
Socially and economically underprivileged students now have a significant funding resource available. Historically a huge chunk of the undergraduate population was ineligible for study abroad programs simply because of the exorbitant cost. Now the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships are here and are instrumental in funding many a student’s stint in a far away land such as Slovakia. The country is appealing for international business majors, and those interested in foreign and international affairs and politics, anthropology, archaeology and a host of other disciplines. Gilman Shcolars are highly publicized and for this reason the word is out and the program is ultra-competitive. However, over 700 are handed out annually and you could be one of them. Make sure you are a Pell Grant recipient and that your academics are above average. Gilman Scholarships max out at $5,000.
The David L. Boren Scholarships are likewise extremely competitive. Package deals are available to undergrads and grad students in slightly different versions, but the gist remains the same. This scholarship for service program is targeted to those students who would like to work for the federal governemtn, either short-term or long-term. Applicants must be engaging in a program in Slovakia not only focused on their core discipline, but also allows them to learn the colloquial language to an advanced degree. Recipients may find themselves in very trendy jobs with national security agencies. Maximum awards are $26,000.
Private Funds
The Central Europe Summer Research Institute provides attractive fellowships for graduate science and engineering majors who want to study in Slovakia. Applicants are considered in light of academic merit and financial need. Candidates must have a well-defined project they will be pursuing and the more innovative the better. Fellowships include $3,000 stipend and travel expenses.
Fellowships from IREX are designed to allow post-graduate students to travel to Slovakia or another Eastern European country. IREX is a worldwide organization that supports the research projects of groups and individual scholars devoted to sustainable development and international communication. Applicants for these fellowships must have a definite plan of research which allows them to finish up in a short span of time. Fellowships are very competitive and offer $5,000 for travel and costs.
Rotary International’s Ambassadorial Scholarships are hotly contested and generous. Students who wish to engage in humanitarian studies in Slovakia may be eligible for consideration. Of course applicants must be closely aligned with the organization’s tenets, which means the ideal candidate is academically talented, well-spoken, clean-cut and possesses leadership qualities and a strong moral constitution. Recipients must be willing to share their Slovakia experience with a Rotary audience upon return to the U.S. Maximum awards are $26,000.
The American Council of Learned Societies maintains a host of generous scholarships and fellowships for Eastern European studies. Summer Language Fellowships are awarded to outstanding graduate students as well as programs directly offered through certain colleges and universities. Students who can prove a career need for Slovak may receive up to $2,500 to study Slovak abroad.
College Scholarships
The University of Pittsburgh offers an extensive and study abroad program that is designed around their concept of Nationality Rooms. Each study abroad country is represented by its own committee and office, where information on current programs and scholarships is available. The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures works hand in hand with the related nationality rooms to offer students a study abroad experience in a number of Slavic language countries, including Slovakia. The Thomas Kukucka Memorial Award is specifically designed for department students who need funding for a language or arts program in Slovakia.
