The International Visegrad Fund (IVF) is a prestigious multilateral donor organization established on 9 June 2000 by the four member states of the Visegrad Group (V4): the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. Headquartered in Bratislava, Slovakia, the Fund aims to strengthen regional cooperation in education, research, culture, and innovation through a wide range of grants, scholarships, and residency programs.
The official language of the International Visegrad Fund is English, and it supports both V4 and non-V4 countries, making it an excellent opportunity for international students, researchers, artists, and institutions.
Scholarship Overview
- Fully Funded, Partial Funding
- Czech Republic Universities, Hungary Universities, Poland Universities, Slovekia Universities
- Masters, PhD, Fellowship
- All Subjects
- International Students
- Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia
Degree Level
The International Visegrad Fund supports the following academic levels:
- Master’s Degree
- Doctoral (PhD) Studies
- Post-Doctoral Research
- Independent Research
- Non-degree Academic Mobility
Available Subjects
IVF programs support a wide range of disciplines, including:
- Education and Higher Education
- Science and Research
- Culture and Arts
- Social Sciences
- Youth and Academic Exchange
- Tourism and Cross-Border Cooperation
- Democratization and Institutional Development
Benefits
- Financial support for tuition, research, and mobility
- Study or research at accredited universities and institutes
- Funding coverage up to 100% of eligible costs
- Support for international collaboration and networking
- Access to top academic and cultural institutions in Europe
- Opportunities for students, researchers, artists, and institutions
Eligible Nationalities
The International Visegrad Fund is open to:
- Citizens of V4 countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia)
- Citizens of Western Balkan countries
- Citizens of Eastern Partnership countries
- Selected non-V4 countries depending on the program
- Eligible regions may include Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, and Kosovo.
Eligibility Criteria
1. Visegrad Grants
- Support regional partnerships among NGOs, public institutions, municipalities, universities, and research centers
- Cooperation required from at least 3 V4 countries
- Cross-border projects between 2 neighboring V4 countries are also eligible
- Project duration: up to 18 months
- Funding: up to 100% of project budget (15% overhead allowed)
2. Visegrad+ Grants
- Focus on democratization and transformation in Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries
- Minimum participation: 3 V4 countries + 1 non-EU partner
- Duration: up to 18 months
- Funding: up to 100% of project costs
3. Strategic Grants
- Address annual strategic priorities of the Visegrad Group
- Mandatory participation from all four V4 countries
- Duration: 12 to 36 months
- Funding: up to 100% of project budget
Visegrad Scholarship Programme
The Visegrad Scholarship Programme supports academic mobility and research for students and scholars.
Supported Schemes
- Intra-Visegrad 21 (Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership citizens studying in V4 countries)
Duration
- Master’s students: 1–4 semesters
- Post-Master / PhD students: 1–2 semesters
Application Procedure
- Applications are submitted online only via the International Visegrad Fund application system
- Registration requires a valid email address
- Project proposals and scholarship applications must be completed before the deadline
- Consultations with IVF staff are possible up to 14 days before deadlines
- No changes or consultations are allowed after submission
Application Deadlines
Grants (Three Times Per Year)
- February 1
- June 1
- October 1
- Submission deadline: 12:00 p.m. (noon) CET
Visegrad Scholarships
- April 15 (11:59:59 CET) each year
- Earliest project start: September