Foundation for the Development of Education - Support for Erasmus exchange

Support for Erasmus exchange

You will receive a top-up grant, i.e. additional funding on top of your main grant, to cover the costs of a study period abroad that your main grant (usually Erasmus) does not fully cover. There is no fixed monthly amount. You calculate the amount you actually need, explain this in your application, and the foundation decides on a case-by-case basis. The grant is aimed at students whose parents are unable to support them financially during their stay and whose other grants or savings are insufficient. It is administered by the ‘Nadace pro rozvoj vzdělání’ (Foundation for the Development of Education) in Prague, which has been supporting this programme since 2008.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are currently studying for a Bachelor’s degree. Doctoral students and postgraduate students are not eligible to apply.
• University: You are enrolled at a university in the Czech Republic or Slovakia.
• Age: You are 25 or younger.
• Where you go: You are going abroad as part of the Erasmus programme or another short-term exchange scheme and will subsequently return to your home university. Work placements and language courses abroad are not eligible for funding.
• Financial need: Your family cannot afford to cover the costs of your stay, and your other resources are insufficient.
• Field of study: Anyone interested is welcome to apply. Preference will be given to students from technical and medical disciplines.

How to apply

You must email your application in PDF format to the Foundation during the first week of the month. This must include your CV, a project description, a detailed financial plan, two references from teachers, proof of acceptance onto the exchange programme, and a short essay on how you might one day give back the support you have received. Please apply at least two months before your departure. There are no exceptions, and you should not reapply once you have received a grant.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is narrowly cut. You must already have a place on an exchange, be under 25, show real financial need and make a strong written case, since the application is your only presentation. That smaller, well-matched pool helps your prospects if you clearly fit, especially in a technical field or medicine. Apply early, well before the two-month deadline, as the budget is individual and limited.