Every fifth Slovak university student studies abroad, according to the Educational Policy Institute (IVP). Approximately 32,000 Slovak students are currently studying abroad with the number holding steadily since 2017. The most Slovak students go to study in the Czech Republic. Last year, Czech universities were attended by 21,000 Slovak students.
The Czech Republic is a long-time favourite destination of Slovaks seeking to study abroad. Around 2,700 Slovak students in 2022 and almost 5,000 Slovak students since 2001 have studied medicine in the Czech Republic.
The Netherlands is also a popular place for Slovak students, with their number in the country increasing tenfold between the year 2006 and 2021 (increasing from 100 to 1,100). Denmark has also recorded an increase in interest from Slovak students, receiving four time more students in 2017 than in 2013.
On the other hand, Slovak students are becoming less and less interested in studying in Austria, Germany, and the UK. The number of Slovaks studying in Germany peaked at more than 1,600, but since 2017 it has not exceeded 1,000 students. According to the analysis, the UK has received 23 percent fewer Slovak students last year than the year before.
The analysis shows that from the pool of high school students the graduates of grammar schools - called gymnázium in Slovakia and bilingual programs are more likely to continue their studies abroad. According to the analysis, 19 percent of gymnázium graduates and 35 percent of business academy and bilingual program graduates study abroad.
Source: TASR
