​

When assessing applications for a student loan, in addition to the basic eligibility criteria, preferential criteria are also taken into account, which can increase your chances of approval. If you meet any of these criteria, indicate them in your application and provide supporting documents – this can significantly strengthen your application.

> LIST OF PREFERENTIAL CRITERIA

​

Legally mandated preferential criteria

After the application submission deadline, you still have 10 working days to:

• supplement your application with the required mandatory attachments.

After this period, all applications will be prepared for the approval process.

The Board of the Education Support Fund will, during the approval process, consider only those applications that:

• were submitted within the specified deadline,
• meet all the conditions for granting loans.
  

> APPROVAL PROCESS STAGES

1. assessment of compliance with the loan conditions
2. determination of the order of applications using:
   • preferential criteria according to § 11(3) of the Education Support Fund Act
   • priority criteria approved by the Fund Board
3. Approval of loan applications by the Fund Board

> NOTICE

• There is no legal entitlement to a loan from the Education Support Fund.
• Loans are not granted through administrative proceedings.

The Education Support Fund will publish a list of approved and rejected loan applications on its website:

• • within 3 working days from the Fund Board’s decision,​
• but no later than 60 days after the loan application submission deadline.

> HOW TO CORRECTLY SIGN THE CONTRACT

Within 20 days of the publication of the list of approved loans, the Education Support Fund will send you the loan agreement:

• the contract will be signed by the Fund Director
• you will receive it in three copies:
  • one for the Fund
  • one for you as the borrower ​
  • one for the guarantor ​

What you need to do:

• The copy intended for the Fund must be signed by both you and your guarantor before a notary or at the registry office — both signatures must be officially certified.

Important: You and your guarantor do not need to sign the contract at the same time, but your signature must be certified on the same day or before the guarantor’s signature. If the guarantor signs before you, the contract will not be valid.

• Send the signed copy by mail or deliver it personally to: 
  Fond na podporu vzdelávania, Panenská 29, 811 03 Bratislava.
• It must be delivered no later than 60 days from the receipt of the contract.

> NOTICE
Contracts delivered after this deadline will not be published — the loan will not proceed to the disbursement phase.

​> WHAT ARE YOUR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE AGREEMENT?

By signing the loan agreement, you take on certain obligations that must be fulfilled correctly and on time. Failure to meet them may result in the Education Support Fund applying fees or other penalties according to the applicable fee schedule.

> BASIC OBLIGATIONS

You are required to notify the Fund of any changes in your studies or personal information, as well as changes in your guarantor’s personal information.

Failure to do so may result in fees according to the current  Fee Schedule.​

1. Obligation to report enrollment and tuition payment  – applies only to purpose-specific loans.

If you received a purpose-specific loan, you must notify the Fund in writing within 30 days of receiving the loan that:

• you have enrolled in your studies or the next stage of studies.
• you have paid the tuition fee.

Attach proof of enrollment and payment confirmation to show that the loan was used for its intended purpose.

Did you not enroll? Did you not pay the tuition?

If you did not enroll or pay tuition, you must still notify the Fund in writing within 30 days of loan disbursement.

1. Obligation to report and document changes in studies

Report any changes in your studies to the Fund within 14 days, especially in cases of:

• Completion of higher education,
• Any other termination of studies (dropping out, exceeding maximum allowed study period, exclusion, cancellation of the study program without continuing in another program),
• Study interruption,
• Transfer to another faculty or university.

Send documents electronically via the client portal or by mail. If documents are not in Slovak or Czech, provide a Slovak translation with a sworn declaration.

3. Obligation to report changes in personal data (yours or your guarantor’s)

Notify the Fund within 14 days using the “Request for Change or Completion of Personal Data” form. Examples include:

• Name or surname changes
• Permanent or correspondence address changes
• Contact details (email, phone) changes

Submit via the client portal or by mail to the Fund.

4. Obligation to report serious financial changes

If you experience any serious change in your financial situation, you are required to notify the fund in writing – immediately, but no later than within 30 days. Notification is required, for example, if:

• You become or may be considered insolvent,
• You stop payments or announce intent to stop repaying,
• You negotiate with multiple creditors about changing obligations,
• Bankruptcy, debt relief, or restructuring proceedings are initiated against you,
• A temporary, forced, or restructuring administrator is appointed,
• Execution or similar proceedings are initiated,
• Other similar legal situations affect your ability to repay.

5. Obligation after graduation

After finishing your studies, you have an important obligation toward us – to report that you are a tax resident in the territory of the Slovak Republic. This mechanism is intended to encourage graduates of prestigious foreign schools to return to Slovakia after their studies and work here. According to Article IX of the contract:

By December 31 of each calendar year, you must inform the creditor that you are a taxpayer with unlimited tax liability in the Slovak Republic and provide proof of this with a certificate from the Slovak Financial Administration.

Here’s how it works in practice:

If you fulfill this obligation, we will write off 1% of the outstanding principal of your loan.

If you fail to meet this obligation, your interest rate will increase by 2%.

6. Obligation to report employment start and changes

Notify in writing within 30 days about:

• that you have started engaging in gainful employment in the territory of the Slovak Republic,
• terminated, interrupted, or changed (e.g., change of employer, sick leave, maternity/parental leave, unemployment...).​

7. Obligations during repayment period

Repayment starts after losing student status and any statutory deferrals.

During repayment, you must:

• Pay monthly installments on time (credited to the Fund by the 25th of each month),
• Follow the monthly installment amount in the agreement,
• Use the correct variable symbol.

> LOAN SECURITY: INSURANCE AND GUARANTEE

1. Insurance

Your loan is automatically insured as part of the fund’s group insurance (through Wüstenrot Insurance).

The insurance covers the following cases:

• Borrower’s death
• Permanent consequences of accidents

The insurance is part of the loan agreement.By signing the agreement, you give your consent to its conclusion. The obligation to pay the insurance premium applies to all loans granted. The insurance becomes effective on the day the loan is disbursed and ends on the day the entire loan is fully repaid.​

The insurance premium is 0.35% of the insured amount.

• 0.2% per year of the insured amount — life insurance coverage.​
• 0.15% per year of the insured amount — supplementary insurance for permanent disability.

The insurance premium is charged once a year, always at the beginning of the calendar year, based on the current outstanding balance.

Start and end of insurance:

- Insurance begins on the date the loan is disbursed (i.e., when the funds are debited from the fund’s account)
​- Insurance ends on the date the loan is fully repaid, including interest, fees, and charges.​​

> WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF AN INSURANCE EVENT

a, Insurance Event – Death of the Borrower

In the event of the borrower’s death, the heirs must send to the fund a copy of the Death Inspection Certificate and the statistical death report (form “Štatistického úradu Slovenskej republiky Obyv. 3-12” – original or officially certified copy).

Upon receiving the documents, the fund will handle further communication with the insurance company.

The insurance payout, after the insurer completes the claim process, will be credited to the fund’s account, which will settle the total outstanding debt as of the date of the insurance event. If the insurance payout exceeds the deceased borrower’s remaining debt, the fund will transfer the difference to the heirs’ account.

b, Insurance Event – Accident of the Borrower with Permanent Consequences

If an accident results in permanent consequences, you must send to the fund:

• an accident report
• a medical report from the attending physician

After receiving these documents, the fund will coordinate further communication with the insurer. If additional documents are required, the insurance company may contact you directly.

The insurance payout, after the claim process is completed by the insurer, will be credited to the fund’s account, which will settle the total debt as of the date of the insurance event. If the insurance payout exceeds the remaining debt, the fund will transfer the difference to your account.

Note: During the resolution of this insurance event, you are still required to continue repaying the loan.

1. Guarantee – Single Guarantor

The guarantor is responsible for the entire debt, including principal and any related charges.

The conditions for who can be a guarantor and what they must meet are detailed in the separate GUARANTOR section.

Procedure for Changing a Guarantor on a Loan Agreement (change of guarantor, death, bankruptcy)

In any of these cases, you must:

1. Notify the fund in writing of the change within 30 days
2. Provide a new guarantor who meets all conditions
3. Send the fund:
   • a completed request for the change
   • the new guarantor’s income confirmation (not older than 30 days)

After verifying the conditions and approving the change, the fund will send you an amendment to the agreement for signing.

• The amendment will be signed by the fund’s director.
• You will receive three copies:
  • one for the Fund
  • one for you as the borrower ​
  • one for the guarantor ​

What to Do:

• The copy for the Fund must be signed by both you and your guarantor before a notary or at the registry office — both signatures must be officially certified. You and your guarantor do not need to sign the amendment at the same time, but your signature must be certified on the same day or before the guarantor signs. If the guarantor signs first, the amendment will be invalid.
• Return the amendment within 30 days of receipt. If you fail to return it on time, the guarantor change will not be valid.

WARNING: The guarantor cannot withdraw from the guarantee; a change is only possible at the borrower’s request and with the fund’s approval.

> SANCTIONS FOR BREACH OF CONTRACTUAL TERMS

In case of contract violations, the fund may apply the following sanctions:

• Increase of the interest rate (e.g., if more than 2 installments are overdue)
• Penalty fees (e.g., for failing to fulfill reporting obligations)
• Contractual fines (e.g., for unauthorized use of the loan)
• Acceleration of the entire outstanding debt (e.g., if more than 3 installments are overdue or for serious breaches of reporting obligations)

As soon as we receive your signed contract back, we will check whether any unauthorized changes have been made and whether the signature is valid.

If everything is in order:

• the contract will be anonymized,
• it will be published in the Central Register of Contracts (a legal requirement).

The day after publication, the contract becomes effective — this is the moment when the Fund proceeds with the disbursement of the loan.

The Fund will disburse the loan no later than 14 days after the contract becomes effective (the contract becomes effective the day after it is published in the Central Register of Contracts).​

The disbursement process is set as follows:
- every Monday, the Fund processes payments for contracts that were published during the previous week.

Therefore, if your contract is published within a given week, you can expect the payment in the next Monday’s disbursement cycle.

The interest rate on your loan depends on your situation:

• 0% per year (interest-free loan) – applies if you are a Bachelor’s or Master’s student during the deferral period (according to §13 (3) of the Fund Act).
• % specified on the 1st page of your loan agreement- applies during the repayment period and during a special deferral period under §17 (14) of the Fund Act.

If you are a PhD student (third-cycle), the loan starts accruing interest from the day after it is disbursed.

When does the interest increase by +2% annually (penalty interest)?

- during any period when you are more than two installments late with repayment,
- during a serious breach of the loan agreement, if the breach occurred while you were obliged to repay the loan,

- during the entire period in which you did not perform gainful activity as defined in Article IX, Section 2 of the loan agreement, until the required number of principal reductions have been applied according to the number of years in which the Loan was granted.

​> SPECIAL DEFERRAL OF REPAYMENTS ACCORDING TO § 13 PARAGRAPH 3 OF THE FUND ACT

A deferral of repayments under § 13 paragraph 3 of the Fund Act applies only to students of the first and second cycle of higher education who have not yet completed another second-cycle higher education program.

During this deferral:

• the repayment term does not run,
• the loan does not accrue interest,
• you are not obliged to repay the loan.

More information can be found in Article VII of the loan agreement.

> YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A LOAN REPAYMENT DEFERRAL

a) For the reason of studying:

• If you are a student at a university in Slovakia or abroad (an equivalent program) and have not yet completed a second-cycle higher education program,
• within 6 months after the proper completion of the first-cycle higher education program,
• within 2 months after the proper completion of the second-cycle higher education program,
• within 2 months after interruption or other termination of studies (first or second cycle).
  

A deferral of repayments due to studying is possible for a maximum total of seven years, which does not have to be consecutive years (applies only to loan agreements from the academic year 2017/2018 onwards).

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUBMIT:

• A loan application or a separate written request for a deferral of repayments, and
• mandatory attachments:
• • confirmation of school attendance (original, not older than 30 days / certified copy),
  • translation of the confirmation and a sworn declaration of the translation (original, not older than 30 days / certified copy) – if the confirmation is in a language other than Slovak or Czech.

b) For the reason of maternity or parental leave:

• If, due to starting maternity or parental leave, you interrupt your higher education studies and simultaneously
• notify the Fund in writing of the start of maternity or parental leave and request a deferral of repayments no later than 2 months from the interruption of studies.

A deferral of repayments due to the duration of maternity or parental leave or parental leave is possible for a total of up to five years, which does not have to be consecutive.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUBMIT:

• a separate written request for a deferral of repayments (no later than 2 months from the interruption of studies), and
• mandatory attachments:
• • confirmation from the Social Insurance Agency or a doctor about the start of maternity leave – original, not older than 30 days, or a certified copy, or
  • document from the authority providing parental allowance – original, not older than 30 days, or a certified copy, and a copy of the child’s birth certificate, and
  • confirmation of study interruption – copy,
  • if the confirmation is in a language other than Slovak or Czech: translation of the confirmation of study interruption and a sworn declaration of the translation (original, not older than 30 days / certified copy).

c) For the reason of voluntary military training:

(applies only to loan agreements from the academic year 2019/2020)

• If, due to starting voluntary military training, you interrupt your higher education studies and simultaneously
• notify the Fund in writing of the start of voluntary military training and request a deferral of repayments no later than 2 months from the interruption of studies.

The deferral is possible for the duration of voluntary military training, including any possible order to perform extraordinary service.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUBMIT:

• a separate written request for a deferral of repayments (no later than 2 months from the interruption of studies), and
• mandatory attachments:
  • notification from the Personnel Office of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic about acceptance into voluntary military training – original, not older than 30 days / certified copy,
  • confirmation of study interruption – copy,
  • if the confirmation is in a language other than Slovak or Czech: translation of the confirmation of study interruption and a sworn declaration of the translation (original, not older than 30 days / certified copy).

> IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE START AND DURATION OF THE DEFERRAL

• The deferral starts in the month following the month in which the Fund receives your complete request (all conditions must be met + all previously due installments paid).
• If any change occurs during the deferral (e.g., early completion or extension of the deferral), you must send the Fund the relevant document and, if necessary, a new request for deferral within 14 days. The Fund will adjust the duration of the deferral accordingly.
• If a deferral was granted based on your request and the date of your state exam in the loan application changes, the Fund will adjust the deferral period according to the new date.

> HOW TO SUBMIT THE REQUEST AND ATTACHMENTS

The request for a special deferral of repayments, including attachments, can be submitted in paper form to the Fund’s address or electronically to the email address of the relevant officer, whereby:

• Attachments that are required as originals can be submitted:
• • in paper form (together with the request for deferral) as the original, certified copy, or a document converted from electronic to paper form by a notary or other authorized entity (e.g., by mail), or
  • in electronic form via the client’s electronic portal (together with the electronically sent request for deferral) with a qualified electronic seal of the issuing institution, or must be a document converted from paper to electronic form by a notary or other authorized entity (e.g., by mail).
• Attachments that are required as copies can be submitted:
• • in paper form (together with the request for deferral) as a plain copy, or
  • in electronic form via the client’s electronic portal (together with the electronically sent request for deferral) as a scanned or photographed file in *.pdf format or another format protected against further changes.

> SPECIAL DEFERRAL OF REPAYMENTS ACCORDING TO § 17 para. 14 OF THE FUND ACT

If the due date of your loan has already arrived (i.e., the period when you are obliged to start repaying the loan) and you are not entitled to a deferral under § 13 para. 3 of the Fund Act, you can request a special deferral of repayments under § 17 para. 14 of the Fund Act.

During the special deferral:

• the loan’s due date continues,
• the loan accrues interest,
• you are obliged to pay only the interest on the principal.

Details of the special deferral of repayments are stated in Article VIII of your loan agreement.

> YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A SPECIAL DEFERRAL OF REPAYMENTS

a) for the reason of maternity or parental leave:

What needs to be submitted when applying for a special deferral of payments:

• a written request for deferral of payments, and
• and a mandatory attachment:
  • a certificate from the Social Insurance Agency or a doctor confirming the start of maternity leave (original, not older than 30 days, or a certified copy), or
  • a document from the authority providing parental allowance (original, not older than 30 days, or a certified copy) along with a copy of the child’s birth certificate.

b) due to being registered with the relevant labor, social affairs, and family office as a job seeker:

What needs to be submitted:

• a written request for deferral of payments, and
• and a mandatory attachment – ​a document confirming registration as a job seeker issued by the relevant labor, social affairs, and family office (original, not older than 30 days, or a certified copy).

c) due to participation in voluntary military training

What you need to submit:

• a written request for deferral of payments, and
• the mandatory attachment – a notice from the Personnel Office of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic about acceptance into voluntary military training (original, not older than 30 days, or a certified copy). ​

> IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE START AND DURATION OF THE DEFERRAL

• The special deferral will start the month following the month in which the fund receives your complete request (all conditions must be met + all due installments paid).
• The fund will notify you in writing of the amount of the adjusted loan installment during the period of the granted special deferral.
  
• If any change occurs during the deferral (e.g., early termination or extension of the deferral), you must send the fund the relevant document and, if necessary, a new request for deferral within 14 days. The fund will adjust the duration of the special deferral accordingly.

> HOW TO SUBMIT THE REQUEST AND ATTACHMENTS

The request for a special deferral of repayments, including attachments, can be submitted in paper form to the Fund’s address or electronically to the email address of the relevant officer, whereby:

• Attachments that are required in original form can be submitted:
  
• • in paper form (together with the request for deferral) as the original, a certified copy, or a document converted from electronic to paper form by a notary or other authorized entity (e.g., by post), or
  • in electronic form via the client portal (together with the electronically sent request for deferral) with a qualified electronic seal of the institution that issued the document, or as a document converted from paper to electronic form by a notary or other authorized entity (e.g., by post).
• Attachments that are required as copies can be submitted:
• • in paper form (together with the request for deferral) as a regular copy, or
  • in electronic form via the client portal (together with the electronically sent request for deferral) as a scanned document or photograph in *.pdf or another format secured against further changes.

DEFERRAL FOR ANOTHER QUALIFIED REASON UNDER § 4(1)(m) OF THE FUND ACT

You can also request a deferral of loan repayment or only the principal for another qualified reason – i.e., for a reason not explicitly listed in the law, but considered serious and justified.

• The same conditions apply as for a special deferral of payments under § 17(14) of the Fund Act.
• The fund decides individually on the granting of the deferral.

What the request must include:

• A written request in which you:
  • clearly state the reason for the request,
  • ensure the reason is specific, justified, and relevant,
  • provide documented evidence of the facts (e.g., medical certificate, official documents, etc.).

You do not have a legal right to such a deferral – the fund will review your request and may approve or deny it.

> PRINCIPAL WRITE-OFF – WHEN CAN WE REDUCE YOUR DEBT?

If you concluded your last loan agreement from the 2017/2018 academic year onwards, you may, upon meeting the conditions, be eligible for a principal write-off—that is, a reduction of the outstanding loan amount. The unpaid principal of the loan will be reduced by one percent for each year during which you conducted gainful activity in Slovakia and were simultaneously a taxpayer with unlimited tax liability under §2(d) first point of Act No. 595/2003 Coll. on Income Tax, as amended by Act No. 534/2005 Coll. At the same time, you must prove to the fund that you had income from employment, business, other independent gainful activity, or from the use of a work or artistic performance, for a period of five years from the start of the loan’s repayment period.

What counts as gainful activity?

You must be a taxpayer with unlimited tax liability in Slovakia (i.e., have tax domicile in Slovakia) and have income:

• from employment (employment contract or agreement for work performed outside of employment),
• from business or other independent gainful activities (e.g., trade license, freelance profession),
• from activities based on a mandate contract, license agreement, publishing agreement, copyright contract, contract for work, or any other agreement that entitles you to income from the use of a work or artistic performance.

Time counted toward principal write-off eligibility includes:

• maternity and parental leave, up to a maximum of three years,
• periods of disability if it arose during or as a result of gainful activity.

> HOW TO CLAIM THE WRITE-OFF

After 5 years from the start of loan repayment, submit to the Fund:

• a written request, and
• a certificate of gainful activity, which:​
  • is not older than 30 days,
  • is an original or certified copy,
  • is issued by your employer or the tax office.

The certificate must clearly show when and for how long you performed gainful activity from which you had taxable income under the Income Tax Act.

For the purpose of principal write-off, only the first five years of the loan repayment period are considered.

Detailed information about principal write-off according to §13(6) of the Fund Act is provided in Article IX of the loan agreement.