Pri posudzovaní žiadostí o študentskú pôžičku sa okrem základných podmienok berú do úvahy aj uprednostňujúce kritériá, ktoré ti môžu zvýšiť šance na schválenie. Ak niektoré z týchto kritérií spĺňaš, vyznač ich v žiadosti a dolož ich dokladmi – môže to výrazne pomôcť tvojej žiadosti.

> LIST OF PREFERENTIAL CRITERIA

Legally mandated preferential criteria

Preferential criteria set by the Fund’s Board:

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

• doplniť žiadosť o požadované povinné prílohy

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

The Council 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
   • prednostných kritérií schválených Radou fondu
3. Approval of loan applications by the Fund Council

> 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:

• do 3 pracovných dní od rozhodnutia Rady fondu
• 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 CONTRACT?

By signing the loan agreement, you assume certain obligations that must be fulfilled correctly and on time. Failure to comply may result in fees or other sanctions imposed by the Education Support Fund in accordance with the applicable fee schedule.

> BASIC OBLIGATIONS

You are required to inform the Fund of any changes in your studies or personal data, as well as changes in the personal data of your guarantor.

Failure to comply may result in fees or other sanctions imposed by the Education Support Fund in accordance with the applicable   Fee Schedule​

1. Obligation to report and document changes in your studies

You must notify and provide documentation to the Fund within 14 days of any change in your studies, including:

• completion of your higher education,
• any other termination of studies (withdrawal, failure to complete within the allowed maximum duration, exclusion, or cancellation of the program if the borrower does not continue in another program),
• suspension of studies,
• transfer to another faculty or university not divided into faculties.

If issued in a language other than Slovak or Czech, a Slovak translation with a sworn statement must be provided.
Documents must be sent to the Fund electronically or by mail. 

2. Obligation to report changes in your personal data or your guarantor’s personal data

Any change in personal data must be reported to the Fund within 14 days using the form Request to Change or Supplement Personal Data. Examples include:

• change of name or surname,
• change of permanent or mailing address,
• change of contact information (email, phone).

Tlačivo pošli na elektronický portál alebo poštou na adresu fondu.

3. Obligation to report significant changes in financial situation

If any serious change occurs in your financial situation, you must notify the Fund in writing immediately, but no later than 30 days, for example if:

• you become or may be considered insolvent,
• you stop payments or declare intent to stop repayment, ​
• you begin negotiations with multiple creditors regarding your obligations,
• bankruptcy, debt relief, or restructuring proceedings are filed against you,
• a temporary, forced, or restructuring administrator is appointed,
• execution or other similar legal proceedings are initiated against you,
• any similar legal situation affecting your ability to repay occurs.

​

4. Obligations during the repayment period

The loan repayment period begins once student status is lost and any statutory deferrals expire.

During repayment, you must:

• make monthly payments on time — credited to the Fund’s account no later than the 25th of each month,
• dodržiavať výšku mesačnej splátky podľa zmluvy, resp. podľa výšky splátky zobrazenej v elektronickom portáli klienta, 
• use the correct variable symbol.

> LOAN SECURITY: INSURANCE AND GUARANTEE

1. Insurance

Your loan is automatically insured under the Fund’s group insurance (through Wüstenrot Insurance).

Coverage applies to:

• death of the borrower,
• permanent disability caused by an accident.

Insurance is part of the loan agreement. By signing, you consent to its conclusion. Insurance premiums apply to all loans granted.
Insurance period: from the date of loan disbursement until full repayment of the loan.

Premium rates:

• 0.2% per year of the insured amount — death coverage,​
• 0.15% per year of the insured amount — permanent disability coverage. ​

Premiums are charged annually at the start of each calendar year, based on the current loan 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 Report and the official death certificate (Statistical Office form Obyv. 3-12 — original or certified copy).

After receiving the documents, the Fund will handle further communication with the insurance company.

Insurance proceeds, after completion of the insurance claim, are applied to the Fund’s account to settle the total debt as of the date of the insurance event. If the insurance payment exceeds the remaining debt, the Fund will transfer the surplus to the heirs’ account.

b, Insurance event — accident of the borrower with permanent disability

In case of an accident resulting in permanent disability, you must send to the Fund:

• accident notification,
• medical report from the attending physician.

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

Insurance proceeds, after completion of the claim, are applied to the Fund’s account to settle the total debt as of the date of the insurance event. If the payment exceeds the remaining debt, the Fund will transfer the surplus to your account.

Note: You must continue to repay the loan during the insurance claim process.

2.Guarantee — single guarantor

The guarantor is responsible for the full debt - principal and interest.

Conditions on who may act as guarantor and the requirements are described in the separate Guarantor section.

Procedure in case of a guarantor change on the loan agreement (replacement, death, insolvency)

In each case, you must:

1. Notify the Fund in writing within 30 days,
2. Secure a new guarantor meeting all requirements,
3. Send to the Fund:
   • completed change request form,
   • new income certificate of the guarantor (not older than 30 days).

After verifying compliance and approval, the Fund will send an amendment to the contract for signature:

• signed by the Fund Director,
• provided in 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 you and your guarantor before a notary or registry office — both signatures must be officially certified. You and the guarantor do not need to sign simultaneously, but your signature must be certified on the same day or before the guarantor’s. If the guarantor signs first, the amendment is invalid.
• Return the signed amendment within 30 days. Changes are only valid if approved by the Fund.

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

> SANCTIONS FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT

In case of breach, the Fund may impose:

• increased interest rate (if more than 2 payments are overdue),
• penalty fees (e.g., failure to report changes),
• contractual fines (e.g., unauthorized loan usage),
• acceleration of the full outstanding debt (e.g., if more than 3 payments are overdue or in case of serious reporting violations).

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 depends on your situation:

• 0% per year (loan is non-interest-bearing) – applies if you are a Bachelor’s or Master’s student during the period of eligibility for installment deferment (according to §13(3) of the Fund Act).
• % stated on the first page of the loan agreement – applies during the repayment period and during the period of a special installment deferment according to §17(14) of the Fund Act.

If you are a PhD student, the loan begins to accrue interest from the day after it is disbursed.

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

- during the period when you are more than two installments late in repaying the loan. 
- during the period of a serious breach of the loan agreement, if this breach occurred during the time when you were obliged to repay the loan.

​> DEFERRAL OF LOAN REPAYMENTS UNDER § 13(3) OF THE FUND ACT

Deferral of repayments under § 13(3) of the Fund Act applies only to first- and second-degree university students who have not yet completed another second-degree university study.

During this deferral:

• the repayment deadline does not run,
• the loan does not accrue interest,
• you are not required to make repayments.

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

> YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A DEFERRAL OF REPAYMENTS

​a) Due to study:

• If you are a student at a university in Slovakia or abroad (equivalent study) and have not yet completed second-degree university studies:
• for 6 months after the proper completion of the first-degree university study,
• for 2 months after the proper completion of the second-degree university study,
• for 2 months after the interruption or other termination of study (first or second degree).
  

Postponement of repayments due to study is possible for a total of up to seven years, which does not have to be continuous (applies only to loan agreements from the academic year 2017/2018).

Documents required:

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

b) Due to maternity or parental leave:

• If you interrupt your university studies due to starting maternity or parental leave and
• notify the Fund in writing and request a postponement of repayments no later than 1 month after the interruption of studies.

Postponement due to maternity or parental leave is possible for a total of up to five years, which does not have to be continuous.

Documents required:

• Separate written request for postponement (no later than 1 month after interruption of studies), and​
• mandatory attachments:
• • certificate from the Social Insurance Agency or a doctor about starting maternity leave – original, not older than 30 days, or certified copy, or
  • document from the authority providing parental allowance – original, not older than 30 days, or certified copy, and a copy of the child’s birth certificate, and
  • certificate of study interruption – copy, and
  • if the certificate is in a language other than Slovak or Czech: translation of the certificate and declaration of accuracy of the translation (original, not older than 30 days / certified copy).

c) Due to voluntary military training:

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

• If you interrupt your university studies due to starting voluntary military training and
• notify the Fund in writing and request a postponement of repayments no later than 1 month after the interruption of studies.

The postponement is possible for the duration of voluntary military training, including any mandatory extraordinary service.

Documents required:

• Separate written request for postponement (no later than 1 month after 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,
  • certificate of study interruption – copy,
  • if the certificate is in a language other than Slovak or Czech: translation of the certificate and declaration of accuracy of the translation (original, not older than 30 days / certified copy).

> IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE START AND DURATION OF DEFERRAL

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

> HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST AND ATTACHMENTS

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

• Attachments required as originals can be submitted:
  
• • in paper form (together with the request) as the original, certified copy, or a document converted from electronic form to paper by a notary or other authorized entity (e.g., by mail), or
  • v elektronickej podobe cez elektronický portál klienta (spolu so žiadosťou o odklad splátok zaslanou elektronicky) opatrené kvalifikovanou elektronickou pečaťou inštitúcie, ktorá daný dokument vystavila alebo musí ísť o dokument prevedený do elektronickej podoby z listinnej podoby zaručenou konverziou notárom alebo iným oprávneným subjektom (napr. poštou). 
• attachments required as copies can be submitted:
• • in paper form as a regular copy, or
    
  • v elektronickej podobe cez elektronický portál klienta(spolu so žiadosťou o odklad splátok zaslanou elektronicky) ako scan / fotografiu v súbore vo formáte *.pdf alebo inom formáte zabezpečenom proti ďalším zmenám.

> SPECIAL DEFERRAL OF REPAYMENTS UNDER § 17(14) OF THE FUND ACT

If your loan repayment period has already started (i.e., you are required to start repaying the loan) and you are not entitled to a postponement under § 13(3), you may request a special deferral under § 17(14).

During a special deferral:

• the loan repayment deadline continues,
• the loan accrues interest,
• you are required to pay only interest on the principal.

Details are in Article VIII of your loan agreement.

> YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A SPECIAL DEFERRAL 

a) Due to maternity or parental leave:

Documents required:

• written request for postponement, and 
• mandatory attachments:
  • certificate from Social Insurance Agency or doctor about maternity leave (original, not older than 30 days / certified copy) or
  • document from the authority providing parental allowance (original, not older than 30 days / certified copy) and a copy of the child’s birth certificate.

 b) Due to registration as job seeker with the relevant labor office:

Documents required:

• written request for postponement, and 
• mandatory attachment - Certificate of registration as job seeker issued by the relevant labor office (original, not older than 30 days / certified copy).
• 
  

c) Due to voluntary military training:

Documents required:

• written request for postponement, and 
• mandatory attachment - 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).
• 
  

> IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE START AND DURATION OF DEFERRAL

• The special postponement begins in the month following the month in which the Fund receives your complete request (all conditions must be met + all due installments must be paid).
• The Fund will notify you in writing of the adjusted monthly installment during the special postponement.
  
• If any change occurs during the postponement (e.g., early termination or extension), you must submit the relevant document and possibly a new request within 14 days. The Fund will adjust the duration of the special postponement accordingly.

> HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST AND ATTACHMENTS

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

• attachments required as originals can be submitted:
  
• • in paper form (together with the request) as the original, certified copy, or a document converted from electronic form to paper by notary or other authorized entity (e.g., by mail), or
  • in electronic form (together with the request sent electronically) with a qualified electronic seal of the issuing institution, or converted from paper to electronic form by notary or other authorized entity.
• attachments required as copies can be submitted:
• • in paper form as a regular copy, or
    
  • in electronic form as a scan/photo in *.pdf or another tamper-proof format.

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

You may also request postponement of repayments or only the principal for another qualified reason – i.e., a reason not explicitly stated in the Act, but considered serious and justified.

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

The request must include:

• • Written request,
  • o clearly stating the reason,
  • o reason must be specific, justified, and relevant,
  • o facts must be documented (e.g., medical certificates, official documents).

There is no legal entitlement to such deferral – the Fund may approve or reject your request.​

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

If you concluded your last loan agreement from the academic year 2017/2018, you may be eligible for a partial write-off of the principal — i.e., a reduction of the outstanding loan amount — upon meeting the conditions.  The unpaid principal of the loan is reduced by one percent for each year (12 calendar months) during which you were gainfully employed in Slovakia and were 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 also prove to the Fund that you had income from employment, business activities, other independent gainful activities, or the use of a work or artistic performance during the first five years of the loan 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.