Scholarships and Student Financial Aid in Kosovo

National scholarships from the Ministry of Education

The Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MASHTI) opens several scholarship schemes for public university students each year. For the 2025-26 academic year, one scheme gave €1,000 to first-year bachelor's students from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities enrolling at a Kosovo public university for the first time, reported by Kallxo . A separate scheme targeted bachelor's students in science, technology, engineering and math fields at public universities.

Within the STEM track, MASHTI ran a dedicated call for female students and selected 599 women for the 2025-26 academic year, according to Kosova Info . All these schemes accept applications only through the e-Kosova online platform. For 2025-26, the window ran from October 3 to October 18, expect a similar autumn application period each year, though you should confirm exact dates directly on the MASHTI website before the new academic year starts.

Who these national schemes target

Kosovo's Ministry scholarships focus mainly on Kosovo citizens studying at Kosovo public universities, with priority for underrepresented groups and STEM fields. If you come from another European country to study in Kosovo, these specific schemes will not apply to you directly, but they show the categories the government prioritizes and where public universities put support resources.

University-run scholarships

Private universities award their own scholarships to attract strong applicants. RIT Kosovo runs named freshman scholarships for the 2026/2027 intake, including the US KDOM Scholarship, which gives preference to students from the Drenica, Dukagjin, Pashtrik, Shala and Llap regions of Kosovo, according to RIT Kosovo . Ask your target private university's admissions office directly about merit scholarships tied to entrance exam scores or secondary school grades, most publish a scholarship page alongside their tuition information.

Erasmus+ funding for exchange and mobility

Kosovo universities take part in Erasmus+ as partner-country institutions, which funds semester exchanges and short mobility periods between Kosovo and universities in EU countries. If your home university runs an Erasmus+ partnership with a Kosovo institution, this route covers a grant toward travel and living costs for the exchange period. Ask your international office at home whether a Kosovo partnership exists before you plan a full degree move instead of an exchange semester.

Funded routes for Kosovo citizens studying abroad

If you hold Kosovo citizenship and want a funded degree outside the country instead, the Fulbright Foreign Student Program funds a full master's degree in the United States, covering tuition, a monthly stipend, health insurance and airfare, with an application deadline of June 30 for the following intake, according to the US Embassy in Kosovo .

How to plan your funding search

1. Check MASHTI's scholarship calls each autumn if you are a Kosovo citizen at a public university.

2. Ask your target private university directly about merit and regional scholarships before you apply.

3. Ask your home university's international office about Erasmus+ partnerships with Kosovo institutions.

4. Set calendar reminders early, most scholarship windows in Kosovo stay open only two to three weeks.

Documents scholarship applications usually ask for

Most Kosovo scholarship applications, national or university-run, ask for a similar core set of documents. Prepare these in advance so you are ready the day an application window opens.

• Proof of enrollment or admission at a Kosovo university

• Academic transcripts or secondary school results

• A copy of your ID or passport

• A short motivation statement or application form specific to the scheme

• Proof of income or family situation for need-based or inclusion schemes

Why Kosovo's low costs change how far a scholarship stretches

Because tuition and rent in Kosovo sit well below the Western European average, even a partial scholarship covers a larger share of your total cost than the same amount would in a more expensive country. A €1,000 national grant, for example, covers close to a year of dorm rent at some private universities, a very different outcome from what €1,000 buys toward rent in a major Western European city. Weigh a Kosovo scholarship against your full budget, tuition, rent and daily costs together, rather than judging the award amount alone.

Where to keep checking

Scholarship schemes in Kosovo open and close on their own yearly schedule, and specific programs change from one academic year to the next. Bookmark the MASHTI website and your target university's scholarship page, and check both again close to the start of the academic year you plan to apply for.

Combine scholarships with other funding

Most scholarships in Kosovo cover part of your costs rather than your entire budget, so plan them as one piece of your financing rather than your only source. A national or university scholarship covering tuition, paired with savings or family support for rent and daily costs, is a realistic combination for most students. Track each scholarship's specific terms too, some restrict you from holding a second grant at the same time, check this before you apply to more than one scheme.