Quick Summary
Comenius University in Bratislava, founded in 1919 as the first Slovak-language university, is the oldest and largest university in Slovakia with roughly 27,000 students across 13 faculties. It is consistently the only Slovak university ranked in the QS World University Rankings top 1,000.
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Institutional Profile
Who they are
Comenius University was founded on June 27, 1919, shortly after the creation of Czechoslovakia, and it was the first institution to offer the highest level of education conducted in the Slovak language. It is regularly cited as the only Slovak university to rank in the top 1,000 of the QS World University Rankings, a status it has held across recent ranking cycles. The university traces a symbolic lineage to the Academia Istropolitana, a Bratislava academy established by Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus in 1465, even though the modern university itself was founded independently in 1919.
Founded1919
TypePublic
Total Students27000
Intl Students9%
Faculty RatioNot Available
CampusUrban, faculties distributed across multiple sites in Bratislava plus a Jessenius Faculty of Medicine campus in Martin
Campus SizeNot Available
Affiliated HospitalsUniversity Hospital Bratislava, Martin University Hospital (affiliated with the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine)
AccreditationSlovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education (SAAVS)
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Global Standing
Three independent ranking systems
QS World 2026
#684
Quacquarelli Symonds
Times Higher Ed
#1201-1500
THE World University
ARWU Shanghai
Not Available
Academic Ranking
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Academics & Research
What you can study
Bachelor's, master's, and doctoral (PhD) degree programs across 13 faculties and more than 730 accredited study programs
Programs
Yes, doctoral programs are offered across the university's faculties
PhD Programs
Limited distance and blended-learning offerings at select faculties
Online Programs
Faculty-affiliated research centers, notably within the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics and the Faculty of Natural Sciences
Research Centers
Comenius University is consistently cited as the only Slovak university to place in the top 1,000 of the QS World University Rankings, a distinction the university itself highlights in its annual rankings communications. Its Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics and Faculty of Natural Sciences, both split off from the original Faculty of Philosophy in the twentieth century, anchor much of its published scientific research today.
Research Output
Slovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education (SAAVS)
Accreditation
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Admissions Brief
What it takes to get in
Entry Requirements
Acceptance RateNot Available
IELTS6.0
TOEFL80
Min GPANot Available
GRENot Available
GMATNot Available
SATNot Available
ACTNot Available
Key Dates
Application deadlines are being updated. Check the official website for current dates.
Required Documents
TranscriptsSOPEnglish ScoresLORsPassport
Insider Tip
Because Comenius University is organized into 13 largely autonomous faculties, application procedures, deadlines, and entrance requirements differ significantly by faculty, so applicants should check the specific faculty page rather than a single university-wide process. Medical program applicants should note that clinical training for the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine takes place in Martin, a separate city from the main Bratislava campuses, which affects housing and logistics decisions. Non-Slovak speakers applying to Slovak-taught programs should budget time for language preparation, while a growing number of English-taught programs, particularly in medicine, have separate international application tracks with their own fee structures.
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Cost Ledger
Amounts in Euro
UG Tuition
€1,800,138,004,800/yr
per year · EUR
Living Cost
€60,007,000/yr
per year · EUR
PG Tuition
Free
per year · EUR
Total Estimated Annual Cost
€1,000,012,000/yr
tuition + living + essentials · EUR
Scholarships AvailableYes, including Slovak government scholarships and university-level merit scholarships for international students
Financial AidSlovak and EU/EEA students studying in Slovak have access to state-subsidized tuition; international students on English-taught tracks are generally expected to pay full program fees with limited scholarship support
Work-StudyNot Available
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Featured & Popular Programs
A sample from Bachelor's, master's, and doctoral (PhD) degree programs across 13 faculties and more than 730 accredited study programs programs total
| Program | Level | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
| Law | MASTER | 1-2 YRS |
| Pharmacy | PHD | 3-5 YRS |
| Natural Sciences | MBA | 12-24 MO |
| Mathematics and Informatics | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
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Career Outcomes
Where graduates land
Not Available
Average Salary After Graduation
Not Available
Employment Rate
Internship PlacementMedical students complete clinical placements at University Hospital Bratislava or, for the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, at Martin University Hospital in the city of Martin
Industry Connections
The Faculty of Law and Faculty of Management maintain ties with Slovak public institutions and Bratislava-based employers given the university's role as the primary training ground for the country's legal and administrative professionalsreflected in its alumni base including a former Slovak president and a former Czechoslovak head of state. The Faculty of Medicine similarly feeds directly into Slovakia's university hospital systemsince clinical training happens at affiliated Bratislava teaching hospitals rather than at facilities unconnected to the university.
Notable Alumni
Zuzana Caputova, who served as the fifth President of Slovakia from 2019 to 2024 and was the first woman to hold that office, graduated from the university's Faculty of Law, and Alexander Dubcek, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia from 1968 to 1969, is also counted among its alumni.
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Campus & Student Life
Life beyond lectures
Housing
Yes, through university student dormitories (student halls of residence)
Sports Facilities
Facilities operated by the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport
Student Clubs
Faculty-based student organizations and the ESN Comenius University chapter for exchange students
Library Resources
University Library in Bratislava plus faculty-level libraries across the university's 13 faculties
Exchange Programs
Erasmus+ and bilateral exchange agreements coordinated through the university's international relations offices
Summer Programs
Slovak language and area studies summer courses offered through affiliated centers