Liberal Studies (Bachelor of Arts, Bc.), Political Science

About the course

This is a three-year liberal arts bachelor taught entirely in English. All students major in Political Science and choose a minor in International Relations, Political Thought or Sociology. Classes are small (usually about 10 students), and the course includes academic English, January study terms, an internship of at least 60 hours in Year 2 and a bachelor’s thesis in Year 3.

Entry requirements for Irish students

• BISLA publishes no rules specific to the Leaving Certificate. It asks for completed secondary education and ranks applicants partly on their school and leaving-exam results. In Slovakia, a foreign school-leaving certificate normally has to be recognised by a Regional School Administration Office, which can take up to two months. Ask BISLA’s admissions office how Leaving Cert grades are scored and when the recognised Leaving Cert must be submitted.
• You will have an admission interview with a panel of three academic staff. It tests your motivation and general knowledge of the social sciences and humanities. EU applicants can do it in person at BISLA or online. You are then ranked on points from the interview, your English and your academic results.
• BISLA asks for a ‘conversational level of English’, judged from leaving-exam results or a certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL. Leaving Cert English should normally be enough, but confirm this with BISLA.

How to apply

1. Apply onlineFill in BISLA’s online application form. You don’t need an account or any documents at this stage, and there is no fee. The published deadline is 31 March 2027, but check it against the September deadline on the How to Apply page.
2. Admission interviewDo the interview with a three-person academic panel, in Bratislava or online. It covers your motivation and your general knowledge of the social sciences and humanities.
3. Get your Leaving Cert recognisedAfter your results come out in August, send a certified copy of your Leaving Cert and ask BISLA whether you need recognition from a Slovak Regional School Administration Office. Allow up to two months for this.
4. Enrol and payAccept your offer, register with valid ID and pay the fee (€1,100 a semester in 2026/27). As an EU citizen you register your residence in Slovakia; no visa is needed.

Costs

• EU citizens pay €1,100 a semester (€2,200 a year) in 2026/27. There is no application fee. The rate for non-EU students is €8,500 a year. BISLA offers 10 Presidential Scholarships a year, and students can apply for Slovak state merit and social stipends. Accommodation near campus is quoted at about €600 a month. The 2027/28 fee has not been published yet.

At a glance