Who Can Participate

Program Eligibility

The SAF Professional Internship Program is a competitive and prestigious scholarship. We are looking for the next generation of business and civic leaders who have the potential to have a meaningful impact in Slovakia.

Applicants to the SAF Professional Internship Program must:

• Hold a passport from Slovakia
• Have written and oral English language proficiency sufficient to function in a business setting
• Be enrolled at an accredited post-secondary university and be in the final year (academic program/course of study must be at least three years in duration and result in some form of degree, e.g. Bachelors)
  OR have graduated within six months of Application Deadline
  OR be enrolled on a full-time basis at an accredited postgraduate university, e.g. Masters, Ph.D.
• Not have immediate family members that are SAF employees, and/or SAF Board members
• Applicants should agree to uphold the Two-year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement as precondition for applying*

Desirable Experiences

Applicants will be selected based on but not limited to the following criteria:

• Academic performance
• Potential future contribution to home country
• Demonstrate leadership and self-motivation
• Strong entrepreneurial potential
• Ability to serve as a cultural ambassador to the U.S.
• Have clearly articulated goals

Am I Eligible?

Not sure if you’re eligible? With just a few clicks of your mouse you can find out.

*Two-year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement

Upon completion of the SAF program, scholarship recipients and participants are required to return to, and to reside in Slovakia for a minimum of two years, and are not permitted to stay or attempt to stay in the U.S. or any other foreign country for any reason.

The Two-year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement constitutes a moral and legal obligation that relates to the foundational aim of SAF to promote business and social development in Slovakia through investment in human capital. Applicants should agree to uphold the Two-year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement as a precondition for applying. For participants and alumni that do not meet the Two-year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement without the express written consent of SAF or its designees, the entire scholarship award becomes a debt owed to SAF and the participant/alumni will refund all scholarship monies as well as any and all collection expenses, including but not limited to legal.

Because the residency requirement is at the foundational aim of the Foundation, SAF and its designees are under no obligation to consider deferment of the Two-year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement and our intention is not to.