Bratislava welcomes students – Student Welcome Week returns at the end of September
The City of Bratislava, the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Comenius University Bratislava, the University of Economics in Bratislava, the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava and the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava have joined forces to organise another Student Welcome Week. The event is designed to give new students an open, modern and community-focused welcome to the city, help them find their way around Bratislava, start building social connections and develop a sense of belonging from the very beginning of their studies. This year’s Student Welcome Week runs from 30 September to 2 October 2026.
Student Welcome Week is part of the city’s Economic Development Programme, which identifies attracting and retaining talent in Bratislava as one of its key priorities. This year’s event runs for three days, with a varied and interesting programme at Nová tržnica (the New Market Hall), in Bratislava’s urban forests and at student dormitories. More than twenty partner organisations and institutions have helped prepare the programme, including student associations, municipal organisations, civic associations, companies and other organisations from the city’s innovation ecosystem. Students are not simply attending the event; they are actively involved in organising and preparing it.
The three-day programme centres on three themes: Discover, Experience and Get Involved.
For two days, Nová tržnica will host stands run by partner organisations and student associations, where students can find out about study-abroad opportunities, scholarships, volunteering and communities in the city.
The programme also features mental-health workshops, information about career opportunities in the city, demonstrations by university teams, discussions, networking with event partners and a theatre performance.
There will also be activities around the city and in the urban forests. In the early evening of 1 October, students will be welcomed jointly by the Mayor of Bratislava and the rectors of the partner universities. The evening will continue with live music at Nová tržnica.
On the final day, the event will come to the students at their dormitories. The municipal organisation KOLO will hold swap events in Mlynská dolina and at Mladá garda, where students can pick up reused items for their rooms or pass on things they no longer need.
Mayor of Bratislava Matúš Vallo said: “We want to show young people that Bratislava is a very good place to study and live. Slovakia has long been affected by brain drain, as young people and people who work make their homes abroad. It is natural for young people to gain knowledge and experience abroad, but we want them to see their future in Bratislava and to regard the city as a place where they can build a stable home. Bratislava has a great deal to offer: a cohesive society, both international and local job opportunities, an excellent location between major capital cities and a high quality of life.”
Rector of Comenius University Bratislava Marek Števček added: “Taking an active part in Student Welcome Week is a strategic step for us and confirms our commitment to being a modern and open university. We help new students settle smoothly into our academic community. We want to show them that university life is not just about lectures, but also about friendships, personal growth and life beyond the classroom. This event is something we can all be proud of.”
Why Bratislava is doing this
Student Welcome Week is part of the City for Talent initiative, through which Bratislava works with companies and research and academic institutions on a range of activities intended to support young people and encourage them to stay in the city. According to OECD research, as many as 22% of Slovak students study abroad, the second-highest proportion in the EU. In its economic strategy, Bratislava has therefore set out to compete with Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Ljubljana and Warsaw as a city where graduates will want to stay.
This is far from a minor issue for the city’s economy. When companies decide where to invest and expand their teams, access to people with the right skills is one of the factors they consider. Bratislava accounts for almost 30% of the Slovak economy, and its future growth depends directly on its ability to attract and retain talent.
Ferdinand Daňo, Rector of the University of Economics in Bratislava, said: “Talented graduates are the most valuable asset Bratislava and Slovakia have, so it is only natural that we should join the city in welcoming them. We want new students to feel from their very first day that Bratislava offers them not only a high-quality education, but also a community and a future.”
Talent as a priority
Surveys show that when young people choose where to live and study, they consider both the quality of universities and also the opportunities they will have to become involved in city life. They value having places and opportunities to build communities. They also want to see and feel that the city listens to them and welcomes them. Parents likewise stress that an attractive, safe and open environment plays an important part in decisions about their children’s future.
Professor Martin Šmatlák, Rector of the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, said: “Cooperation between the city and its universities is worthwhile only if we do more than welcome new students at an event like this. Above all, we need to work together to maintain and develop an environment in which young people feel safe and inspired from the very beginning of their studies and have opportunities to take an active part in social and community life. Bratislava has long been the natural cultural and creative setting for the Academy of Performing Arts, where our students develop their artistic practice and present their work to the public. We see Student Welcome Week as a good opportunity to strengthen ties between the city, the academic community and the public from the very first days of study. I believe that together we can succeed in attracting and retaining talent wherever it is needed.”
Student Welcome Week is the city’s first point of contact with students who come to Bratislava to study. It is intended to show them that Bratislava values them and that attracting, developing and retaining talent is one of the city’s priorities.
Maximilián Strémy, Rector of the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, said:
“Supporting talent is also a priority for the Slovak University of Technology. Our students can develop their skills through research based on real-world assignments for companies, cities and municipalities, and can also turn their ideas into start-ups in our incubator.”
The full programme, workshop registration and further information are available on the City of Bratislava website. Admission is free.