in front of SPU in NitraMeet Abdul Hadi, a passionate young student from Pakistan, whose journey brought him to Slovakia through the prestigious National Scholarship Program. What began as a dream of studying abroad led him to the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, where he spent five months gaining international experience in Economics and Management. Abdul’s story is a testament to how education, curiosity, and global opportunities can broaden horizons — and how Slovakia is welcoming ambitious students from across the globe.

Could you tell us where you are from, what your field of research is, and how long you have been (or were) in Slovakia?
My name is Abdul Hadi, and I am from Pakistan. I was a student in a bachelor's program in the Faculty of Economics and Management at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. I was five months in Slovakia under the prestigious National Scholarship Program.

How has studying in Slovakia supported your academic and professional growth?
Studying in Slovakia gave me international experience and exposure. I was studying economics and management under professional teachers at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. My stay made me more professional in studying, making projects and presentations, adapting to new cultures, making friends, traveling abroad, and developing business ideas. I was studying in a diverse class with students from Slovakia, Chile, Portugal, Spain, Albania, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Kenya.

Could you describe your study experience in Slovakia? What are the main differences between studying here and in your home country?Studying in Slovakia under NSP was the best time of my life. I got international exposure and experience of the Slovak Culture, I made international friends from around the globe, we international students played football every Friday, and we went swimming in Nitra on Saturday. Studies in Slovakia are more practical and research-based; there is a warm relationship between students and teachers. SPU Nitra staff were very warm and always ready to help international students with their Studies, stay, and documentation. The main difference between my home country and studies in Slovakia is that the studies are more practical and skill-based; almost every Slovak student in the faculty of economics and management was an entrepreneur. They were playing with ideas and innovation.

How would you evaluate your hosting university in Slovakia?
My host university in Slovakia was the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. It is one of the best and most prestigious universities in Slovakia. Special thanks to Veronika Hrdá, my NSP coordinator at SPU; she helped me in my studies and documentation in everything. Nitra is beautiful and calm, especially Zobor mountain and church hill, where you can sit in the evening to enjoy the sunset, sunrise, and calm weather. SPU Nitra has qualified staff, the best study environment, a high presence of international students, and high-quality accommodation for international students.

How did you find out about the National Scholarship Programme?
I always dreamt of studying and travelling abroad. One of my colleagues told me about the prestigious National Scholarship Program. After doing research about NSP and contacting the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra on time about the acceptance letter. Followed the strategy regarding documentation and letters with the help of NSP Alumni. In the final results, I was selected for the NSP program.

What motivated you to choose Slovakia for your study stay? 
Slovakia is a peaceful, calm, and beautiful country. I chose Slovakia because. It is a small country and famous for the beauty of the High Tatras, located in the heart of Europe. Slovakia is providing more opportunities to international students and researchers, especially through scholarship programs like Slovak Government Scholarships, the National Scholarship Program of Slovakia, and the Slovakia Scholarship for talented students from abroad. Special credit goes to SAIA for bringing international talent to Slovakia. I chose Slovakia due to the simple and lovely Slovak Culture. I liked the Slovak towns of Nitra, Trenčín, and Žilina, and the special Odzemok dance.

What has this scholarship experience given you, both professionally and personally?
The national scholarship program, as an opportunity, gave me a lot. First time I was travelling on an airplane and living in a new environment, cooking, and making new friends. This opportunity made me new good friends from Slovakia, Chile, Italy, the Netherlands, India, Mexico, China, Ghana, and Uzbekistan. Best of the best through NSP, I discovered six countries. I travelled to Iran, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria. I travelled with my group of international students.

Has the scholarship helped you connect with local students and academic institutions?
Yes, this program helped me connect with locals; I had Slovaks in my class. We were in the same group of presentations and projects. One was living next to my room. We would like to cook together. I had a friend; she helped me open a bank account in Slovakia as necessary for receiving grants from SAIA, as I was new there. I also had a friendship with the father of the church in Nitra. He served me coffee and talked briefly. I travelled to Bratislava, Žilina, and Košice in city tour programs arranged by SAIA. I met more international students there, discovered the history of Slovak cities, and tasted Slovak local dishes. I had the opportunity to visit the Faculty of Management, Comenius University Bratislava.

Do you have any favorite spots in Slovakia? Could you share your recommendations? What is a must-see here?
Yes, I had a favorite spot in Slovakia; it's in Nitra, Zobor mountain, and the church hill, and swimming in the pool in Nitra is a summer activity worth trying. I will recommend it to upcoming international students. You can enjoy peace, calm, nature, sunset and sunrise, and especially the view of Nitra city from the top of Zobor. I would always go with my friends after some time there to enjoy the moment.

Have ESN (Erasmus Student Network) or other organizations helped you discover Slovakia and meet new students?
Yes, we had a group of Erasmus students network in Nitra. ESN arranged entertainment and healthy activities for international students to enjoy their study stay and get to know each other. ESN Nitra arranged picnics, games, movie nights, musical nights, and get-together events.

How have you found Slovak people? Have they been welcoming and helpful to you as an international student, or have you faced any challenges?
I found Slovak people very warm, helpful, and ready to guide me in every situation. I made Slovak friends. They were always ready to communicate, discuss, enjoy, and share moments. I played football with Slovak friends on evenings and on weekends.

What advice would you give to other international students for adapting to life in Slovakia?
My advice for international students is to enjoy every moment of your stay in Slovakia. Time passes so fast; make friends, travel within Slovakia (as a student, travelling is free of cost through the ISIC card), go to Slovak towns, and discover Central Europe in that time period, and try to adjust yourself to the local culture more. Go to High Tatras, Trenčín, Žilina, and Bratislava. Please don't miss the Slovak festivals.