OPEN CALL: THE "ATANAS BLIZNAKOFF" FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES AN OPEN CALL FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE 2025/2026 ACADEMIC YEAR

The "Atanas Bliznakoff" Foundation announces a call for Student Excellence Scholarships for full-time students enrolled in the first cycle of studies at the study programs of the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University – Skopje, for the 2025/2026 academic year.

The scholarships are awarded to full-time students enrolled in the first cycle of studies at all faculties within the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, who have achieved exceptional results and success in their previous cycle of education, possess achievements and motivation for personal and professional development, but lack sufficient funds to continue their education.

General Requirements for Candidates

Eligible to apply are students/candidates who:

1. Are enrolling as full-time students in the first year of the first cycle of studies at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje;
2. Have completed secondary education with a minimum grade point average of 4.0;
3. Whose total family gross income (parents/guardians and the candidate) for the year 2024, from all sources, does not exceed 800,500 MKD;
4. Are citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia;
5. Are not recipients of scholarships from other institutions, organizations, or companies exceeding 6,000 MKD.

Scholarship Amount

The scholarship amount is 2,500.00 (two thousand five hundred) US dollars per year and is paid once annually, at the beginning of the academic year, usually in October. The payment of the scholarship is made in the MKD equivalent to the transaction account of the scholarship recipient.

Required Application Documents

The documents required to apply for the scholarship are:

1. Certificate of Citizenship of the Republic of North Macedonia, issued by the Ministry of Interior;

2. Certificate/Confirmation from the Public Revenue Office (PRO) for income generated from various sources in 2024, for the candidate's parents/guardians individually and for the candidate themselves;

3. Statement from the candidate regarding moral, criminal, and material responsibility;

4. Documents for success in secondary education, specifically transcripts from years I to IV;

5. Document for passed state matura;

6. Biography in Macedonian (CV Europass or another similar format);

7. Essay (up to 500 words) on the topic: "Why do you need the scholarship and how will it help you in your chosen field of study?";

8. Diplomas and certificates for awards won at international, state, regional, and municipal competitions (won in the last three years);

9. Recommendation from a teacher, principal, or another person involved in the candidate's previous education;

10. Photograph – in ID or passport format (biometric format);

11. Other documents (if any).

IMPORTANT: Detailed instructions and clarifications regarding the required documentation for the Atanas Bliznakoff Foundation talented student scholarships for the 2025/2026 academic year are available on the E-scholarship platform under the title: INSTRUCTIONS and CLARIFICATIONS for completing the application and required documentation (located in the bottom left corner near the call itself).

By applying, the candidate confirms that:

· They are a citizen of the Republic of North Macedonia;

· They are not a recipient of another scholarship higher than 6,000 MKD;

· Under moral, material, and criminal responsibility, they confirm that the data provided in the electronic application is completely true and corresponds to reality; otherwise, they agree that the application will be considered invalid;

· They allow their personal data to be publicly disclosed when the results for the scholarship recipients are published;

· They exclude all members of the immediate family (brother or sister, grandmother or grandfather) who earn personal income from the total number of immediate family members when applying for the scholarship;

· They have read and understand the manner, conditions, rights, and obligations for awarding and renewing the scholarship, published in the Open Call for awarding scholarships for the 2025/2026 academic year.

Ranking of Candidates

Candidates are ranked based on the following criteria. The maximum number of points is 100, of which:

1. The candidate's financial status (40 points) is calculated as the ratio between:
   • The total gross income of the candidate's parents/guardians and the candidate for the last calendar year (2024), and
   • The number of immediate family members.

2. The municipality in which the candidate lives (5 points)
3. Success achieved in previous (secondary) education (30 points)
   • Success is evaluated based on the GPA from completed secondary education from years I to IV, as well as the success from the state matura.

4. Essay (maximum 500 words) – average points from the Committee (up to 5 points) on the Topic: Why do you need the scholarship and how will it help you in your chosen field of study?
5. Awards at international, state, regional, and municipal competitions in the last three years (10 points).
6. Interview in the presence of committee members (10 points).
7. Recommendation from a teacher, principal, and/or another person involved in the candidate's previous education (optional).

Application Method and Scholarship Awarding

Documents are submitted through the Macedonia2025 E-scholarships platform: https://escholarship.macedonia2025.com/#/home

The application is completed electronically, with the mandatory creation of a user profile and uploading of the required documentation in Macedonian.

The application process and administrative verification are conducted by the Macedonia2025 Foundation.

Application deadline: August 30, 2025 (until 23:59).

Selection Process

Manner of Awarding Scholarships

Upon completion of the Call and the administrative verification process, the e-scholarship platform performs automatic scoring for the criteria: financial status of the candidates, municipality of residence, success achieved in previous education, and awards won.

For the essay and interview criteria, the Committee individually reviews the applications and awards points in the platform, which represent the average of all points entered by the members of the Committee.

The Selection Committee is composed of prominent members of the "Atanas Bliznakoff" Foundation and the Macedonia2025 Foundation in a manner and under conditions established by the Rulebook for awarding the scholarship.

After entering all data and points for all criteria, the platform generates a ranking list of candidates according to the points won. The Committee makes the final decision on awarding the scholarships.

The right to use the scholarship begins after the candidate submits confirmation of being a full-time student enrolled in the first year of the first cycle of studies at one of the faculties at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje.

All candidates will be electronically notified of the selection for the scholarship awards no later than the end of October 2025. The list of selected candidates will be published on the website of the Macedonia2025 Foundation and other partner organizations.

Conditions, Rights, and Obligations for Scholarship Renewal

The scholarship will be renewed annually under the following conditions, manner, and procedure:

1. The scholarship recipient is obliged to:

• Regularly take exams and submit to the Foundation a confirmation of enrollment for the subsequent winter semester at the beginning of each academic year (by the September exam session);
• Have achieved a grade point average of at least 7.00 from the first to the currently enrolled academic year (proven by submitting a certificate of passed exams by the September exam session);
• Have passed 80% of the prescribed subjects (mandatory, elective, and optional) determined by the faculty's study program (proven by submitting a certificate of passed exams by the September exam session).

2. The scholarship recipient commits to:

• Timely notify the Foundation of any change occurring during studies significant to the regular use of the scholarship and contrary to the stated conditions;
• Upon receiving the funds into the transaction account, submit a notification to the e-mail: ABFUSA22@gmail.com

3. The scholarship recipient agrees to:

• Participate in meetings and networking events organized within the "Atanas Bliznakoff" Program for Student Excellence, relating to the academic and personal development of the scholar (Mentorship program with professionals, Peer mentoring, Training program, etc.);
• Provide testimonials about the experience, answer questionnaires and requests regarding the collection or updating of data necessary for the maintenance and development of the platform and program, or the work of the Alumni Association;

4. The scholarship recipient loses the right to the scholarship if they:

• Interrupt or leave their studies;
• Do not enroll in the subsequent winter semester of studies;
• Do not submit confirmation of enrollment for the winter semester or confirmation of passed exams in a timely manner;
• Enroll in the winter semester for the second time;
• Graduate;
• Have a dormant student status;
• Receive a scholarship or loan from another provider higher than 6,000 MKD;
• Inaccurately presented the conditions and documents important for the awarding and use of the scholarship;

5. The right to the scholarship ends with the last regularly enrolled semester of the prescribed duration of the faculty study program (the prescribed number of semesters) in which the scholarship recipient is enrolled.

IMPORTANT!

When filling out the application, please read in detail the Instructions and recommendations for filling out the application, as well as the Manner, conditions, rights, and obligations for receiving and renewing the scholarship, shown on the platform, in the Open Call, and attached on the left side of the website as Scholarship Documents.

We look forward to your applications!