Comenius University Files Criminal Complaint Over Alleged Student Scholarship Fraud

Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia's oldest and most prominent university, has filed a criminal complaint following allegations of scholarship manipulation and student harassment at one of its faculties. The complaint targets suspected misconduct by a professor at the Institute of Applied Psychology, which is part of the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences (FSEV). The case came to light after Slovak investigative outlet Denník N published two articles in June containing witness testimony alleging bullying and fraud at the institute. Following the publication, university rector Marek Števček convened a meeting with faculty leadership, which resulted in the decision to file the criminal complaint. University officials described the allegations as serious enough to require investigation by law enforcement authorities. The affair raises broader concerns about academic integrity and the treatment of students within Slovak higher education. By escalating the matter to a criminal complaint rather than handling it internally, the university leadership signaled that the suspected manipulation of student scholarships — financial grants awarded to students based on academic or social criteria — may constitute a criminal offense under Slovak law.