Imagine studying in a centrally located European country, with a rich history, beautiful architecture and nature, affordable living costs and a long tradition of quality education... Czechia offers all of this! Although Czech is the main language of tuition at universities, over 1,000 study programmes in English are offered at all degree levels and across all fields.
Step-by-step guide on applying to universities in czechia
1. Find your study programme
Start by choosing the degree programme that fits your interests and ideas. You can study in Czech, English and, in some programmes, also in other foreign languages. Browse our portal and search for the programme you want!
Studies in foreign languages are subject to tuition fees, however, these are generally lower than in Western Europe. You may even be eligible for some of the scholarships available to international students.
Studies in the Czech language at public universities are free of charge. Many universities offer a one-year language course to prepare you to study in Czech and to take the entrance exam. There are also foundation programmes that can prepare you for your specific field of study (economics, medicine, technology and IT, natural sciences, arts and architecture or humanities). Use our portal to search for language courses and foundation programmes or read more here.
2. Prepare basic documents
The basic condition for entering studies is the successful completion of the previous level of study, i.e. certificate of graduation from a secondary school for Bachelor's (3 years) and long-cycle Master's degree programmes (5-6 years), Bachelor's degree for a follow-up Master's, Master's degree for a Doctoral study programme.
If you want to study at university in Czechia, you need to have your previous completed study recognized by the Czech recognition authority. Read more details about the process of recognition of your previous studies.
Besides certified copies of your educational qualifications, the minimum entry requirements usually include a completed and submitted application, proof of the admission procedure fee payment and compliance with the conditions for the specific study programme (e.g. letter of motivation, letter of recommendation, portfolio, English proficiency test).
In case of enrollment for doctoral studies, each faculty has its own admission conditions. In general:
- Clarify what you want to do. You can see the offer of doctoral programmes in our portal, or choose a university first and see the doctoral programmes it offers.
- Choose the research focus of the dissertation. If you don't know, check the relevant faculty website, some of them publish the offer.
- Contact the doctoral study department and the supervisor. After you have selected a programme and the topic of your work, you can ask at the doctoral department of the faculty which supervisors are currently admitting students and then get in touch with the supervisor directly. The supervisor will guide you through the study, advise you on your chosen topic and consult you with the dissertation.
- Apply to study, go through the admission procedure and enroll in the study. Check the deadlines for submitting the application, the admission procedure and apply. In the admission procedure, you need to convince the admissions committee that you have a genuine interest in the topic you have chosen.
3. Check specific entry requirements
Once you have decided where you want to apply to, you can search for detailed information on entry requirements and deadlines. In Czechia, each university is responsible for its own admission procedure and the conditions vary from one programme to another.
You should always check the specific requirements on the university website and if you need some advice, contact the study department or the international office of the relevant university. The application deadline is usually between February and April. Students may apply for several study programmes at various universities and faculties.
Do you speak Czech? Great! Studies in the Czech language are free of charge at public universities. The only thing you must do, is to pass the Czech Language Certificate Exam (CCE) before applying to the university. Apart from Czechia, you can take the exam in more than 15 other countries. The required level of language proficiency is B2, in some study programmes C1.
4. Submit your application
The application forms are available on university websites. Universities use the system of electronic applications forms, which simply guide the students and allow them to track their application status throughout the entire process. After filling in the application, it is necessary to print it out, sign it and send it by post to the relevant university or faculty together with the required documents. You might be asked to pay the application fee and attach a receipt of payment to your application, if required by the university. The next steps will be communicated to you through the online application system and by a letter or email from the university.
5. Sit the entrance exams
If you are an eligible applicant, you may be required to sit an entrance exam. It can include a written test and oral interview. The entrance exams are usually held in Czechia, but some options also exist for taking the exam abroad (e.g. via Skype).
6. Wait for the notification of acceptance
When the application period and the possible entrance exams are over, the university will make the final admission decisions. Results are usually announced by the end of June. After receiving the decision, you will be asked to pay the tuition fee for the first semester, if applicable. The university will then send you an official letter of admission, admission confirmation for the visa and accommodation purposes, and the study contract.
7. Apply for visa
Depending on your nationality you may need to apply for a visa or residence permit to enter Czechia at the Czech Embassy in country of your origin. You should start your visa application process as soon as you have received the official letter of admission, especially if you are a non-EU citizen, as the whole procedure requires some paperwork and can take up to 60 days. Find out more information about the entry formalities.
8. Arrange practical aspects of your arrival to czechia
You should keep in touch with the study department of the university or with the study programme coordinator. Your host university can advise you best on the arrangement of all the practical details of your arrival to Czechia, including local student accommodation options and available student services.
9. Arrive and enjoy your stay!
Make sure to save some free time besides your studies for the many attractions Czechia offers!