Admission to the Czech Republic is available to everyone who has completed 11 grades and has gone through the thorns of the nostrification procedure. Read this article to learn about all of the intricacies behind the bureaucracy, requirements, and cost of training.

The features of higher education and universities in the Czech Republic are in separate articles.

Tuition fees

ProgramMin. ageDurationMin. costAvg. cost
University preparation18+1 year2,188 USD/year3,854 USD/year
College18+3-5 years104 USD/year208 USD/year
Bachelor's degree18+3-4 years0 USD/year3,646 USD/year
MBA21+1-3 years2 USD/year13,021 USD/year
Master’s degree21+1-3 years0 USD/year4,375 USD/year
Doctorate degree22+3-4 years0 USD/year4,896 USD/year
Additional costs
ExpensesAverage cost
Exams146 USD
Registration fees21-52 USD
Rent521 USD/month
Meals396 USD/month
Insurance23 USD/month
Study materials0 USD or 229 USD/year

More about universities

How to choose a university

The main difficulties in entering the Czech Republic arise because of bureaucracy. A large number of documents will be required from you: during the diploma recognition procedure, when applying, and, finally, when obtaining a visa. In addition, each university has different requirements for admission and dates of entrance examinations. Therefore, we recommend that you first decide on a profession to prepare in advance for the exams and collect the necessary documents. What criteria should be taken into account?

  • Recognition of education. Some universities have institutional accreditation, which gives them the right to independently recognize foreign certificates and diplomas. This will save you time and effort. It can sometimes be passed even after admission, in contrast to the general nostrification process.
  • Language. There are programs in English at most universities, but tuition for such programs costs from 3,646 USD/year. However, if you know Czech, you can study for free at any university in the country. Most universities accept the B2 level, but we advise you to apply with a C1 level. This makes it easier to pass entrance tests and keep up with the curriculum. Some universities assess your level of Czech during an interview (in person, by phone, or Skype). If it is deemed insufficient, you may be denied admission or given a referral to a preparatory program.
  • Deadlines. Universities appoint their own deadlines. They rarely match up to one another. We recommend that you look at the official websites and write down the dates for each of them if you plan to apply to several universities.
  • Ratings. This is not the most indicative criterion. According to THE, not a single Czech university ranks among the top 100 in the world. But in the ranking of universities from developing countries in Europe and Central Asia, the Czech Republic takes ten positions at once. Charles University is in second place, while Masarykov is in seventh[1]. We recommend focusing primarily on areas of study, a list with which can be obtained from the Study CZ website.
Assistance in admission

Choosing a university is not an easy task. To avoid confusion with deadlines, documents, and exams, you can refer to UniPage. We know about all of the nuances behind the admission process in the Czech Republic, Germany, France, and other countries. We will help you choose the right university based on your interests and abilities.

Our specialists supervise the entire process — from selecting programs and writing a motivation letter to submitting an application and receiving an invitation.

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List of the best universities in the Czech Republic

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Prague, Czech Republic
Prague old town
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Requirements for admission to the Czech Republic

Most universities conduct entrance tests. Based on their results, the place of the applicant is determined in the competition. A condition for skipping entrance exams may be a high grade point average of a certificate/diploma, or satisfactory results on an SAT or GMAT test. The introductory exams themselves consist of a written and oral section and last for about 60 minutes. You can prepare for these tests in advance — examples from past years are often posted on the websites of universities[2].

More about the requirements:

  • Motivation letter. The format depends on the specific university. Some request essays in free form, others ask to briefly describe yourself with your reasons for enrollment and achievements.
  • Average score. The grades from your high school diploma. The minimum GPA is 3.0 out of 4.0 for master’s and 2.5 for bachelor’s programs.
  • Language. For studying in English-language programs, IELTS certificates from 5.0 or TOEFL iBT from 62 are accepted. If you want to study in Czech, a minimum of B2 is required. It can be determined by the university during the admission process, or you can take the Certified Czech Language Exam for Foreigners (CCE). It is internationally recognized and accepted by universities. You can sign up for it at any Czech center.
  • Interview. These occur very often. After the first selection phase, you receive an email which appoints the date and time of the interview. Interviews primarily check the language level and motivation for studying.
  • Resume. Required for PhD and master's programs. It describes work experience, publications in scientific journals, and achievements.

Nostrification

Legalization of a diploma or certificate upon admission to the Czech Republic is not required, but their academic recognition, or nostrification (nostrifikace), is required. You can complete the process in two ways:

  • Submit documents to an authorized center (in Prague, it is the mayor's office) and get a general nostrification. It will be valid for admission to any university or college in the Czech Republic. The process cannot take place online: only in person, through a representative (by proxy) or by mail. The maximum period for consideration of the application is 30 days (60 in complex cases).
  • Universities with institutional accreditation may themselves recognize your certificate or diploma. But such nostrification will be valid only at the university that conducts it. Sometimes the process can occur after enrollment, during the first semester.

You will need the following documents for admission:

  • Completed application (downloaded from the website of the relevant regional department)
  • Certificate/diploma
  • Attachment with a list of mastered subjects and the number of hours/credits
  • Translation into Czech by a sworn Czech translator (soudní tlumočník)
  • Check for payment of the administrative fee 42 USD
  • Identification (passport/ID)
Important
You need to send copies of your documents, not originals. They must be certified by a notary or the department of education in your home country.

Results of the application review:

  • Full recognition — if the completed curriculum is equivalent to the Czech school curriculum. The issued certificate is used as an attachment to the diploma when entering a university.
  • Partial recognition — if there are small differences. For full recognition, a student must pass a nostrification exam[3], consisting of questions on those subjects that are present in the Czech curriculum, but not in the recognized diploma. Despite the fact that the test is conducted in Czech, the student can hire an interpreter, as knowledge of the language is not tested during the nostrification process.
  • Denial of recognition — if the programs have significant discrepancies. In this case, the applicant has the right to appeal within 15 days.
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Preparatory Programs

Some universities in the Czech Republic offer one-year preparatory programs (přípravné kurzy) designed specifically for international students who want to enroll in a bachelor's, master's or doctoral program, but do not meet the language requirements of the university.

The benefit of preparatory courses is not only in learning the language — some universities may completely or partially exempt graduates of their programs from passing entrance tests.

The curriculum can consist of both exclusively Czech classes and additional subjects in the specialty of interest. Teaching is usually conducted in English. An application for studying in the training program is filled out online on the university website.

At the end of the course, students take a language exam. If successfully passed, they are awarded a certificate of knowledge of the Czech language at the appropriate level (B1 or B2).

Documents for admission

  • Motivation letter (in English or Czech)
  • Passport
  • Diploma of previous education (depending on the university, it may be necessary to certify a copy or translate into English or Czech)
  • Proof of tuition payment

How to enroll in a bachelor's program

First, you will need to go through the nostrification procedure so that your previous education is recognized in the Czech Republic. We advise you to do this a few months before the admission process to allow for sufficient time. At some universities, the procedure can take place after enrollment.

Then, you need to fill out an application and attach the required documents, including a certificate of diploma recognition and a motivation letter. If your candidacy is approved, you may be assigned an entrance test. Czech universities do not have a unified admissions system. Entrance tests differ even within the university at different faculties. Some tests consist of an interview to test the language and motivation, others are face-to-face or remote examinations, including written and oral sections.

Deadlines also vary. Below we have indicated only approximate deadlines. Check in with the university and program website for details.

UniversityDeadline
Charles UniversityDecember 31
Czech Technical University30 April
Masaryk UniversityApril 30 — November 30
Brno University of TechnologyMarch 31

Documents for admission

  • Passport
  • Diploma with a notarized translation
  • Completed application in electronic and paper form
  • Transcript with grades, subjects, and number of hours/credits
  • Motivation letter
  • IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL iBT 62 language certificates for programs in English, or CCE-B2 for studies in Czech
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How to enroll in a master’s program

After successfully passing the nostrification procedure, you must fill out an application for admission and attach copies of your documents. This should be done through the website of the university and the selected curriculum. When your application is approved, will you be contacted for an interview (not always). Then, you will have to pass the entrance examinations if the university conducts them. In the absence of certificates confirming the language level, you may be assigned testing at the university.

Be careful with the deadlines for submitting documents. Deadlines vary not only at different universities, but also in their faculties. For example, at Masaryk University, the deadline at the faculty of medicine is July 31, March 31 for science, and April 15 for computer science.

Documents for admission

  • Passport
  • Bachelor's degree with a notarized translation
  • Transcript with grades, subjects, and number of hours/credits
  • Completed application in electronic and paper form
  • Motivation letter
  • Resume
  • IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 language certificates for programs in English, or CCE-B2 for studies in Czech

How to enroll in a doctorate program

First of all, you must go through the nostrification procedure for previous education documents. An application for study is submitted directly to the faculty or department of the university. Some universities require you to select a topic for research in advance and agree with your supervisor before admission. With its confirmation and your research plan, you will need to pass an interview with the admissions committee.

Upon admission, students are often asked to provide only a portfolio (your publications) and pass the entrance exams, and a research plan can be submitted during the studies.

Documents for admission

  • Passport
  • Master's degree with a notarized translation
  • Transcript with grades, subjects, and number of hours/credits
  • Completed application in electronic and paper form
  • Confirmation from the selected supervisor
  • Research plan
  • Motivation letter
  • Resume
  • Recommendations
  • IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 85 language certificates for programs in English, or CCE-B2 for studies in Czech
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Scholarships and grants in the Czech Republic

Students have the opportunity to receive grants from universities or private funds. Each university has its own system of financial assistance, so the terms and conditions are best specified on the website of a particular university.

Of the private scholarships, the most affordable option is the Visegrad Fund, funded by the governments of the Visegrad Group (Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary). Students from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine who are already studying in the Czech Republic are eligible for this scholarship. The Foundation pays 2,604 USD/semester, and lasts 1-4 semesters. To participate in the competition, you must fill out an application and provide the acceptance letter from a Czech university.

In addition, Czech universities participate in the CEEPUS and Erasmus+ academic mobility programs. CEEPUS is an organization of Central Europe countries, created with the aim of developing cooperation between universities. You can take part in this program only after two semesters of study. For students from non-CEEPUS countries, the Free Mover scholarship is available. Erasmus+ also gives students the opportunity to study at various universities around the world. The program covers all or part of the cost of flights, tuition, and accommodation.

Student visa for the Czech Republic

To study in the Czech Republic, a long-term visa is required (for a period of more than 90 days). The visa fee is 21 USD[4].

List of documents for a student visa to the Czech Republic:

  • Passport
  • Completed application for a student visa (the application form and instructions can be found on the official website of the embassy)
  • 2 photographs 3.5x4.5 cm in size
  • Invitation from the university and confirmation of enrollment
  • Lease agreement or confirmation of the provision of a hostel by the university
  • Proof of financial solvency — 3,356 USD
  • Extract from the court register not older than 6 months
  • Confirmation of health insurance for the period of stay in the Czech Republic

A long-term student visa is issued within 60 days from the date of the application.

Note
At the time this article was written, the number of places for obtaining a visa was limited — no more than 100 students per month. Due to long queues, you may not have time to get into the country by the beginning of the school year. There is a simplified admission program — "Student Mode", designed for talented applicants with high grades. If you adhere to this profile, you will be sent an invitation to the consulate after you have been admitted to the university.
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