Admission process in the Czech Republic

List of the best universities in the Czech Republic

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 45 USD
• Identification (passport/ID)

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.

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