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Did you know that education in the Czech Republic in the Czech language is free? And housing is two times cheaper than in other European countries. Read about pros, cons and other subtleties of Czech education in the article.
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In the Czech Republic, education is compulsory for children of ages 6 to 15[1]: during this time, most children attend basic elementary school (základní škola). After the fifth grade, students can choose another educational institution to continue their studies. The high school is divided into two stages: the first is from grades 6 to 9, and the second one is optional and lasts another three years — from grades 10 to 13.
The academic year begins on September 1 and ends on August 31 of the following year.
In addition to the basic school, there are 4 more types of secondary educational institutions:
Education in the Czech Republic is known to many foreign students as an alternative to a rather expensive education in other European countries. Czech universities are not inferior to their European colleagues in quality, or prestige and traditions. In addition, in the Czech Republic, you can go through the Foundation program, get an inexpensive MBA or spend several weeks at a language school studying Czech or English. Basically, the Czech Republic has many educational opportunities available to a variety of students — from high school graduates to well-established specialists.
| Program | Min. age | Duration | Min. cost | Avg. cost | Min. language proficiency | Exams |
| Summer Camp | 7+ | 1–8 weeks | 249 USD/week | 1,695 USD/week | Elementary (A1) | - |
| Language Schools | 9+ | 1–12 weeks | 305 USD/week | 655 USD/week | Elementary (A1) | - |
| Elementary school | 6 | 6 years | Free | 15,255 USD/year | Intermediate (B1) | - |
| Secondary school | 12 | 6 years | Free | 15,255 USD/year | Intermediate (B1) | - |
| Foundation | 18+ | 1 year | 2,373 USD/year | 4,181 USD/year | Intermediate (B1) | IELTS / TOEFL |
| College | 18+ | 3-5 years | 113 USD/year | 226 USD/year | Intermediate (B1) | CCE / IELTS / TOEFL |
| Bachelor’s | 18+ | 3-4 years | Free | 3,955 USD/year | Intermediate (B1) | CCE / IELTS / TOEFL |
| MBA | 21+ | 1-3 years | Free | 14,125 USD/year | Upper-Intermediate (B2) | CCE / IELTS / TOEFL |
| Master’s | 21+ | 1-3 years | Free | 4,746 USD/year | Upper-Intermediate (B2) | CCE / IELTS / TOEFL |
| Doctoral | 22+ | 3-4 years | Free | 5,311 USD/year | Advanced (C1) | CCE / IELTS / TOEFL |
Higher education in the Czech Republic is represented by three types of educational institutions: universities provide academic training in the framework of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral studies, colleges offer specialized vocational education, and conservatories are engaged in training in creative fields. The main language of instruction is Czech, but some universities have programs in English, Russian, French and German.
| Expenses | Average Cost |
| Exams | 158 USD |
| Registration fee | 130 USD |
| Flight | 215 USD |
| Rent | 565 USD/month |
| Food | 429 USD/month |
| Insurance | 25 USD/month |
| Learning materials | Free or 249 USD/year |
Admission to most universities consists of three consecutive stages: sending an application, entrance exams and sending a package of application documents. Czech universities accept applications from January to March. In addition to filling out digital forms, some universities may ask you to complete an additional task, for example, provide a motivational letter or shoot a video. In April, the dates of entrance examinations are revealed — they are usually scheduled for May. Exams usually consist of oral and written parts. They test the knowledge of students in the chosen specialty and the level of knowledge of the Czech language.
The last stage is the submission of all necessary documents. This also includes the validation of a foreign degree or certificate of previous education[8]. The establishment which a student needs to address depends on the location of stay (for example, if a student is staying in Prague, the Prague City Hall will conduct nostrification). A complete list of organizations accredited for nostrification can be found here.
Documents can be submitted in person, through an authorized representative or by mail (the latter option is not preferable by the Czechs[8]).
The result of verification can be a complete confirmation (or denial of confirmation) of the document or its partial recognition. In the second case, students may be asked to take the verification test[10], which consists of questions on subjects that are present in the Czech school curriculum but are not in the recognized certificate. Despite the fact that the test is conducted in Czech, a student can hire a translator, since language proficiency evaluation is not the point of the test.
Some universities in the Czech Republic offer annual foundation programs (přípravné kurzy), created specifically for international students who want to study in bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral programs, but do not meet the language requirements of the university. The curriculum may consist solely of classes in Czech, as well as additional subjects in the related subjects. Teaching is usually conducted in English, but some universities offer courses in, for example, Russian. An application is submitted online on the university website.
In addition to personal information, the following documents are required:
At the end of the courses, students must pass a language exam. Upon successful completion, they are awarded a Czech language proficiency certificate of the appropriate level (B1 or B2).
The benefits of foundation courses are not only the study of the language — some universities may fully or partially free graduates of their foundation programs from the entrance examinations.
Colleges (Vyšší odborná škola) in the Czech Republic provide vocational training for students for future employment. The main difference between a college and a university is the cost of training. Education in private and public colleges is paid, regardless of the language of instruction (the cost varies from 100 to 226 USD per year)[11]. Each college has the right to set its own entrance examinations.
Training lasts 2-3 years and mainly focuses on the development of practical skills. Each college develops a curriculum of its own, but it must be approved by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. The educational process is conditionally divided into general, practical and specialized training in the ratio of 20:40:40[12]. Students attend lectures, practical and theoretical classes, as well as undergo internships at workplaces.
At the end of the college, students pass the final exam (absolutorium), which consists of tests in specialized subjects and a foreign language exam, as well as a thesis defense. College graduates are considered diplomovaný specialista. They can either immediately search for a job or pursue a bachelor’s degree (in which case the duration of study will be reduced to one or two years).
In accordance with the Bologna Declaration adopted in 2001, a bachelor’s program is the first step in the academic ladder. Training lasts from 3 to 4 years depending on the field of study. The academic year is divided into two semesters: winter (from September to December) and spring (from February to May), after each semester students pass exams. The educational process usually includes theoretical and practical classes, lectures, seminars, laboratory work and internships. At the end of their studies, students pass the final exam (státní zkouška) for a bachelor's degree (bakalář). Some universities also require thesis defense (offerbakalářské práce)[13]. The thesis does not always imply writing a scientific work — depending on the field of study, this may be a creative or technical project, the purpose of which is to confirm that the student is able to work independently.
In the Czech Republic, there are two types of master’s programs: structured and unstructured. Most universities prefer the first option, offering classical academic studies that last for 1-3 years.
An unstructured master's program, in fact, is a combination of bachelor’s and master’s program and lasts for 4 to 6 years. It is associated with professional training in medicine, law, veterinary medicine and art[14]. The rules for admission are no different from undergraduate studies (in art schools, entrance tests are held in the form of a talent competition). After completing an unstructured master's program, students can find work or continue their studies at doctoral level.
Czech business masters are united by CAMBAS (Czech Association of MBA Schools). Admission to the MBA program is possible after graduation. In addition, some universities accept only candidates with experience in the chosen field (usually two or three years). Most programs are taught in English, but there are options in Czech, French, and German.
Doctoral studies in the Czech Republic last for 3-4 years. To select students, some universities conduct only a portfolio review, some, however, conduct interviews and entrance examinations. The training is mainly focused on research with an academic supervisor. However, students at some universities are also required to assume teaching duties within the specified number of hours. The details of the curriculum may vary as each individual supervisor develops a plan for the student entrusted to him. In addition, the student’s progress is periodically evaluated by the university’s academic council.
Most of the educational process, in addition to theoretical and practical classes, is the writing of a scientific dissertation on the research work done. At the end of the training, students pass a double oral test. At the first stage, they answer questions testing their knowledge in the field of study, and then a public defense of the thesis takes place.
An academic career in the Czech Republic consists of four consecutive stages:
Each university independently sets salaries for teachers. On average, assistants receive 893 USD per month, assistant professors — 1,073 USD per month, associate professors — 1,288 USD per month, and professors — 1,469 USD per month[17].
International students in the Czech Republic have the opportunity to receive grants from the government, universities or private funds. Each university has its own system of financial assistance, so the terms and conditions can be specified on the website of each individual university. Most complete list of scholarships can be found here.
Of the private scholarships, the most accessible option is the Visegrad Fund, funded by the governments of the Visegrád Group (Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary). Students from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine who study at the Czech Master’s or Doctoral Program are eligible for this scholarship. The fund pays the university 1,695 USD per semester per student. To participate in the competition, you must fill out an application and provide a letter of admission to a Czech university.
In addition, Czech universities participate in academic mobility programs CEEPUS and ERASMUS. CEEPUS is an organization of Central European countries created with the goal of developing cooperation between universities. You can take part in this program only after two semesters of study. Students from countries outside CEEPUS can be provided with a free mover scholarship. ERASMUS also gives students the opportunity to study at various universities in the world. The program covers the partial or full cost of the flight, training and accommodation.
EU/EEA/Swiss nationals do not need any visa to study in the Czech Republic. All the rest require a long-term visa (for a period of more than 90 days). The visa fee is 23 USD[18].
List of documents for a student visa to the Czech Republic:
A long-term student visa is issued within 60 days from the date of application.
Czech law allows all students to work without any restrictions. Moreover, full-time students who are subject to visa regulations and studying at a university accredited by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports do not require a work permit. The only condition is attending classes at the university and good academic performance. The minimum wage in the Czech Republic is 3 USD/hour. Usually, students working part-time get about 5 USD/hour[19]. To find work, you can contact the employment centers or employment departments at the university.
After graduating from a Czech university, non-EU foreign students can obtain a long-term residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment[20]. The permit is valid for nine months, after which it cannot be extended. In case of successful employment, it is replaced with an employee card, which is equivalent to a long-term residence permit[20]. The employee card is renewed every two years.
Citizenship is issued to a person who has lived in the Czech Republic for at least five consecutive years.
The Czech Republic has the lowest unemployment rate among European countries — only 2%[21]. Czech university graduates have free access to the labor market and do not need additional work permits (besides permission to stay in the country).
It is worth noting that in terms of average wages (14 USD/hour), the Czech Republic takes the 20th place out of 28 countries of the European Union[22]. The Czech Republic also ranks 4th in terms of working week duration (40.3 hours) among European countries[23].
In connection with joining the Bologna process, Czech university degrees comply with the European standards. Also here the NARIC centers are located (National Academic Recognition and Information Centers), which you can contact if you need to verify your diploma.
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