The Czech Republic is a lovely country offering standard education but only a few international students consider the country fit for abroad education. The Czech Republic is a European country famed to have Prague, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Castles, and medieval old towns. The country is home to plenty of cheap and recognized universities in Europe. If you seek information on how to study, work and live in the Czech Republic, this post will provide you with all the information.
In the Czech Republic, there are both private and state universities located in several cities. The Czech University system has some of the greatest education on offer in Europe, with an emphasis on quality, variety, convenience, and importance. The country has 61 higher education institutions, consisting of 26 public, 2 states, and 34 private higher education schools.
International students have the option of studying in English or Czech, which is widely utilized across the country’s universities. This is one of the explanations why the Czech Republic is quickly becoming a study abroad hotspot. Students can pursue a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, depending on their educational experience. In the Czech Republic, a Bachelor’s degree program typically lasts 3 to 4 years. Master’s degree programs can be 1 to 3 years long as a continuation of a Bachelor’s degree program or 4 to 6 years long as a full-time program. A Ph.D. program might last anywhere from three to four years.
A study in the Czech Republic comes with exciting opportunities which many students are not aware of. Perhaps, after seeing some of these reasons, many would have a rethink!
Why Study in the Czech Republic?
1. Recognized universities
Universities in the Czech Republic are globally recognized across Europe. For example, Charles University, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czech Technical University in Prague, and Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague are among the bests in Czech Republic, Europe, and the world.
2. High-quality education
Czech Republic universities offer gainful courses that are in demand in the job market. Students are tutored by experts, providing them with quality education in Czech, English, Russian, or Ukrainian.
3. English-taught programs
A study in the Czech Republic allows international students to study in English medium. More than 40 universities are offering English-taught programs.
4. Affordable tuition fee
The tuition fee to study in a Czech Republic university is affordable. Apart from the cheap tuition fee, there are funding options to help students (EU and Non-EU students).
5. Job prospects
The Czech Republic is among the countries with a bubbling economy. So long you are fluent in Czech, you can easily secure a job but you must know that the popular city, Prague houses the best jobs, but the living cost is higher than others.
How to apply for admission in the Czech Republic
The mode of admission may be different for countries. However, to study in the Czech Republic, there is an application process to follow: They include:
1. Choose a Program
To begin the application process, you are to choose a study program and the university. You can apply to different programs and universities at a time. The language used for teaching is an important factor, some schools teach in English, Czech or Russian. Check the study requirements, tuition fee and then decide on where to study.
2. Get your documents ready
There are study requirements to provide. The requirement may differ a little depending on the chosen program. However, general admission requirements to study in the Czech Republic include the following:
General Czech Republic admission requirements
A letter of motivation, recommendation letter, and a portfolio
Academic records
Official transcripts
English test scores (applicants planning to study in English medium)
Application fee
3. Submit Your Application
The majority of university applications in the Czech Republic are submitted online. Application forms are available on various university websites, and many of them require payment of an application fee. Attach the required documents to the application form or prepare to submit them to the institution once you’ve completed it.
4. Take the Entrance Exam
In the Czech Republic, several programs require students to take an entrance exam before being admitted to the institution. A written test and an oral interview make up the admission exam. The exam is usually held in the Czech Republic, but there are rare exceptions for international students.
5. Wait for the university decision
Admissions decisions are usually made by the end of June. If you are approved, you will be required to pay the first semester’s tuition fees. The university where you will conduct your studies will send you an official letter of acceptance, admission confirmation for visa purposes, a student contract, and housing information once you have finished your payment.
6. Apply for the Czech study visa
After the school has sent the admission letter, the next step is to apply for a study visa. Some students may be exempted from applying for a visa. (EU/EEA nationals) but, Non-EU/EEA will need a study visa to enter the Czech Republic.
The Czech Republic Student Visa requirements
Duly filled student visa application form
Official admission letter from university in the Czech Republic
Valid passport
Entrance exams scoresheets
Proof of financial resources
Proof of accommodation in the Czech Republic
Valid international health insurance
Copy of a criminal record report
Tuition
Each University in the Czech Republic set their tuition fee. if you want to study in English or another language other than Czech, it is higher than the fee for students studying in the Czech language. Moreover, the price varies depending on the university and program, but students may pay between 192 800 CZK – 235 000 CZK.
There are scholarships opportunities in the Czech Republic to cover student’s tuition. It is vital that prospective students planning to study in the Czech check regularly the website of their interested school(s) for scholarship updates. The tuition fee for your education in the Czech Republic will be determined by the language you select. Fascinatingly, if a student chooses a curriculum in Czech, public universities are free for all students, regardless of nationality, including those from outside the European Union!
10 Top Universities in the Czech Republic
Charles University
University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague
Czech Technical University in Prague
Masaryk University
Palacký University Olomouc
Brno University of Technology
Mendel University in Brno
Technical University of Liberec
Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague
University of Pardubice
Czech University of Life Sciences
Cheap Universities in the Czech Republic
1. Czech University of Life Sciences Prague
Tuition Fee Link
2. Masaryk University
Tuition Fee Link
3. University of Pardubice
Tuition Fee Link
4. Metropolitan University Prague
Tuition Fee Link
5. Tomas Bata University in Zlín
Tuition Fee Link
6. Technical University of Liberec
Tuition Fee Link
Popular courses to study in the Czech Republic
There are interesting courses to study in the Czech Republic. Some courses are very popular for international students such as Economics, Architecture, Business-Management, Law, Culinary Arts, Computer Science, and Engineering.
Are there English-taught universities in the Czech Republic?
International students desiring to study in the Czech Republic in English may need to write a proficiency test like IELTS. There are more than 100 courses available in the English language in 45 Universities in the country.
Study and Work in the Czech Republic
International Students can work part-time jobs while studying in the Czech Republic. Normally, students are allowed to work 20 hours per week. Students are also allowed to work full time during the summer holidays.
Stay back in the Czech Republic after study
After completing your study program, you can apply for a long-term residence permit in the Czech Republic for nine months to look for work. After graduating from university, EU students can apply for a work permit in the Czech Republic. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland are exempted from visa and work permit restrictions if they want to stay after finishing their studies because the country is an EU member state.
EU nationals who plan to stay in the Czech Republic for longer than three months only need a certificate of temporary residency. The temporary certificate is only valid for ten years after it is issued and cannot be extended.
Highlights
Students from the European Union and the European Economic Area
To work in the Czech Republic after graduation, citizens of EU/EEA nations and Switzerland, as well as their family members, do not require an employment permit, Employee Card, or Blue Card.
Students from Non-EU countries
Non-EU students are advised to look for a permanent job in the Czech Republic before the completion of their study program to enable them to stay longer in the country. Additionally, you must apply for an employee card if you are a third-country citizen who received your university education in the Czech Republic, have already completed your studies, and desire to work in the Czech Republic.
Note: The employee card is essentially a long-term residence permit when the stated objective of the foreign national’s presence is for employment.
Check out the website of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic for further information.
Final words
The Czech Republic is a beautiful country; its universities provide quality education. There is a wide range of programs to choose from at these Universities. Amazingly, these universities are globally recognized and among the cheapest in Europe.