Czech Republic Universities and Colleges

Overview

Overview of Higher Education in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic's higher education system consists of over 25 public and more than 40 private universities and colleges. Post-secondary vocational programs are also available at professional schools. The government fully funds public universities and colleges and thus tuition is free at public institutions. There are ongoing discussions about charging modest tuition fees but there is substantial opposition to this idea. Tuition at private institutions varies from reasonable to very expensive.

Admission requirements are set by individual institutions and faculties, which are equivalent to colleges or departments at US universities. Admissions decisions are typically based on some combination of entrance examinations, secondary school grades, interviews and sometimes, psychological testing. Entrance exams usually focus on subject matters related to the field of study the student has applied for admittance to.

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport is responsible for the administration and funding of higher education institutions. The Accreditation Commission, which exists under direction of this ministry, is responsible for assessing public and private higher education institutions and degree programs.

Types of Schools and Degrees

Each university offers a variety of degree programs although most specialize in specific areas such as medicine, engineering, business or technology with private universities having more limited offerings than public universities. Many of the private universities specialize in business and most offer courses in English which is helpful for local students who plan to work internationally.

The Czech Republic's higher education degree programs conform to the Bologna Agreement which created standards for degrees across Europe. Three and four-year bachelor's degrees, one to four-year master's degrees and doctoral degrees are all available at the various universities. First degree master's programs which take five years to complete, are a common option which many students choose.

International Students

Over 34,000 international students, representing about nine percent of all higher education students, study in the Czech Republic each year. International students are welcome to apply to specific programs of study at universities in the Czech Republic or study there through an exchange program or independent study abroad program. Some courses are available in English but those who will be taking classes taught in Czech need to have language fluency.

Tuition at public universities is free if courses are taken in the Czech language and if the student meets certain other requirements. Tuition for programs taught in English vary widely at public and private institutions and at the high end, approach the cost of some private universities in the US.

About Czech Republic

The Czech Republic, located in central Europe, is bordered by Germany, Poland, Austria and Slovakia. Its population of over 10 million people primarily speaks Czech while Polish, Slovak, German and Romani are recognized as minority languages.

The Czech Republic is one of the most prosperous of the former communist states and ranks high on the Economist magazine's Democracy Index. It has a growing economy led primarily by exports to the European Union countries and has privatized much of the economy since becoming a democracy in 1989. Its education system has been ranked 15th in the world based on an evaluation of scholastic performance.

Resources

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport

Czech Republic Accreditation Commission

Study in the Czech Republic