Universities in Czech Republic

Universities in the Czech Republic (Czechia) range from medieval foundations to institutions set up after 1990, and all of them follow the European three-cycle structure of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. Czechia has more than 50 universities and higher education institutions, according to the official portal Study in Czechia. For international students the key fact is the language of study: degree programmes taught in Czech at public and state institutions are tuition-free regardless of nationality, while programmes taught in English usually charge fees.

SpainExchange lists five universities and university programmes in the Czech Republic, in Prague, Brno, Olomouc, Pilsen and České Budějovice.

How Czech higher education works

Higher education is provided by accredited institutions and regulated by the Higher Education Act. There are three kinds of institution:

• public universities, which make up the largest part of the system
• state institutions, which focus mainly on defence and security
• private institutions, which set their own fees and admission conditions

Institutions are also either university type or non-university type. Non-university institutions mainly offer bachelor's programmes and may offer master's programmes, but not doctorates. Quality is overseen by the National Accreditation Bureau for Higher Education, which accredits institutions or individual programmes.

Degrees and the academic year

• Bachelor's degree: usually 3 to 4 years, with the title Bc. (BcA. in the arts)
• Follow-up master's degree: usually 1 to 3 years after a bachelor's, with titles such as Mgr., MgA. or Ing.
• Long-cycle master's degree: 4 to 6 years straight after secondary school, typical for medicine, veterinary medicine, law, some arts and theology
• Doctorate: usually 3 to 4 years, with the title Ph.D.

Most institutions use ECTS credits, and one academic year usually corresponds to about 60 credits. The winter semester usually starts in September or October and the summer semester in February, each followed by an examination period.

Examples of universities

Palacký University Olomouc was founded on 22 December 1573; it is the second-oldest university in the country and the oldest in Moravia, with about 23,000 students in eight faculties. The University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice has about 9,000 students in eight faculties and more than 200 programmes. The University of West Bohemia in Pilsen was founded in 1991 and has nine faculties, 130 study programmes and around 12,000 students. Masaryk University in Brno teaches bachelor's and master's programmes in English and Czech, and its Centre for International Cooperation handles exchange and international students.

For a single semester rather than a full degree, AEP Academic Experience in Prague is the undergraduate study abroad programme of Charles University and CERGE-EI. All its courses are taught in English, and students earn 16 credits per semester.

Admission for international students

There is no central application system: each university sets its own requirements, deadlines and procedure, and applications are made online to each institution. Many applications for programmes starting in September close between February and April, and results are usually announced by the end of June. Some programmes add an entrance exam, interview, portfolio or talent exam. The application fee is usually several hundred Czech crowns, up to around 1,000 CZK.

A bachelor's or long-cycle master's programme requires completed secondary education. If it was obtained abroad, it usually has to be recognised, either through nostrification by the relevant Czech authority or within the admission procedure of the university, which is usually valid only for that university. English-taught programmes ask for proof of English, and many Czech-taught programmes require at least B2 level Czech. Many international students reach B2 within one year in an intensive preparatory programme.

Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland do not need a visa. Students from other countries who stay longer than 90 days apply for a long-term visa or a long-term residence permit for study purposes at a Czech embassy or consulate; the official processing time is usually up to 60 days, so the application should be made as soon as the acceptance letter arrives.

Costs and funding

Czech-taught programmes at public and state institutions are free of tuition; students still pay application fees. English-taught programmes usually cost 0 to 6,000 euros per year, and medicine, arts and some specialised fields 8,000 to 25,000 euros, according to Study in Czechia. At Masaryk University, for example, English-taught programmes at the Faculty of Informatics cost 4,500 euros per year and General Medicine 380,000 CZK per year (2026). Private institutions set their own fees.

The Czech Government offers scholarships for students from selected countries at public universities, and Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships can cover tuition and contribute to travel and living costs.

How to choose a university

• Language: a fee-paying English-taught programme now, or a year of Czech first and then a tuition-free programme
• Type of stay: a full degree, an exchange semester or a study abroad programme
• Institution type: public, state or private, and university or non-university type
• City: Prague, or a smaller student city such as Brno, Olomouc, Pilsen or České Budějovice
• Deadlines and recognition: start early, because recognition of foreign certificates can take time

Frequently asked questions

Can international students study for free in the Czech Republic?

Yes, in degree programmes taught in Czech at public and state institutions, regardless of nationality. Programmes in English or another foreign language usually charge tuition fees.

When are the application deadlines?

Each university sets its own, but many deadlines for programmes starting in September fall between February and April.

What level of Czech do I need for a Czech-taught degree?

Many programmes require at least B2 level Czech. Universities check it through a certificate, an exam, a foundation programme certificate or an interview.

Do I need a visa to study at a Czech university?

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not. Other students staying more than 90 days need a long-term visa or residence permit for study purposes, applied for at a Czech embassy or consulate.