FAQ

1/ I am interested in studies at Charles University. Where can I find basic information on it?

If you are interested in studies at CU, please read  first the information which is provided on our web site. You can find there the following information:

• List of faculties of CU

• Entry requirements

• Conditions of study at CU

• Study programs and courses offered by faculties of CU

2/ What kind of studies does CU offer?

Charles University in Prague offers studies in accredited bachelor, master and doctoral programs. The study programs are completed by taking the state final examinations and by defense of degree thesis. The graduates of the above mentioned programs will obtain diplomas and will be awarded the academic title.

Another possibility to study at Charles University is to take part in short-term courses of various types offered by Charles University within the framework of life-long education programs. Graduates of these courses will obtain certificates or credits.

3/ What is the language of instruction? Do you have study programs in Czech only or in English, too?

International applicants may study in Czech language under the same conditions as Czech students. The entrance procedure will be held in Czech language. Studies in Czech are free of charge. For useful hints on where to learn Czech language, click  here.

Some faculties of CU offer accredited degree programs in English. For survey of these faculties and the offer of degree programs, click  here. Studies in English are paid. Each faculty has a different level of tuition fees. The list of fees for the actual academic year you can see on  this web site.

4/ Does CU offer any courses in addition to degree programs in English?

Some faculties of CU also organize short-term courses in English. The graduates of these courses will obtain certificates or credits. For the list of these courses, click  here. For further information on particular course and course fee, please contact the organizer directly.

5/ Where can I find information on Czech language courses?

Every information on Czech language courses you can find on  this web site.

6/ How can I apply for admission?

Charles University has 17 relatively independent faculties. Each faculty has its own application form, as studies in English are concerned, and its own entrance procedure. You have to choose the study subject first and then you should apply for admission directly to the faculty of your choice. You should submit the following documents:

• Application form (Faculties of CU have different application forms for studies in English language. Application forms for studies in Czech language are uniform for all universities in the Czech Republic. Application forms may be obtained from the Students’ Department of the respective faculty; application forms for studies in English are usually also available on the faculty web site.)

• Notary verified copy of high or secondary school graduation certificate, plus an official translation into Czech or English language (if it was issued in a different language), and (if you completed your high school education abroad) a document from the Czech school authorities to say that your high school graduation certificate is recognized in the Czech Republic (so-called "nostrifikace").

• Receipt to show that you have paid the application fee. It represents usually 30 - 50 USD. The mode of payment will be included in the invitation letter to the entrance examinations.

7/ Where may I obtain application form for studies at CU? What are the application deadlines?

It depends on whether you will study in Czech or in English.

Faculties of CU have different application forms for studies in English language. Application forms for studies in Czech language are uniform for all universities in the Czech Republic. Application forms may be obtained from the Department of Study Affairs of the respective faculty; application forms for studies in English are usually also available on the web site of the respective faculty.

The deadline for studies in Czech is the same for all of our faculties. It is usually the last day of February prior to the academic year in which you want your studies to commence. The deadline for doctoral studies is usually the middle or end of April (according to the respective faculty). No extension of this deadline is possible. The deadline for submission of application for studies in English varies according to the respective faculty. For exact deadline, please see  this web site or contact the respective faculty directly.

8/ What about the organization of the academic year?

One academic year is divided into two semesters – winter and summer one (each includes 15 weeks of instruction and five-week examination period).

Winter semester: 1st Monday in October (unless first Monday is 30th September) to 2nd Friday in January

Examination period: 3rd Monday in January to 3rd Friday in February

Summer semester: 3rh Monday in February to 3rd Friday in May

Examination period: 4th Monday in May to the end of June

Please note that dates may vary according to the year and/or the individual faculty rules. Organization of the actual academic year you can find  here.

9/ What are tuition fees for studies at CU?

Studies in Czech are free of charge.

Studies in English are paid. Each faculty has a different level of tuition fees.

The list of fees for the actual academic year you can see on  this web site - the last column .

10/ What are the visa requirements?

Foreign nationals applying to study in the Czech Republic have to contact the Czech embassy or Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic in order to obtain up-to-date information on visa requirements for study purposes.

Visa

Due to the Czech Republic’s membership of the EU, citizens of European Union (EU) countries (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom), citizens of European Economic Area (EEA) countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), and citizens of Switzerland, do not require any visa for any type of visit or stay in the Czech Republic.

Foreign nationals from outside the EU continue to need a visa. The residency visa for more than 90 days is valid for 1 year and allows the foreign citizen to travel repeatedly into and out of Czech territory. The residence of foreign nationals in the Czech Republic is governed by the Act on the Residence of Aliens in the Territory of the Czech Republic (law no. 326/99, as amended), which came into effect on 1st January 2000. Under the terms of this law, it is not possible for first-time visa applicants to apply for a student visa on the territory of the Czech Republic, or even to pick up a visa they have previously applied for. Students therefore must apply for (and obtain) a visa before their departure for the Czech Republic.

For the entrance examination the student may come on the basis of the short-term (tourist) visa (valid for a maximum of 90 days), but for many countries such a visa is not required at all, and the applicant should seek advice from the nearest representative office of the Czech Republic.

For the purpose of studies the long-term visa will be required. It means, once accepted for studies in the Czech Republic, international students have to apply for long-term visas for study purposes. The visa is always valid for 365 days, is necessary for enrolment and will be extended for every academic year. Since long-term visas are only issued by the Czech Embassies abroad, applicants must wait until their applications are processed. It is forbidden to travel to the Czech Republic without the proper visa. Visas may only be retrieved from the Embassy/Consulate where the application was submitted. The processing time is approximately 60 days from the date when the complete application is received.)

11/ I would like to study at Charles University under the Erasmus exchange program. Is it possible?

In principle LPP-ERASMUS is open to all disciplines, however, opportunities will depend on whether a relevant subject specific bilateral exchange agreement has been signed between your home institution and the respective faculty (faculty department) of Charles University.

For further information, please see  this web site and contact your home institution's LPP-ERASMUS Institutional Co-coordinator in the first instance.

12/ Does Charles University offer scholarships to international students?

Charles University itself does not offer special scholarships to international students. However, many of our students have succeeded in obtaining some form of scholarship or student loan to help them with their studies (from their government or from private grant-giving bodies). In some countries, it is also possible for international students to apply for a Czech government scholarship (for studies in Czech only). For further information and assistance, please contact representative offices of the Czech Republic in your home country, or your Ministry of Education.

13/ I am interested in medical studies. Is it possible to study medicine at Charles University and how long do the studies take?

Charles University has 5 medical faculties (3 are located in Prague, 1 in Pilsen, 1 in Hradec Králové). All of them offer study programs in English (either general medicine or general medicine and dentistry).  Here you can see the survey of all the medical faculties of CU with the web links to their homepages.

The master's degree in general medicine takes 6 years; the dental medicine studies take 5 years. The graduates are awarded the degree MUDr. = Doctor of General Medicine or MDDr. = Doctor of Dental Medicine.

14/ I am interested in your law program, where can I find more information about the program?

The program “Czech Legal System in European Contexts” if offered by the Faculty of Law, Charles University. Further information you can see  here.

15/ What summer programs does Charles University offer?

Information on Summer Programs is available  here.

16/ I have heard about Study-Czech conference. What is it?

Study-Cezch is an email conference concentrating on the Czech Republic as a study destination. To see the latest conference contributions, please click on  this YAHOO web site.