Public universities in Czechia charge no tuition for programmes taught in Czech, whatever your nationality, which is a genuinely unusual arrangement. English-taught programmes carry fees, usually in the range of a few thousand euros a year.
Government scholarships for developing countries are administered centrally and applied for through Czech embassies.
At a glance
| Language | Czech-taught programmes are tuition-free; English-taught ones are fee-paying |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Czech-taught: none at public universities. English-taught: roughly €2,000–€10,000 a year |
| Living costs for the visa | Around CZK 130,000 evidenced for the year |
| Main intake | September–October, applications typically February–April |
| Where you apply | Directly to the faculty |
| After graduation | 9 months to seek work |
What they require
- Recognised bachelor's, often needing nostrification
- Czech B2 for Czech-taught programmes; IELTS 6.0–6.5 for English-taught
- Entrance examination at many faculties
- Motivation letter and CV
How admission actually works
Faculty-level admission with entrance examinations common, including written subject tests. Nostrification of the foreign degree is often required before enrolment and takes time.
How much does a supervisor matter?
Not needed for master's. Required for doctoral study.
Doctoral admission is via a faculty competition with a proposed topic and a supervisor from the department.
When applications open and close
The pattern below is what these systems normally do. Every programme sets its own dates, so treat this as the planning shape and confirm on the official portal linked at the end.
Funding that genuinely exists here
For candidates from selected developing countries, applied for through the Czech embassy, usually closing in the autumn.
Regional mobility funding for master's and doctoral study.
Limited, faculty-specific.
Documents this country asks for
- Nostrification or recognition of the foreign degree
- Apostilled and translated transcripts
- Entrance exam registration
- Proof of funds and insurance for the visa
Visa and permit
A long-term student visa with proof of accommodation, insurance and funds. Nostrification often has to be complete before enrolment, so start it early.
After you graduate
9 months to seek work
Graduates may apply for a nine-month long-term residence permit for job search or entrepreneurship.
What they favour
- Applicants willing to study in Czech for the free route
- Strong subject preparation for entrance exams
- Complete recognition paperwork
Where applications fail
- Missing the nostrification timeline
- Underestimating the entrance examination
- Assuming English-taught programmes are also free
Official sources
Rules and dates change, sometimes mid-cycle. These are the pages that carry the authoritative version; if anything here disagrees with them, they are right. Reviewed September 2026.