Czech Republic

Basic Information about the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is situated in Central Europe. Due to its position in the heart of central Europe, it boasts a unique natural and cultural wealth. The country is surrounded by extensive mountain ranges which form most of its borders. Twelve of its important historical sites feature on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

The country is historically divided into three regions: Bohemia, Moravia and part of Silesia. The Czech Republic shares borders with Poland in the north, Austria in the south, Germany in the west, and Slovakia in the east. The country has 10.5 million inhabitants and the official language is Czech. The capital of the country is Prague.

The Czech Republic is an advanced Central European country with an increasing standard of living. Its rich history has left a significant legacy of spectacular architecture and beautiful cultural works. Many Czechs have received worldwide recognition in different branches of the sciences, arts and sports.

The Higher Education System

At present, there are 73 higher educational institutions in the Czech Republic. There are 26 public institutions, 2 state higher educational institutions (one military school and one Police Academy ) and 45 private higher educational institutions.

The Charles University in Prague, the Palacký University in Olomouc and the Masaryk University in Brno are traditional multi-disciplinary universities with a combination of humanities, natural sciences, theology and medicine.

About 38% of students now study in Prague and 21% in Brno, while other students go to regional centres such as Ceské Budejovice, Cheb, Ostrava, Pardubice, Plzen and others. In the Czech Republic, the higher education system is organised into three levels: Bachelor, Master and Doctorate.

Scholarships

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the Czech Republic (hereafter referred to as the "Ministry") annually offers scholarships to foreign nationals, pursuant to bilateral intergovernmental or deparmental agreements concluded with a number of countries. Scholarships are awarded to applicants nominated by the competent authorities of eligible countries.

Scholarships of this type are designed for university/college students or graduates and Ph.D. candidates (exceptionally also for university researchers/teachers) who wish to accomplish a study or research stay at one of the Czech public institutions of higher education . Its length usually ranges from 2 to 10 months depending upon the agreement made by the Czech government and the foreign government concerned that specifies also the categories of eligible recipients.

Most frequently, scholarship-holders are admitted for research visits (i.e. they either attend non-degree courses of their choice, or pursue an independent research activity at the host institutions, depending on their qualifications and preferences). Since the courses they follow in the Czech Republic do not lead to the award of a degree, they are not required to sit entrance examinations. In compliance with the applicable legal regulations, decisions on admission to research or study stays are taken by the institutions of higher education. Prospective applicants are therefore advised to contact the selected university directly and request a letter of invitation from the relevant department. Although such a letter is not listed among obligatory attachments to the application form, its submission is recommended, since it simplifies and expedites acceptance. Applicants are requested to point out to the selected university that they are applying for scholarship award under an international agreement.

Note please that access to art academies can be somewhat limited because the applicants must meet demanding requirements and demonstrate their talent (i.e. submit a sample of their artistic work, for example photographs, video/audio recording of a musical performance etc.).

The applicants for research stays need not necessarily be proficient in the Czech language, unless its knowledge is a prerequisite for admission due to the nature of the selected field of study/research. If they cannot demonstrate adequate knowledge of Czech, a good command of English is normally required (less frequently knowledge of French or German may suffice, depending on the field and university selected).

It is also possible to apply for a study stay at a university (i.e. enrolment in a standard study programme with tuition in the Czech language for the period of scholarship specified in the respective intergovernmental/departmental agreement). In this case, a good command of the Czech language is a must and admission may be conditional upon successful passing of entrance examinations.

All applicants should indicate the preferred period of scholarship in their application form. The Ministry reserves the right to change the requested term of scholarship and/or place any applicant to a course and/or higher education institution different from those indicated in his/her scholarship application form, if admission as requested by the applicant is not feasible.

Where can I find more information?

Embassy of the Czech Republic
8 Culgoa Circuit
O'Malley ACT 2606
Canberra
Australia
Tel: +61 (0)2 6290 1386
Fax: +61 (0)2 6290 0006
Email: canberra@embassy.mzv.cz
Website: http://www.mzv.cz/canberra

Consulate of the Czech Republic
169 Military Road
Dover Heights NSW 2030
Sydney
Australia
Tel: +61 (0)2 9581 0111
Fax: +61 (0)2 9371 9635
Email: sydney@embassy.mzv.cz
Website: http://www.mzv.cz/sydney

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport : www.msmt.cz

National Agency for European Educational Programmes (NAEP) www.naep.cz

House for International Services of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports: www.dzs.cz

Centre for Higher Education Studies: www.csvs.cz

Institute of Language and Foundations Studies: www.ujop.cuni.cz

Study in the Czech Republic : www.studyin.cz