Admission to the Czech Republic in English — how to enroll without knowing Czech
Czechia is an ideal country for obtaining higher education. There are many universities here that operate according to modern programs, methodologies, and approaches. In addition, the country is safe and stable. That is why every year thousands of applicants try to enter local universities and obtain the coveted European diploma.
However, for many applicants, the main obstacle becomes learning the Czech language. Not everyone is ready to spend a lot of time and fully immerse themselves in a language system new to them. In such cases, it is possible to enroll in the Czech Republic in an English-taught course.
Which language is better to study in the Czech Republic, what level of English or Czech is needed, how to prepare for entrance exams, and what nuances exist — you will learn about all of this in this article.
Is it possible to study in the Czech Republic in English?
We are often asked the question: is it possible to study in the Czech Republic without knowing the Czech language? The short answer is yes, it is possible. But, as everywhere, there are certain requirements that an applicant must meet. First of all, this is the successful completion of entrance exams in English. It is also important that all documents are collected, correctly filled out, and submitted within the established deadlines.
In the Czech Republic, there are over 70 accredited higher education institutions licensed by the Ministry of Education. Among them, 26 are public universities offering free education in Czech, and about 44 are private universities. Most universities also offer an alternative program in English. At the same time, the program does not differ from the main one, which is taught in Czech.
If you have chosen to study in the Czech Republic in English, you can confidently consider various programs and fields. These can be specialties in the areas of medicine, IT, economics, humanities, biology, chemistry, and much more.
Advantages of learning in English
For many young people, English has become a second native language. They start learning it from kindergarten: they sing songs, read poems, and watch cartoons in English. In most schools, it is studied in depth. There are many clubs, groups, and courses, and if you add the influence of pop culture, social networks, and movies in the original language, you can say that English has become a part of modern life. Therefore, after finishing school, most applicants already have a fairly strong foundation.
The situation with the Czech language is different. If there were no people from the Czech Republic in the family, it is quite possible that the applicant will hear it for the first time only after arriving in the country. To enter a university with instruction in Czech, a B2 level is required. For medical specialties, it is even higher — C1. To achieve such a result, one needs to devote a lot of time not only to specialized subjects but also to the language. For many, this becomes a demotivating factor.
When enrolling in English, the need to learn Czech disappears. The applicant can fully focus on preparing for specialized subjects and simultaneously improve their English. An important advantage will also be your classmates: while in Czech programs some students are local, in English-taught programs, students study from all over the world. After completing studies in English, you will receive a diploma that, alongside the diploma of students in Czech programs, is recognized in Europe and other countries.
Disadvantages and Features
Despite the numerous advantages of studying in the Czech Republic in English, there are also certain disadvantages. In the Czech Republic, students who study in Czech can receive education completely free of charge, just like citizens of the country. However, when enrolling in English-language programs, there are no budget-funded spots. The cost of studying abroad depends on the chosen university and specialty. It is also worth considering the limited number of available spots. The advantages of studying in the Czech Republic for foreigners have long been no secret. Not everyone is ready to learn Czech, as they already have a high level of English and the financial means to pay for education.
As a result, we have tens of thousands of applicants from different countries who aspire to receive an education in Europe. At the same time, not all universities have the opportunity to offer separate programs in English. The number of such groups is limited even in large universities. The competition for English-language programs is higher than for programs in Czech. If we talk about the difficulty of admission and competition, it can be conditionally divided as follows:
- It is easiest to enroll in Czech-language programs at less prestigious universities or in less popular specialties. There is often no tough competition there, and sometimes not even entrance exams. Applicants are accepted based on the average grade of their diploma and their Czech language level B1–B2. Such options are available, for example, at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague. In some years, 75–90% of applicants are admitted to such programs;
- Next in difficulty are English-language programs at small universities or less popular fields. On average, about 40–50% of candidates successfully pass the selection;
- A more complex option is prestigious universities with instruction in Czech. There is high competition for IT fields and in medicine. The acceptance rate can be 15–35%. One of the most competitive specialties is dentistry at Charles University — only about 8%;
- The highest competition is for English-language programs at leading Czech universities, such as Charles University, Czech Technical University, or Masaryk University. Especially in medical, economic, and IT specialties.
Despite the high competition, there is no need to be afraid. For successful admission to English-language programs in the Czech Republic, quality preparation with experienced specialists is required, who will help to understand exam questions and admission nuances.
Which specialties are available in English
If you are considering English-language programs in the Czech Republic, a wide range of specialties and educational programs is available to you, among which you can choose a field in almost any area.
One of the most popular fields of study for foreigners is medicine. The profession of a doctor in the Czech Republic is in high demand, it is a well-paid and prestigious job, and with a Czech medical diploma, you can work not only in Europe but also in the USA, Canada, Australia, and many other countries around the world;
An equally popular program is dentistry. As we have already mentioned above, the competition for it is very high, but this is the specialty and profession that one can speak about with pride, and the time spent preparing for entrance exams will fully justify the years of work that follow;
Pharmacy is also considered an in-demand profession. It is not only a job in a pharmacy, but also an opportunity for employment in laboratories, research centers, drug manufacturing, and many other areas;
IT continues to remain one of the most popular specializations among technical fields. Czech IT specialists work as programmers, software developers, system analysts, cybersecurity specialists, and data engineers around the world;
Economics and management remain in-demand fields among English-language programs. Graduates have opportunities to work in international companies, financial and consulting structures, manage projects, and develop business.
Medical universities in the Czech Republic with programs in English
It is also possible to study medicine in the Czech Republic in English. There are a total of 4 medical universities in the country: Masaryk University in Brno, Palacký University in Olomouc, and the University of Ostrava. There is also Charles University, which includes 5 faculties: the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd medical faculties in Prague, the medical faculty in Hradec Králové, and the medical faculty in Plzeň.
In each of these universities, a foreign student can study for free in Czech, provided they pass the entrance exams successfully and are admitted.
All five medical faculties of Charles University offer a general medicine program in English, while the 1st Faculty of Medicine, as well as the faculties in Hradec Králové and Plzeň, additionally offer a dentistry program. At Masaryk University, education in English is available in general medicine and dentistry programs, and at Palacký University in Olomouc, general medicine and dentistry programs are also available in English. At the University of Ostrava, English-language medical programs are limited, and a full general medicine program in English is not opened every year.
Requirements for applicants
If you have decided to choose admission to the Czech Republic in English, you will need to go through the following stages.
It is necessary to provide a secondary education certificate — the document must undergo the nostrification procedure (confirmation of the conformity of your education with Czech standards).
A high level of English proficiency is also required — usually a B2–C1 level is needed. At some universities, it is necessary to provide an international IELTS / TOEFL certificate — these are standardized international exams that confirm the level of English proficiency for studying abroad.
In addition, it is important to take into account entrance exams conducted by universities, which usually include tests in specialized subjects, most often in biology, chemistry, and sometimes physics, and may also assess readiness for studying in a medical specialty.
Entrance exams
Entrance exams for medical faculties in the Czech Republic usually cover biology, chemistry, and physics. The knowledge is tested at the level of the school curriculum and is conducted in the format of multiple-choice tests.
In some universities, an oral interview or an interview before a committee is additionally conducted, where the applicant's motivation, logical thinking, and communication skills are evaluated.
Exams may consist of a single comprehensive test or several separate modules, usually with a time limit and a scoring system, sometimes with points deducted for incorrect answers; competition is high, and the format and structure may vary slightly between faculties, but overall admission is based on the results of science testing and interviews.
Tuition fee in English
Studying in English is paid. The cost of studying abroad depends on the university and the chosen specialty.
For example, studying in medical specialties at Charles University varies depending on the faculty: at the First Faculty of Medicine of Charles University, the tuition fee is 600,000 Czech korunas (23,693 euros per year), at the Second Faculty of Medicine — 420,000 Czech korunas (16,585 euros per year), at the Third Faculty of Medicine — 420,000 Czech korunas (16,585 euros per year).
The most affordable medical education in the Czech Republic in English is at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ostrava, where the tuition fee is about 12,000 euros per year.
| Specialty | Average annual cost (Eng.) |
|---|---|
| Medicine (general) | €12,000 – €24,000 per year (for example, at Charles University up to ~€24,250/year) |
| Dentistry | €12,000 – €24,000 per year |
| Pharmacy | €7,000 – €7,900 per year |
| IT and computer science | €7,000 per year |
| Economics and International Relations | €6,000–€7,000 per year |
Step-by-step admission plan
If you have decided to study in the Czech Republic in English, you need to follow the following plan:
- Program selection. To make your preparation purposeful, we recommend first deciding on a specialty. This will help avoid wasting time preparing unnecessary subjects and focus on specific requirements.
- English preparation. Since you have decided to enter English-language studies, most likely, your level of English is already high. However, specialized terminology and professional vocabulary are used in the core subjects, which is better to learn in advance so as not to get confused during entrance exams and later during your studies.
- Document collection. It is necessary to prepare the required documents, translate them, and go through the nostrification procedure (recognition of foreign education in the Czech Republic), as well as to gather other certificates required by the university.
- Submitting an application. When submitting documents, it is important to take into account the application deadlines. If the deadline is missed, the application is most likely to be rejected. Deadlines may vary at different universities, so they need to be clarified in advance.
- Exams. Next, it is necessary to successfully pass the entrance exams and achieve a high competitive passing score for admission.
- Visa. After enrollment, it is necessary to obtain a long-term student visa. For this, confirmation of admission, financial support, and proof of residence in the Czech Republic are required.
Which to choose — Czech or English
When choosing a program, many students wonder which language is better to study in the Czech Republic — English or Czech. In the table, we have collected all the advantages and disadvantages of studying in each language.
| Education in the Czech language | Learning in English |
|---|---|
| Free education in public universities | Paid education in the Czech Republic |
| The admission competition is lower than for similar programs in English | The competition for admission is higher than for similar programs in Czech |
| The Czech language needs to be learned from scratch | Initially a sufficiently high level of English |
| Most of the classmates are citizens of the Czech Republic | International environment — foreign students study in the group |
| It is easier to integrate into society and communicate freely in everyday life | You will still have to learn Czech for communication in everyday life |
| The ability to communicate fully with patients during practice | - |
| In the future, it will be easier to get a job in the Czech Republic after finishing your studies | The European diploma and learning format are convenient for an international career |
Who would English-language education suit
Despite the high cost of tuition and competition for a place, the option of studying in English is desirable for many students. This format is suitable for:
- If you are already proficient in English and do not want to waste a year learning Czech, it is enough to take preparatory courses for entrance exams, taking into account the nuances and requirements of Czech universities. These can be taken online even in the upper grades of school and successfully pass the exam;
- For those who have difficulty learning new languages, and you may have been learning English since childhood and know it well;
- Suitable for families who have the financial means to pay for education and do not want to lose a year on preparation;
- Studying in English allows you to immediately focus on international programs, literature, and standards, which is important for future professionals who plan to work abroad.
Admission assistance
Whatever language of instruction you choose, there is still high competition for university admission in the Czech Republic. MedStudy helps students successfully navigate this path: we teach and prepare for entrance exams in specialized subjects, support the collection of documents, submission of applications, and adherence to all deadlines, and also provide full assistance with visa matters, including housing selection, transfer, and adaptation.
We have the opportunity for online learning, thanks to which you can start preparation in the upper grades of school and confidently enter without losing a year.
