CS
Czech Education System
Czech higher education follows the three-cycle degree structure: Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral studies.
Czech higher education follows the three-cycle degree structure: Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral studies. This page explains how the system works, what types of institutions and degrees you can choose from, how the academic year is organised, how credits and assessment work, and what to know about tuition fees, language of instruction and quality assurance.
Czech higher education at a glance
Higher education is the highest level of the Czech education system. It is provided by accredited higher education institutions and regulated by the Higher Education Act. In practice, this means:
- you can study at public, state or private higher education institutions
- degree programmes are offered at Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral level
- institutions can be university or non-university type
- the main language of instruction is Czech, but many programmes are also offered in English or other foreign languages
- most institutions use the ECTS credit system
- the academic year is usually divided into two semesters
- study programmes and institutions are subject to accreditation and quality assurance
Higher education institutions
There are three main types of higher education institutions in Czechia.
Public Higher Education Institutions
Public Higher Education Institutions
Public higher education institutions make up the largest part of the Czech higher education system. They offer a wide range of study programmes. Degree programmes taught in Czech are tuition-free at public institutions.
State Higher Education Institutions
State Higher Education Institutions
State higher education institutions are specialised institutions established by the state. In Czechia, they focus mainly on defence and security.
Private Higher Education Institutions
Private Higher Education Institutions
Private higher education institutions set their own tuition fees and admission conditions. They often offer more specialised or professionally oriented programmes.
University and Non-University Type
University and Non-University Type
Higher education institutions can also be university or non-university type. University-type institutions may offer Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degree programmes and carry out research, development, innovation, artistic or other creative activities. Non-university institutions mainly offer Bachelor’s programmes. They may also offer Master’s programmes, but not Doctoral programmes.
Higher education institutions
There are three main types of higher education institutions in Czechia.
Public Higher Education Institutions
Public higher education institutions make up the largest part of the Czech higher education system. They offer a wide range of study programmes. Degree programmes taught in Czech are tuition-free at public institutions.
State Higher Education Institutions
State higher education institutions are specialised institutions established by the state. In Czechia, they focus mainly on defence and security.
Private Higher Education Institutions
Private higher education institutions set their own tuition fees and admission conditions. They often offer more specialised or professionally oriented programmes.
University and Non-University Type
Higher education institutions can also be university or non-university type. University-type institutions may offer Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degree programmes and carry out research, development, innovation, artistic or other creative activities. Non-university institutions mainly offer Bachelor’s programmes. They may also offer Master’s programmes, but not Doctoral programmes.
Eve
University of Ostrava
Coming from a different educational background, I was surprised by how much Czech universities emphasize critical thinking and independent learning. Instead of focusing mainly on memorization, classes and exams encourage students to analyse, discuss, and apply what they have learned.
Explore Universities in Czechia
Degree types and length of studies
Czech higher education follows a three-cycle degree structure.
Bachelor’s Degree Programmes
Bachelor’s Degree Programmes
- first level of higher education
- require completed secondary education
- usually last 3 to 4 years
- prepare students either for employment or for further study in a follow-up Master’s programme
- usually completed with a final state examination and the defence of a Bachelor’s thesis
- graduates receive the title Bc. or, in arts, BcA.
Master’s Degree Programmes
Master’s Degree Programmes
- can either follow a Bachelor’s degree or be studied as long-cycle programmes
- follow-up Master’s programmes usually last 1 to 3 years after a Bachelor’s degree
- they deepen theoretical and professional knowledge
- usually completed with a final state examination and the defence of a Master’s thesis
- depending on the field, graduates may receive titles such as Mgr., MgA., Ing. or Ing. arch.
Long-cycle Master’s Degree Programmes
Long-cycle Master’s Degree Programmes
- some programmes are not divided into Bachelor’s and Master’s cycles
- start after secondary education and usually last 4 to 6 years
- typical for fields such as medicine, veterinary medicine, law, some arts, theology and other regulated or specialised fields
- depending on the programme, graduates may receive titles such as Mgr., Ing., MUDr., MDDr. or MVDr.
Doctoral Degree Programmes
Doctoral Degree Programmes
- designed for graduates of Master’s programmes
- usually last 3 to 4 years
- focus on scientific research, independent creative work or artistic research
- are completed with a state doctoral examination and the defence of a dissertation
- graduates receive the title Ph.D.
Degree types and length of studies
Czech higher education follows a three-cycle degree structure.
Bachelor’s Degree Programmes
- first level of higher education
- require completed secondary education
- usually last 3 to 4 years
- prepare students either for employment or for further study in a follow-up Master’s programme
- usually completed with a final state examination and the defence of a Bachelor’s thesis
- graduates receive the title Bc. or, in arts, BcA.
Master’s Degree Programmes
- can either follow a Bachelor’s degree or be studied as long-cycle programmes
- follow-up Master’s programmes usually last 1 to 3 years after a Bachelor’s degree
- they deepen theoretical and professional knowledge
- usually completed with a final state examination and the defence of a Master’s thesis
- depending on the field, graduates may receive titles such as Mgr., MgA., Ing. or Ing. arch.
Long-cycle Master’s Degree Programmes
- some programmes are not divided into Bachelor’s and Master’s cycles
- start after secondary education and usually last 4 to 6 years
- typical for fields such as medicine, veterinary medicine, law, some arts, theology and other regulated or specialised fields
- depending on the programme, graduates may receive titles such as Mgr., Ing., MUDr., MDDr. or MVDr.
Doctoral Degree Programmes
- designed for graduates of Master’s programmes
- usually last 3 to 4 years
- focus on scientific research, independent creative work or artistic research
- are completed with a state doctoral examination and the defence of a dissertation
- graduates receive the title Ph.D.
Language of instruction
The main language of instruction in Czechia is Czech. At the same time, Czech higher education institutions offer a growing number of programmes in English and other foreign languages.
Study in Czech
Degree programmes taught in Czech at public and state higher education institutions are tuition-free, regardless of nationality. You may still need to pay application fees or other administrative fees.
Study in English or another foreign language
Programmes taught in English or another foreign language usually have tuition fees. The exact amount depends on the institution, faculty and programme.
Learn Czech and Study Tuition-Free
Tuition fees
Tuition fees depend on the type of institution, language of instruction and study programme. As a general guide:
- Czech-taught programmes at public and state institutions: tuition-free
- foreign-language programmes: tuition fees set by the institution and programme
- private higher education institutions: tuition fees set by the institution
- extended study: additional fees may apply if you exceed the allowed study period
Tuition fees are only one part of the total cost. Before you apply, also check living costs, accommodation, health insurance, application fees and possible scholarships.
Explore Scholarships and Funding
Academic calendar
The academic year is usually divided into two semesters.
Winter semester
The winter semester usually starts in September or October. Teaching normally takes place in the autumn and is followed by an examination period, often in January or early February.
Summer semester
The summer semester usually starts in February. Teaching normally takes place in spring and is followed by an examination period, often in May and June.
Credit system
Most Czech higher education institutions use the ECTS credit system. Each course is assigned a number of credits, which reflects the expected workload. You receive credits when you successfully complete a course. Credits help track your progress and make it easier to recognise study periods or courses completed at another institution, for example during exchange studies. As a general guide, one academic year usually corresponds to about 60 ECTS credits.
Course types
Depending on the programme, you may have:
- compulsory courses
- compulsory elective courses
- elective courses
Some courses may have prerequisites, which means you need to complete one course before you can take another.
Assessment and examinations
Assessment methods vary by institution, faculty and programme. You may be assessed through written exams, oral exams, projects, presentations, seminar papers, practical work or continuous assessment during the semester. Common forms include:
- credit or pass/fail assessment
- graded credit
- written or oral examination
- portfolio or practical assessment
- final state examination
- thesis defence
Your course requirements are usually listed in the syllabus or university information system.
Quality assurance and accreditation
Czech higher education is regulated by the Higher Education Act. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports is the central governing body for the sector. Quality assurance is overseen by the National Accreditation Bureau for Higher Education. It accredits higher education institutions or individual study programmes and monitors the quality of higher education.
Recognition of previous education
If you completed your previous education outside Czechia, you may need to have it recognised before or during the admission process. Recognition can be handled in different ways depending on your degree level, country of origin and chosen university. For secondary education, it may involve nostrification or recognition within the admission procedure. For higher education, recognition is usually handled by a relevant public higher education institution. Start early, because you may need certified copies, translations or other official documents.
Comprehensive information about the process of recognition is available on the website of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports. Besides, you can find more in the brochure "Recognition of Foreign Education and Qualifications in the Czech Republic" which provides a complex guide about the process of the recognition of foreign education and/or qualification. In this brochure, you can find relevant contacts in case of any further questions.
You can also receive support and advice from the Czech ENIC - NARIC Centre (National Academic Recognition Information Centre) functioning under the umbrella of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports.
