By law, citizens of all nationalities may study free of charge in Czech at public and state universities. Isn't that a good reason to learn Czech or improve your knowledge of Czech? Many universities and institutions offer Czech language courses, foundation programmes or summer schools for international students. Most of them are paid, but there may be exceptions (e.g. foundation programmes that are part of government scholarships).
czech LANGUAGE COURSES
Universities offer Czech language courses of varying length, intensity and focus. There are semester, year-long and evening courses, which you can attend in person or online. You can find the courses on offer in our portal or directly on the universities' websites:
- Charles University: Institute of Language and Preparatory Studies
- Charles University: Czech Studies
- Masaryk University: Language Centre
- Mendel University in Brno: Institute of Lifelong Learning
- Palacký University in Olomouc: Centre for Language Education
- University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice: Faculty of Arts
- University of West Bohemia: Institute of Applied Language Studies
- Tomas Bata University in Zlín
- University of Ostrava: Faculty of Arts
- VSB - Technical University of Ostrava: Institute of Languages
- Brno University of Technology: Lifelong Learning Institute
You can learn Czech at 17 Czech Centres abroad, each centre has its own specific offer of full-time and online courses. Czech language courses are also organised by the Centres for Support of Integration of Foreigners.
For Czech compatriots living abroad, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports offers scholarships to attend a 4-week Czech language course as part of the Programme for the Supprt of Czech Cultural Heritage Abroad. Thanks to this programme, compatriots who have a good command of Czech have the opportunity to participate in a study stay at a Czech university. This is a one- or two-semester course of study in Czech, usually at a faculty of arts of a Czech university.
FOUNDATION PROGRAMMES
Foundation programmes will help you master the language and prepare you for the entrance exams and future studies in Czechia within one year. They consist of intensive Czech language and subject-specific lessons. You can find a selection of these programmes in our portal or check the university websites directly:
- Charles University: Institute of Language and Preparatory Studies
- Masaryk University: Department of Czech for Foreigners
- University of West Bohemia: Institute of Applied Language Studies
- Tomas Bata University in Zlín
- Czech Technical University: Masaryk Institute of Advanced Studies
SUMMER SCHOOLS
Summer schools are short non-degree courses offered by universities to students who want to get ahead in their study field during the summer break. Many summer schools are focused on Czech culture and language and this brings a great added value in the form of local perspective and experience from the real life. Most of the summer schools offered by Czech universities can be found in our study programmes portal.
The Summer Schools of Slavonic Studies offering Czech language courses are organised by several public universities in Czechia. The courses are held during the summer months, their length ranges from 3 to 4 weeks and are designed for foreign students, teachers, translators and interpreters and other experts active in the field of Czech/Slavonic studies. The Summer Schools offer language courses at various levels of proficiency, seminars on the Czech literature, culture and history, free-time activities including theatrical, musical and dance performances, trips etc. Each year the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports offers a limited number of scholarships for participation in the Summer Schools of Slavonic Studies to applicants from certain countries. The scholarship consists of free board and lodging, coverage of course fees and free access to cultural events which are part of the course programme.
UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS for studying the czech language
Faculty of Arts of the Masaryk University in Brno awards 3 months scholarships for studying the Czech language, literature and culture. These scholarships always run from October to December of the academic year and are intended for students of foreign universities. Applicants should have a good knowledge of the Czech language in order to be able to follow the lectures and attend seminars conducted in Czech.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Czech for Foreigners Portal provides an overview and comprehensive information for foreigners who are applying for permanent residence in Czechia or for Czech citizenship and will be taking the Czech Language Exam or Czech Life and Institutions Exam.