Higher Education System in Czechia

There are three types of higher education institutions in Czechia:public, state and private. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports oversees the public and private higher education institutions, while relevant ministries are responsible for the state institutions (the University of Defense and the Police Academy). The academic year is divided into two semesters or terms.

In terms of the study programs they offer, higher education institutions may be of auniversity or non-university type. Universities may offer all types of study programs (i.e. bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs) and carry out associated activities in science and research, development and innovation, as well as artistic or other creative activities. Non-university institutions offer mainly bachelor’s study programs. They can also offer master’s programs but not doctoral ones.

All public higher education institutions and most private higher education institutions have implemented theEuropean Credit Transfer System (ECTS) or a system compatible with ECTS.

Higher Education consists of the three cycles:

Bachelor’s degree programs, lasting 3–4 years,

Master’s degree programs, lasting 1–3 years, or 4–6 years in case of programs not following Bachelor’s degree programs (non-structured programs)

Doctoral degree programs, lasting 3–4 years.

After completing studies in Bachelor´s and Master´s degree programs, students take the final state examination, including a defence of a thesis. Graduates of the Bachelor´s degree programs are usually awarded the degree Bc. Graduates of the Master´s degree programs most commonly acquire the degree Mgr., or Ing. However, other types of examinations and academic titles exist in the Czechia. After completing doctoral studies students take a doctoral state examination and defend a thesis. They are awarded the degree Ph.D., or Th.D.

Please find more information at the Study in Czechia website.

Out of all university students, 18 % are international.

There are altogether 54 higher education institutions (26 public, 2 state and 26 private). The list of all Czech institutions can be found on Study in Czechia portal. Students can choose from over 1000 degree programs in English. Or they can study in Czech, for free – there are many Czech language courses and foundation programs to choose from.

See the wide range of study programs:

Humanities and Social Studies (Economics, Law, PR and marketing, Journalism, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, Pedagogy, Anthropology, Archaeology, Theology, Aesthetics, Ethnographic, Linguistics, Philology, Historiography, History…)

Natural sciences (Biology, Medicine, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Geography, Ecology, Pharmacy…)

Technical Studies (Architecture, Informatics, Electrotechnics, Civil Engineering, Transport studies and Logistics, Mechanical engineering, Mining industry, Textile studies…)

Agriculture (Forestry and Lumbering, Fisheries Studies, Horticulture and Landscaping, Agriculture…)

Arts (Fine Arts, Design, Music, Theatre, Film studies…)

Police and Military studies etc.

For more information please see the links below:

Study in Czechia website

Scholarships opportunities in Czechia

Study in Czechia portal with study programmes

Czechia Alumni programme