Study in Czech Republic
What it costs, who gets in, what to prepare, and what happens after you graduate.
We are adding the Czech Republic to the catalogue university by university. Until the programmes are on the finder, a counsellor shortlists for you by hand — the same forty-five minutes, the same honest reading of your marksheets, and no charge.
Who gets in
3-year Bachelor accepted; nostrification of the degree is needed to enrol.
Nostrification (degree recognition) takes one to two months.
Backlogs. Generally flexible.
Tests you need
- IELTS 6.0, or a medium-of-instruction letter
What it costs
About CZK 130,000 for the year. Budget around ₹55,000 a month for living costs.
Documents
- Passport
- Marksheets, apostilled
- Nostrification
- Insurance
- Accommodation proof
Why the Czech Republic
Charles University in Prague is one of the oldest in the world, the Czech Technical University and Brno University of Technology are respected engineering schools, and the whole country costs a fraction of Western Europe. Tuition in Czech is free at public universities; English-taught programmes charge, but modestly — typically €3,000 to €8,000 a year, with medicine at the top of that range.
Indian students come for medicine, engineering, IT, economics and the sciences. Prague and Brno both have established Indian communities and a job market that runs short of engineers.
Life in the Czech Republic
Living costs are among the lowest on this site — ₹45,000 to ₹65,000 a month covers a shared flat, food and a transport pass in Prague, less in Brno or Olomouc. University dormitories are cheap and plentiful.
The country is safe, central, and an hour or two by train from Vienna, Dresden and Bratislava. Winters are cold and the light goes early; it is worth knowing before you arrive.
Intakes
- September / October — the main intake. Nearly all programmes.
- February — a small number of programmes, mostly at private universities.
Language and requirements
- English-taught programmes — IELTS 6.0 to 6.5, or a medium-of-instruction letter at many universities
- Czech-taught programmes — B2 Czech, usually after a preparatory year; these are the tuition-free ones
- Nostrification — official recognition of your Indian degree by a Czech university or the ministry, needed to enrol
- Entrance exams — common for medicine and some engineering programmes, often held in India or online
The visa
More than 90 days needs the long-term visa for study purposes, applied for at the Czech embassy in Delhi. Appointments are limited, so the admission letter needs to arrive early.
- Admission letter
- Proof of accommodation for the whole stay
- Proof of funds — about CZK 130,000 for the year
- Comprehensive health insurance from a Czech-recognised insurer
- Criminal record certificate, apostilled
- Academic records, apostilled and translated
After you graduate
Graduates of Czech universities can apply for a residence permit to look for work for up to nine months, and a job offer converts it to an Employee Card. Time on a study permit counts partly toward permanent residence.
Questions we are actually asked
Is study really free?
In Czech, at public universities, yes. In English it is paid, but at a fraction of Western European fees.
What is nostrification?
Recognition of your Indian qualification by a Czech authority. It is mandatory before you can enrol and takes one to two months.
Can I work while studying?
Yes — full-time students on a study visa have no hour limit, although employers will expect you to attend.
Is the Czech Republic good for medicine?
It is one of the most popular destinations for English-taught MBBS-equivalent degrees, and the degrees are recognised across the EU.
How cold is it?
Cold. Winters are regularly below zero. Everybody manages.
Can I stay afterwards?
Yes — up to nine months to find work, then an Employee Card.
Not sure where you stand?
Forty-five minutes with a counsellor, your marksheets read properly, no obligation.
Book free counselling