In the Czech Republic, there are several university programs in English and German. If you go to a vocational education, you can get an internship in the Czech Republic. You can also apply for work in the Czech Republic. In the world of finance and banking, a considerable amount of foreign labor is employed.

The Czech Republic was formerly part of Czechoslovakia, which in the 1920s and 30s was one of the most highly industrialized countries in the world with an efficient industry and a high level of education. The Czech Republic was the only Central European country that remained democratic until Hitler’s occupation in 1938. In 1992, Czechoslovakia was divided into the countries of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and today the Czech Republic consists of two parts: Bohemia and Moravia.

The Czech Republic is an industrial country and is known, among other things, for its production of the Skoda. Many also know the country for its extensive beer production. The Czech Republic is home to the authors Franz Kafka, Milan Kundera and Václav Havel. The latter became the country’s first democratic president in 1993.

The majority of the population speaks Czech, in the eastern border area – Sudeterland – German is spoken.

The Czech Republic joined the EU on 1 May 2004.

Worth knowing

Vocational training in the Czech Republic

There are several types of vocational education in the Czech Republic. Vocational training závirecná zkouskaand combined vocational and secondary education maturitni zkouska.

At strední odborné uciliste you can take 2- to 3-year craft educations or 4-year more theoretical technical educations. The 2- to 3-year programs are completed with a vocational exam in the form of a závirecná zkouska. The 4-year programs end with a combined vocational and entrance examination in the form of a maturitni zkouska. You can expand a 3-year craft education with a 2-year entrance exam in the form of a maturitni zkouska.

Stredni odborna skola offers 4-year programs (úpliné stredni odborné vzdéláni) that end with the combined vocational and entrance exam maturitni zkouska. Some Stredni odborna skola also offer 3-year educations in the basic health field. These are completed only with the vocational exam závirecná zkouska. In addition, there are special stredni odborna school in the form of conservatories and dance schools etc.

Internship

If you are thinking of taking all or part of your own internship abroad, read the section on internships abroad for vocational education under the section Primary school and upper secondary education.

Higher education in the Czech Republic

Univerzita Karlova in Prague was founded in 1348 and is the oldest in Central Europe. It is famous for its science educations.

As early as 1707, the first technical university was founded, which in 1806 became the Prague Polytechnic and today is called the Czech Technical University in Prague.

Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic, houses seven universities and is known for its art and cultural education programs. It is also called the university city, as 10% of all the city’s inhabitants are students.

Institutions

In the Czech Republic, as in Denmark, there are both higher education institutions with university status and higher education institutions without university status. Unlike in Denmark, higher education institutions without university status can also offer education at the Czech master’s level, but most educations at these institutions are at the Czech bachelor’s level. Studies at the Czech PhD level take place only at higher education institutions with university status.

The public higher education institutions are primarily multi-faculty universities, while the state higher education institutions are within the military and police. The private higher education institutions offer educations within e.g. banking, tourism and hotel management, business economics, literature and writing, new technology, law and management as well as public administration and international relations.

Higher Education

In the Czech Republic you can take the following degrees:

• Bakalár (the Czech bachelor’s degree) normally lasts 3 years, but can also be 4 years old. A bachelor’s thesis is usually included.
• The master’s degree (Czech master’s degree) lasts 1 to 3 years. So-called integrated master’s studies last 4 to 6 years and are based on an entrance examination. This concerns e.g. on studies in medicine and veterinary education. The master’s program concludes with a thesis and a public defense of the thesis.
• The Doktorský studijni program (the Czech PhD degree) lasts 3 years and ends with the defense of a dissertation based on a research paper.

The academic year is organized by the individual educational institutions, but usually begins in October and ends in June the following year. It includes a winter and a summer semester of 15 weeks followed by some exam weeks. The educations can also be divided into blocks. Most educational institutions use a points system. It can e.g. be the European ECTS credit system.

Application for higher education

You must apply directly to the educational institution where you are applying for admission. You have to expect competition for the seats. Within the last 10 years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of applications for higher education. About half are admitted.

The application deadline is usually the end of February or March, and the application takes place digitally at many educational institutions. The application deadline is earlier for studies at art academies.

Admission requirements

A Danish upper secondary education gives access to apply for admission to a higher education in the Czech Republic. Each educational institution has its own admission procedure. However, a written entrance exam or interview is usually included. There are special entrance exams at e.g. the art academies.

Language proficiency

The language of instruction is in the vast majority of cases Czech. You can find an overview of Czech language courses and language schools here. Among other things. Univerzita Karlova in Prague has a number of language courses that prepare for university teaching. This university also offers summer courses in Czech.

However, there is an increasing number of faculties that have established programs or parts of programs in English and German. Be aware that you e.g. may be required to take the UK TOEFL test in English language courses.

Recognition of foreign educations in Denmark

If you have completed a publicly recognized education abroad, you can have it assessed by the Danish Agency for Research and Education

Economics and education

Tuition is usually free at state and other public educational institutions, however, you pay for the English-language tuition. An administration fee for enrollment is charged for all programs. In addition, there may be tuition fees, which cover various expenses that are associated with being a student, e.g. housing costs for dormitory rooms, canteen food, medical care and various discount schemes.

You can get information about prices at the individual educational institutions. Private educational institutions charge for their education.

Work in the Czech Republic

Despite relatively high unemployment, there is an increase in the employment of foreign labor. This is especially true in industries with a need for specific qualifications, especially in the world of finance and banking and management.

Job search

You can receive unemployment benefits for 3 months while you apply for a job in the Czech Republic. See more about this in the article Job search abroad in the folder Paid work.

You can get information about working in the Czech Republic from the EURES Advisers at the country’s Job Centers.

In addition, you can also try to search for e.g. job base Careerjet.

Work-and residence permit

As an EU citizen, you will no longer need a residence permit to stay or work in the Czech Republic for a longer period. You must register with the foreign police in the city where you live if you are to stay in the country for more than 1 month. This must be done before the 30 days have elapsed.

You have the right – but not the obligation – to apply for an EU residence permit, which in many contexts may be necessary if you are to live in the Czech Republic. You can apply for the EU residence permit at the foreign police. Find more information on the Danish Embassy’s website.

The Czech Embassy provides information on the applicable rules for work and residence permits.

You can also find a lot of useful information at the Czech Ministry of Employment.

For general information about this, see the section Visas, work and residence permits.

Practical conditions

Housing

In many cases, foreign students get dormitory rooms made available. You need to be prepared to share the room with someone else.

Facts about the Czech Republic

Population: 10.5 million

Language: Czech.

Employment: In May 2013, unemployment was 7.2% (OECD).

Residence permit: For stays over 3 months, a residence permit is required.