Increasingly, applicants are thinking about studying in Western Europe. Charles University in Prague is not only the main institution of higher education in the Czech Republic, but also one of the most prestigious educational centers in Western Europe. The university is a member of the Association of European Universities along with Oxford, Leiden, Bonn, Sorbonne. Lectures at Charles University are delivered by the best teachers from all over the world. Is it possible for an ordinary Russian student to go there?
How did the history of the university begin?
Charles University was founded in 1348. Then the bishop of Prague Arnost proposed to establish an educational institution in the Staré Mesto quarter. For this, Emperor Charles IV bought several buildings in which the first classes were held. After its founding, the university had only four faculties: medicine, art, law and theology.
Until the end of the 19th century, classes at the university were conducted in German, since the Czech Republic was part of Austria-Hungary, and only in 1939 lectures began to be read in Czech.
Throughout the history of the university, the best Czech scientists taught here: the main ideologists of the Reformation movement Jan Hus, specialist in physiology Jan Purkine, physician Jan Yessenii, Nobel Prize winner in chemistry Jaroslav Heyrovsky.
University address: Ovocný trh 5, 116 36 Praha 1.
What is there for a student at the university
Of the 17 faculties of the university, 14 are located directly in Prague. The main university building Karolinum is located in the historical district of Prague-1 and is one of the city's attractions.
The infrastructure of the university includes:
- a large library,
- computer center,
- modern sports complex,
- A language school for those wishing to enroll,
- Center for Economic Research,
- own publishing center,
- training courses,
- Environmental Center and European Information Center.
Students live in comfortable hostels, can use the dining room, cafeteria and assembly hall. Almost all faculties are located near metro stations.
Popular faculties
Charles University has 17 faculties, which are located in Prague, Pilsen and Hradec Králové.
One of the most demanded areas at the university is medicine. This specialty includes six faculties. Approximately 8000 students are trained on it.
Another 40 specialties belong to the Faculty of Philosophy. Among them, the most in demand are sociology, cultural studies, historical sciences, philology, librarianship, philosophy and others.
Psychology is a popular specialty, the entrance competition can be up to 30 people per place.
The Faculty of Law has 4,000 students. Here the competition is 10 people per place. Law school graduates receive a bachelor's or master's degree in Law or Science of Law.
The Faculty of Social Sciences is the youngest at the university, but it is developing quite actively. It studies economics, political science, international relations, management, journalism.
There are three more theological faculties, faculties of physical culture, humanities, pedagogy, natural history and physics and mathematics.
University curricula
More than 170 accredited academic programs for bachelor's and master's degrees are offered at 17 faculties of the university, which contain more than 600 subjects in training. Students can study in 60 undergraduate programs in 190 scientific fields.
There are 60 programs in the master's degree that cover 220 subjects. For those who want to continue their studies, the magistracy is recruited according to the following programs: Catholic theology, legal science, law, psychology, general medicine, primary education, pharmacy and dentistry.
In terms of doctoral studies, applicants are offered 200 accredited programs in more than 160 fields of study.
More details on the content of the programs can be found on the university website. The university does not have an official website in Russian, but you can use automatic translation.
Most faculties have preparatory courses, institutes, research groups and highly specialized programs.
Most courses can be taught in English. Training programs are built quite freely. The student can combine training in several specialties and attend lectures, seminars and programs of other faculties.
The University also takes part in the Erasmus + exchange program, both for undergraduate and postgraduate and doctoral programs.
How to apply to Charles University
The University of Prague has quite high admission requirements. The applicant needs to submit a fairly large set of documents.
The application for admission is made one year in advance.
The list of exams may, depending on the direction, include rare or highly specialized subjects.
If the applicant plans to study in the Czech language, then you need to complete a preparatory program at Charles College or at the University Language Center. There you can also improve your knowledge of the English language. After completing the preparatory program, an examination is taken on language proficiency and the degree of readiness to learn.
Documents for admission:
- a certificate of complete secondary education, if the applicant enters the bachelor's degree;
- bachelor's degree if the applicant wants to study for a master's degree;
- official confirmation of knowledge of the Czech language (DELE certificate);
- a motivation letter that explains why you want to study at Charles University.
Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians need to nostrify a diploma or certificate.
How much does it cost to study and stay at Charles University
The education itself at the university is free if the student chooses a program in the Czech language. But the cost of training in the program in English ranges from 4,000 to 12,000 dollars per year, depending on the specialty. The most expensive will be training at the medical and economic faculties.
Charles University students live in comfortable dormitories in rooms for several people. Accommodation is paid. They can also use the entire infrastructure of the university.
The student will need to pay for health insurance and a set of textbooks.
As for living in Prague, the main cost items can be found in the table.
| Accommodation | from 110 € per month (dormitories of state universities), from 240 € per month (private dormitories) |
|---|---|
Nutrition | from 150 € per month |
Travel card | Student rate - 10 € per month. |
Telephone | 20 € per month |
Medicine | Most of the costs are covered by insurance. Annual insurance cost - 300 € |
Total | From about 290 € per month |
Scholarship programs and grants
Full-time students who receive education in the Czech language can receive a scholarship.
There are several types of scholarships:
- Scholarship for successful studies. It can be received by those students whose GPA is close to 1, which means "excellent" at Charles University. It is paid once a year for all months of study and is 33 thousand kroons.
- Motivational scholarship. Paid to talented students, participants in competitions and olympiads. 30 thousand crowns.
- Various targeted scholarships (science, art, research).
- Social scholarship.
- Accommodation scholarship. For foreign students, it is credited in full. The average scholarship amount is 600-700 kroons.At Charles University, payments are transferred every three months for three months at once.
- Study Abroad Scholarship.
The decision on whether to award scholarships to students is made once a year. To apply for the scholarship, you must submit an electronic application.
Also, the Prague State University pays scholarships for doctoral students: 6300 kroons per month in the first year of study and 13000 kroons - in the second and third.
Conclusion
Charles University is one of the oldest educational institutions in Europe. At the moment, 17 faculties have been opened in it, where students from all over the world study. The infrastructure of the educational institution includes dormitories, a sports complex, a library, a computer center and much more.
Education in Czech is free. To enter the university, you must submit a package of documents and pass exams. Applicants can take preparatory courses.
