In order to get a quality education and improve your language skills, today it is not at all necessary to go to the UK or the USA. Most European universities offer programs targeted at English speaking students. This approach allows attracting more students from abroad and automatically classifies the university as an international one. Education in the Czech Republic in English is more and more interesting for young people from the CIS countries. This is due to the relative proximity of the territories, reasonable prices and the opportunity to obtain a European-style diploma.
How the Czech education system works as a whole
The level of development of the educational system in the country is largely indicative of its well-being. In the Czech Republic, it has been forming for many centuries, so to say that it is of high quality is practically to say nothing.
As in most European countries, the entire educational process is divided into several stages:
- preschool (nurseries and kindergartens);
- school - divided into basic (from 6 to 10 years old), secondary (from 10 to 15 years old) and senior (from 15 to 17 years old). The latter is represented by gymnasiums, special schools and vocational schools;
- higher education - universities.
Attending kindergarten in the country is optional. Establishments of this type are subdivided into public and private, which is reflected in the cost of their services. The activities of preschool institutions are fully controlled by the Ministry of Education, the curriculum in them is varied and maximally saturated.
The primary school of the state format does not involve payment by the parents, which cannot be said about private schools.
After graduating from high school, the student will have to decide his future fate - whether he is aimed at a higher school or wants to master the profession and start work within a couple of years. If there are no ambitious plans for studying at the university, he can graduate from vocational school and start working.
Those wishing to become students of higher educational institutions inevitably have to unlearn at the gymnasium and only then apply for admission to the university.
Which universities offer programs in English
The first thing to decide with is where exactly your studies will take place. The opportunity to get education in English is provided by most of the country's universities. However, you can use it only on a paid basis. On average, the cost ranges from 2 to 15 thousand euros.
So, in more detail about universities and programs:
- CHARLES UNIVERSITY IN PRAGUE - Charles University. List of faculties:
- Medical - the direction of general medicine and dentistry. The cost of training is 330,000 kroons (12,782 euros).
- Philosophy - 2-year Master's programs only. Specialties: English culture and literature (payment is not provided); English and linguistics (110,000 kroons / 4,260 euros); European Communities: Identity and Development (2000 euros for citizens of the country, 6000 euros for foreigners).
- Physics and mathematics are general sciences in the field of computer technology.
- Faculty of Education and Social Sciences;
- Sports.
- The Higher School of Economics (Prague) is one of the most prestigious universities in the country in the field of finance. Included in the top 100 universities in Europe. Here you can get a diploma in the following specialties: economics, business and administration, finance and accounting, statistics, international management. The price of 1 year of study is from 5000 euros.
- Technical University (Prague) - invites students to master the profession not only in English, but also in Russian. A bachelor's degree is issued after 3-4 years of study. To become a master, you will have to study for another 1.5-2 years. The choice of specialties is very wide: civil engineering, communications, multimedia, electronics, cybernetics and robotics, computer science and many others. The cost of 1 year of study is from 2500 euros.
- Agricultural University (Prague). Here you can choose a program in English in the following areas: hunting, economics and management, agriculture and food, the use of natural resources. The cost of training is not too high - from 7000 kroons (271 euros).
- Academy of Music Arts in Prague. At the theater faculty, students can master a profession in English with a degree in art management, scenography, drama theater, and theater management. One year of study will cost from about 800 euros.
- Masaryk University (Brno) - fewer foreigners come here than to the capital, but among the local population the city has gained fame as a student. This was facilitated by a large number of students and a well-developed infrastructure created especially for them. Education in English takes place here at the Faculty of Pedagogy and Medicine, as well as at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Tuition fees - from 1000 euros for 1 year.
- Private universities deserve special attention. Among them are two recognized leaders who are popular with international students: Anglo-American University and New York University, located in the Czech capital. There are much fewer students here than in state universities, but this provides more opportunities for dialogue between students and teachers.
Both universities offer to master specialties in the departments of marketing, business administration, journalism, English philology, and law. The advantage of studying at both universities is the availability of exchange programs with American higher education institutions.
Studying at New York University will cost at least 160 thousand crowns / 6200 euros for 1 year, but the Anglo-American university offers programs, prices for which range from 250 to 360 thousand crowns (9,700-14,000 euros).
Prague College Prague College. The key teaching principles at this university are innovation and creativity. Its partners are universities in Finland, France and Germany. The teaching staff is made up of teachers from different countries. The main focus is on practical activities: drafting projects, internships, business simulations. According to university statistics, about 90% of its students open their own business or get jobs in companies, contacts with which they manage to establish while still studying. Getting an education here will cost from 3000 euros for 1 year. Leading directions:
- Business (accounting, marketing, international management);
- Media and Information Technology;
- Design and art.
Another popular place is the Graduate School of Hotel Business (Prague). Here you can master a profession in the hotel and restaurant sector, relying on key points: etiquette, analytics, management, entrepreneurship, marketing. The cost of one semester is 1500 euros.
Metropolitan University Prague is rightfully considered one of the most famous private universities in the country. Here you can study in English in the following areas:
Anglophone Studies - culture, history, development, linguistic aspects, politics and history of English speaking countries.
- International Business;
- International relationships.
The educational institution cooperates with some European universities and provides an opportunity to receive a double diploma. The price of 1 year of study is from 2000 euros.
How to organize training in the Czech Republic in English
It should be noted that it is almost impossible to study for free in English in the Czech Republic. Moreover, the budget that will have to be planned for admission will depend on whether you apply yourself or through an intermediary firm.The latter will take care of all the formalities, from the selection of a university and a specialty, to the preparation of the necessary documents and submitting a request to the consulate for a visa.
You need to apply for admission to a Czech educational institution that will provide you with the opportunity to get higher education in the spring - around March or April.
After the direction and university are determined, you will have to fill out an electronic application on the website of the university you are interested in. From the docs you will need:
- copy of your foreign passport;
- Photo;
- certificate of existing education;
- extract of assessments
- Certificate of passing the exam in English TOEFL or IELTS;
- summary;
- recommendations;
- letter of motivation;
- a receipt confirming the payment of the entry fee (if any).
All papers that are not in English must be translated and notarized. A diploma issued outside the Czech Republic is subject to nostrification (confirmation).
After the university receives your documents, you will be assigned an interview day. For those living abroad, it can take place online via Skype.
The main questions usually concern the reasons that made you choose this particular institution, as well as your motivation and plans for the future. Some high schools will have to pass an entrance exam. Most often, such a requirement is put forward by medical and creative faculties.
After two weeks, you will be notified of the decision. If it turns out to be positive, you will need to pay for the first semester of study and wait for an invitation from the university.
The final stage is visa processing. To do this, you need to collect a package of documents:
- passport (domestic and foreign);
- Photo;
- visa application form;
- insurance;
- an invitation from an educational institution;
- financial guarantees or sponsorship letter;
- confirmation of the availability of housing.
To travel to study, you will need a Category D national visa.
Obtaining bachelor's and master's degrees in English
Another advantage of admission to a Czech university as part of a program in English is the possibility of admission to both bachelor's and master's degrees. The table shows the leading educational institutions that may be the object of your attention:
| The university | Specialties for bachelor's degree | Specialties for Master's Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Charles University | Physics and Mathematics: General knowledge of computer technology | Faculty of Philosophy Culture and literature of English-speaking countries Faculty of Law: Business and Law in the Czech Republic and Central Europe Statistics, Probability, Econometrics; |
| Higher School of Economics | Economy Business management international Business | Information systems management; International and diplomatic studies; Management; Quantitative analysis in economics. |
| Agrarian University | Economics, management; Computer science; Agricultural Engineering; Forestry | |
| English- American University | International relationships; Jurisprudence; Sociology and Political Science. | The same directions as for the bachelor's degree. |
The list of educational institutions does not end there. The website of the selected university makes it possible to choose a suitable specialty and clarify what degree can be obtained for it.
Outcomes
The choice of English programs in Czech educational institutions has many positive aspects:
- no need to take preparatory or language courses;
- the cost of taking a course is much lower here than in other countries;
- the opportunity to receive a diploma from an American university upon graduation if you enroll in its Czech branch;
- high chances of finding a job in the Czech Republic;
- life in an international environment;
- a huge selection of directions and specialties;
- the ability to enroll in bachelor's, master's and doctoral studies;
- close location of the state to the CIS space;
- there is a high probability of getting into one of the exchange programs during training;
- recognition of a Czech diploma in all universities in Europe;
- learning the Czech language while studying.
Anyone who is lucky enough to become students of local universities will be able to travel freely throughout the European territory.
