Forms of Study
Admission for Study
Structure of Study
Suspension of Study
Completion of the Studies

Tertiary Schools

The students of tertiary schools may study for bachelor, masters or doctoral degrees. Tertiary schools are public, private or established by the state. Tertiary schools established by the state include police and military schools. Foreign students may study at public tertiary schools or schools established by the state regardless of whether they have a short-term, long-term or permanent residence in the Czech Republic. Foreign students study at tertiary schools under the same conditions as Czech citizens, provided that they are able to study in Czech. Therefore, if Czech students are not required to pay for their studies, the same conditions apply to foreign students.

Tuition

Foreign students wishing to study at a Czech tertiary school in another language than the Czech language must pay the tuition.

At private tertiary schools, all the students are required to pay the tuition; the same conditions apply to Czech citizens and foreigners alike.

Forms of Study

You may pursue education at a tertiary school either in the form of daily studies (every-day attendance based on the selected schedule), distance studies (usually several days a month; the studies may be combined with employment, if agreed upon with the employer) and combined studies (a combination of the above-mentioned forms of studies), in the following study programmes:

Bachelor Study Programme:

Bachelor study programme is designed to prepare the student for his/her profession and for studies within the masters study programme. The bachelor study programmes make use of the current knowledge and methodology; the programmes also provide sufficient theoretical knowledge. The studies, including practical training, take from three to four years. The programme is duly completed with a state final exam, which includes the compilation and defence of a bachelor thesis paper.

The students having completed the bachelor study programme are granted the academic title of a “Bachelor” (abbreviated to “Bc.”, which is used as a prefix); the students of arts will receive the academic title of a “Bachelor of Arts” (abbreviated to “BcA.”, which is used as a prefix).

Masters Study Programme:

Masters study programmes allow the students to acquire theoretical knowledge based on the current state of scientific discoveries, research and development, to get familiar with the application of the knowledge and to develop their creative capabilities; art programmes prepare the students for artistic performance and help them in developing their talents.

The masters study programmes follow bachelor study programmes; the standard time of this study programme ranges from one to three years. There are also masters programmes that do not directly follow any bachelor programmes; these masters programmes usually take from four to six years. The programme is duly completed with a state final exam, which includes the compilation of and defence of a diploma dissertation. Studies in medicine, veterinary medicine and hygiene are duly completed with a state doctor's exam.

Titles:

Graduates of masters study programmes are granted the following academic titles:

in the field of economic, technical sciences and technologies, agriculture, forestry and military sciences, the title of “Engineer” (abbreviated to “Ing.”, which is used as a prefix),

in the field of architecture, the title of “Engineer of Architecture” (abbreviated to “Ing. arch.”, which is used as a prefix)

in the field of medicine, the title of “Doctor of Medicine” (abbreviated to “MUDr.”, which is used as a prefix)

in the field of veterinary medicine, the title of “Doctor of Veterinary Medicine” (abbreviated to “MVDr.”, which is used as a prefix)

in the field of arts, the title of “Master of Arts” (abbreviated to “MgA.”, which is used as a prefix)

in other fields, the title of “Master” (abbreviated to “Mgr.”, which is used as a prefix)

Doctoral Study Programme:

Doctoral study programmes focus on scientific research and independent creative activities in the field of research and development, or on independent theoretical and creative activity in the field of arts. The standard doctoral programme takes three years; the study is structured in an individual study plan supervised by a tutor. The study is completed with a doctoral exam and defence of dissertation. The students having completed the doctoral study programme are granted the academic title “Doctor” (abbreviated to “Ph.D.”, which is used as a suffix); the students of theology will receive the academic title of a “Doctor of Theology” (abbreviated to “Th.D.”, which is used as a suffix).

Admission for Study

The admission for study at a tertiary school is subject to the completion of full secondary or full secondary vocational education. Artistic study programmes may be attended by applicants having completed the higher vocational education provided at conservatories and, as an exception, applicants not having completed the full secondary, secondary vocational or higher vocational education. The admission for study in a masters programme following a bachelor programme is subject to the due completion of studies in the bachelor programme. The admission for study in a doctoral programme is subject to the due completion of studies in the masters programme.

Admission Proceedings:

Admission proceedings (pursuant to Section 50 of Act no.111/1997 Coll.) start once the written application has been delivered to the relevant tertiary school. The deadline for the delivery of applications is published in sufficient advance, usually four months in advance. The conditions governing foreign students' admission must allow for the fulfilment of liabilities arising from international treaties that are binding upon the Czech Republic. The tertiary school or the faculty may set out different conditions for the admission of applicants who have completed a study program or its part or who attend another study programme on a Czech or foreign tertiary school (Section 49 (2), (3) of Act no. 111/1998 Coll.). The admission proceedings will take place on the dates determined by the school, and the student will be examined from subjects related to the selected field of study. The school will inform the applicant of the details of the admission proceedings in sufficient advance. The tertiary school or the faculty will publish a report on the results of the admission proceedings within 15 days of its completion. If the admission proceedings include written admission exams, the school or faculty will publish basic statistic scores achieved by the students in all their parts. The decision must be made in writing within 30 days after the eligibility for admission has been ascertained, and it must include justification and instruction on the possibilities to file an application for review, and it must be delivered directly to the applicant. The applicant is entitled to inspect any of the materials that formed the basis of the decision on his/her admission. The applicant may further file an appeal against the decision within 30 days of receiving the decision.

Once notified of the decision approving admission, the applicant becomes entitled for registration with the school. Within the term stipulated by the tertiary school or a faculty, the applicants register for study. Upon registration, the applicant becomes a student and is entitled to receive social security benefits, if eligible. In addition, the state pays the student's health insurance and social security premiums etc., until he/she reaches the age of 26 years. For more information, see the section “Social Security”

Admission Proceedings Fees:

The students must pay a fee for the admission proceedings. The school will determine the amount of the fees in its admission rules. The fees usually amount to about CZK 500 for one application; however, the fees may exceed this amount considerably at some art schools.

Structure of the Study

The study is divided into semesters, classes or sections (Section 52 of Act no. 111/1998 Coll.). Each semester, class or section is further divided to the time of schooling, the exam terms period and school holidays. The academic year consists of 12 calendar months; the beginning of the year is set by the chancellor. On the registration date, the student must register for the prescribed subjects. Having passed an exam, the student will receive the determined amount of credits. The school will determine the minimum amount of credits necessary to proceed to the next year of study. The student will be informed of the detailed rules of study on the first registration date or by reading the internal rules of the school - the school's rules of study and examination.

Suspension of Study

The study within a study programme may be repeatedly suspended under the conditions set out in the school's rules of study and examination. The rules of study and examination will determine the longest admissible period of the study's suspension. Upon suspending the study, the student ceases to enjoy the status of a student. After the suspension has ended, the student is again entitled to register for his/her studies.

Completion of the Studies

The study is duly completed upon the completion of studies in the relevant study programme. The day of the study's completion is the day of the state examination ending the study or the last section of the study. The state examination is taken before a commission; the course of the state examination and the results of the examination are open to public. The completion of studies and the acquisition of the relevant academic title is documented by a tertiary school diploma and the certificate of state examination.

The study is further terminated:

1. by abandoning the studies,

2. if the student does not meet the requirements of the study programme in compliance with the rules of study and examination,

3. if the study programme loses its accreditation,

4. if the study programme loses its accreditation pursuant to Section 80(4),

5. if the student is expelled pursuant to Section 65(1)(c) or in compliance with Section 67 of the Education Act.