Who pays tuition, and who does not

Czechia splits its degrees by language of teaching, and that split decides your tuition bill. The official Study in Czechia portal says that if you choose a degree programme taught in Czech at a public or state higher education institution, you can study tuition-free, no matter where you come from. You will usually still pay an admission fee, additional fees can apply if you exceed the standard length of study, and private universities set their own tuition fees.

English-taught programmes are different. The portal gives typical fees of 0 to 6,000 EUR a year for most programmes and 8,000 to 25,000 EUR a year for medicine, arts and some specialised fields. The exact amount depends on the university and the programme, so check the fee on your chosen programme’s page.

The Czech route: learn the language first

If you are willing to study in Czech, you can avoid tuition entirely. The portal describes the route as four steps: learn Czech through a language course or a foundation programme, reach the level your programme needs, apply to a programme taught in Czech, and study tuition-free if you are admitted. It says many Czech-taught degree programmes require at least B2 level Czech, and the university checks your Czech when you apply. Many universities run Czech courses for international students, from semester and year-long courses to evening classes, and the portal lists courses at Charles University, Masaryk University, Palacký University in Olomouc, Brno University of Technology and several others. It does not give a price for any of them, so ask each university directly and budget for the course as a real cost.

This route suits you if you plan to stay in Czechia after graduating, or if your field has few English-taught options. It suits you less if you need to finish quickly, since you are adding language study before your degree starts.

The Czech Government Scholarship

The main government award is run by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For students starting in the 2027/2028 academic year, the Ministry lists these eligible countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus (democratic forces), Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania, Zambia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Palestine, Guatemala and Honduras. Czech citizens, EU citizens and anyone with permanent residence in Czechia cannot apply.

The scholarship covers selected two-year follow-up master’s programmes and selected three- to four-year doctoral programmes taught in English. Applicants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus can also take Czech-taught master’s programmes, preceded by a one-year Czech course at Charles University that is part of the scholarship. You need a bachelor’s degree for a master’s award and a master’s degree for a doctoral one, and English-route applicants sit an online English test during the application.

You apply through an online form on the Ministry’s system, only once and with one application, and the 2027/2028 round ran from 21 August to 30 September 2026. If you missed it, the Ministry has not published a later date for the next academic year, so watch its page. The stipend and cover are set out in the Ministry’s binding Guidelines, and our entry records them as CZK 16,000 a month for follow-up master’s students and CZK 24,960 for doctoral students, to cover accommodation, food and public transport. Our entry on the Czech Government Scholarship records the figures from those Guidelines and notes that travel to Czechia is not covered, so read it before describing this award to anyone as fully funded.

Other money worth knowing about

Beyond the government scheme, the portal lists university scholarships, which differ by institution, so look at the scholarship page of every university on your shortlist. It also lists the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, whose scholarships can cover tuition fees and contribute to travel, visa and living costs, and scholarships from the South Moravian Centre for International Mobility (JCMM) that help with tuition fees and living costs for non-EU students in Brno, studying in Czech or English. Our Erasmus Mundus entry explains how that route works, and for how the wider European options compare, see our guide to funding a master’s in Europe.

Applying to a Czech university

There is no single central application form for all Czech universities: each sets its own requirements, deadlines and process. The portal says many applications for September programmes close between February and April, but some deadlines are earlier or later. Most universities charge an application fee, usually several hundred Czech crowns and up to around 1,000 CZK, and you may pay separately for each application. Some programmes add an entrance exam, interview, portfolio assessment or talent exam.

You will usually need to have your previous education recognised. The portal describes two ways: nostrification through the relevant Czech authority, or recognition within the admission procedure if your university offers it. Recognition within the admission procedure is usually valid only for that university or faculty. General nostrification is broader but may take more time, so start early.

The visa: a long-term visa, then a permit

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa to study in Czechia. If you plan to stay longer than 30 days you must register your place of residence with the Foreign Police within 30 working days of arrival, although this does not usually apply if your accommodation provider, such as a student dormitory, registers you. Students from outside the EU who study for more than 90 days need a long-term visa or a long-term residence permit for study purposes. A long-term study visa is valid for a maximum of one year, so a longer degree means applying for a residence permit later. If you have a spouse or children, they can apply for a long-term visa or residence permit for family reunification.

Apply at the Czech embassy or consulate responsible for your country as soon as you receive your acceptance letter. The official processing time is usually up to 60 days, so start early. Some students can use the Student Facilitation Programme, also called Režim Student, which gives a fast-tracked embassy appointment for students from selected non-EU countries. You cannot apply for it yourself: participating universities nominate students.

Proof of funds

The visa asks you to show you can support yourself, and the rule is set by the embassy where you apply. As an example, the Czech embassy in Washington requires funds equal to 15 times the existential minimum for the first month and double the minimum for each month after that, and gives the minimum as 3,130 CZK as of 1 January 2023. We could not confirm the current figure on a live Ministry of the Interior page, so ask your own embassy for the current number before you move money. The Study in Czechia portal says a bank statement or a scholarship confirmation can serve as proof of financial means. Our guide to proof of funds for student visas explains what embassies expect to see.

Paperwork in Czech

The Washington embassy states that all documents except the proof of funds must be presented in Czech, and that none apart from your travel document may be older than 180 days. It also requires proof of accommodation in Czech. Other embassies may set slightly different rules, so check the page of the post you will apply at. Our guide to translating and notarising documents covers how to plan for this cost.

Health insurance and working

If you are from outside the EU and stay more than 90 days, you will usually need travel medical insurance that covers comprehensive medical care for the whole stay, and you normally show proof of it before your visa is issued. Some students are exempt, for example those covered by public health insurance. Holders of a Czech Government scholarship have standard medical care paid by the Ministry of Health for the duration of the scholarship. Our health insurance guide explains what visa-compliant cover usually looks like.

A non-EU student on a full-time university-accredited programme may work without a separate work permit, although the employer still has to report the employment. Exchange students and short stays follow different rules. The portal reminds students that the main purpose of the stay is study, so treat work as a supplement, not a funding plan.

What it costs to live there

The portal says you will usually need around 500 to 800 EUR a month for basic living expenses, especially in a dormitory or shared accommodation, and more if you rent a private flat, live in Prague or Brno or eat out often. It lists a shared dormitory room at 160 to 330 EUR a month, a single dormitory room at 250 to 450 EUR and a room in a shared flat at 250 to 500 EUR. Its May 2026 comparison of a small city-centre flat puts Prague at about 1,060 EUR, Brno at 870, Olomouc and Plzeň at 635 and Ostrava at 620, so a smaller city stretches a stipend further.