Education

 

Education system

Primary school education

Foreign children completing their compulsory education at primary or special schools receive their education for free, as do Czech citizens. Admission of a foreigner eligible for compulsory education is subject to presentation of a Czech residency permit.

Classes in primary schools are taught in Czech. Education at primary and secondary schools can be also in a foreign language, but only with the permission of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. Citizens of EU member states may require free-of-charge tutoring including Czech classes; this option is not available to citizens of third countries. In addition, children of asylum-seekers are entitled to Czech classes.

The pupils of primary schools may use the opportunity of studying foreign languages; foreign-language courses start in the fourth year. Foreign languages belong among mandatory subjects and children may often choose from among several languages. Most often, these languages include English, German, French and Russian. In addition to schools with extensive foreign-language programs, there are also schools where all subjects are taught in a foreign language, the most common are schools with classes provided in English, German or French. These are usually private schools that require the children's parents pay an appropriate school tuition.

Secondary school education

If the student proves within the admissions proceedings that he/she is able to study in the Czech language, his/her education is free of charge. The admission of a foreign student is subject to presenting a certificate of legal residence in the Czech Republic.

An applicant having completed his/her primary education at a school abroad must present a certificate of attestation equality issued by the school abroad or a certificate of education featuring a recognition clause.

The scores achieved by foreign students in the subject of Czech language and literature will be assessed in light of the student's grasp of the Czech language. Language insufficiencies are deemed an objective reason giving rise to the failure to classify the student in the first year of his/her secondary school studies.

University education

Foreign students study at tertiary schools under the same conditions as Czech citizens, provided that they are able to study in Czech. Therefore, since Czech students are not required to pay for their studies, the same conditions apply to foreign students.

Foreign students wishing to study at a Czech tertiary school in another language than the Czech language must pay tuition. At private tertiary schools, all students are required to pay tuition; the same conditions apply to Czech citizens and foreigners alike.

If students are unable to pay for their studies and living expenses, they can try to apply to some of the scholaship programs.

Admissions for study at a tertiary school is subject to the completion of a full secondary or full secondary vocational education. Artistic study programs 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.

Admissions proceedings will take place on dates determined by the school, and the student will be examined in subjects related to the selected field of study. 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 faculty, the applicant registers for study. Upon registration, the applicant becomes a student and acquires the right to an ISIC card and other advantages.