Study in Prague, Czech Republic
by Pierre Blaché
| Prague, Czech Republic | |
|---|---|
| Population: | 1,309,000 |
| Listed universities: | 12 |
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Largest universities:
Charles University |
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Prague’s beauty doesn’t need any introduction. The capital of Czechia has been welcoming about 8 million tourists each year, and it is a tourist destination loved for its history, culture and buzzing nightlife.
Its higher education landscape has also started attracting more and more international students, with the city regularly making an appearance on rankings as one of the most popular student cities in Europe.
As far as European capital cities go, Prague has it all: beauty, history, a cosmopolitan buzz, great student life and food. Nicknamed “The City of a Hundred Spires” (although it is debated that those spires are, in fact, many more), Prague has a line up of world-famous landmarks that make it instantly recognisable, from Charles Bridge to the Prague Orloj, the astronomical clock.
And for students, the city has something for every taste: from an impressive array of museums and exhibition halls (about 100), to city parks and natural attractions within easy reach. And of course, its nightlife is famously lively!
But Prague also has another attractive selling point: its relatively affordable cost of living. Although the Czech Republic is part of the EU, its currency is not the Euro but the Czech Koruna (CZK). To give you an idea of the cost of living in the city, a yearly season ticket for public transport in Prague will be about CZK 1,280 for students under the age of 26 – this is about €52. A room in a shared apartment will be about €400-500, while student dorms will be a lot cheaper.
Czechia: Tuition fees & cost of living 🇨🇿
Prague is home to about 30 higher education institutions, many of which are private.
The city also hosts some of the highest-ranking universities in the country:
Looking at tuition fees, while study programmes taught in Czech are free for all, degrees taught in other languages are not. However, degrees taught in English or other languages are still more affordable than in other destinations: fees are between €2,000 and €10,000 a year, depending on the course and the institution.
During your studies, you can work as much as you like if you are a student from the EU/EEA, but there are some restrictions for other international students. However, finding a part-time job during your studies may be difficult if you don’t know any Czech.
Working in Czechia after graduation is becoming an increasingly popular option for international students. The opportunity is open to non-EU/EEA nationals as well, who are eligible to apply for a permit upon graduation.
There are several international companies in Prague, including IBM, Deloitte, and Procter & Gamble, and it is possible to find graduate employment without knowledge of Czech. However, knowing the language will undoubtedly widen your employment opportunities, beyond making it a lot easier to make friends and feel at home.
Prague Airport is very well connected, with direct flights to Europe and the rest of the world. At only 15 km from the city centre, it is also very conveniently located.
Another great way to reach Prague is by train or bus. Thanks to its position in the heart of Europe, you can reach the city with an international train or bus very easily, including the budget bus carriers Eurolines and Flixbus.
