Private or state universities in the Czech Republic: which should you choose?

The main difference between the two types of universities is the cost of education and the application process. To enroll as a student in a state university, an applicant needs to successfully complete entrance exams. Applicants can study at these universities for free, if the program is taught in Czech. Nonetheless, it’s important to submit all necessary documents on time, as application deadlines are at the end of March.

The enrollment process is considerably easier when it comes to private universities: with application deadlines set sometimes even mid-October. The tuition fees range on average between 2000 and 3000 EUR per academic year, and for many foreign students this is an easier alternative, especially if they already missed the application window for State universities.

Private universities also offer easier and more flexible course options. For instance, in the event a student fails a subject, they are allowed to re-take it in the next semester for an additional fee. There are no strict expulsions throughout exam sessions, with both scheduling and curriculums tailored towards foreign students as well.

Some consider the education provided in State universities superior to the options offered by private universities. However, major private universities as VŠFS, MUP or Panevropská Univerzita, provide a comparable level of education, both in terms of the quality of teaching staff and the course catalogues available.

Frequently, many professors will teach in both types of universities, making the difference in education provided negligible. Both options – state and private universities, afford applicants official student status and the right to work in the Czech Republic.

To complete the enrollment process to Czech universities, foreign applicants are required to get their existing foreign education certificates (such as diplomas and grade lists) recognized – a process referred to as nostrification. However, many private and sometimes even state universities provide internal nostrification services without exams. This means that your diplomas and grade lists are recognised within the universities, without additional administrative steps that need to be undertaken. Nonetheless, you will need to provide a translation of your existing diplomas and related documents to prove that you have completed the sufficient education levels required.

Diplomas from private universities in Czech Republic are recognized on the same level as diplomas issued by State universities – except for certain professions, such as medicine. Employers in the Czech Republic, and other EU Member States, are primarily concerned with the applicant’s experience and skillset, not merely the type of university where they completed their education.

If applicants have not managed to successfully enroll to a state university, private universities become a lifeline for students whose seek to continue their education in the Czech Republic. By enrolling to a private university, it is possible to extend one’s student visa in Czech Republic and carry on with their studies, without any gaps in the legal residence period.

At Red Panda, we help students to select and enroll to private university programs best suited to their needs – from consultation until application submission. By coming to us, you will receive the following:

• advice on the choice of university program;
• assistance with the university application process;
• support and counsel throughout the whole student visa extension process.

We will provide counsel until the moment you receive your visa, so that you can study and continue making future plans without any additional stressors.