Studying in Czechia

Tuition, living costs, visas and how to apply, from the European Commission's official profile — with student numbers from Eurostat and the Erasmus Mundus master's you can take here.

🇨🇿 Browse Czechia’s universities on CollegeMatcher

At a glance

Tuition · EU/EEA students

Free for programmes taught in Czech at public and state institutions

Tuition · non-EU/EEA students

Also free in Czech — for every nationality. Programmes taught in English or another foreign language usually charge fees, which vary

Fees — more detail

Private institutions set their own fees.

Living costs

€500 – €750 a month

Students in Czechia

Tertiary students · 2024

343,827

From abroad · 2024

57,30716.7% of all students

Of whom from the EU · 2024

26,66046.5% of students from abroad

Largest countries of origin: Slovakia (22,401), Ukraine (7,135), Russia (6,469), Kazakhstan (3,088), India (1,887).

“From abroad” means degree-mobile students — enrolled for a whole degree, having gained their previous qualification in another country. Exchange students on Erasmus aren't counted.

Tertiary students by year
201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
427,441418,624395,529371,948352,873329,036319,343318,679328,830337,952338,556343,827

Tuition fees and living costs

Tuition fees depend on the type of institution, language of instruction and study programme.

Study programmes taught in Czech at public and state higher education institutions are free of charge for students of all nationalities.

Programmes taught in English or another foreign language usually charge tuition fees. Fees vary by institution and programme.

Private higher education institutions set their own tuition fees.

Living costs are generally affordable. International students should budget approximately €500–750 per month, depending on their lifestyle and study location.

Visa requirements

EU/EEA and Swiss students

You do not need a student visa to study in Czechia. A valid passport or national identity card is sufficient to enter the country.

Students staying for more than 30 days must report their presence to the Foreign Police within 30 days of arrival, unless this is arranged by their accommodation provider (for example, a student dormitory).

Non-EU/EEA students

You must apply for a student visa or residence permit through the nearest Czech embassy or consulate before travelling. Visa processing can take up to 60 days, so students are advised to apply well in advance.

Students staying for more than 90 days generally need a long-term visa or residence permit. Those studying in Czechia for more than one year should apply for a long-term residence permit for study purposes.

A visa or residence permit application generally requires:

  • a completed application form
  • a letter of acceptance from a higher education institution
  • a valid passport and passport photographs
  • proof of sufficient financial resources
  • proof of accommodation
  • valid health insurance
  • an extract from the criminal record (if required)

Visas and residence permits for studying in Czechia

Higher education system

Higher education in Czechia is offered by public, state and private higher education institutions.

Students can study at the following levels:

  • Bachelor's degree (typically 3 - 4 years)
  • Master's degree (typically 1 - 3 years or long-cycle programmes of 4 - 6 years)
  • Doctoral degree (typically 3 - 4 years)

Many institutions also offer programmes taught in English.

Search for a study programme

Application process

The application process varies by higher education institution and study programme. Students apply directly to their chosen institution.

The general application process includes:

  1. choose a study programme that matches your interests
  2. prepare the required documents, including proof of previous education and any programme-specific requirements
  3. check the entry requirements and application deadlines on the institution's website
  4. submit your application through the institution's online application system and pay the application fee, if applicable
  5. complete any entrance examinations or interviews, if required
  6. receive the admission decision and follow the enrolment instructions provided by the institution
  7. apply for a visa or residence permit, if required

Get more details on the application steps

Scholarships

International students can apply for a range of scholarships offered by the Czech Government, higher education institutions and international programmes.

Scholarship opportunities include:

Students should check the eligibility criteria and application deadlines for each scholarship programme, as these vary.

More support

Do you have more questions? Check the frequently asked questions on studying in Czechia.

Source: Study in Czechia - tuition fees,visas and student life, last updated 8 September 2026.

Erasmus Mundus master's with a university in Czechia

Joint master's taught by several universities in different countries, open to students from anywhere, with EU-funded scholarships on many of them.

Country guidance adapted from the European Commission’s Study in Europe country profiles, © European Union, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Condensed, restructured and combined with other data by CollegeMatcher.

Student numbers: Eurostat, tables educ_uoe_enrt01 (tertiary enrolment) and educ_uoe_mobs02 (degree-mobile students from abroad).

Programmes: the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue of the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA); partner institutions from the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform. © European Union, CC BY 4.0.

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