Education in the Czech Republic: Top Universities in Prague

Why do tens of thousands of students come to Prague every year? This is where the republic’s most prestigious universities are located. There you can study a wide array of programs in Czech, English, and even Russian. Tuition in Czech is free even for foreign citizens. Prices for English language tuition start at €1,000 per semester. In this article, we’ll tell you about Prague’s top state universities.

Charles University

Charles University first opened its doors to students in 1347 and is rightly considered one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world.

You can study in 17 departments that offer over 600 different curricula. See them listed here. A variety of disciplines include but are not limited to linguistics, classical philosophy, medicine, cybersecurity, astrophysics, computer games, and climate change. This is the largest university in the Czech Republic. Over 48,000 students study here, and nearly 10,000 of them are foreigners.

Prices for tuition in English here start at €3,000 per year. Still, the university has an extensive tuition discount program for honors students and a system of scholarships for academic excellence. The university also includes many modern research centers and scientific laboratories, where theoretical and practical classes are held for students. Charles University has an extensive array of partners and works with the best universities in the world. You can continue your studies at the Sorbonne and Oxford, for example. According to official statistics, unemployment among university graduates is the lowest among all universities in the country, and in some programs, it equals zero percent.

Prague University of Economics and Business (Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, VŠE)

The Prague University of Economics was founded in 1953 and is the largest economics university in the Czech Republic. It has 6 departments that offer a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, Ph.D., and MBA programs.

Five faculties are located in the center of Prague: the Faculty of Finance and Accounting, the Faculty of International Relations, the Faculty of Business Administration, the Faculty of Informatics and Statistics, and the Faculty of Economics.

The Faculty of Management operates in the neighboring city of Jindrichuv Hradec. VŠE offers Bachelor’s degree programs in Czech, English, and Russian, and Master’s and Ph.D. programs in Czech and English. VŠE is included in the Financial Times ranking. University graduates hold influential positions in both the private and public sectors. Most of them work in banking, accounting and auditing, commerce, marketing, and information technology fields. The largest bank in the Czech Republic, Česká spořitelna, a.s., has been a partner of the VŠE for many years.

Czech Technical University in Prague (České vysoké učení technické v Praze, ČVUT)

ČVUT is, without a doubt, one of the leading technical universities in the Czech Republic. The university currently has eight faculties that focus on construction, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, nuclear and physical engineering, architecture, transportation, biomedical engineering, and information technology. The faculty of biomedical engineering is one of a kind in the Czech Republic.

For example, it’s here that the most high-tech research in nanotechnology and healthcare is carried out. New types of thin biocompatible coatings for the surfaces of implants and stents are also developed here. Another faculty that appeared relatively recently is the faculty of information technology. Here, students can study fields such as the development of robots, remote-controlled stereoscopic cameras, digital forensics, the study of methods for automating extracting information from data, and many others.

ČVUT offers its students over 200 accredited study programs, 94 of which are taught in a foreign language. The university trains specialists in technology, scientists, and managers with knowledge of foreign languages. During their studies at the university, students get the opportunity to do projects for such large companies as Škoda Auto, Siemens, or ČEZ.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (Česká Zemědělská Univerzita V Praze, ČZU)

The Czech University of Life Sciences Prague is a leading educational and research center in forestry, the environment, the agricultural sector, sustainable natural resources, management and IT, technology, and regional development. ČZU encourages its students to be responsible and respectful to the environment in the interests of an eco-friendly lifestyle for this and future generations. The university is located on a unique modern green campus in Suchdol. ČZU places a large emphasis on practical knowledge. Laboratories and research facilities such as stables, nurseries, fields, botanical gardens, and greenhouses with a total area of over 9,000 hectares are available for students to study practical disciplines. The university has its own beer brewery and winery.

The Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology ČZU recently opened a high-tech technical and educational pavilion. Virtual reality, an aeroponic laboratory, field robots, smart birdhouses, combating the effects of climate change in forests, and saving the giant eland (also known as the Derby eland) are just some of the most popular projects and research topics students are engaged in here. The university provides comfortable, modern conditions for studying, living, and sports and has a wide network of foreign and industrial partners.

University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (Vysoká škola chemicko-technologická v Praze, VŠCHT)

The University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague is a research university in chemistry and the food industry. It’s one of the largest universities in the Czech Republic, specializing in technical chemistry, chemical and biochemical technologies, modern materials research, food products, the environment, economics, and management. Chemistry specialists are in demand both domestically and worldwide, and the trend is only growing.

You can study the traditional compulsory subjects and new curricula in line with the latest trends. Such high-tech areas as medicine, pharmacology, computer and communication technologies, genetics, environmental protection, food and water quality control, space research, and many other industries can’t do without modern chemistry. It’s a university with an excellent international reputation and the best equipment. It offers every student the opportunity to participate in research projects of their choice and allows internships abroad. The financial evaluation of the work of chemists, technologists, and managers is much higher than the market average.

Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (Akademie múzických umění, AMU)

The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague is the largest artistic university in the Czech Republic. It was created by an executive order from the president immediately after WWII. Over seven decades, it has educated dozens of outstanding individuals famous worldwide. The Academy is divided into three faculties: Music and dance, theater, cinema, and television. Students and graduates of all three faculties get the most prestigious domestic and foreign awards for their artistic activities every year.

The best students often become teachers to pass on their experience to the next generation of talented artists. The Academy’s international nature is the basis for an enriching exchange of creative and pedagogical experiences and ideas. International students are offered a wide range of Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degree programs and the chance to take short-term courses and internships.