The flexibility of an American education

Female student reading a book while wearing headphones

Thousands of ambitious international students who dream of studying in the US might think that the pandemic has ruined their education prospects. Although these students have had to adjust their study abroad plans, they still have the opportunity to receive an authentic American education in the heart of Europe. The twenty-year partnership between the University of New York in Prague and the State University of New York allows students to earn an American bachelor’s degree directly from the State University of New York, Empire State College, while living in Prague. Students can choose to study Business Administration, Communication & Media, International Relations, IT Management or Psychology at UNYP without relocating to the US or paying US tuition and living expenses. Moreover, students who find that their current higher education experience doesn’t meet their expectations can transfer to a university that suits them better, without losing credits. An American-style education might be the right solution for students who want to study in English and prefer a more communicative approach to learning.

Students move to UNYP from public universities because their aspirations have risen, and their career goals have become more apparent.

“Transferring to UNYP from a different institution is a very straightforward process, given the fact that we offer American degrees which are also accredited in the Czech Republic,” says Dr. Andreas Antonopoulos, Rector of the University of New York in Prague. “If students have previously studied in the United States, in most OECD or EU countries, or at an accredited university in any other country, they will receive a direct assessment of their credits here at UNYP, and can transfer all the relevant courses that they have taken at their other program. Close to a quarter of our student body are transfer students, and they have come from public and private universities all over the world.”

The four-year American bachelor programs allow students to transfer up to the equivalent of two and a half years—a little more than half of their entire period of study. Usually, students transfer after their first half-year or year, or halfway through the second year, due to the realization that their first-choice institution or specialization is not what they were expecting. Many students need this time to better understand what they would like to do with their lives, as the direction that they chose immediately after high school might be not what they are looking for after all.

Once students decide to transfer, there is no reason to lose precious time. They must conduct thorough research. in order not to repeat previous mistakes. They will probably wish to attend a virtual or traditional Open Day, and have a chance to discuss their individual transfer situation with Admissions. There are many reasons why a student might wish to transfer. They may want to pursue a program that could increase their employment opportunities in today’s highly unstable job market, or to study at a university with a better reputation than their current establishment. In many cases, students realize how much more they could achieve by going outside the educational system in their home countries, and choosing to study for a bachelor’s degree at an American university in Prague.

What are the benefits of the American education system?

“The great benefit of American education is its phenomenal flexibility and mobility, based on the credit system. All state and private universities in the US have a credit transfer system. As long as the student comes from an accredited institution, they can transfer the relevant credit. It doesn’t matter if students study Business, Communications, or International Relations, because the earlier years of the program will have most of the General Education courses, which means that students can transfer a lot of credit by moving from one program to another. This also means if a student goes from studying, say, Psychology to International Relations, a good part of their credits can be transferred from one program to the other, so they won’t have to repeat these classes. This flexibility is an excellent benefit of American education, wherever it is offered around the world,” concludes Dr. Antonopoulos.

Because UNYP has American and European accreditation, our students can pursue their education abroad, especially in the US, after a few semesters with us. Instead of going to the US directly due to the current situation with the Covid-19 pandemic, they can start their studies in the Czech Republic, and transfer to any American university when it is safe and convenient to do so. Alternatively, they can choose to do their entire degree in Prague, and still graduate with an American bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York, Empire State College, as well as a European degree accredited by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

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