Universities in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, is a country in east-central Europe, which shares borders with Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia. It offers students affordable living costs and tuition fees, an exciting and varied culture to explore and high quality universities.

The types of University

There are over 50 universities and colleges in the Czech Republic. Universities can be classified into the following groups:

• Public & state universities – which are state funded and often place their focus on the quality of research output. These include institutions such as the University of Ostrava, Masaryk University and the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague.

• Private universities – which do not receive state funding and include institutions such as Anglo-American University, the University of New York in Prague and the Jagiellonian College.

• Private, for profit, universities – which do not receive state funding and are run by profit-seeking businesses, and include institutions such as Unicorn University and Prague City University.

Many of the universities in the Czech Republic can also be classed as old universities, having been established in the early 20th century or earlier, including Brno University of Technology and Masaryk University. In the case of Charles University in Prague which was established in 1348, it is classed as an ancient university.

Language of instruction

The official language of the Czech Republic is Czech, and many of the universities offer their programs taught in Czech. Many universities also offer a selection of courses taught in the English language.

Popular cities in the Czech Republic for International students

• Brno – Brno is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, located towards the south east of the country. The city has attractive architecture and parks to offer visitors, and its main landmark is probably the gothic Špilberk Castle. It is a popular destination for students, with 10 universities to choose from, including Brno University of Technology, Masaryk University and Mendel University.

• Liberec – Located in the northern part of the country, Liberec is known for its historical textile industry, which once made it an important center of the industrialisation movement. It has an impressive town hall that must be seen, and the atmosphere in the city is calm and friendly. Students in Liberec will study at the Technical University of Liberec, a highly respected public university.

• Prague (Praha) – The capital city, Prague sits centrally in the country on the Vltava River. The city has many parks, restaurants and attractions, and is an attractive place to live thanks to its relaxed atmosphere and relatively low cost of living. Many of the country’s universities are based in and around Prague, including Czech Technical University in Prague, Charles University the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.

• Pilsen (Plzeň) – Sitting in the west of the country, and perhaps most famous for its Pilsner Urquell Brewery, Pilsen is a friendly and welcoming city, with lots of arts, culture and history on offer. It is also surrounded by countryside and natural beauty. The major university in Pilsen is the highly respected University of West Bohemia.

• Ostrava – In the far east of the country lies Ostrava, well known for its steel industry. Ostrava has plenty more to offer visitors, with a vibrant arts scene and charming architecture, there is plenty of culture available. Ostrava is home to 2 universities, both public – the University of Ostrava and the Technical University of Ostrava.

The top universities in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is home to many highly ranked universities, many of which feature in various world university rankings.

Table of the top ranked universities in the Czech Republic

See below for a list of universities and higher education providers in the Czech Republic. Click on universities you are interested in below to read more and to see which courses are available for international students.