You can enter a Czech master's programme with any completed university degree: the law only requires a degree, while the faculty decides how relevant your bachelor's must be and what the entrance procedure involves. At a public university, a Czech-taught master's is tuition-free if you meet the programme's language requirement (usually B2 or C1); English-taught master's degrees carry a fee, most often $3,407–6,813 (€3,000–6,000) a year. The standard length is one to three years, most commonly two years and 120 ECTS credits. Your bachelor's degree must be recognised, either through nostrification at a public university ($139, CZK 3,000) or through assessment by the faculty during admission. Most programmes accept applications between autumn and spring and decide by summer. Study visa applications by Russian citizens at Czech embassies are inadmissible under Government Regulation No. 55/2024.
| At a glance | Current position |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | Graduates of a bachelor's or other first degree from any country; the faculty assesses subject fit |
| Length | 1–3 years, usually 2 (navazující magisterský program) |
| Title | Ing. for economics, engineering and agriculture; Ing. arch. for architecture; MgA. for the arts; Mgr. elsewhere |
| Tuition in Czech | $0 at public universities for the standard length plus one year |
| Tuition in English | Set by the university; usually $3,407–6,813 (€3,000–6,000) a year, some programmes more |
| Degree recognition | Nostrification at a public university, $139 (CZK 3,000), with a 30-day basic decision period; or faculty assessment during admission |
| Applications | Through each university's own system, mostly November to April |
| After graduation | A residence permit of up to 9 months to look for work or start a business |
Two kinds of master's degree
Czech law knows two types of master's programme, and only the first is designed for university graduates.
Follow-up master's (navazující magisterský program). You enter after a bachelor's; the statutory standard length is one to three years, and most programmes take two. It ends with a state final examination that includes a thesis defence.
Long-cycle master's. You enter straight from secondary school, and the programme lasts four to six years. General medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine are organised this way: the law ends them with a state rigorosum examination and awards the titles MUDr., MDDr. and MVDr. There is no follow-up master's in these fields, so a bachelor's graduate who wants to become a doctor starts in year one. See studying medicine in Czechia.
A five-year specialist degree from Russia, Kazakhstan or elsewhere in the region also qualifies you to apply: the law asks only for "proper completion of study in any type of programme". How that degree maps onto Czech levels is decided by the faculty during admission or by a public university in nostrification.
Can you change your field?
Legally, yes: the law does not tie the master's to your bachelor's subject. In practice, faculty admission rules decide. Engineering and science programmes usually expect a relevant background and test it by exam or through your transcript. Humanities, economics and social science programmes more often accept graduates from other fields if they pass a subject exam at bachelor's-graduate level.
Before applying, read three items in the admission rules: who the programme considers an eligible candidate, what the exam covers, and whether specific prior courses are required. If the wording is vague, ask the admissions office in writing before you pay the application fee.
Czech-taught or English-taught: a comparison
| Czech-taught master's | English-taught master's | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $0 at a public university | Set by the university, usually $3,407–6,813 (€3,000–6,000) a year |
| Language | Czech, usually B2, C1 for some programmes; each faculty sets its own level and test | English; the programme specifies accepted certificates |
| Preparation | A language year if you have no Czech | None if your English already meets the requirement |
| Exams | In Czech, on equal terms with Czech students | In English, often an interview or document review |
| Choice of programmes | Almost the full range | Narrower: mainly engineering, IT, economics and sciences |
| Czech job market | Better prospects beyond international employers | You will still need Czech for daily life and most vacancies |
Over a two-year master's in Prague, the Czech route means one language year plus two tuition-free years, while the English route means two fee-paying years without losing a year. Strong English speakers short on time usually do better with the English option; those ready to invest a year in Czech save on tuition. The language year is covered in Czech language preparatory courses, and the conditions of free study in tuition-free university education in Czechia.
What an English-taught master's costs
Fees checked on university websites on 1 October 2026, converted at the ECB rate of 30 September.
| University and faculty | City | Annual fee | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCT Prague, chemistry master's | Prague | $3,926 (CZK 84,500) | 2026/27 rate, fixed for the year of entry |
| Masaryk University, Faculty of Science | Brno | $3,407 (€3,000) for most programmes; Geography of Global Environmental Change $5,110 (€4,500) | 2026/27 rate |
| Masaryk University, Faculty of Social Studies | Brno | $3,407 (€3,000) for a September 2026 start; $3,974 (€3,500) for a February 2027 start | 2026/27 rate; apply by 31 October for the spring start |
| Masaryk University, Faculty of Informatics | Brno | $5,110 (€4,500) | 2026/27 rate; September intake deadline 30 April |
| Masaryk University, Faculty of Economics and Administration | Brno | $4,646–5,575 (CZK 100,000–120,000) | 2026/27 rate, depends on programme |
| Brno University of Technology, FEEC | Brno | $5,110 (€4,500) | Non-EU students; EU and Ukrainian students pay €1,000 |
| CTU, Faculty of Electrical Engineering | Prague | $6,133 (CZK 132,000) | CTU Statute rate, applies in 2026/27; paid per semester |
| VŠE | Prague | $6,813 (€6,000) | Students admitted from 2027/28; earlier cohorts pay €5,000 |
| Charles University | Prague | From $45 (€40) to $34,769 (€30,620) depending on programme | Listed in the programme catalogue |
Add the application fee: $33 (CZK 700) at Brno University of Technology for 2026/27 and $114 (€100) at VŠE. The law does not cap this fee for foreign-language programmes, while for Czech-taught ones it cannot exceed $49 (CZK 1,055). If your studies run more than a year past the standard length, even a Czech-taught programme starts charging at least $368 (CZK 7,917) for each started six months.
A full budget with housing, insurance and one-off costs is in the cost of studying in Czechia.
Requirements and documents
A typical online application includes:
- your bachelor's or specialist diploma and transcript with grades, hours or credits;
- proof of recognition (if the faculty requires it before applying) or documents for faculty assessment;
- a language certificate: for Czech at the level stated in the admission rules, for English of a type the programme accepts;
- a motivation letter, CV and references where the programme asks for them;
- proof of payment of the application fee.
Time your language exam so the result is ready by the deadline. If the admission rules set a maximum age for certificates, follow it: that rule belongs to the faculty.
Recognising your bachelor's degree
There are two routes, and the right one depends on where you apply.
| Faculty assessment during admission | Nostrification at a public university | |
|---|---|---|
| Who decides | The faculty you applied to | A public university offering a programme in the same field |
| Validity | That admission round only | Anywhere in Czechia, indefinitely |
| Fee | Up to $49 (CZK 1,055) for Czech-taught programmes; university rate for English-taught ones (BUT: $35, CZK 750) | $139 (CZK 3,000) |
| Timing | Within the admission round | 30 days from application, longer for complex cases |
| Valid for employment | No | Yes, but it does not replace professional recognition for doctors, teachers, lawyers or architects |
Private institutions cannot nostrify degrees. MŠMT accepts documents in English and Slovak without translation; others need a translation by a court translator on the Czech register. The authentication form depends on the issuing country: Charles University requires a certified copy for diplomas from Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and an apostille for Kazakhstan. See nostrification in Czechia.
Application deadlines: 2026–2027 examples
There is no single date: each faculty publishes its own rules. Reference points from official university pages:
| University | Deadline | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Charles University, Czech-taught programmes | 28 February or 31 March | Exams usually in May–June or July |
| Charles University, English-taught programmes | February to June/July, by faculty | Exams in English, mostly held in Czechia |
| Masaryk University | Science 28 February; informatics and economics 30 April; social studies 15 May | Some programmes also admit for February |
| VŠE | Applications for 2027/28 open on 1 November 2026 | €100 ($114) fee per application |
| CTU, Faculty of Electrical Engineering | In the 2026 cycle, a second round for the prg.ai master's ran until 13 August | 2027 dates are published separately |
| Most universities | February to April | Study in Czechia notes results usually come in June or July |
The academic year starts in September or early October. For applicants who need a visa, late admission is risky: a study visa decision takes up to 60 days, plus the wait for an embassy appointment.
A plan for bachelor's graduates
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 15–18 months ahead | Choose the language route; for Czech, book a year-long course starting in September |
| 12 months ahead | Shortlist 4–6 programmes and note degree and exam requirements |
| 9–10 months ahead | Take the language exam, request your transcript, arrange translations and authentication |
| 6–8 months ahead | Submit applications, pay fees, start degree recognition |
| 3–5 months ahead | Sit entrance exams, receive the decision, confirm your place |
| 1–3 months ahead | Apply for a visa or residence permit, find housing, buy insurance |
If your bachelor's ends in June and the master's starts that September, recognition may not be finished in time. Ask by which date the faculty needs proof of your degree; it is usually the enrolment day.
Scholarships and funding
A tuition-free Czech-taught master's is the main saving. Other options are limited:
- Czech Government Scholarships for developing countries. For 2027/28 they are open only to citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus (democratic forces), Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania, Zambia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Palestine, Guatemala and Honduras. Applications ran from 21 August to 30 September 2026. VŠE notes that holders cannot use this scholarship for a fee-paying programme.
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters. Joint programmes run by European university consortia, some of which include Czech universities; the scholarship can cover tuition and contribute to travel and living costs. The consortium selects the students.
- University scholarships. Fee waivers, merit awards and housing support set by each university's internal rules; Masaryk University, for example, pays an accommodation grant to eligible students on their first programme at a given level.
- JCMM scholarships in Brno. The South Moravian Centre for International Mobility supports non-EU students at Brno universities on Czech- and English-taught programmes.
Visa and residence
Visa and residence applications by Russian citizens at Czech embassies are inadmissible under Government Regulation No. 55/2024 of 21 February 2024 (in force since 1 April 2024), including for dual citizens; the Czech Foreign Ministry last updated its page on these restrictions on 9 February 2026. Belarusian citizens can apply only as scholarship holders. For most other nationalities the standard procedure applies: a fee of $116 (CZK 2,500), a 60-day decision period and proof of $5,381 (CZK 115,810) for a year. Details are in student visa and residence in Czechia; applicants from Kazakhstan can follow our guide for Kazakh students.
Students on a full-time accredited programme can work without a separate work permit; the employer only notifies the authorities. Graduates can apply for a residence permit of up to nine months to find a job or start a business.
The wider picture is in universities in Czechia and on our Czech Republic page.
Common mistakes
- Applying for a "master's in medicine" with a bachelor's: no such programme exists, medicine is long-cycle only.
- Assuming an unrelated bachelor's rules you out: the law does not, faculties set any limits.
- Taking a language exam too early and ending up with a certificate the faculty no longer accepts.
- Starting recognition at the last moment: the basic period is 30 days, complex cases take longer.
- Choosing a programme by its title without reading the curriculum and admission rules.
- Counting on a government scholarship without checking the eligible countries for that year.
FAQ
At public universities, Czech-taught master's degrees are tuition-free for any nationality, as long as you stay within the standard length plus one year. English-taught master's degrees usually cost $3,407–6,813 (€3,000–6,000) a year. In both cases the university decides on admission under its own rules.
Yes, on an English-taught programme; Czech is then needed for daily life rather than for study. A tuition-free Czech-taught programme is out of reach without the language: faculties test it by certificate or their own exam, usually at B2 or C1.
A follow-up master's after a bachelor's lasts one to three years by law, in practice usually two years and 120 ECTS credits. A long-cycle master's taken straight after school, such as medicine, lasts four to six years.
Yes. The law requires any completed higher education degree. The degree is recognised through nostrification at a public university or faculty assessment during admission; Charles University asks for an apostille on Kazakh documents. The Czech university decides on both recognition and admission.
The Czech Government Scholarships for 2027/28 do not cover these countries. University fee waivers and awards, the JCMM programme in Brno and Erasmus Mundus joint master's remain; the university, the centre or the consortium decides on each.
Yes, for a while at least: a dedicated post-study permit gives graduates up to nine months for a job search or a business start-up. With a job offer, the usual route is the Employee Card. The Czech Ministry of the Interior decides on residence permits.
Matching programmes to your degree, language and budget, checking subject-fit requirements, and helping with the motivation letter and degree recognition is paid work by StudyU. The university decides on admission and the Czech Ministry of the Interior on the visa.
Sources
- Higher Education Act No. 111/1998 (s. 46 master's types and titles, s. 48 admission, s. 58 fees) and MŠMT base amount for 2026/27 (PDF) — checked 01.10.2026
- MŠMT: nostrification of higher education — checked 01.10.2026
- Charles University: fees, deadlines, entrance exams and language, authentication by country (PDF) — checked 01.10.2026
- Masaryk University: fees and 2026/27 fee notice and deadlines, BUT FEEC: fees 2026/27, CTU FEE: fees and CTU Statute, Annex 5 (PDF) and dates, VŠE: admission and fees, UCT Prague: fees 2026/27 — checked 01.10.2026
- MŠMT: Government Scholarships for developing countries, 2027/28 and Study in Czechia: scholarships and finances — checked 01.10.2026
- Study in Czechia: how to apply, work during studies, post-study residence options — checked 01.10.2026
- Czech Ministry of the Interior: residence for study (fee, timeline), Czech Foreign Ministry: restrictions for Russian and Belarusian citizens, Government Regulation No. 55/2024 — checked 01.10.2026
- ECB reference rate of 30.09.2026: €1 = $1.1355 and €1 = CZK 24.440, so $1 ≈ CZK 21.52
If you want to work through your master's route, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the university makes the admission decision.
Next steps
- Studying in Czechia for Kazakh Students: Tuition-Free in Czech, the Visa in Astana, Apostille and Budget
- Universities in Czechia: Public and Private Institutions by City, Rankings and Fees for International Students
- Studying in the Czech Republic for international applicants
- Free University Education in Czechia: Conditions, What You Still Pay and the Real Annual Cost
- Studying Medicine in Czechia: Free in Czech or Paid in English — Faculties, Exams, Fees and Degree Recognition
- Nostrification in Czechia: How to Get Your School Certificate and Degree Recognised
