Charles University (Univerzita Karlova) is the oldest university in Central Europe, founded in 1348 in Prague. It is the largest university in the Czech Republic and is strong in medicine, law, pharmacy, the humanities and natural sciences.
Tuition in Czech is free; there are also paid English-taught programs. See how tuition-free study in Czechia works and how Charles compares with other universities in Prague.
Charles University in brief:
The university spans faculties across Prague and other cities, with historic buildings, clinics and research institutes.
Charles University covers virtually every field:
Not sure which field to choose?
Admission depends on the chosen faculty's assessment of your previous education (or another accepted recognition document) and the program's language rules; some fields have entrance exams. Charles University explains its admission-specific assessment separately from general nostrification (official guidance).
Admission to Charles University (Univerzita Karlova) takes six months or more; here are the key stages:
Exact requirements depend on the faculty — we'll help you prepare.
Tuition in Czech is free; English-taught programs are paid but affordable. You see tuition, required extras and scholarship options before the application.
Costs in the Czech Republic: the cost of living in the Czech Republic is among the lowest in the EU, especially outside central Prague.
When planning the budget, add housing, insurance, visa fees and flights on top of tuition; we map the full route before the application.
Prague is a compact, safe and — by European standards — affordable capital with a large student community.
Once there, you will sort out registration, a bank account and a travel pass — we guide you through these steps after enrollment.
After graduation. Whether you can work after getting your degree depends on the current visa rules of the Czech Republic — we will help you review the up-to-date options before graduation.
Charles University (Univerzita Karlova) is strongest in law, medicine, pharmacy and psychology. Use the career service, job fairs and internships from your first semesters: practical experience matters most for a first job.
Another path is a master’s degree: with a bachelor’s from the Czech Republic you can apply to programs and scholarships worldwide.
Yes, tuition in Czech is free. A Czech certificate (B2) is required.
It is the oldest university in Central Europe (1348) and the largest in the Czech Republic.
Possibly. Charles University's chosen faculty can assess foreign secondary education for its own admission process; general Czech nostrification is a separate route, not automatically required. Confirm the faculty's document, subject and language rules before applying. Under current Czech government restrictions, Czech missions generally do not accept ordinary study-visa or study-residence applications from Russian citizens; the restriction also covers dual nationals, with limited exceptions. Applicants should check the rules for their citizenship and residence with the responsible Czech mission before planning this route.
Country benchmark for the Czech Republic: the cost of living in the Czech Republic is among the lowest in the EU, especially outside central Prague.
The main saving is free tuition in Czech at public universities, with proof of Czech (usually B2). English-taught programs charge fees; ask the faculty about any fee waivers or scholarships.
Want to study at Charles University (Univerzita Karlova)?
Other universities — studying in the Czech Republic: Prague University of Economics and Business (VŠE) · ŠKODA AUTO University (ŠAVŠ). All options are on the page studying in the Czech Republic.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step. A personal strategy, requirement checks, selection of agreed options, document preparation, applications, and support are provided under an agreement with StudyU.
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