Anyone wishing to pursue a Master's degree in the Czech Republic should study the specifics of admission in advance. It is especially important for foreign applicants, as they will be living in a different country with a different education system.

Features and advantages of a Master's degree in the Czech Republic

Of the main features worth noting:

1 Full-time and combined forms of study are available. Student visa is issued only for the first option. 2 Applications are accepted either until the end of April or the end of February, depending on the university. 3 There are specialized centers in the country that help with document collection, diploma nostrification and entrance exams. 4 The level of knowledge of Czech is at least B2. You can submit a certificate or have an on-site interview. 5 Master's studies in the national language in the Czech Republic are free of charge for all students, including foreigners. You only have to pay a fee if you choose to study in English.

Master's degrees come in two types:

1 On the basis of a bachelor's degree - it is assumed that the student continues studying in his/her field of study. The term is 1-3 years. 2 New profession - for those who want to change their field of work. In this case, it is necessary to study for 4 to 6 years.

The benefits:

• High quality education

Diplomas of Czech universities are prestigious all over the world, so graduates can find employment in large international companies, as well as participate in exchange programs during their studies.

• Possibility to change specialty

A master's degree in the Czech Republic does not necessarily have to be in the same field as a bachelor's degree. You can choose a different specialization and learn knowledge and skills in a new field. Some educational institutions allow you to combine programs, resulting in two diplomas.

• Opportunity to enroll for free

This is a unique opportunity, which is not available in any other European country - to study for free by proving your knowledge of the Czech language at the B2 level.

How can an applicant enter a master's program in the Czech Republic?

A few basic steps can be emphasized:

1 Get a language certificate (in advance or upon passing the test). 2 Apply for admission. You need a diploma, a birth certificate, a passport, a doctor's certificate, a letter of motivation, and a receipt for the application fee paid by the administration. 3 Nostrification of the diploma - it takes 2 months on average, so you should take care of it in advance. 4 Take entrance exams - they are held in the summer time and can be in the form of a written test or an oral interview. They assess the level of motivation, key skills and knowledge.

Changing the direction of education

Most Master's programs allow applicants to have previously studied another profession. As a rule, this applies to humanities and natural sciences, economics, management, IT.

However, there are a number of specialties where bachelor's and master's degrees are inseparable:

• Medicine;

• Law;

• Psychology;

• A scholar who studies religions.

If you want to master a new field, you will have to complete a full bachelor's degree. In this case, the nostrification is done with a certificate, in some cases additional school exams are required.

In the Czech Republic, there is another restriction for international students in the Master's program:

• If in your home country you have a diploma in medicine, law, some universities in Prague and Brno offer only related fields. This is due to the fact that in many ways the legal industry and approach to medicine differ significantly between the countries.

There is a separate track, the Master's in Business, which can only be obtained after a Bachelor's degree in the relevant field and with 2 years or more of experience in the field.

Cost of training

If an applicant has chosen a master's degree in English, the annual fee will be up to 25 thousand dollars. Application and examination fees are also required.

If it turns out that 2-3 years is not enough to get a degree, the study will be extended. Additional payment will be up to 10 thousand dollars a year.

Private educational organizations in any case recruit students on a fee basis, regardless of what language they teach. The annual fee is from 3.5 to 19 thousand dollars.

Scholarships

International students pursuing a Master's degree in the Czech Republic are eligible for a scholarship:

1 For living expenses - only during the academic period, not paid during summer vacations. 2 For personal achievements - participation in public events, volunteering, presentations at conferences. 3 For academic success - allowable exam score up to 1.3.

There is a system of grants from the government and sponsors, which provides a good financial base.

How the study goes

The academic year consists of two blocks, each of which includes:

• Semester with lectures and practicums (first from September, second from February)

• Vacations

The duration of the winter vacation is a week, which falls during the Christmas period. Summer vacation is longer - on average 1-1.5 months, dates vary from university to university.

• The session

Employment

Regardless of whether your studies were in Czech or English, a Master's degree in the Czech Republic offers a wide range of opportunities. A document of higher education is in demand in all EU countries, which means that the labor market is open for graduates.

Moreover, the schedule of classes is designed in such a way that you can find a part-time job while you are still studying, the laws of the state do not prohibit it.

Universities help with employment. They grant permission to look for a job for 9 months and to start your own business.

Conclusion

In the Czech Republic there is a wide choice of universities for masters, so applicants will be able to choose the university of their choice. However, in any case, preparation for enrollment and relocation plays an important role, so it is worth to deal with this issue in advance to get closer to the dream of a promising study in Europe.