Czech Government Scholarships for International Students

Deadline: mostly 31 March (check respective agencies in your country)
Open to: university/college students or graduates and Ph.D. candidates who wish to accomplish a study or research stay from 2 to 10 months  (see the list of eligible countries below)
Scholarship: CZK 9,000 (EUR 367)/month for those without a Master’s degree and CZK 9,500 (EUR 387)/month for those with a Master’s degree.

Scholarship Awards under Bilateral International Agreements on Co-operation in the Field of Education – Terms and Conditions

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the Czech Republic (hereafter referred to as the “Ministry”) annually offers scholarships to foreign nationals, pursuant to bilateral intergovernmental or departmental agreements concluded with a number of countries.

Scholarships are awarded to applicants nominated by the competent authorities of eligible countries.

Scholarships of this type are designed for university/college students or graduates and Ph.D. candidates (exceptionally also for university researchers/teachers) who wish to accomplish a study or research stay at one of the Czech public institutions of higher education. Its length usually ranges from 2 to 10 months depending upon the agreement made by the Czech government and the foreign government concerned that specifies also the categories of eligible recipients.

Most frequently, scholarship-holders are admitted for research visits (i.e. they either attend non-degree courses of their choice, or pursue an independent research activity at the host institutions, depending on their qualifications and preferences). Since the courses they follow in the Czech Republic do not lead to the award of a degree, they are not required to sit entrance examinations. In compliance with the applicable legal regulations, decisions on admission to research or study stays are taken by the institutions of higher education. Prospective applicants are therefore advised to contact the selected university directly and request a letter of invitation from the relevant department. Although such a letter is not listed among obligatory attachments to the application form, its submission is recommended, since it simplifies and expedites acceptance. Applicants are requested to point out to the selected university that they are applying for scholarship award under an international agreement.

Note please that access to art academies can be somewhat limited because the applicants must meet demanding requirements and demonstrate their talent (i.e. submit a sample of their artistic work, for example photographs, video/audio recording of a musical performance etc.).

The applicants for research stays need not necessarily be proficient in the Czech language, unless its knowledge is a prerequisite for admission due to the nature of the selected field of study/research. If they cannot demonstrate adequate knowledge of Czech, a good command of English is normally required (less frequently knowledge of French or German may suffice, depending on the field and university selected).

It is also possible to apply for a study stay at a university (i.e. enrolment in a standard study programme with tuition in the Czech language for the period of scholarship specified in the respective intergovernmental/departmental agreement). In this case, a good command of the Czech language is a must and admission may be conditional upon successful passing of entrance examinations.

All applicants should indicate the preferred period of scholarship in their application form. The Ministry reserves the right to change the requested term of scholarship and/or place any applicant to a course and/or higher education institution different from those indicated in his/her scholarship application form, if admission as requested by the applicant is not feasible.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

On principle, nominations and application dossiers must be submitted to the Ministry or the respective Czech Embassies by the competent authorities (usually government agencies) of eligible countries. Applications sent directly to the Ministry by individual applicants will not be processed. Foreign authorities present the nominations before the deadline set in the relevant agreements, mostly by 31 March. The closing dates for applications fixed by the competent foreign authorities are necessarily earlier (normally by several months). Prospective applicants are therefore advised to contact the respective national authorities (usually the Ministries of Education) in time.

Each application dossier must comprise 2 copies of a completely and legibly filled out application form (click to download in PDF or Word format) and the following required attachments which are also submitted in duplicate.

A. for a study/research stay up to 30 days

• curriculum vitae;
• list of publications (if applicable).

B. for a study/research stay exceeding 30 days

• curriculum vitae;
• list of publications (if applicable);
• medical certificate (only for non-EU/EEA nationals);
• two letters of recommendation from academic supervisors or employer;
• photocopy of diploma (if applicable);
• certified transcript(s) of records.

All these documents must be written in or translated into Czech, English, French or German.

Fine arts and performing arts students/graduates are moreover required to attach a sample of their artistic work, e.g. photographs, video/audio recording of a musical performance etc.

Incomplete application dossiers and/or inadequately completed application forms will not be processed.

Advice and further information can be also provided by the Czech Embassies in eligible countries.

PRACTICAL DETAILS

Its amount is periodically reviewed and adjusted. For the academic year 2012/2013, the scholarship amounts to CZK 9,000 per month for those who do not hold a Master’s degree or equivalent and CZK 9,500 per month for holders of a Master’s degree or equivalent.

Scholarship-holders are exempted from tuition fees. The scholarship has to be collected in person at the appropriate department of the respective Czech university.

Inexpensive accommodation at student dormitories is offered as well as the possibility to take meals at student catering facilities. The applicants are requested to indicate in their application form whether they wish to obtain lodging at a student dormitory.

For more info about the scholarships visit the official webpage.

For more info about studying in Czech Republic visit studyin.cz