Visa interview for the Czech Republic

What to expect...

Submitting an application for a long-term visa often includes an interview. This can be a short conversation directly on the day you submit your documents, or a full one-hour interview to which the consulate invites you separately by email. The idea of an interview can make many of our future students nervous. Not only do they have to go through a complicated bureaucratic process, often for the first time in their lives, but they also face an official interview with a consulate employee.

We will tell you what types of questions may be asked during the interview. We hope this will calm you down or at least help you feel less nervous.

First of all, it is important to understand that nobody at the consulate will “bite you.” The people who work there are just like you. Relax and stay calm, but definitely do not take any drugs, psychoactive substances, or drink alcohol before the appointment. With almost 100% certainty, this would lead to an unsuccessful interview.

Do not forget basic rules of politeness. A greeting and a smile almost always create a pleasant atmosphere.

Calmly and clearly explain that you have come to submit an application for a long-term visa for the purpose of study, because you are planning to enrol in foundation programme at the Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies of Charles University (UJOP UK).

You will bring a relatively large number of documents with you. Ask the consulate employee whether it is more convenient for them to work with your documents as one complete set, or whether you should hand them over gradually, one by one.

The consulate employee is required to verify your identity and check the completeness and correctness of your documents. However, the consulate does not decide whether your visa will be granted or not. So once again: stay calm!

Answer questions calmly, clearly, truthfully, and briefly. Do not include unnecessary details in your answers. Remember that you are only human and you may forget something. It is better to admit it than to start blushing, panicking, and mumbling something unclear that does not make sense.

Overall, the questions will be very common. They can be divided into the following categories:

1st group of questions: General

1. What do you do in your home country?

2. What level of education have you completed so far?

3. Why did you decide to study in the Czech Republic?

   Do not be afraid to mention common and logical reasons: prestige, quality, a large amount of information available online, and last but not least, relatively low costs of higher education. You are neither the first nor the last person who is coming here for these reasons.

4. Did you consider studying in another country? Which universities’ programmes did you look at?

5. Are there study programmes in your country similar to the one you want to study in the Czech Republic? If yes, why are you not interested in them?

6. When did you decide to study in the Czech Republic? Why?

7. When and where have you been in the EU? What did you do there?

8. What will you do if your visa is rejected?

9. Do you speak any foreign language? Why do you not want to use it to study in another country?

2nd group of questions: Foundation programmes and studies at UJOP UK

You can find answers to most of the following questions on our website.

1. How did you find out about the courses you want to enrol in?

   Remember what you stated in the application: recommendations from friends, YouTube, social media, advertising, etc.

2. Can you describe how the application process went? How did you register for the course?

   If you have forgotten, review our step-by-step instructions – How to Apply.

3. Which member of the school staff did you communicate with, and in which language? Remember the name of the study officer or assistant, with whom you communicated via email.

4. Programme fees (2026/2027)

5. Is there a non-refundable part of the payment?

In case of cancellation of enrolment, the non-refundable amount is 5% of the course price. Learn more: Foundation Programmes: Terms of payment and cancellation.

6. Where will you study?

If you have forgotten which of our study centres you will be spending your foundation year at, first check the table above, and then the following table:

7. Do you know the academic year schedule?

Take a look at the Academic Year Schedule on the website.

8. How many hours per week will you study?

• COMPLEX courses – 35 hours per week

• PROGRESS / FAST courses – 25 hours per week

9. Which core subjects will you study?

Click on the course name on the website and read its description.

10. What will you do in the summer?

We do not recommend planning a full holiday in the Czech Republic during the first summer. You will have entrance exams, enrolments, applications for student dormitories, and submission of documents for visa extension. It is possible that you will go home for a few weeks, but this is not guaranteed.

11. Will you take a final exam at the end of the course? How does it work?

In addition to exams in core subjects, you will take a standardized Czech language exam (B1 / B2 / C1) – applies only to Foundation programmes in Czech. It tests all four skills: reading, listening, writing, and speaking.

3rd group of questions: Transportation

1. How will you get from your home country to the selected centre in the Czech Republic?

   In your visa application, you have already partially described your travel arrangements. You have indicated both the type of transport and the border crossing point through which you will enter the Czech Republic. However, you must decide for yourself how you will continue your journey: by public transport or by taxi.

2. How will you travel every day from your accommodation to the school?

   We recommend checking the route on Google Maps, as well as explore the surroundings and take a virtual walk around the area where you will be living and studying for a whole year.

4th group of questions: Accommodation and costs of living

1. Where will you be staying during the studies? What is the address of the dormitory? What are the conditions like in this dorm? How many people live in one room? How much does it cost to stay there?

2. What will your monthly expenses be?

We recommend the article How Much Money Do You Need for the First Year of Study in the Czech Republic?

3. Who will financially support you?

Please note that during your studies in foundation courses at UJOP UK, you are not allowed to work, so you can only count on your savings and/or help from your parents.

5th group of questions: Nostrification

1. How will you nostrify your school certificate or diploma?

   You can find more detailed information about nostrification in the Nostrification section.

2. How does the nostrification process work? Who arranges it?

   We will help you with the processing of documents – this service is included in the course price.

6th group of questions: University studies

You can find all the necessary information about your future studies at the selected university by entering the name of your degree programme, the phrase “přijímací řízení”, and the university’s website address (in the format site:fhs.cuni.cz) into a search engine. Open this page in the Google Chrome browser and translate it.

1. What level of Czech is required for your future field of study? (applies only to Foundation programmes in Czech)

   Most universities require applicants to demonstrate Czech language proficiency at level B2. You can meet this requirement by obtaining the certificate awarded after passing the final Czech language exam at the end of the UJOP Foundation programme in Czech. Via this link, you will find a table listing universities together with the level of Czech required from international applicants.

2. What is the final deadline for submitting university applications?

3. How do you submit an application?

4. How much does the application cost?

5. Which university are you planning to attend? Which field of study?

6. What is this study programme? What will you study? What do graduates of this specialisation do?

7. How many applicants apply, and why do you think you will be accepted?

8. How long does the study programme last?

9. When do entrance exams take place?

10. Which subjects will you study in the 1st semester?

11. What is the grading system?

12. How many credits are required to obtain a degree?

13. What other requirements must be met in order to obtain the diploma?

7th group of questions: Future plans

Of course, at this stage you are unlikely to know what will happen in 4–6 years, when you complete your studies. Nevertheless, you may be asked questions similar to the following.

1. What do you plan to do after completing your studies?

2. Do you want to stay in the Czech Republic?

   You do not need to invent anything – naturally describe several possible scenarios.

8th group of questions: The Czech Republic

It is assumed that you have already learnt a little about the country while preparing for your trip to the Czech Republic. However, you still cannot be expected to know the answers to every possible question.

1. Do you know the name of the President of the Czech Republic?

2. What is the capital city of the Czech Republic, and what do you know about it?

3. What other major cities do you know?

4. Which countries border the Czech Republic?

Step-by-step instructions, visa, accomodation

How to Apply

Step-by-step instructions for applying to Foundation programmes

Student visa to Czechia

How to apply for a Czech student visa/residence permit

FAQ

UJOP Charles University FAQ: everything about foundation programmes, studying in Czechia, student visa, accommodation, and admission process

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The UJOP foundation progremmes are more than just studying! Discover student life at UJOP.

Articles

Discover Czech higher education and UJOP Foundation programmes