Hi, I’m Taya, I’m from Ukraine and I study study medicine in Czechia Pilsen.
Hello, my name is Marios Kaloutsis. I am from Greece and I’m a freshman of General Medicine program
Hello, I’m Filipa Falcao. I’m 23 years old. I’m in sixth year and I studу General Medicine.
Hello, I’m Angelo Maccone. I was born in Colombia, but I lived all my life in Italy, Milano. And I study here in the school of Charles University in Pilsen in General Medicine program.
Hi, I am Martha Sardeli Krimpeni. I am from Greece. I’m currently in the sixth year of General Medicine.
Filipa Falcao: So Pilsen is a small city with a great transportation system, so it’s very easy to move around. I like that very much and it’s also an affordable place to live.
Marios Kaloutsis: I like it. I like the city because it feels like a university city. It’s small, but it’s also big enough for a student. You get the feeling that everyone around you is young and they also study and you can also make friends. And it’s really easy to get concentrated when you see many people doing the same thing that you do.
Martha Sardeli Krimpeni: I really like it here. There’s a lot of parks. There’s a lot of places where you can eat like restaurants, coffee places and so on and so forth. I like many activities. There is paintball, there is laser tag, there is cinema. You can do anything you want. So it’s a very friendly or student friendly city. And at the same time, it’s small and it has a lot of parks. It has a lot of green. You can do skiing. There are mountains around it. You can go and visit small villages around it. I really like nature. So it’s a perfect spot for me. Prague would be too big and I think too hectic.
Angelo Maccone: I have chosen Pilsen mostly because Pilsen is a small city. I came from a big city north of Italy, Milano. And I wanted to escape mostly from that suffocating big city. And I wanted more space and more freedom. And Pilsen got everything that you need because even if it’s small, you can arrive everywhere in Pilsen just by walking. You can have all the same things, that you got in a big city, in this small city. You’ve got a lot of bars, many pubs, student life. The life here in Pilsen is even cheaper than the life in a big city, even because the costs are one of the most important things for the family when they have to choose a university and I chose Pilsen even because it’s in the middle of Europe. And from here you can just go everywhere whenever you want. When you’ve got free time, just take your free time and go and look around and have trips and just clean your mind and do whatever you can, be happy.
You only need to do two things for thist – learn Czech and prepare well for the entrance exams.
All this can be done on ILPS preparatory courses of Charles University
Apply in time!
Marios Kaloutsis: On the topic of the city being really small, we can also see that on the left side of the university, we can see all the other buildings, new and old. And on the other side, we can also see the university hospital, which is really close to the university.
Martha Sardeli Krimpeni: When you come here, you have different opportunities to choose where to stay. Right. This is important. So you can either stay in the dorm and it’s pretty affordable. There are two dorms that English speaking or foreign students use. One is Bolevecká, the other one Karlovarská. And you also have the possibility to choose a flat in the city centre, which is very nice because everything is close by and you can either pay by yourself and have your own flat or share it with more people.
Taya: The city itself is not really big, but at the same time it has everything that is needed. It’s easy to get to the different parts of the city and it has really full student life. People are coming here from all around the world. The faculty is considered one of the most international student friendly. So during all the events that are organised by the faculty and just our students who are getting together, sometimes at some places it’s easy to meet people, to get to know people from different nationalities. And it’s really interesting experience. And the faculty by itself, after some time that I’m studying here, I can certainly say that here I’m getting more practice and more general experience that I could get in my own country.
Angelo Maccone: At the first, from this university I expected a lot. And then when I came here, yes, I found that this university is worth it, because even from the first year of the General Medicine, you have lectures and practices.
Filipa Falcao: I like that the university focuses more on the theoretical side of things and then the practicals come to consolidate our knowledge. And I also like the organisation of the programme of our studies, and I think they are very well conducted.
Martha Sardeli Krimpeni: I happen to be the president of ISMAP. ISMAP is the foreign student association here in Pilsen, and it is a very old association actually. It has been going on for ages and ages. And the idea behind it is that we are trying to incorporate and integrate students into studying here in Pilsen. And what we do is that we have specific teams. So there is a sports team, there is an archives team, there s a social and cultural team and so on and so forth. And we are trying to organize some nice things for students. So, for example, we have basketball, volleyball, we have a yoga class or teacher who is actually one of the students teaching the rest of the students. We are organizing things like paintball, laser tag, debates.
Angelo Maccone: They are doing a lot of things for us, for our students. And I appreciate in the first year, that I had the opportunity to participate at some of these activities, for example, playing football, playing basketball or even volleyball. And we just meet. We just and participate and we just play all together.
Filipa Falcao: Our students organization ISMAP helps us all come together. They organize parties during the semester. They organize also some food festivals and some yoga classes. And it’s very nice to have those activities outside of the university.
Angelo Maccone: When you just go to a university that is not in your home country, when it’s not in your own city, you have to do a big jump because it’s the moment when you start to think like adults and you have to take your life in your hands and then go ahead, because otherwise, if this will put you down, you will have a hard time.
Filipa Falcao: It has always been my dream to become a medical doctor. And as soon as my parents told me about the opportunity to study abroad here in Pilsen, I knew I had to take it. The transition was also quite easy for me since I knew some people that have studied here already.
Martha Sardeli Krimpeni: So to begin with, I knew already that I will come and study medicine in Europe because I was doing back in Greece, I was doing the International Baccalaureate IB and particularly why I chose the Charles University is for different reasons to begin with the rankings. But also I had a friend who has already been here, especially in the faculty in Pilsen, and I received very positive comments from him. So I decided to come here.
Marios Kaloutsis: I like the city. The university is really organized, so I’m happy with it. Basically, in my one year of experience, I feel it’s very good.
Filipa Falcao: I would totally recommend studying here in Pilsen. The quality of teaching and the international recognition are very important for me, which is one of the other reasons why I chose to study here in Pilsen and also because I made so many friends from so many different cultures and all over the world. And I’m so grateful for that.
You can get a European degree in Czech, where education is free, or in English, at affordable prices. Charles University offers preparatory courses in both options:
These courses not only provide language training but also include preparation in specialized subjects, visa support, assistance with nostrification, academic guidance, and various cultural and educational events.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact InfoPoint at studujop@ujop.cuni.cz.
"At UJOP we studied all the topics we needed for the entrance exams for medical faculties. For example, in Medical English, we practiced questions we can be asked at the interview. Thanks to that, at my university admission exam, I answered questions without hesitation because we had already covered such topics in our foundation programme. The teachers gave us valuable tips and showed us effective ways to respond to questions like this."
Dear students, dear teachers, dear guests,
It is a great honour for me to stand before you today in this historic hall of the Carolinum, where the stories of so many students begin. When I look at you, I remember my own beginnings at UJOP. Two years ago, I was exactly where you are today – full of determination, but also full of doubts.
I came from Uzbekistan to fulfill my dream of studying medicine at one of the most prestigious universities in Europe. And today I'm here to tell you that you too can achieve your goals.
Studying at UJOP meant much more to me than just language courses. It was a place that gave me a solid foundation and prepared me for the challenges I had to face. Czech was only the first step. It was the key to opening the door, but UJOP gave me something even more important – confidence, discipline and support.
I remember how difficult it was – a new language, a new environment, high demands. But it was in this environment that I understood that UJOP is not just about learning. It's a community that supports and guides you. You have classmates from different parts of the world around you who are going through similar challenges. You have teachers who not only impart knowledge to you, but also motivate you and believe in your potential.
The last days before the exams were difficult. But what kept me going was the experience from UJOP. I knew I got the best I could. UJOP has taught me that hard work and the right approach can achieve even the most ambitious goals. And that's why I was able to successfully pass the entrance exams and get into all 5 medical faculties of Charles University.
Today I stand in front of you as a second-year student of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine of Charles University. But more importantly, I stand before you as someone who once had the same fears and doubts as you. And if I could give you one piece of advice, it would be this: believe in the power of the path you have embarked on. Believe me, what may be scaring or worrying you right now is just another step towards your success.
UJOP gives you not only knowledge, but also the tools to overcome obstacles. Every hour you spend here is an investment in your future. It's not just about learning Czech, it's about becoming a more resilient, confident person ready for all the challenges that await you in academia.
And I would like to tell you that I will not leave you alone. Although I am now a second-year student at the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, I am active at the faculty and try to help new students and applicants who want to get there. Whether you need advice, encouragement or just someone to listen to you, I will be here for you. I know very well how difficult this journey can be, and I want to help you overcome it.
All of us who have been through UJOP know that it is not an easy path, but it is the path that will prepare you for future success. And I can tell you today from my own experience: if you persevere, if you try and believe in yourself, you will achieve your goal. I am proud to have been and am part of this community now, and I believe that one day you will be proud of what you have achieved here.
Thank you and I wish you good luck and strength in the coming academic year. Believe that every step you take now brings you closer to your dream.
"I came to the Medical Prep course in UJOP Charles University because I did not cope well at the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University.
The preparatory year gave me enough time to revise as well as learn new skills to take care of myself.
In addition to the English language, I also improved the Czech language enough to travel around the Czech Republic.
I love the fact that the school is located in a spa town. When I realized I will study in a castle on the riverbank, it seemed pretty interesting to me.
The school organizes lots of events like Christmas, Halloween, or St. Nicholas' day. It helps us to socialize with different people in our diverse community of students from both the English and Czech preparatory programs."
"First, I applied to General Medicine at Charles University directly, but unfortunately, I did not pass. This Pre-Medical course really helped me to prepare for the entrance exam – I can say it now, as I am actually accepted to the university now.
One of our teachers here is actually a professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University that I wanted to go to. This is a really big advantage. The teachers and curators are very supportive. They helped me also with my school reports, nostrification, and visa."
"I did not pass my entrance exam to Charles University, but I did not want to give up on my dream. My agency advised me of this Preparatory program.
The course did really help me, as now I have got to the university I wanted. I am confident; I do have more knowledge than I did a year ago.
I find medical ethics really useful, as this topic I have not really learned about previously. We covered practical situations that can happen in the everyday life of a doctor. Now I have the chance to consider different aspects, and I will be able to make a well-thought-out decision faster.
UJOP Charles University is really flexible - for personal reasons, I could not join the program at the beginning. The staff here is very caring and made sure I felt welcomed and settled down well. I feel UJOP is a safe place to be and express myself freely.
My initial expectation was that the preparation year would be long and sad waiting for my university, but I was wrong. It is funny, but I am grateful that I did not get to the university straight away. Now I have more knowledge, more friends that are coming with me to the university. This year was definitely worth it!"
"I applied directly to the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University one year ago. During the exam, I realized there were topics I had never learned at school. I did not pass the exam. I was recommended the preparatory program at UJOP Charles University.
Throughout this year, I have learned subjects and topics I had not covered in biology, chemistry, or physics so far. This knowledge gave me the foundation to pass the entrance exam, and I have been accepted for next year's studies.
Poděbrady is a nice and safe town. I recommend everyone to come here and study. During the year here, I visited many other places in the Czech Republic, such as Pilsen, Prague, and Hradec Králové. It is easy for foreigners to travel and navigate here. I also had time to go to other countries in Europe. Here we are in the center of Europe, so catching a train, bus, or plane is pretty cheap and easy. During the year, I found a group of new friends who helped me feel at home. We love watching football matches together and having a lot of fun in our free time."
"I was exploring my options to go to universities all over Europe. In the Czech Republic, I found the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Hradec Králové. It seemed pretty interesting. But that time it was too late because the admission was closed. So, I was about to lose one year, but I continued my search on the website, and I found the Medical preparatory course at UJOP Charles University.
My main objective was to increase my knowledge and become more aware of the country.
Poděbrady is a small and pretty town; I familiarized myself with the environment: trains, buses, food, communication, banking system. Even though the Czech language is not that easy, with the support of the teacher, I acquired the basic knowledge and can get on with life here easily."
"I appreciate that I can learn very basic of Czech language. For this one year I can also learn basic of science so I can use it in my studies in future and living in Czech Republic.
People are so nice here even I can't really spesk Czech very well. They try to understand me and they're just so amazing and I love this country."
"Physics is highly advanced at UJOP Charles University. When you manage it, you don't need worry about anything anymore. Chemistry and biology are taught by professors from the university, so you study what is really needed."
General Contact
ujop@ujop.cuni.cz
+420 212 245 245
Support Contact - Courses:
studujop@ujop.cuni.cz
+420 212 245 245
+420 778 754 481
Support Contact - Exams for Permanent Residency:
praha.trvalypobyt@ujop.cuni.cz
+420 212 245 245
Support Contact - Exams for Citizenship:
obcanstvi@ujop.cuni.cz
+420 212 245 245
Support Contact - CCE Exams, Exams for Faculty of Medicine, MOCK TESTS:
vtc@ujop.cuni.cz
+420 212 245 245
ID No.: 00216208, VAT No.: CZ00216208
Data Box ID: piyj9b4
Connect with us
The Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies of Charles University (ILPS CU)
Vratislavova 29/10
128 00 Prague 2
Czech Republic
