You can find the testimonials of UJOP alumni on the Student References page

Yes, it is. According to Czech law, higher education (bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programmes) is free for everyone – including international students – no matter what country you come from.

The only condition is that you must study in Czech.

Don’t worry! It’s not easy, but it is absolutely possible.

UJOP has been helping international students prepare for university admission for more than 50 years. We know exactly how to support you in reaching your dream – getting a free university education at one of the best universities in Czechia.

UJOP students are accepted into programmes in General Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy – both in Czech and in English. Preparation for Czech- and English-taught programmes is different and has its own specifics.

If you want to study medicine in Czech for free, you need:

• Czech language at B2 level (general vocabulary) and C1 level (medical terminology) 

• To pass entrance exams in Chemistry, Biology, and Physics 

• Students who already speak a Slavic language (such as Ukrainian or Bulgarian) can usually reach this level within one year by joining our COMPLEX programme. 

If you do not speak a Slavic language, your results will mostly depend on your motivation, effort, and previous knowledge. But don’t worry – we’ll support you every step of the way!

If you reach B1 level in your first year, you can continue in our PROGRESS course, which starts at B1 and leads to B2 and medical C1.

Two years of preparation is a smart investment – especially when you consider that tuition fee for studying medicine in English starts from €13,000 per year for 6 years.

Higher education in Czechia in English offers a unique combination of academic qualifications and affordable prices. Czech universities are known for their high-quality programs, especially in medicine, engineering, and natural sciences, which are fully accredited and recognized in Europe and beyond. Studies in English are not free, but the cost of studying in English, as well as living in Czechia, is lower than in Western Europe or North America.

UJOP Foundation programmes are an ideal option for those who want to prepare not only for entrance exams, but also for studying at a university. The academic year at UJOP is a kind of gap year that prepares you for independent university life. In addition, this is an opportunity to arrange nostrification without haste and at minimal cost and prepare all the documents necessary for admission. 

When choosing a course, it is important to understand what the cost consists of. The easiest way is to recalculate the price by the number of training hours. For example, in the COMPLEX course, students take 1250 academic hours (35 hours per week is almost a full working week!). In recalculation, it turns out that one lesson costs 5.6-5.7 euros. This price is competitive in itself, plus you should take into account how much is included in the price of UJOP courses: 

1. Intensive Czech Language Course

2. Certificate at the end of the course, which exempts from the entrance exam in Czech at more than 80 faculties in Czechia.

3. Academic subjects for admission (the set of subjects depends on the future specialty)

4. Textbooks, author's materials

5. Microsoft and Moodle licenses

6. Assistance with visa applications

7. One free shipment of visa documents by DHL express mail

8. Help with nostrification

9. Assistance with university applications

10. Visiting universities (not only in Prague!)

11. Excursions related to education

12. Individual advice on choosing a university

13. Access to libraries and lectures of Charles University

14. Visa extension information assistance

15. Support in adapting to Czech culture, educational workshops and alumni advice

16. Cultural, sports and leisure activities

17. Support in dealing with everyday life situations (including medical advice)

18. Local SIM Card

19. Access to Eduroam's pan-European student Wi-Fi on all campuses

20. Information assistance with transport upon arrival in Czechia

In order to have time to book a place on the course, you must submit an online application. Submitting an online application is free of charge. Final reservation of the place occurs after payment.

Please find a step-by-step instruction here

There is no fee for submitting an application

Please find a step-by-step instruction here

UJOP Charles University prepares for admission to the following specialties : 

If you do not find the specialty you plan to apply for in the list, contact InfoPoint 

Foundation Programmes teach Czech from scratch, so there is no need to learn Czech in advance. However, if you do not speak another Slavic language (for example, Polish or Ukrainian), then learning Czech before arriving can greatly facilitate the initial stage of preparation. You may consider UJOP

online courses.

A minimum knowledge of English at B1 level (4.0-5.0 IELTS) is required for training. In the case of Medicine Fast, at least B2 level (5.5-6.5 IELTS) is required. 

Then you need to choose a course of

type PROGRESS  

To begin with, a few words about the requirements of universities: 

• For admission to medical specialties and dentistry, you need knowledge at the B2 level (common Czech) and C1 (in the field of medical terminology). 

• Most faculties accept with a B2 level 

• Some regional faculties accept with B1 

If you are applying for the COMPLEX course, then the expected level of Czech at the end of the course is B2.

If you are proficient in any Slavic language and work appropriately , then you will reach this level in one year.

If you do not speak another Slavic language, then the result largely depends on your efforts and background. We will support you every step of the way. If you reach B1 at the end of the year, you can apply to one of the regional faculties, or continue your studies in the PROGRESS course, which starts at level B1 and leads to B2. 

UJOP itself does not organize scholarships for its courses. There are scholarships from the Czech government, but for which countries and under what conditions they are issued should be clarified on the official website of the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MEYS). 

UJOP offers transparent refund conditions. If you cancel a course before it starts, we will refund 95 percent of the full course fee. Please read Terms of payment and cancellation 

You can live in the UJOP dormitories of Charles University. We can arrange accommodation for you for the entire period of study, including summer holidays.

Standard accommodation: in a double room with its own bathroom, refrigerator and stable Internet access. On each floor there are kitchens and other common areas.

The choice of dormitory depends on the study center.

If you study in the town of Poděbrady, we will offer you accommodation in the Poděbrady Dormitory. 

Students of the Prague-Krystal Study Center can stay in the same building with the school in the Prague-Krystal Dormitory, or in the Prague-Hostivař Dormitory.

The cost of the program includes everything related to training. Accommodation is paid separately.

Here you can find information about the cost of living and compulsory insurance 

From 8:00 a.m. to lunch - intensive Czech, in the afternoon - academic subjects

No, everything related to training is already included in the price of the foundation programme. This means that the price includes:

1. Intensive Czech Language Course

2. Certificate at the end of the course, which exempts from the entrance exam in Czech at more than 80 faculties in Czechia.

3. Academic subjects for admission (the set of subjects depends on the future specialty)

4. Textbooks, author's materials

5. Microsoft and Moodle licenses

6. Assistance with visa applications

7. One free shipment of visa documents by DHL express mail

8. Help with nostrification

9. Assistance with university applications

10. Visiting universities (not only in Prague!)

11. Excursions related to education

12. Individual advice on choosing a university

13. Access to libraries and lectures of Charles University

14. Visa extension information assistance

15. Support in adapting to Czech culture, educational workshops and alumni advice

16. Cultural, sports and leisure activities

17. Support in dealing with everyday life situations (including medical advice)

18. Local SIM Card

19. Access to Eduroam's pan-European student Wi-Fi on all campuses

20. Information assistance with transport upon arrival in Czechia

From the very first moment of applying for a course until you successfully enter university, you will receive our help and support. You just need to ask UJOP staff, who will:

1. help you decide on a specialty and choose a course, as well as instruct you on how to apply for the course;

2. process your application and check your documents for compliance with the formal criteria of the Czech educational system;

3. send you all the visa documents that you need from the Czech side;

4. advise you throughout the visa application process;

5. organize your learning process;

6. provide individual advice on all issues related to training;

7. help you adapt to life in Czechia;

8. track your progress and attendance to give you feedback in time;

9. inform you about the possibilities of studying in Czechia and help you choose a university;

10. help you develop an admission strategy and submit applications (invitations) to universities;

11. help you cope with the bureaucratic side of nostrification;

12. help you resolve any issues related to your life in Czechia;

13. provide you with information about visa extension;

14. share life hacks on how to successfully arrange your life at the university.

After you enter university, we will stay in touch to inform you about special promotions for our graduates, as well as to learn about your successes and achievements, which we can then be proud of.

Yes, as part of the course, UJOP students:  

• Visit universities 

• Listen to presentations on educational opportunities in Czechia 

• Receive individual advice on admission strategy 

Applications to universities are also carried out as part of individual consultations with curators and teachers. At the same time, you are not limited to Charles University, you can apply and enroll in any faculties/universities.

During the foundation programme, you do not have the legal right to work. The full right to access the labour market arises after entering a university as a bachelor's or master's student. Graduating from a Czech university also gives you equal access to the Czech labor market with citizens.

You don't need to.

At the end of the Czech language foundation programme, you will take a Czech language proficiency exam.

If you pass, you will receive an official UJOP certificate. This certificate replaces the Czech language entrance exam at more than 80 faculties across Czechia – so you don’t need to take the language part again when applying to university.

No, after completing the program, you will need to go through admission process to your chosen university. Admission process varies and can include anything from the following or combination of entrance exam, motivation letter, interview or submission of your diploma.

At the same time, you are not limited to Charles University, you can apply and enroll in any faculties/universities.

We guarantee that we will create all the conditions for you to choose with sufficient information the appropriate programme and university, successfully prepare and enter university.

Foundation programmes provide grounds for applying for a student visa. We provide full consulting support at all stages of the visa process. Find out more about applying for a student visa

here 

Yes, we provide visa support at every step of the visa process. We will send you all the visa documents that you need from the Czech side. We will also instruct you on how to prepare your visa documents, check the correctness of the paperwork and visa application form. In addition, we will help you mentally prepare for an interview at the consulate.

Here you will find step-by-step instructions for the visa process. 

If your course starts in September 2026, the deadline to pay for the course is 31 May 2026.

However, we strongly recommend that you do not delay your application or the start of your visa process. Depending on your country, getting a visa can take more than six months. 

In the table below, you can see the ideal timeline for visa processing.

But please keep in mind: ideal cases are rare, and the real process often takes much longer.

For visa purposes, legalization is usually required for your criminal record certificate. 

An apostille is needed, if the document was issued in a country on this list https://www.hcch.net/en/states/hcch-members

An apostille is not needed, if the document was issued in a country on this list https://justice.cz/web/msp/dvoustranne-smlouvy

If the document was issued in a country, that is not on any list, then you need to do super-legalization. For more information, please contact the Czech consulate in your country.

ATTENTION: Documents that you receive yourself must be translated into Czech by a court translator. We can arrange the translation of your documents. To do this, you need to write to your administrative assistant by e-mail. You will have the contact in your inbox.

The “Student” visa regime applies only to students of bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral programs.

If you are coming to the Czech Republic for a foundation programme, you cannot apply for a visa in this regime — even if a consulate employee tells you otherwise.

A bank certificate (statement) must be officially translated and certified. It should confirm the current balance on your debit account.

Key Requirements

1. Account used by you

   • The certificate must be issued for an account you already use. 

   • You do not need to open a special account. 

   • Only very young students (16–18 years old) can use a newly opened account without raising suspicion. 

2. Sufficient funds

   • Your account must hold at least the minimum required amount. 

   • Check the exact requirement here: Proof of funds for residence. 

   • If you are under 18, you must still confirm the full amount. 

3. Debit card linked to the account

   • The account must be linked to an international debit card in the student’s name. 

   • This link should be mentioned in the bank statement (e.g. “A card has been issued to this account in the nme of …”). 

   • If not, ask your bank for an additional certificate confirming the account–card connection. 

4. Currency and conversion (recommended)

   • If your balance is in your national currency, it helps if the bank alsoindicates the equivalent in euros. 

   • Note: consular officers will calculate the official conversion rate on the day of submission. 

5. No transaction history needed

   • You do not need to provide a certificate of account movements. 

   • If consular officers need it, they will request it separately. 

6. Balance must remain above minimum

   • You can freely use your account, but the balance must not fall below the required minimum until you receive a visa decision. 

This way, your bank certificate will meet the Czech consulate’s requirements and prevent unnecessary delays. 

1. The procedure for obtaining a police clearance certificate differs from country to country, but there is one common feature: it usually takes a long time to prepare and issue. The certificate must be provided in paper form, with an original (“wet”) stamp and handwritten signature.

2. Check whether documents issued in your country require additional legalization, and at what level – is an apostille sufficient, or is full super-legalization required? Complete this step before translating your certificate into Czech. See: Do I Need to Have My Visa Documents Apostilled or Super-legalized?

3. This certificate, like all visa documents issued in a language other than Czech, must be translated into Czech. Important: you cannot use just any translator. The translation must be done by a Czech court translator, or certified by a Czech notary at the consulate. Other options may be available – please check with the Czech consulate in your country. You can also order a certified translation through our institute—simply email your administrative assistant.

A list of all diplomatic missions of Czechia can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

If you have been living in the country for at least two years (the validity of the visa is not taken into account - only the period of residence), you can apply for a student visa at the Czech consulate in your country of residence. For example, you are from India but have been living in Canada for three years - you can apply for a visa in Canada.

However, we always recommend checking with the Czech consulate in the host country

Studying at a university can be a challenge without proper preparation. The organization of the educational process, life and bureaucracy, a new language and new conditions - it takes time to learn everything. Foundation programmes can give this time - you can sign up for our foundation programmes to not only better prepare for the university, but also to extend your stay in Czechia.

However, it is important to note that we cannot accept you for any course at any time. 

For example, if you are expelled after the winter semester, UJOP will check your language skills and academic knowledge. At this time, all courses are in full swing, which means Study department needs to make sure that you can learn with UJOP students at their level and at their pace. There is a risk that you won’t be accepted for the programme.

If you have completed the first year, and by the summer you realized that you need additional training, feel free to contact our InfoPoint, you will be consulted, including on visa extension and Bridging Visa

First of all, please note that only the official authorities can provide an official answer. For more detailed advice, you should contact a migration lawyer. Below is only a general overview:

• If you have a student visa (sticker in your passport): 

  You cannot switch to the “Other” type of stay (which covers one- or two-semester intensive courses). You can extend your stay only for foundation programmes or for studies at a university, while keeping the purpose of stay as “Study”. 

• If you already have a long-term student residence permit (plastic Czech biometric card): 

  You may change the purpose of your stay to “Other” and enroll in a one- or two-semester Czech language course. 

• If you have a visa for the purpose of “Other” (sticker in your passport): 

  In this case, you can enroll in a foundation programme and change your purpose of stay to “Study”. 

Nostrification is the official process by which Czechia recognizes your education completed abroad. Once your foreign diploma or certificate is nostrified, you gain the same rights as Czech citizens to apply for and attend educational institutions in Czechia.

Yes, we provide support with all related bureaucratic procedures. Read more about nostrification in our Instructions for nostrification 

In Czechia, these fields do not have separate bachelor’s and master’s levels. Instead, high school graduates enter directly into a long master’s program that usually lasts five to six years. After completing the program, graduates receive a professional title that qualifies them to work as a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, or lawyer.

If you have completed a bachelor’s degree in one of these fields (for example, MBBS or Law) in your country, you cannot nostrify it in Czechia as a doctor’s or lawyer’s qualification. In Czechia, these professions are studied only through long master’s programs that start directly after high school.

However, your degree may be nostrified in a related field. For example: 

• A medical bachelor’s degree may be recognized in a field such as physiotherapy or medical laboratory sciences. 

• A bachelor’s degree in law may be recognized in a field such as public administration. 

For admission to Czech faculties, the grades in the certificate do not matter. The main thing is how you pass the entrance exam. For example, in Germany, students must have a very high score on the Abitur school certificate to have a chance of getting into medicine. In Czechia, they don't look at school grades.

Grades may matter where there are no entrance exams. For example, there are no entrance exams for admission to a chemistry university VŠCHT - it accepts a certain number of students with the best grades in their major subjects.

You need to have completed secondary education so that your documents can go through the process of nostrification, that is, recognition. You will do the nostrification itself in Czechia 

Every country has its own education system, so it’s not possible to say in advance with 100% certainty whether your documents will be recognized.

General rule: If your certificate/diploma allows you to enter a university in your home country, then it should also be recognized in Czechia.

The following may also be noted: Czech universities do not offer a foundation programme in the British sense of the word so they do not give you an additional qualification.

Czech universities do not offer a foundation programme in the British sense of the word. Instead, they have preparatory courses, which help you get ready for university studies but do not give you an additional qualification. To apply for our courses, you must have one of the following: 

• The minimum requirement for Cambridge certificates is 5x subjects GCSE + 2x subjects A-level. 

• If an applicant has more than 2x A-level but a lower number of GCSE/IGCSE/O-level subjects, this variety can be accepted as well. 

The variety of 1x A-level and 2x AS level is NOT acceptable.

Yes

Usually, we are talking about the legalization of a certificate with an appendix, but it may be necessary to legalize other documents as well. It depends on the education system in your country. 

An apostille is needed, if the document was issued in a country on this list https://www.hcch.net/en/states/hcch-members https://www.hcch.net/en/states/hcch-members  

If the document was issued in a country, that is not on abovementioned list, then you need to do super-legalization. For more information, please contact the Czech consulate in your country.

A list of all diplomatic missions of Czechia can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.