Charles University (Czech-taught): funding, eligibility and deadlines

What the funding covers

No tuition for degree programmes taught in Czech, for the standard length of study plus one year.
English-taught programmes are not free — they charge tuition set by each faculty.
No living allowance from the university. The separate Czech Government Scholarship (applications for 2027–28 ran 21 August – 30 September 2026) is the main funded route for students from eligible developing countries.

Any nationality, with a secondary-school certificate (for a bachelor's) or degree (for a master's) recognised in the Czech Republic.
Czech at the level your faculty requires — usually tested in the entrance exam or by a language certificate.
Each of Charles University's 17 faculties sets its own entrance exams and requirements.

Decide on a Czech-taught programme and check the faculty's admission requirements.
Learn Czech — many international students take a one-year preparatory course at the university's Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies (these courses charge fees).
Apply online to the faculty by its deadline and pay the application fee; most faculties close applications between February and March for an autumn start.
Start the recognition of your foreign diploma early — it must be completed by enrolment.

'Free' applies only to Czech-taught study. Budget a year and course fees for learning Czech first.
Deadlines are set faculty by faculty — there is no single university deadline.
Diploma recognition (nostrification) can take months and sometimes requires exams.

Counting back from the next typical deadline (≈ Mar 1, 2027). Steps marked NOW are already due if you start today.

Dec 7, 2026Research the route in depth — confirm eligibility, costs and every required document

Dec 21, 2026Ask your referees (for a PhD, email potential supervisors with a short, specific pitch)

Jan 4, 2027Write the first full draft of your motivation letter or statement of purpose

Jan 18, 2027Order transcripts and certified translations · book any language test

Feb 1, 2027Second draft — get feedback from someone who reads critically

Feb 15, 2027Finalise every document and complete the online form

Feb 22, 2027Submit — never on the last day

Mar 1, 2027Typical deadline

Page reviewed Sep 24, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official source.