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Education in Czech Republic 📚

Guide to kindergartens, schools, universities and document recognition

🏫 Kindergartens (Mateřská škola — MŠ)

For children aged 3–6 years

💡 Register as early as possible — January/February for the following September. Czech kindergartens are free for children 5+ (mandatory pre-school year). Younger children may have a fee of 200-500 CZK/month. You MUST provide vaccination records (Očkovací průkaz).

⚠️ Most kindergartens have long waiting lists in Prague and Brno. Apply to multiple kindergartens at once!

Step-by-step guide:

  1. 1Find your local kindergarten on the municipality website or mapa.skolska.cz
  2. 2Contact the school (ředitelka/ředitel) — ask if they accept foreign children
  3. 3Prepare: birth certificate (with apostille + Czech translation), vaccination records, proof of residence
  4. 4Apply during registration period (January–February each year)
  5. 5If rejected due to waiting list, ask to be added to the waiting list
  6. 6Private kindergartens (soukromé MŠ) are more accessible but cost 5,000–15,000 CZK/month

Useful links:

School Map (mapa.skolska.cz)Prague KindergartensInternational Kindergartens CZ

🏫 Primary & Secondary Schools (Základní a Střední škola)

Základní škola (ZŠ): Age 6–15 | Střední škola (SŠ/Gymnázium): Age 15–19

💡 Children with foreign residence status have the RIGHT to attend Czech public schools — free of charge. Schools must accept them even without Czech language skills. Most schools offer introductory Czech language support.

⚠️ Prepare for Czech language barrier — most lessons are in Czech. Ask the school about language support. Children adapt faster than adults — usually fluent within 1 year!

Step-by-step guide:

  1. 1Contact your local primary school (you can enroll anytime, not just September)
  2. 2Prepare: birth certificate with apostille + certified Czech translation, proof of residence, vaccination records
  3. 3For secondary school (SŠ): ask about accepting foreign students with entrance exams — some have exemptions
  4. 4Request 'přípravná třída' (preparatory class) if available — intensive Czech for foreign children
  5. 5Contact your municipality for help — they may facilitate enrollment
  6. 6Keep original documents + certified Czech translations of everything

Useful links:

Find schools (mapa.skolska.cz)Support for Ukrainian studentsSpecial Czech classes for foreigners

🎓 Universities (Vysoké školy)

Bachelor's, Master's, PhD programs

💡 Czech public universities are FREE if you study in Czech language! English programs cost €2,000–15,000/year. Many universities offer Czech language preparation courses (1 year) before starting your degree.

⚠️ 'Nostrifikace' (recognition of foreign diploma) is needed before applying. This process can take 3–6 months. Start early!

Step-by-step guide:

  1. 1Choose your university and program — check university websites for English programs
  2. 2Validate your previous education (nostrifikace) at the relevant Czech school authority
  3. 3Learn Czech — even for English programs, basic Czech helps enormously with daily life
  4. 4Apply through university portal — deadlines are usually February–April for September start
  5. 5Apply for student visa after receiving your acceptance letter
  6. 6Apply for university dormitory (kolej) immediately after acceptance — they fill up fast
  7. 7Register at the Foreign Police within 3 days of arrival

Useful links:

Charles UniversityCzech Technical University (ČVUT)Masaryk University BrnoStudy in Czech Republic (official)Study in Europe Portal (EU)Diploma Recognition (MŠMT)

📜 Document Nostrification (Diploma / School Recognition)

How to get your foreign diploma or certificate recognized in Czech Republic

💡 Nostrifikace is the process of having your foreign education recognized as equivalent to a Czech degree. Without it, you cannot apply to Czech universities. Allow 3–6 months!

⚠️ You need certified Czech translations of all documents. Use only sworn translators (soudní tlumočník). Prepare apostille on your original documents before leaving your home country.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. 1For primary/secondary school: apply to the relevant Regional Authority (Krajský úřad)
  2. 2For university degree: apply to the university in the same field of study
  3. 3Prepare: original diploma + apostille, certified Czech translation, proof of Czech residence
  4. 4Pay the administrative fee (~3,000 CZK for university, less for schools)
  5. 5Wait for decision — typically 30–60 days
  6. 6If rejected, you can appeal or take additional exams to prove equivalency

Useful links:

MŠMT — Diploma Recognition InfoPublic Administration Portal — NostrifikaceSworn translators list