The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (MEYS) annually offers scholarships to foreign nationals within the framework of bilateral exchange programmes arranged with the following countries:
Scholarships can only be granted to candidates officially recommended for the award by the appropriate authorities in the eligible countries, mentioned in the list above. These authorities inform applicants about the method of application, set the closing date for applications and organize the selection procedure.
Applications submitted directly to the MEYS by individual applicants cannot be accepted and processed.
Who can apply:
Scholarships of this type are designed for university/college students or graduates and Ph.D. candidates (exceptionally for academic staff members, if the exchange programme concerned involves this target group) who wish to undertake study or research visits to one of the Czech public institutions of higher education.
The scholarships for summer language courses are announced separately at: https://www.msmt.cz/eu-and-international-affairs/summer-schools-of-slavonic-studies-2024.
Eligible recipients and period of scholarship:
The categories of eligible recipients are specified separately by each of the exchange programmes arranged with the countries concerned. Detailed information on the entry requirements, in particular the minimum academic qualifications, can be provided by the appropriate authorities in the eligible countries (see pdf/doc documents above).
The period of scholarship usually ranges from 2 to 10 months. Scholarships may be awarded repeatedly to the same recipients, provided that they submit a renewed application for the following academic year and are selected by the appropriate authorities in their home countries.
Type of course / conditions of enrolment:
Scholarship-holders usually attend courses that do not lead to the award of a degree (non-degree study courses) or pursue an independent research activity (research visit), depending on their academic qualifications and preferences. Applicants are required to choose a field of study that is related to the field that they are studying or studied in the past at their home university/college.
Enrolment in standard degree study programmes, especially Ph.D. courses, for the period of scholarship is also possible. The feasibility of this option depends on the host university.
The terms and conditions of admission and requirements concerning the language of tuition are stipulated autonomously by the host universities which take independent decisions whether or not each applicant can be accepted within the framework of the MEYS’ scholarship programme.
Access to the art academies can be somewhat limited because the applicants must meet demanding requirements and demonstrate their talent. Samples of their artistic work, e.g. photographs, video/audio recording of a musical performance etc., must be attached to the application forms of fine/performing arts students/graduates.
Language of tuition:
The primary language of tuition is Czech. Scholarship-holders can be admitted also to some English-medium courses. Admission to courses and programmes with tuition in the English language is possible only on condition that the host university concerned decides, of its own volition, to provide a full tuition fee waiver to the prospective scholarship-holder.
Letter of invitation / preliminary letter of acceptance:
Prospective applicants are advised to contact the preferred university directly and request a letter of invitation/preliminary acceptance letter from the respective department. Such a letter is not usually listed among obligatory attachments to the application form of students. Nevertheless, its submission is recommended, even if not explicitly stated in the exchange programme concerned as a mutually agreed condition, since it can simplify and expedite the admission procedure. Applicants are required to point out to the prospective host universities that they intend to apply for the MEYS’ scholarship.
Academic staff members are always required to attach a letter of invitation to their applications.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
a) Eligible EU countries and selected non-EU countries (Albania, Georgia, Mexico, Mongolia, Republic of North Macedonia, Switzerland, Ukraine)
Applications, including the required attachments, are submitted via the online registration system. The link to the system together with the deadlines and the method of application will be communicated by the appropriate authorities in the eligible countries.
b) Other eligible non-EU countries (Egypt, India, Japan, People’s Republic of China, Peru, Republic of Korea, Taiwan)
Nominations and application dossiers must be submitted to the MEYS by the appropriate authorities in the eligible countries. Applications sent directly to the MEYS by individual applicants will not be processed.
The closing dates for applications are set by the appropriate authorities in the eligible countries; the deadlines may differ in individual countries but are usually fixed for the beginning of the calendar year concerned in order to meet the subsequent schedule of admission procedure.
Application form – students:
Application form – academic staff:
General information for all applicants
All applicants should indicate the preferred period of scholarship in their application form. The MEYS reserves the right to change the requested term of scholarship and/or place any applicant onto a course and/or higher education institution different from those indicated in his/her scholarship application form, if admission to the course requested by the applicant is not possible.
The application form must be filled completely; the attachments listed below are an integral part of the application form. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
Minimum required attachments:
A. Students – study /research stays up to 30 days
- academic curriculum vitae,
- list of publications (if applicable),
- detailed plan of study/research,
- passport / ID copy (not required of citizens of EU/EEA countries).
B. Students – study /research stays exceeding 30 days
- academic curriculum vitae,
- list of publications (if applicable),
- detailed plan of study/research,
- two letters of recommendation from academic supervisors or an employer,
- photocopy of diploma (if applicable),
- certified transcript(s) of records,
- passport / ID copy (not required of citizens of EU/EEA countries).
C. Academic staff members
- academic curriculum vitae,
- list of publications,
- detailed plan of study/research,
- letter of invitation issued by a department/institute of a public institution of higher education in the Czech Republic,
- passport / ID copy (not required of citizens of EU/EEA countries).
All documents must be written in or translated into Czech or English.
Fine arts and performing arts students/graduates are moreover required to attach a sample of their artistic work, e.g. photographs, video/audio recording of a musical performance etc.
PRACTICAL DETAILS
Successful outcomes of the scholarship applications are communicated to the applicants by Decisions issued by the MEYS. There is no legal claim to the scholarship award. The scholarship is not transferable to another person.
For the academic year 2025/2026, the scholarship amounts to CZK 12,000 per month for those who do not hold a Master’s degree or equivalent and CZK 13,000 per month for holders of a Master’s degree or equivalent, unless they enrol in another Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme in the Czech Republic.
Scholarship-holders are exempted from tuition fees. A substantial part of the scholarship is a subsidy provided by the MEYS directly to the host faculty to cover tuition.
The monthly scholarship paid to the scholarship-holder is transferred to the bank account by the appropriate department of the host university or has to be collected in person at the appropriate department of the host university. The method is stipulated by the host institution (faculty).
Students from Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, People‘s Republic of China, Poland and Romania receive their scholarships from the relevant authorities/agencies in their home countries.
Scholarship-holders may apply for lodging at student dormitories and can take meals at student catering facilities. Scholarship-holders reimburse the related board and lodging expenses themselves. The applicants are requested to indicate in their application form whether they wish to be accommodated at a student dormitory.
MEDICAL CARE
Medical care for EU/EEA citizens who are properly insured in their home countries is provided in compliance with the European Parliament and Council (EC) Regulation No. 883/2004, as last amended, and its implementing Regulation No. 987/2009, as amended by Regulation No. 465/2012 – detailed information is available on the website of the Health Insurance Bureau.
Please note that the expenses for repatriation are not covered by the provisions of the aforementioned EU Regulations, and it is therefore advisable to obtain an insurance policy to this end.
As regards non-EU/EEA citizens, the admitted applicants are required to arrange travel medical insurance covering the expenses for comprehensive medical care for the entire period of their stay in the Czech Republic (and covering also the expenses related to repatriation for medical reasons). Detailed information on the minimum scope of the compulsory medical insurance is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior; it can be provided also by the consular section of the Czech Embassy in your country.
Detailed information on the regulations governing residence on the territory of the Czech Republic is available on the website of the Ministry of the Interior.
FORFEITURE OF SCHOLARSHIP
The scholarship is not paid during the scholarship-holder’s absence from the territory of the Czech Republic which lasts for more than 30 calendar days, and during the interruption of or following the termination of studies.
Only one half of the monthly scholarship is provided for any month in which the scholarship-holder is present in the territory of the Czech Republic for less than 15 calendar days.
The claim to the scholarship is forfeited and the scholarship is withdrawn, if the admitted applicant fails to commence his/her research or study stay within 30 calendar days from the prescribed date indicated in the respective Ministry Decision without previously filing a well-founded application for its postponement.
The claim to the scholarship is forfeited and the scholarship is withdrawn, if the admitted applicant acquires entitlement to reside in the territory of the Czech Republic by virtue of a permanent residence permit.
The Ministry can also issue an amended decision on scholarship award, cancelling its previous decision in regard to the applicant, if changes of circumstances decisive for the assessment of the original application for scholarship award occur or if the Ministry finds out that the original application contained imprecise data (e.g. on the academic qualification acquired by the applicant).
The claim to the scholarship is forfeited and the scholarship is withdrawn, if the admitted applicant terminates his/her studies, is dismissed from such studies or when it transpires that the scholarship has been awarded on the basis of fraudulent conduct or statement of incorrect data.
Czech system of higher education
Information on the Czech institutions of higher education is available at: www.studyin.cz. For information on the study fields offered, please visit the websites of individual public institutions of higher education.
A comprehensive list of study programmes offered by the institutions of higher education (in Czech only) is also available at: https://regvssp.msmt.cz/registrvssp/csplist.aspx.
Personal Data Processing:
Basic information on the processing and protection of personal data by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (MEYS) is published in the Czech language at: http://www.msmt.cz/ministerstvo/zakladni-informace-o-zpracovani-osobnich-udaju-ministerstvem, translation in English at: http://www.msmt.cz/contacts-and-informations/data-protection-officer.
This article has been updated as of 22 November 2024.
