How Much Does It Cost to Study in Czechia? Free in Czech, Paid in English
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Czechia makes an unusual offer: study in Czech at a public university and you pay no tuition, whatever your citizenship. Study in another language and you pay a fee set by the university. The choice of language is, in effect, the choice of price.
Free study in Czech
Programmes taught in Czech at public universities are free for everyone. There is no separate rate for EU or non-EU students. Of the 1,301 programmes in our catalogue, the large majority are taught in Czech at public universities, and their tuition is zero.
Two fees can still appear. Universities charge for study that runs well beyond the standard length of the programme, and each faculty charges an application fee when you apply.
The cost of learning Czech first
Free tuition has a price of its own: the language. Faculties expect Czech at around B2 level. Universities run one-year preparatory courses that combine intensive Czech with subject preparation for the entrance exams, and these courses are paid. A year of preparation plus a free degree usually still costs less than a full degree in English, but it adds a year, and it only works if you pass the language requirement at the end.
English-taught programmes
Programmes taught in a foreign language are paid, at public and private universities alike. Each university sets the fee, sometimes by faculty and sometimes by citizenship. Our catalogue lists 201 programmes taught in English, and the most expensive ones at public universities reach €24,250 a year. Fees are set in Czech crowns or in euros depending on the university, so the euro figures on our pages can move with the exchange rate.
Private universities
All programmes at private universities are paid, in any language. In our catalogue a year costs between €2,130 and €10,591, with a typical figure of €3,274.
Housing
Czech universities run large dormitories, called koleje, and a bed in one is cheap by European standards. For the 15 dormitories with a published price in our catalogue, monthly prices typically run from €139 to €309, depending on the room. Prague is the most expensive city; Brno, Olomouc and Ostrava cost less, both in dormitories and on the private market.
How to keep costs down
- If you have a year to invest, learn Czech and study for free.
- Compare English-taught fees between faculties, not only between universities.
- Apply for a dormitory place as soon as you are admitted.
- Look at cities outside Prague.
Where to look next
Official sources
- Study in Czechia: official portal for international students
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.