Czech: Czech Education Profile 2011

INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS

Types of higher education institutions:

School leaving and higher education credentials:

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Pre-higher education:

Duration of compulsory education:

Structure of school system:

Basic

Type of school providing this education: Basic School (2 stages: 1-5, 6-9)

Length of program in years: 9

Age level from: 6 to: 15

Certificate/diploma awarded: Vysvědčení (Primary School Leaving Certificate)

General Secondary

Type of school providing this education: General School (Gymnásium) (admission after 5th year of basic school)

Length of program in years: 8

Age level from: 11 to: 19

Certificate/diploma awarded: Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)

General Secondary

Type of school providing this education: General school (Gymnásium) (admission after 7th year of basic school)

Length of program in years: 6

Age level from: 13 to: 19

Certificate/diploma awarded: Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)

Academic Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Gymnázium (General Secondary School)

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 15 to: 19

Certificate/diploma awarded: Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)

Technical Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Střední odborná škola (Secondary technical school)

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 15 to: 19

Certificate/diploma awarded: Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)

Technical Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Konzervatoř (Conservatory) - A special category of secondary technical schools (dance) - Admission after 5th year of basic school

Length of program in years: 8

Age level from: 11 to: 19

Certificate/diploma awarded: Vysvědčení o absolutoriu (Final certificate "absolutorium") + diplom (Diploma) or Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)

Technical Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Konzervatoř (Conservatory) - A special category of secondary technical schools (music, drama)

Length of program in years: 6

Age level from: 15 to: 21

Certificate/diploma awarded: Vysvědčení o absolutoriu (Final certificate "absolutorium") + diplom (Diploma) or Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)

Vocational Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Středni odborné učiliště (Secondary Vocational/Technical School)

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 15 to: 19

Certificate/diploma awarded: Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)

Vocational Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Středni odborné učiliště (2- or 3-year Secondary Vocational School)

Length of program in years: 3

Age level from: 15 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: Výuční list (Vocational Certificate)

Professional

Type of school providing this education: Vyšší odborné školy (Tertiary Professional Schools - 3 years' study and 3.5 in medical fileds)

Length of program in years: 3

Age level from: 19 to: 21

Certificate/diploma awarded: Vysvědčení o absolutoriu (Final certificate "absolutorium") + diplom (Diploma), the graduates are awarded the title of diplomovaný specialista (Dis.).

School education:

Primary education lasts for nine years divided into two stages of five and four years respectively. It leads to a Vysvědčení. Secondary education comprises three main types of schools: secondary general schools (gymnasium), secondary technical schools and secondary vocational schools. Gymnasiums prepare for study at higher education institutions and for professions. The secondary technical schools and 4-year courses or three-year follow-up courses at secondary vocational schools prepare students for a wide range of professions, as well as for studies at higher education institutions. All these studies culminate in the passing of  the Maturitní zkouška/Maturita. The 2-year and 3-year courses at the vocational schools prepare students for professional activities.

Higher education:

Tertiary professional schools, even though they are not part of higher education belong to tertiary education and offer professional education leading to a diploma, mostly in economics and health care. Higher education institutions can be of university and non-university type. The non-university higher education institutions usually offer Bachelor study programmes and, if accredited, master study programmes. They are not allowed to provide doctoral study programmes. University-type higher education institutions offer Bachelor, Master and in most case also Doctoral study programmes. Higher education institutions offer courses in the Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Medicine and Pharmacy, and Theology, as well as in Economics, Veterinary Medicine, and Agriculture, Teacher Training and Arts. They are public, state or private institutions. Public institutions are financed by the state budget through the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. The private institutions can be partially financed by the State. The Czech higher education system also includes 2 state higher education institutions (the University of Defence and the Police Academy) which are financed by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Interior. All higher education institutions provide accredited study programmes which are assessed by the Accreditation Commission. Important partners of the Ministry of Education in all decisions concerning higher education are the Czech Rectors' Conference and the Council of Higher Education Institutions.

Main laws/decrees governing higher education:

Decree: Higher Education Institutions Act No. 111 Year: 1998

Concerns: all higher education institutions

Academic year:

Classes from: Sep to: Aug

Long vacation from: Jun to: Sep

Languages of instruction: Czech, English, German

Stages of studies:

Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):

Non-university level:

Tertiary professional schools offer three-year professional education, including vocational training (3.5 years in medical branches), leading to a diploma. The documents certifying the achievement of tertiary professional education are the Absolutorium Report and the Diploma.

University level studies:

University level first stage: Bachelor studies (bakalářské studium):

The Bachelor study programme usually takes three to four years and covers all the main disciplines, except Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Law and some other fields. The programme aims at providing  a qualification to both practise a profession and continue studying in a master's programme. This cycle leads to the academic degree of "bakalář" (Bc.) or "bakalář umění" (BcA.) in the field of Arts. Students must sit for a state final examination, part of which is usually the defence of the Bachelor thesis.

University level second stage: Master studies (magisterské studium):

The Master programme lasts from one to three years after the Bachelor. In Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy and Law, where there are no Bachelor studies, the Master programme lasts from 4 to 6 years (Medicine, Veterinary Medicine: 6 years; Dentistry, Law, Teacher Training for secondary schools: 5 years; Teacher Training for the first stage of basic school: 4 years). Graduates in the Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Pharmacy, Theology and Law are awarded the academic degree of "magistr" (Mgr.),  "magistr umění" (MgA.) in Arts, "inženýr" (Ing.) in Engineering, Economics, Agriculture and Chemistry and military fields,  "inženýr architekt" (Ing.arch.) in Architecture, "doktor medicíny" (MUDr.) in Medicine, "zubní lékař" (MDDr.) in Dentistry, "doktor veterinární medicíny" (MVDr.) in Veterinary Medicine. At the end of this stage, students must sit for a State final examination part of which is composed of  the defence of a diploma thesis. In Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine, they must sit for the "státní rigorózní zkouška (State Rigorosum examination). The holders of the degree of "magistr" can sit for a State Rigorosum examination in the same field and defend a thesis to acquire the academic degree of  "doktor práv" (JUDr.) in Law , "doktor filosofie" (PhDr.) in the Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, "doktor přírodních věd" (RNDr.) in natural sciences, "doktor farmacie" (PharmDr.) in Pharmacy, "doktor teologie" (ThDr.) or "licenciát teologie" (ThLic.) in Theology. The abbreviations of all the academic degrees mentioned above are written before the name.

University level third stage: Doctoral studies (doktorské studium):

The third and highest level of higher education consists in studies for the Doctorate under the guidance of a tutor. The programme comprises scientific research and independent study. The programme usually lasts between three and four years. Holders of a Master's Degree (Mgr., MgA., Ing., Ing.arch., MUDr., MDDr., MVDr.) may apply. Studies lead to the academic degree of "doktor" (Ph.D.) or "doktor teologie" (Th.D.) in the field of Theology. The abbreviations are written behind the name. Studies end with the State Doctoral examination and the defence of a dissertation.

Teacher education:

Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers

Basic school teachers are trained at Faculties of Education. Teachers of the first stage of primary school follow a four-year course, those for the second stage follow a five-year course combining two subjects. Those specialized in Music Education are usually graduates of four-year or six-year conservatories.

Training of secondary school teachers

Secondary general school and secondary technical school teachers are trained in Faculties of Education, Arts, Philosophy, Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Physics,  Physical Education and Sports, as well as in Technical, Economic and Agricultural Faculties. They obtain their qualifications through Master's degree courses.

Training of higher education teachers

Higher education institution teachers must hold an academic degree awarded after having successfully completed the Master study programme, and usually hold a degree of "kandidát věd" (before 2001) or "doktor", abbreviated as "Ph.D.". Academic staff members may be appointed to the following ranks: profesor (professor), docent (associate professor), odborný asistent (senior assistant), asistent (assistant) and lektor (lecturer). Docents (associate professor) in a specific field are appointed by the Rector on the basis of the habilitation procedure. Professors in a specific field are appointed by the President of the Czech Republic according to the procedure for the appointment of a professor.

Non-traditional studies:

Distance higher education

Four distance education centres in Prague, Liberec, Brno and Olomouc have been established. Some non-governmental educational institutions, such as J.A. Comenius and the Open University Fund also offer distance education. The National Centre for Distance Education was established in 1995 as a department of the Centre for Higher Education Studies.

Lifelong higher education

Czech higher education institutions have been offering adult education for over a century. Several institutions, centres or institutes of lifelong learning have been established which offer a whole range of educational activities to enable participants to upgrade their qualifications,  re-qualify or follow up special interests. In the sphere of adult education, a number of higher education institutions cooperate with foreign universities in various fields, and more especially in Management and Languages. Universities of the Third Age have been created in sixteen faculties and cover a large range of subjects.

ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Admission to university-level studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Maturitní vysvědčení

For entry to: all higher education institutions

Numerus clausus/restrictions: The number of students is limited by the capacity of each institution or faculty.

Other admission requirements: An entrance examination or interview may be required in all higher education institutions.The decision on admission at the study programme level is made by the Dean, the decision on admission at the higher education institution level is made by the Rector. In higher education institutions specialized in Arts study, including Architecture,  and in faculties of Education and Sport, part of the entrance examination is called "talentová zkouška" (talent examination).

Foreign students admission

Definition of foreign student: A foreign student is a person enrolled at a Czech higher education institution who is not a permanent resident of the Czech Republic.

Quotas: None

Admission requirements: The Secondary-School-Leaving Certificate must either originate from a state with which the Czech Republic has agreements on the equivalence of diplomas for university entrance or be validated by the Regional School Authorities (školská oddělení krajských úřadů).

Entry regulations: Entry regulations are governed by Act no.326 of 30 November 1999 on Residence of Aliens in the Territory of the Czech Republic. The text of this Act and applications for permission to reside in the Czech Republic can be found at http://www.mvcr.cz/inf_turi/english/index.html.

Health requirements: Health certificate required.

Language requirements: Foreign students who do not have adequate knowledge of the Czech language can follow a basic one-year course. Information is available at http://www.cuni.cz/cuni/ujop. Some faculties teach several courses in English or German.

Recognition of studies & qualifications:

Studies pursued in home country (System of recognition/accreditation): The study programmes of all higher education institutions are subject to accreditation. Accreditation is conferred by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports which decides on the basis of the Accreditation Commission statement.

Studies pursued in foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):

Centrum pro studium vysokého školství - Středisko pro ekvivalenci dokladů o vzdělání (Centre for Equivalence of Documents about Education)

Head: Štépánka Skuhrová

Centre for Higher Education Studies
U Lužického semináře 13
118 00 Praha 1
Czech Republic

Deals with credential recognition for entry to: University

Services provided & students dealt with: Provision of information, advisory services for decision-makers, evaluation of diplomas at the request of decision-makers.

Special provisions for recognition:

For access to university level studies: The relevant regional school authority (školské oddělení krajského úřadu) is competent to confirm the equivalence of secondary-school-leaving certificates obtained abroad with the "maturitní vysvědčení" if there are  bilateral agreements between the Czech Republic and the countries of origin of the documents. It can also establish the nostrification of the documents if there are no agreements.

For access to advanced studies and research: Recognition of higher education diplomas obtained abroad is the responsibility of public higher education institutions, which have similar or equal study programmes. In some special cases, recognition is provided by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

Multilateral agreements concerning recognition of foreign studies

Bilateral agreements concerning recognition of foreign credentials

References to further information on foreign student admissions and recognition of studies

STUDENT LIFE

Main student services at national level

Akademická informační agentura (Academic Information Agency)

Senovážné náměstí 26
P.O.Box 08
110 06 Praha 06
Czech Republic

Category of services provided: Academic and career counselling services

Services available to foreign Students: No

Dům zahraničních služeb, MŠMT (House of International Services of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports)

Senovážné náměstí 26
P.O.Box 8
110 06 Praha 06
Czech Republic

Category of services provided: Special services/Centre for foreign students

Services available to foreign Students: Yes

National student associations and unions

Student Chamber of Council of Higher Education Institutions

Masarykova univezita, Údolní 53
602 000 Brno
Czech Republic

Health/social provisions

Social security for home students: Yes

Social security for foreign students: Yes

Special student travel fares:

By road: Yes

By rail: Yes

Available to foreign students: Yes

Student expenses and financial aid

Student costs:

Average living costs: 300 (Euro)

Type of financial aid available:

Scholarships/grants/fellowships:

First Degree studies:

Home: Yes

Foreign: Yes

Advanced/doctoral studies:

Home: Yes

Foreign: Yes

Bodies providing information on student financial aid:

House of International Services of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (Dům zahraničních služeb MŠMT)

Senovážné náměstí 26
P.O. Box 8
110 06 Praha 06
Czech Republic

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION & EXCHANGES

Principal national bodies responsible for dealing with international cooperation and exchanges in higher education:

International Relations, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports

Head: Jindøich Friè, Director

Karmelitská 7-8
118 12 Praha 1
Czech Republic

Participation of country in multilateral or bilateral higher education programmes

GRADING SYSTEM

Usual grading system in secondary school

Main grading system used by higher education institutions

Theses: with honours; pass; fail.