06 - Czech Republic - Admission requirements

A pre-condition for admission to tertiary education is attaining střední vzdělání by passing the maturitní zkouška (ISCED 3A) and fulfilling admission requirements set by the individual institution.

The law provides for equal access to tertiary education for all national minorities as well as for foreigners.

Tertiary professional education

A basic pre-condition for admission to education at vyšší odborné školy is a maturitní zkouška certificate. Students are admitted on the basis of the results of the admission procedure. The school head must publish the deadline for submission of an application form, the documents which are its component parts, dates when the admission procedure takes place and criteria for its evaluation at least two months in advance. The head of the institution may decide on whether this procedure will include an entrance examination and sets its possible content and form in accordance with the teaching and study documents for secondary education concluded with maturitní zkouška.

The entrance examination usually includes a written element and an interview. At some schools (pedagogical and art) talent examinations are included as well. The school head notifies applicants in writing of their admission or rejection within seven days of the examination date or of the decision date if the examination does not take place. If an applicant is not admitted to a course, s/he can file an appeal within 15 days of the day when the school head's decision was delivered to them.

Under the Education Act, it is possible to accept students directly into higher levels if their knowledge corresponds to that level.

The head decides on the number of students admitted in accordance with the capacity set for the school on its registration in the school register and in accordance with the long-term objectives of individual regions.

The law states that age cannot be a barrier to admission to studies.

Higher education

The fundamental requirement for entering a Bachelor's or Master's study programme is the same as for the whole tertiary sector – a vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce ( maturitní zkouška certificate). For fine arts degrees, applicants who have gained their absolutorium from a conservatoire may be admitted, including in some cases students without a maturitní zkouška.

In general, admission to studies at higher educational institutions is limited primarily by the capacity of each institution. This number of students which will be funded in the academic year is limited at the central level by the amount of money allocated to school through formula funding.

Particular vysoká škola decides on the number of students in individual fields and forms of study.

According to a 2004 amendment of the Higher Education Act, a vysoká škola or a faculty may set different conditions not only for admission of applicants who have completed all or part of their studies at a vysoká škola in the Czech Republic or abroad, but also for applicants who have completed all or part of an accredited education programme at a vyšší odborná škola or who are studying on an accredited education programme at a vyšší odborná škola in the Czech Republic or in a relevant institution abroad.

The condition for admission to a Master's study programme following on a Bachelor's degree is the successful completion of the Bachelor's study programme. In some cases, though, the vysoká škola may also set further conditions relating to the study fields or a number of credits gained in certain subjects.

For admission to a doctoral programme an applicant must have gained a Master's degree.

Any further requirements as to the knowledge, abilities or talent or educational achievement of applicants are the responsibility of the vysoké školy themselves. An institution can also set a maximum number of students to be admitted. The conditions must be published at least four months in advance.

People may apply for admission to several study programmes (or to several study fields in one study programme) at one faculty or vysoká škola or at several faculties or vysoké školy at the same time.

At most vysoké školy the applicants take an entrance examination which aims to select the most able ones and to establish a list determining the order in which they are to be admitted depending on conditions set in advance. The content and form of the examination are completely in the responsibility of the relevant vysoká škola. It normally consists of a written exam that aims to assess the applicant's knowledge. Tests of study skills may also be included. Some 20% of vysoké školy organise an admission interview with applicants.

Tests of artistic talent are used by vysoké školy for admission to performing and fine arts programmes and for primary school teacher training. The former use the tests to determine the applicant's artistic talent, the latter to assess the level of ability in music, visual arts and physical education necessary for teaching at a primary school. A talent examination usually proceeds the admission examination.

A report on the result of the admission proceedings is made public within 15 days of the final day of the proceedings. If an admission examination is included, basic statistics relating to all its parts are released. Decisions on admission or non-admission must be given in writing and delivered to the applicant within 30 days.

If a course is offered by a faculty, the dean decides on admissions. If it is taught at a university, the decision lies with the rektor. A decision on non-admission may be appealed against within a set time limit. If a dean refuses the appeal, the rektor may change a decision that was issued in conflict with the law, an internal regulation of the institution or with conditions set by the university or the faculty itself. At private vysoké školy, admission is decided on by a body which is established based on internal regulations.

When applicants are accepted for a study programme, they have the right to be enrolled in the institution. On enrolment the applicant becomes a student.

Students need not go on to higher education immediately on completing their secondary schooling. There is no legal age limit for commencing higher education studies. The law on higher education makes it possible to study on more than one programme at more than one vysoká škola either in parallel or successively. Under specific conditions studies can be fee-based.

Admission to a specific programme is dependent on the student's achievement in the admission proceedings and is limited by local conditions and the number of places in some fields. Although there is a constant growth in capacity, it is currently still not possible to satisfy all the applicants every year even though the percentage of applicants accepted is rising

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