10 - Czech Republic - Branches of study, specialisation

In view of the different nature and sub-division of study fields at vyšší odborné školy and at vysoké školy.

Tertiary professional education

The structure of study fields at vyšší odborné školy is set by a governmental decree after negotiation with the relevant central trade union bodies, employer's associations acting on the territory of the whole country and with the regions. A government decree in 2004 introduced a new structure of study fields in basic and secondary education and education at vyšší odborné školy. The most frequent study fields in vyšší odborné školy are economics and administration, medical disciplines and pedagogy, and teacher training and social work.

The length of education at vyšší odborné školy in day studies is three years including the work practice; for medical disciplines it is up to three and half years.

Higher education

Study programmes cover almost all areas of science and the arts. They are usually subdivided into study fields which are, depending upon their content, included in the so-called basic study fields. The classification of basic study fields (CBSF) allows for their integration and subdivision. Individual study fields at vysoké školy are classified according to this classification which includes basic study fields.

The formulation and provision of study programmes is one of the recognised academic rights and freedoms of vysoké školy, so their number and prevailing orientation changes year by year. The decision as to whether an accredited study programme will be started or phased out is increasingly influenced, apart from by the relevant academic bodies, by the demands of the labour market.

Most study programmes allow students in the final years of their studies to choose a certain area of specialisation. The purpose of this specialisation is to bring the content of the studies closer to the individual interests of students and to the needs of their future employment. This part of the studies normally contains, on top of special lectures and seminars, a work placement of varying length. During the course of the work placement the student generally chooses the subject of their thesis.

Most vysoké školy have implemented the three-cycle study structure. Master's programmes continue to be accredited as a follow up to Bachelor's programmes except where the nature of a study calls for a traditional non-structured Master's programme. This is particularly the case with medicine, veterinary and some other fields (the situation in teacher training programmes is currently being resolved).

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