Citizens of other EU countries and their family members have access to education and school services under the same conditions as the citizens of the Czech Republic.
The Czech educational system is broken down as follows:
Preschool Education
The preschool education for children aged 3 to 6 is usually provided by kindergartens.
Basic Education
Basic education in the Czech Republic is composed of nine grades and it is broken down into two levels. The first level (grades 1-5) takes place at basic schools and the second level (grades 6-9) takes place at the senior level of a basic school or in the junior grades of a grammar school (“gymnazium”) or at an eight-year conservatory.
Compulsory School Attendance
Children are required to attend school from ages six through fifteen. The required schooling takes place at a basic school, the junior grades of a grammar school (“gymnazium”) or at a conservatory. Regional authorities in the Czech Republic are obliged to arrange for the free preparation for entering basic education system for children of EU citizens, including teaching of the Czech language.
Secondary Education
The following programs are part of the secondary education system:
Secondary education with a school-leaving examination — students are prepared for more demanding and qualified professions or for entry into the tertiary education system. The programme is completed with examination and graduates receive a certificate.
Secondary education with a vocational certificate (2 or 3 years) — students are prepared for qualified professions largely involving manual types of work. The programme ends with a final exam and the receipt of a vocational certificate. Students who complete this type of programme can enter follow-up courses and receive a certificate.
Secondary education (1 or 2 years) — this programme is designed for students with special educational needs. The programme ends with a final examination.
Types of secondary schools: grammar school “gymnazium”, secondary technical school and secondary vocational school. All courses are taught in the Czech language but there are schools that offer bi-lingual courses.
Conservatory Education
Conservatories provide a very special type of education in music, dance, singing and drama. The studies are completed by “maturitni zkagka” examination or “absolutorium”.
Tertiary Professional Education
These are three or three-and-a-half year programmes that are designed to enhance the knowledge and skills obtained during a secondary education programme and to provide practical training for the performance of more demanding professions. These programmes can be also taught in a foreign language and are completed by “absolutorium”.
Higher Education
The higher education system is provided at three levels:
- Bachelor’s Programme (3 or 4 years). This programme is aimed at preparing the students for a professional career or for a follow-up Master’s Programme. The programme is completed with a final state examination.
- Master’s Programme (1-3 years, as a follow-up to a Bachelor’s Programme or 4-6 years, when completed as a standalone Master’s Programme). This programme focuses on theoretical knowledge and it is completed with a final state examination (or a rigorous examination), part of which is the defense of a thesis.
- Doctoral Programme (3-4 years). This programme is designed for students with Master’s degree and it is completed with a state doctoral examination and the defense of a disertation.
Some colleges and universities offer courses taught in foreign languages, mainly in English or German.