Many people are interested in how to get into dormitories. I'll write here briefly and understandably (I hope).
If you're still in your home country and just want to come to Prague
You need to come to Prague in time before September 1. Ask on the faculty website, they'll tell you in the international department where they give out rooms to foreigners (those who study for free). The offer there is limited, but there is accommodation. For example, I was offered a hostel - an old building, 3 people in a room, for 89 euros a month. For new buildings (koleje) you'll have to stand in line for half a year.
From disadvantages - all such accommodation options are available only for academic year - September-June, that is, for the whole summer you'll have to move somewhere. Accordingly, all belongings during this time are quite problematic to leave in the room. However, if you leave everything in boxes or bags, stack in a corner and cover with a blanket on top - then you can try to beg the administration that your room not be given for camps and you can leave things for the summer. I myself did this - left most of the luggage, but there was some tension with the administration.
If you're already in Prague, a student of Charles University
Great! It's much easier for you. You're automatically a member of the university and have the right to get accommodation through the REHOS system. Through it, dormitories are distributed based on points that are awarded for certain reasons.
If you study for free, live far from the faculty - then you immediately have a lot of points (you can check here). I accumulated from 78 to 90 points depending on distance from home to faculty. By the way, points are calculated quite interestingly - you enter address, distance is counted by straight line, not by road.
To apply for a place in dormitories, you need to go to your information system, find a link with applications (usually in the upper right corner). Complete the application according to all the rules, then contact your study department and ask them to approve the application (say that you need accommodation), and also ask them to calculate your points. After this procedure, the application is considered complete. Further you wait.
In the spring all applications are considered (usually sometime in March), points are calculated, the "point cutoff" is determined for this year, applicants are ranked accordingly. This way they select those who are most in need of accommodation. At the moment I know that with more than 73 points there are 99% chances of getting in. By the way, I'll note that the data is rather rough - few concrete numbers are published on the site.
Applications for next academic year are accepted from October to the end of February. If an application is submitted in March - points are multiplied by 0.9 (or 0.95, don't remember exactly). If later - then even less.
I submitted an application in October, in March they gave me a single room in a new dormitory. In my understanding, they gave it to me because I studied for free, came to Czech Republic to study from afar (and accordingly if they wouldn't give accommodation - I would have to go home and couldn't study). There was a choice between Hvězda (located far from everything, 15 minutes from metro) and Hostivař (located on the outskirts of Prague, but there's a tram that goes directly to the center in 20 minutes). I chose Hostivař.
Besides the number of points, the most important thing is to submit application correctly and on time. It's also needed, when filling out the application, to specify the address where you now live and how far it is from the faculty. Accordingly, living in a hostel and specifying this address, I automatically got a lot of points - since the hostel is also a dormitory, by the way, there I live in a triple room, while in REHOS there are mostly single and double.
Points will also be added to those who have been awarded Rector's Award (that is, students who have achieved something in studies or public life). Although I don't know if this is true - because on one site they wrote that points for this are added, and in the REHOS document I didn't find such an item.
There's also a late sign-up for the REHOS system. For example, the first time I didn't get a room through REHOS, but many students didn't show up for settlement - their applications are again opened. So in a couple of days I found out about this news, quickly submitted an application and immediately got accommodation in September (got a room in Hvězda). You can find out about such information on the website dedicated to student accommodation.
I would also like to note that those who already have accommodation through REHOS from last year also need to go through the whole procedure again - otherwise they'll simply be evicted. Although, of course, in their case accommodation is provided 100%.
Conclusion
To get a place in koleje - it's necessary to try very hard. Usually this happens when luck is on your side.
From the positive, I can say that:
- Accommodation is available even for those who come late to Prague
- Single rooms are available
- It's possible to live all 12 months (that is, not move out for summer)
- Price is reasonable, 89-130 euros per month (for new buildings)
From the negative:
- There's no guarantee that you'll get accommodation or that they'll give you accommodation for 12 months - often give only for 10
- Rooms in the most modern koleje are distributed only through REHOS. And through REHOS, as I wrote above, it's quite difficult to get in
For additional questions - you can contact your study department, student union, or write to the accommodation department at ubytovani@ruk.cuni.cz