Want to go study in the Czech Republic with guaranteed success? Follow these instructions and don't try to argue with them - they're written from the experience of hundreds of successful students, and importantly, the experience of thousands of unsuccessful ones.
Background
One of the most common questions I'm asked - how do you actually go study there? Which courses to choose? Will I get in? Which city to apply to?
I realized I answer such questions consistently several times a month, so I decided to collect all my knowledge in one place. It's also more convenient for you - you can send the link to friends who want to go somewhere but don't know where. Studying in the Czech Republic is great when you've done everything smartly. But how bad the Czech Republic is for those who economized on their emigration - both time and money.
Important. Disclaimer.
If you really want to leave - you need to follow the instructions exactly, step by step. Where there are several options, I'll write about it. In other cases, it's worth doing what's been tested by time and a bunch of students who accumulated successful and not-so-much experience. If you don't follow the instructions or follow them only partially - there's even a chance you'll make it to the Czech Republic, but your life here will be full of stress, so such a journey won't last long.
The article will be long, read it completely at least once. If it inspires you - come back, read more until you understand everything.
If it doesn't inspire (and it won't inspire 9 out of 10 people) - that's normal, there are many other ways in the world to waste a bunch of time and money :) Don't argue with the method I propose - it's not for nothing that the article title has the word "one hundred percent". You can leave somehow in different ways, but to do it well, so that it still works guaranteed - that's hard. By the way, the one hundred percent method is also the "difficult and expensive" method, so be prepared.
Who is this method suitable for?
People from about 16 to 30, in individual cases the upper limit is unlimited. The earlier - the better (answer why at the end). As for mental abilities, language talent, etc. - it's enough to be an average idiot to leave and live pretty well (I managed). Any brains and talents will only multiply your chances of living really well.
What will you get as a result?
An independent human larva, living in the center of Europe a calm measured life, studying free at one of Europe's best universities, who can provide themselves with means for food and blackjack. If you need something else - probably should read other blogs or, at worst, listen to grandmas and believe that "where you were born, there you're useful".
Why did I need to write this?
Moral duty. I left only because once upon a time someone took and wrote for free about what, how and where. Even then there was chaos on the internet and it was hard to find worthwhile information. In short, I left because someone made an effort and shared. Returning the debt - maybe I can help someone who will come and also bring benefit to others.
Dobře (Czech: good)? Then let's begin.
Step One. Moral Preparation.
Yes, such an "easy" first step. Unfortunately, it usually lets down young piglet Peter in his emigrant endeavors. I'll tell you in detail what I'm even talking about.
First, when to start? Answer: one-two years before departure (your departure will be in September right after finishing school or university). Earlier is better. What questions do you need to answer before even starting to act?
- Why am I leaving?
- Why specifically the Czech Republic?
- Am I sure there's nothing to catch at home?
- Do I understand that if it doesn't work out, I'll lose several years of life?
- Is there enough steel in my balls? You'll have to solve non-standard emigrant problems that friends won't help with
Ideally, write the answers somewhere on paper, so your brain gets used to the idea that all these efforts are not the result of you just deciding one day over beer: "screw all this, I'll go to the Czech Republic, they film porn there". No, this should be the result of a conscious decision. Ask yourself difficult questions until the answers become obvious.
I also advise finding a friend-comrade in misfortune who wants to go study in the Czech Republic - humans are built so they feel calmer and more confident when they realize they're not alone in deep trouble.
How to check if motivation is sufficient?
Motivation is sufficient when you have no more unanswered questions.
If you suddenly want to ask "so which institute is better to apply to?" - you're very far from the level required for departure.
If you're a parent and you're asking questions instead of your child - they will NEVER feel good here.
Step Two. Money
If people just don't care about the first step and then suffer, the second step will simply reject 90% of those interested.
Yes. Only after you've definitely decided you need to go - you need to collect money. First collect, then go.
How much? 10,000 Euros. I have no idea how much that is in rubles or hryvnias. What will this money go for? For the first year and a half of stay, then we'll move to complete self-sufficiency if the money runs out. I won't detail it, just trust me, while there's no ten thousand - we sit at home and look.
update 2021:
I would say that currently you need at least 12,000 euros
Where to look? With mom, dad. Go to work. Sell a one-room apartment in Omsk that you got from grandma. In short, once again - save up 10 thousand euros.
Difficult? Read your answers to the questions from the first point and understand what it's all for. Didn't get easier? Naturally, it's moving to another country. Want to give up and spend it on something else? Back to step one, means you haven't fully understood that you decided to leave.
Result - exactly a year before departure (maximum, 6 months) you need to have the required sum. Half of this sum you'll need to have in your account so they give you a visa, and you'll pay the other half for yearly courses.
Step Three. Understanding the Plan, Starting the Process
Now it's worth briefly understanding what your future emigration process is.
First year in the Czech Republic - only language courses. Only.
Somewhere in the middle of the first year - intensive preparation for university admission.
At the end of the year - problem-free admission (you prepared, right). Info one hundred percent - if you prepare even a little, you'll definitely get in, I have a million examples.
For information - I'm a linguist, I had much fewer chances than you, and still - got in :)
Then the first six months at university, understanding what the workload is there.
If you feel it's going normally - you start working part-time. Again, info one hundred percent. Not finding work is very difficult. The Czech Republic is currently experiencing a work boom. You chose the right time.
At this moment you're already capable of fully providing for yourself (without luxuries). If interested, use the calculator and calculate how much money a student needs per month. In short, at the moment of starting work you're already an independent person. You can start being proud of yourself.
Study in bachelor's (after school) lasts 3 years, in master's (after university) - 2 years.
This time is enough to understand well what to do next (study more, work, go to Germany or return home and become the first guy in the village).
Important: now, sitting at home, you have no idea what you'll be doing. For now you're just dreaming about the Czech Republic and beer (and that's normal at this point). But after 3 years of life in the Czech Republic you'll understand everything, everything will fall into place. Just trust me.
Read these three paragraphs carefully again. But let's return to money.
Why 10 thousand? 5 thousand will go to yearly courses (a bit less, a bit more - doesn't matter). The other 5 - for absolutely carefree living in the first year-and-a-half. Yes, by the way - you need to have these 5 thousand before entry to get a visa. No money - won't get a visa. This is important, first year - only courses, only studying. This should be your best year in the Czech Republic, otherwise it will bore you later. And in general, you should reward yourself with such a year for carefully reading the article and completing the first 3 points.
Step Four. Preparation for Departure.
Plan clear? If I ask what you'll be doing in December during courses, will you say with certainty that you'll be resting and learning a new language?
Great. Time to act. All previous steps contained a lot of theory. This one is a lot of practice. Painful, unpleasant.
So. Exactly a year before departure (I assume you'll be either in your last year of school or last year of university) you should apply for language courses. Which courses to choose? There's no choice, good courses are only one - courses at Charles University (UJOP).
These are the only courses whose certificate is officially recognized by universities and other government institutions. The rest are just papers.
How to enroll? I recommend going to podebrady.ru and filling out the application there. They personally helped me with all the details. To be clearer - this is the official partner of Charles University, which accepts applications and sends them directly to the university in a convenient form for everyone (for this Charles pays them a commission, which they in turn spend on things useful for students). And on top of that, they have free airport transfer, free SIM cards, and all this pleasure - at the official price. In short, this is free advertising (nobody asked me), but if the method is one hundred percent - you can leave one hundred percent only through them.
update 2021:
In 2017 nobody argued about which courses are better - everyone knew everything perfectly, we live here after all, know each other.
Somewhere in 2019-2020 many other language courses realized how profitable it is, bringing Russians to Europe to have fun under the guise of "education".
Millions of bloggers on YouTube were bought. Result - thousands of students coming to party.
Don't ask me which courses are better.
Ask yourself - why do thousands of students enroll in "other courses" annually, and I was the only one studying in Prague?
Why did everyone on the internet start worrying whether a visa would be stamped specifically for "his courses", and I didn't even know it was impossible not to get a visa?
Why don't "new time" courses brag about graduation exam results unlike me?
But cheaper! And lots of excursions!
When choosing courses, choose by these criteria:
- average score for Czech graduation exam
- percentage of admission to top Prague universities
Don't buy into everything else - if "new courses" can't brag about at least a dozen quality students out of a thousand who came, you're unlikely to be an exception
Then during the year you'll collect documents and apply for a visa. If you register at podebrady.ru - you won't have problems, they'll explain everything down to the smallest detail.
This year do what's needed. Collect documents, get your diploma. Live a normal life and remember that in a year your life will turn upside down a bit.
During this year you'll face many adventures. You'll learn to get documents from officials. You'll encounter incredible problems getting documents, but, thank God, you read my instructions and started doing everything in advance. Here, for example, for information - you pay taxes, salaries for police come from them. An official lives on this salary, who makes a certificate of no criminal record for a month and..makes a mistake in spelling your surname (can't decline nouns). The certificate becomes invalid, we wait another month. Or here's a simpler example - you're making a bank account statement, but you can't make it at the branch you came to, because despite identical signs, these are two different banks.
Someday I'll tell my story of how this preparation year went for me. For now I'll just say - you have to endure this year, then it'll be better.
In short, during this year you'll become more hardened and add another reason to the list from the first point.
Step Five. Let's Go
Somewhere in May I already had a visa. Getting a visa is a point of no return. You'll understand you've done everything, all that's left is to fly, and that's cool. I had a whole 4 months to finish all my business at home. Get your diploma, deregister from military registration, dump your girlfriend, find a new girlfriend, say hello to friends, buy a suitcase. In short, this phase is strictly individual, finally I allow you to do whatever you want. What you definitely shouldn't do - don't drink beer and don't try to start learning Czech. You'll do these two things THERE. Seriously, don't learn Czech at home. You paid courses for this, it's now their problem (they know how to solve it, trust me).
Step Six. Courses, Education, Admission.
You need to arrive at courses with an empty head. Enjoy this year. Learn the language. Don't try to pass the final Czech exam with less than 90 points. In winter start thinking about admission. Choose from top universities in Prague - ČVUT (technical), Charles (everything), VŠE (economics), VŠCHT (Chemistry). Ask teachers where to apply. Stop communicating with those who said to apply somewhere other than Prague.
It's desirable to apply to something harder - by this time you'll be used to setting harder tasks for yourself, so you'll handle difficult studies too. I recommend starting a blog about your studies, so you let people know you're studying, and with each new reader it'll be more and more embarrassing to slack off and other body parts.
Public failures and promises are a great stimulus to study. You can't imagine how much crap was poured on me during this article's existence - what can you do, probably graduates of other courses and universities would beat me if they could get into Prague and buy a ticket from the cashier in Czech.
Step Seven. University. First Time.
The first six months at university will be a bit difficult. Time won't be enough, after a year of courses - lots of homework. Don't give up, almost there. Actually I thought here for a long time about how to describe what I think about local higher education, because, like, studying at university is not easy, 99% of students I know whine that it's just really something. My opinion - if you got here, everything's already OK. Yes, it's hard, but by this point you'll be used to it. And everyone who whines about how hard it is to study here - they, in the end, still live here, don't overstrain themselves and aren't in a hurry to leave. Means it's not so hard that you'd go back to point number one and start thinking: "What, is everything here already too?"
Pass the first session. Establish yourself at university, imbue yourself with your new life. Start looking for work to buy yourself beer on weekends. Found it? Wonderful. No? Don't worry, there are scholarships, internships. You won't disappear.
Step Eight. This Was Just the Beginning.
If you got here - means everything's good for you. Next you can plan without me: want - work, want - study further. Don't forget to look back and thank those who helped. Or take and trash my article, because you'll definitely do better.
By this point, usually, you'll form your own opinion about what and how to do, and you'll just laugh at my instructions :)
That's how it is. I'll repeat once more - the goal of the article was to inspire those who've long wanted to leave but weren't sure everything was possible. Don't forget to share the article on social networks, like, subscribe, unsubscribe, all that, maybe it's just your friend who's restless.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should you leave at an early age?
Because the human brain is built so that with age it's harder to agree to such adventures. You get used to living as you live, you want to say I'm a fool, sold out, wrote crap, but you're smart. At 16 you'll read the article, get inspired and inspire your parents to send you away from home. At 30 you'll directly say about me: "What an idiot, teaching me about life".
Can't find money at all, just really not. What to do? Maybe instead of courses learn Czech with a tutor?
No, don't. A tutor costs money, living at home also costs money. Seek and ye shall find. And in general, investing this money is the best investment in my life.
I also made a video about how to properly ask parents for money for moving:
Haven't you sold out to UJOP, podebrady.ru, Czech Ministry of Interior, _insert as needed_? How much do they pay you for _insert as needed_?
No. Nothing. The only internet income I get is on patreon - i.e. from you.
Will I definitely learn the language?
Definitely. In my memory at UJOP courses only those who didn't attend didn't learn the language. I didn't miss almost a single day, and effortlessly passed with 98/100.
How to make parents pay?
Show them my instructions and explain your serious intentions. Annually about a thousand parents break down and pay, maybe yours will soften too.
A harder question. I'm a parent, how to make my child go study in the Czech Republic?
No way, don't do it, they'll ruin my statistics later.
Are you a Russophobe? Leaving Russia which gave you so much?
No.
Heard that Czechs hate Russians. Is this true?
True, don't come.
Want to leave, but I'm afraid the competition at universities is big, and I'm a humanities person, want to study English, international relations, become a lawyer and work at a bank. Haaaaard!
It's highly likely you don't want to leave for the Czech Republic, but just want to leave home. Go to point number one.
I'm a genius programmer-olympiad participant, English is my second native language, why do I need your Czech Republic when there are Silicon Valleys, Germanys, etc.?
Then the article doesn't suit you, people like you usually don't have questions starting with "how".
I'm a first year/9th grade student, and I DON'T WANT to finish studying, maybe I should leave right away?
No, finish what you started. With a school certificate it's much easier to apply for bachelor's (and with a bachelor's degree - for master's), you'll save a bunch of nerves.
Which university to apply to? Which is the best, which is valued?