Charles University in Prague - CMSS Only
The historic capital of Bohemia, Prague has been a political, cultural, and economic hub in Europe since before Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle in the world, was built in the 9th century.
The City of Prague continues to be a centre for music, culture, food, film, and tourism to this day. Founded by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in 1348, Charles University is the oldest and largest university in Prague (53,000+ students) - the first university in central Europe and one of the few medieval universities around the world.
Key information
Application information
Program details
Areas of Study:
CMSS students are able to take courses in Political Science, International Relations, Economics, Sociology, Communications, and Journalism. There is a strong selection of subjects taught in English in Political Science, International Relations and Economics & Finance - though the selection of subjects in Sociology, Communication Studies and Journalism is not extensive, students will be able to apply for these subject areas as well.
Course Information:
To find courses, use the course search engine (click here). Please chose "Faculty of Social Sciences" for the faculty and "English" for the language and always double-check the language of instruction and the semester in the course description.
Pay attention to the last letter of the subject code. The “B” at the end of the subject code refers to the subject taught at the Bachelor level. The “M” stands for the Master’s level. The first letter of the 3-letter subject code refer to the Faculty (J is for Social Sciences), and the second refers to the Institute where the class is taught (E=Economics, J=Journalism/Media, M=International Studies, P=Political Science, S=Sociology).
NOTE: Students should take at least half of the courses with the Faculty of Social Sciences.
The following link has instructions on how to find an appropriate list of classes and how class codes work: https://fsv.cuni.cz/en/exchange/life/academic-information/course-registration
The Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University is divided into 5 institutes spread across 4 different locations in Prague - the Hollar, Opletalova, Rytířská, and Jinonice Buildings (the latter of which is the only one located slightly outside the city core).
The academic year is divided into 2 semesters. The "Winter" semester runs from late-September to mid-February and the "Summer" semester runs from mid-February to late June. It might be possible to finish semester 1 in December on a case by case basis if alternative assessments can be arranged with professors at the beginning of the semester.
Orientation programs for Winter Semester run for a week in mid-September, and for Summer, in mid-February.
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Costs
Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider. Also, remember to include things like visas, insurance, vaccinations etc in your budget planning.
The exact cost of your stay in Prague is largely up to you. The cost of living in the Czech Republic is on average comparable to that of other Central and East European countries, but costs of private housing are on the rise towards the costs in Western Europe. However, student accommodation is still very affordable, so it is recommended to budget at least Kč 8,500 per month to cover food, basic transit, and student accommodation.
Charles University has a number of student cafeterias and restaurants at different University locations. Student prices are guaranteed with a Charles University ISIC card used for paying for the meals (approx. Kč 35/$2 CAD per meal).
Prague Cost Comparison vs Calgary: Click Here
Please Note: Czech visa applications may require travel to the Toronto consulate to finalize your residency permit and take biometrics as needed - documents may also need to be translated - please speak with the exchange advisor as soon as possible about whether this will be required for you.
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Funding
Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you on exchange?
Since you remain a degree seeking student at UCalgary while on exchange you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.Our office administers the International Study Travel Grant for students travelling on approved UCalgary study programs that are credit bearing. The amount changes year to year as the money is split evenly between qualified applicants. Students may only receive the study travel grant once. Please see the exchange funding page for more information.
Exchange students will be automatically accommodated at Charles University “Kajetánka” or "17. listopadu" dormitories, unless applicants specifically decline this option. Monthly costs at 2016 rates range from $200-$270 CAD.
Students who live in one of the Charles University dormitories will be automatically registered by the Accommodation Office with the Immigration Police, so they are not required to do so themselves. Students living in private accommodation must register with the police within 3 days of arrival.
This exchange is only open to regular, full-time graduate students in the Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-).
An academic reference is required for a complete application.
What's so special about Charles University?
Charles University International Club (IC-CUNI) offers a variety of excursions, social events, and a highly-recommend buddy program for incoming exchange students, as well as a tandem teaching program (language exchange) and Czech film club. Both they and the Faculty of Social Sciences regularly run an Orientation Program in both winter and summer semester. This program is designed especially for incoming students in order to take care of many practical arrangements related to their studies (registration, student travel passes, access to Charles University libraries, etc.). There are also a variety of clubs available to students.
Do they offer Czech Language Courses?
Yes. Czech language classes are offered at various levels, from beginners to intermediate. Incoming students are welcome to register for these. However, because these classes are not part of the standard curriculum, they are not financed by the Czech Ministry of Education so there is a discounted charge to cover the costs of the program (roughly Kč 4,800 - $250 CAD for 12 weeks of classes and 6 hours of instruction per week). No knowledge of Czech is required for studies in this exchange program.
Are there accessibility or counselling supports for students?
Yes - the Office for Students with Special Needs offers students an avenue to discuss their needs and requirements and provides ongoing support through their time at Charles University. There are over 100 students with visual and hearing impairments, mobility difficulties and other disabilities enrolled at Charles University every year.
For information on accessibility and support services of campuses across Europe, please check out Inclusive Mobility. For city-specific services and places in Europe, the Jaccede interactive platform (website and/or smartphone app - both Android and iOS) also provides a searchable user-built database to identify important accessibility information of public places and locations.
Additionally, the Psychological Counselling Centre provides quality services to help get you through the challenges that you may face in emotional, interpersonal, and academic/career–choice situations.
Have questions?
The exchange advisor for this program is: Kathryn Bauer
How to Apply
Download the application guide
This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.
Identify three programs of interest
We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.
Check requirements and deadlines
These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.