Charles University in Prague - CMSS Only
The historic capital of Bohemia, Prague has been an important political, cultural, & economic centre in Europe since before the 9th century, when Prague Castle (the largest ancient castle in the world) was built.
To this day, the city of Prague continues to be a vibrant source of music, culture, food, and film. Its streets are a contrast of modern engineering and medieval architecture, balanced by frequent parks and spaces for social events.
Founded by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in 1348, Charles University was the first university in central Europe, and one of the few medieval universities around the world. Its vibrant history and academic tradition is highly appealing beyond Czechia's borders: 20% of its current 55,000 students are international, and the university welcomes a large number of exchange students every year.
Key information
Student experience
Welcome to Charles University! An introduction & campus tour from two current students.
CUNI
Program details
The information below was last updated on: May 29, 2026
Our exchange partnership with CUNI is through their Faculty of Social Sciences. Under this faculty, exchange students can take courses in Security Studies, Political Science, International Relations, Economics, Sociology, Communications, and Journalism. Generally, there are at least several courses in each area taught in English per semester.
To browse courses, use the Course Search Page. The course registration page explains how to search for courses, although it's aimed at students who are already accepted for exchange.
- Always check the language of instruction and the semester in the course description!
- In the course code, pay attention to the 3 letters. The first letter refers to the faculty (J=Social Sciences), the second letter refers to the department or institute (E=Economics, J=Journalism/Media, M=International Studies, P=Political Science/Security Studies, S=Sociology, etc.), and the last letter refers to the study level (B=bachelor, M=master).
CMSS exchange students are expected to take most or all of their courses with the Faculty of Social Sciences. It may be allowed to add a course from a different faculty, if there is space available and you are approved by CUNI. It's also allowed to add other courses for exchange students such as Czech language or sport classes, however these may or may not transfer back to your UCalgary degree, depending on the credit awarded; check with your academic advisor.
Courses at CUNI award ECTS credits. 6 ECTS = 3 units at UCalgary. CMSS exchange students are required by CUNI to select at least 3 courses. Note that course registration happens after your arrival in Prague, so flexibility is important.
The academic year is divided into 2 semesters:
- Winter semester (equivalent to UCalgary Fall) runs from mid September to late December, with final exams written in January
- Summer semester (equivalent to UCalgary Winter) runs from mid February to late May, with final exams written in June
For students attending the first semester, you should be prepared to stay until the end of January as exams may be scheduled throughout the month. In order to leave earlier, students must arrange alternate assessments or early exams with your professors when you arrive at the start of the semester, or be flexible to switch classes if needed.
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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.
Estimated costs according to CUNI (accurate as of 2026):
- Housing: 4,500-8,000 CZK per month
- Meals in university cafeterias: 5,000 CZK per month (cheaper if buying groceries and cooking for yourself)
- Public transport: 500 CZK per month
- Total: 10,000-13,500 CZK per month ($660-900 CAD)
The cost of living in Czechia is on average comparable to that of other Central and Eastern European countries, and lower than Calgary by far.
Prague Cost Comparison vs Calgary: Click Here
Also, remember to include things like visas, insurance, vaccinations etc in your budget planning. Please Note: Czech visa applications may require travel to Toronto to finalize your residency permit and take biometrics. Your documents may also need to be translated into Czech.
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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 studying abroad, you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are otherwise eligible to receive from the university, as well as student loans.
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund and the Global Learning Award. Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
Exchange student accommodations will be arranged by the host faculty at CUNI. Most students stay at Větrník, Hvězda or Kajetánka dormitories.
Monthly rent ranges from 4,500 to 8,000 CZK ($300 to $530 CAD), depending whether your room is a single (private) or double (2 beds), and if the bathroom is shared with 1 other room or a larger bathroom on a hallway of rooms. Students are able to express their preferences.
If students prefer to search for private housing, this is allowed. However, it's not usually recommended, as the housing market can be challenging to navigate for foreigners.
Students who live in one of the CUNI 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 housing must register with the police within 3 days of arrival.
CUNI has a number of student cafeterias & restaurants near the dormitories and campus buildings. Student prices are typically less than $5 CAD per meal.
This exchange is only open to regular, full-time graduate students in the UCalgary Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-).
No knowledge of Czech language is required, as students can study entirely in English.
After your application has been approved by UCalgary, you will be required to obtain an academic reference letter written by a CMSS professor. Please see suggested guidelines for the reference. The reference should be provided to you directly; if your professor is not comfortable sending it to you, they can instead send it to the UCalgary global learning office.
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 run an Orientation Program each semester. This program is designed for incoming students in order to take care of many practical arrangements related to their studies (registration, student travel passes, library access, etc.). There are also a variety of other clubs that exchange students can join, as well as a buddy program for exchange students.
The Faculty of Social Sciences at CUNI is divided into 5 institutes spread across 4 different locations in Prague: the Hollar, Opletalova, Rytířská, and Jinonice Buildings (the latter is the only one located slightly outside the city core).
Does CUNI offer Czech Language classes?
Yes! Czech language classes are offered at various levels, from beginners to intermediate. Exchange 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 an additional charge (the lowest rate is approx. $800 CAD for 3 months of evening classes during the semester). The language class credit is also not included on your CUNI exchange transcript, although you will receive a certificate or proof of completion for your personal records.
Are there accessibility or counselling supports for students?
CUNI's Office for Students with Special Needs offers students an avenue to discuss their needs and requirements and provides ongoing support throughout the semester. They provide support for a wide range of disabilities and accessibility needs. They also provide quality counselling services for all stages of your adjustment to life in Prague.
While many accessibility supports are organized by a key contact in your host faculty, CUNI also has the Carolina Centre which provides more general support services for all students. For instance, they regularly update an Accessible Campus Map.
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.
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.