Are you aiming to pursue higher education in Europe without taking on student debt? The Czech Government Scholarship 2027 offers a premier, fully funded opportunity to study in the heart of Europe. The Government of the Czech Republic offers scholarships within the framework of its Foreign Development Cooperation in support of the study of foreign nationals from developing countries listed below at public institutions of higher education in the Czech Republic. Granting scholarships to citizens of developing countries for studies at the Czech public higher education institutions (hereinafter referred to as “universities”) is an important part of the foreign development cooperation of the Czech Republic and has a long tradition. From the late 1950s to the present day, over 20 000 foreign nationals have completed their studies at the Czech universities with a scholarship of the Government of the Czech Republic.
Managed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MŠMT) alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Czech Development Agency (DZS), this government initiative supports international students from developing partner countries. Since the late 1950s, over 20,000 international scholars have earned recognized degrees through this flagship initiative. This guide breaks down everything you need to know—from eligibility criteria and required documents to application processes, monthly living budgets, and insider strategy tips.
Basic Information About the Czech Government Scholarship 2027
The Czech Republic’s Foreign Development Cooperation program awards scholarships annually to foreign nationals from designated partner countries. It covers standard study durations for Master’s and Doctoral (DPhil/PhD) programs, along with intensive language preparation where applicable.
- Host Country: Czech Republic (Czechia)
- Funding Body: Government of the Czech Republic (MŠMT & MFA)
- Scholarship for: Students from selected developing countries.
- Study starts: Academic year 2027/2028
- Universities: Public universities in the Czech Republic.
- Degree Levels: Follow-up Master’s and Doctoral (PhD) degrees
- Instruction Languages: English or Czech (with 1-year preparatory Czech language training included)
- Application period: 21 August – 30 September 2026
- Application Deadline: September 30, 2026 (hard stop for the 2027/2028 academic year).
- The scholarship supports:
- Master’s programmes
- Doctoral/PhD programmes
- A 1-year Czech language and preparatory course for selected Czech-medium programmes.
- Selected Master’s programmes — 2 years.
- Selected PhD programmes — 3–4 years.
University and Institution Details
Scholarship recipients attend top-tier Czech public higher education institutions. Public universities in the Czech Republic are renowned across Europe for research outputs, historical academic foundations, and high-tech campus infrastructure.
Featured Host Institutions
- Charles University (Prague): Established in 1348, it is one of the oldest public universities in Europe, excelling in Medicine, Social Sciences, and Humanities.
- Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT): A leading European hub for Civil Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, and Architecture.
- Masaryk University (Brno): Highly regarded for Informatics, Natural Sciences, Medicine, and Law.
- Prague University of Economics and Business (VŠE): Central Europe’s top business school for Economics, Finance, and International Trade.
- Czech University of Life Sciences (CZU): A premier institution for Sustainable Agriculture, Ecology, and Forestry.
- Selected follow-up Master’s study programmes (two-year-long programmes),
- Selected Doctoral study programmes (three- to four-year-long programmes).
Study Areas & Available Programs
- Master’s degree
- Duration: 2 years
- Must have completed a Bachelor’s degree.
- Available in English for applicants from Bangladesh.
- Only selected Master’s programmes are covered.
- PhD/Doctoral degree
- Duration: 3–4 years
- Must have completed a Master’s degree.
- Selected PhD programmes are available in English.
- Czech-language programmes
- A one-year Czech language preparatory course is included.
- However, this option is specifically mentioned for applicants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus.
- Economy
- International relations, political science, security studies, European studies
- Journalism
- Finance, banking and insurance
- Management and administration
- Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- Information and communication technologies (ICTs)
- Engineering, manufacturing and construction
- Agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary
- Interdisciplinary programs and qualifications (including health and social care, care for favorable living conditions*)
Czech Government Scholarship Benefits:
- Monthly financial support:
- Master’s students: CZK 16,000/month
- PhD students: CZK 24,960/month
- Helps cover the main living and study expenses in the Czech Republic.
- Accommodation costs can be covered from the scholarship.
- Food expenses can be covered from the monthly scholarship.
- Public transportation costs can be covered from the scholarship.
- Health services are provided under the government scholarship health-care arrangements.
- 1-year Czech language and preparatory course is provided for eligible Czech-medium students.
- Study at public universities in the Czech Republic.
- Scholarship covers the standard duration of the selected study programme:
- Master’s: generally 2 years
- PhD: generally 3–4 years
- Opportunity to study in English or Czech, depending on the selected programme.
- Opportunity to gain international academic and research experience.
- Students can build academic, professional and international networks in the Czech Republic.
- The programme supports students in gaining knowledge and experience that can later be applied for the development of their home country.
Benefits Not Included
Applicants should plan for a few initial out-of-pocket costs:
- International Airfare:
- Visa Application Fees: Long-stay study visa (D/VR) processing fees paid to local Czech embassies.
- Nostrification Fees: Minor charges for official academic degree recognition in Czechia.
- Local Public Transport Passes: City transit cards (subsidized for students, around $12–$20 USD monthly).
Eligibility Criteria for Czech Government Scholarship
To qualify for the 2027 intake, applicants must satisfy these administrative and academic benchmarks:
- Nationality Requirement: Must be a citizen of an eligible partner country (such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Moldova, and others designated under development schemes).
- Citizenship Restrictions: Czech citizens, EU/EEA citizens, and individuals holding permanent residence in the Czech Republic are strictly ineligible.
- Your foreign degree must be recognized by the relevant Czech public university.
- For a Master’s:
- Your Bachelor’s degree must be recognized.
- For a PhD:
- Your Master’s degree must be recognized.
- The university assesses whether your previous education is equivalent to Czech education.
- Applicants going directly into an English-medium programme generally need to arrange recognition before arriving in the Czech Republic.
- Age Profile: Applicants are generally expected to be at least 18 years old by the start of enrollment.
- Language & Knowledge Tests: Must complete the built-in online General Knowledge Test and English Language Test (for English-track applicants) during application submission.
- Depending on the country and document:
- Apostille or other legalisation may be required.
- Certified Czech translations may be required.
- English documents may sometimes be accepted by universities, but a Czech translation can still be requested.
Important rules after receiving the scholarship
You must:
- Focus properly on your studies.
- Complete the programme within the standard period.
- Follow Czech laws and university regulations.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
- Inform the authorities about important changes affecting your studies.
- Report serious problems that could delay your graduation.
- Prepare a final report after completing your studies.
- Return to your home country after completing your studies.
- Use your knowledge and experience for the benefit of your home country.
Eligible Countries
Bangladesh is one of the eligible countries, along with:
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Georgia
- Ukraine
- Belarus (democratic forces)
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Mauritania
- Zambia
- Bangladesh
- Cambodia
- Palestine
- Guatemala
- Honduras
Required Documents for the Application
Documents for Master’s applicants
You generally need:
- 1-page motivation letter
- Explain how you will use your education in practice.
- Explain how your study will benefit your home country after graduation.
- CV focusing on education and employment.
- Passport copy, if available.
- Required signed declarations.
- Birth certificate with required legalisation and translation.
- Recent medical certificate.
- Bachelor’s diploma and Diploma Supplement/transcript.
- Required legalisation/authentication of educational documents.
- Certified translations where required.
- Additional information about your previous university education, if required.
Important
Your Bachelor’s degree must be properly completed and must be recognized as equivalent to Czech higher education.
Documents for PhD applicants
In addition to the general documents, you need:
- 2-page motivation letter
- CV
- Master’s diploma and academic records
- Publication record
- 3–5 page dissertation research idea
- 2 recommendation letters from professors
- Other evidence of academic/research achievements, if available.
So, for PhD applicants, research experience, publications and a strong research proposal are particularly important.
Czech Government Scholarship Step-by-Step Application Process
Follow this sequence to ensure your application moves smoothly through embassy and university evaluations:
- 1.Account Setup & Program Selection:July – August 2026.
- Create an account on the official Register of Scholarships portal (managed by DZS). Select your intended program and instruction language (Czech or English).
- 2.Complete Assessment Tests:August – September 2026.
- Complete the online General Knowledge Test and English Language Assessment directly within the portal. Your score determines if your profile advances.
- 3.Final Application Submission:September 30, 2026.
- First, submit the online application.
- The Czech Embassy may invite shortlisted applicants for an interview.
- You will then submit/upload the required documents.
- Final scholarship proposals are sent to the Czech Republic around January 2027.
- Final decisions are expected through the Embassy by the end of June 2027.
Tips for a Successful Application
- Prep for the Online Knowledge Test: Take the online general knowledge test seriously. Brush up on world history, basic geography, logic, and global economics before opening the exam tab.
- Make Your 1,000 Characters Count: You have a strict 1,000-character limit for your motivation statement. Skip introductory fluff and state your goals directly: why Czechia, why this field, and how you will apply these skills back home.
- Consider the Czech-Taught Track: Programs taught in English face high global competition. If you choose the Czech-taught route, you gain a fully funded 1-year intensive language prep course, boosting your acceptance odds and opening deeper local career options.
- Prepare Nostrification Early: Legalizing foreign diplomas takes time. Start authenticating academic documents through your local Ministry of Education and Foreign Affairs immediately after shortlisting.
Monthly Living Expenses for International Students in Czechia
The Czech Republic remains one of Europe’s most affordable study destinations. Your government stipend effectively covers base living costs, especially outside high-rent zones in central Prague.
Here is an estimated monthly breakdown in USD ($):
| Expense Category | University Dorms (USD) | Private Apartment Share (USD) | Notes |
| Housing / Rent | $180 – $260 | $320 – $480 | Subsidized student dorms vs. shared private flats |
| Food & Groceries | $180 – $240 | $180 – $240 | Cooking at home and using student mensa cafeterias |
| Public Transport | $12 – $20 | $12 – $20 | Highly discounted integrated transit passes |
| Study Materials & Tech | $25 – $45 | $25 – $45 | Printing, books, and campus connection fees |
| Leisure & Social Life | $100 – $180 | $100 – $180 | Student discounts apply across cinemas, museums, and gyms |
| Total Monthly Spend | $497 – $745 / month | $637 – $965 / month | Well balanced by your monthly scholarship stipend! |
Why Choose This Scholarship?
- Full Financial Independence: Full tuition coverage combined with a monthly living stipend means you can focus entirely on academics.
- Central European Location: Positioned in the heart of Europe, the Czech Republic offers easy connections across the Schengen area for academic networking and regional travel.
- High Safety & Quality of Life: Czechia ranks among the top 10 safest countries globally, featuring high-quality healthcare, reliable public transit, and a rich cultural heritage.
- Free Language Acquisition: The included 1-year intensive language track lets you master Czech, adding a valuable foreign language skill to your professional toolkit.
- Post-Graduation Career Paths: International graduates from Czech public universities gain free access to the national labor market without needing a separate work permit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I work part-time while holding the Czech Government Scholarship?
Yes. International students at public universities holding a long-term study visa are legally permitted to work part-time during their studies. However, your primary focus must remain on maintaining strong academic standing.
Is there an age limit for the scholarship?
There is no fixed statutory upper age limit for postgraduate applications, but preferences are given to younger and mid-career professionals showing long-term leadership potential in development sectors.
Can I apply if my Bachelor’s degree was taught in English?
Yes. However, if you apply for an English-taught track, you must still complete the built-in online language assessment during application submission to confirm proficiency.
What happens if I fail the Czech preparatory language course?
You must pass your year-end language exam (typically B2 level) to transition smoothly into your chosen Master’s degree program. Failing to meet the academic bar may lead to scholarship revocation.
Application deadline
- Deadline: 30 September 2026
- Submit online through the official scholarship portal.
- Successful students start in the 2027/2028 academic year.
Official Link
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