Recognition of university education
Step number 1 Verify if your university diploma can be recognized
Verify if your university diploma can be recognized
First of all, make sure that your document can be recognized.
Which types of documents can be recognized?
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Only the documents of achievement of university education, i.e. a diploma certifying completed university study (Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate) can be recognized. This education must have been obtained at a university that is accredited by local Ministry of Education in the country of origin.
Academic recognition is not possible for certificates of qualification, retraining course certificates, etc. Academic recognition is a different procedure from the recognition of professional qualification although a document of academic recognition may be under certain circumstances required as one of the conditions to perform certain professions. More details about the recognition of professional qualification can be found under the tab "professional qualification recognition" or in the glossary under the headword "professional qualification recognition"
The diplomas issued by universities not accredited by a Ministry of Education in your country of origin can not be recognized.
Step 2 Find out information about your recognition authority
How do I find a university that provides a similar study program?
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In the in accredited study programmes at a higher educational establishments or at krakatau.uiv.cz you can search universities by study programs.
As soon as you find your study program or a program with similar content, look up more details about the program on the website of a university which provides the study program. Find out what the content of the program is, what courses are provided and the content and scope of the courses. For a better understanding of the Czech educational system and a better comparison of study programs, you can use the diagram of the Czech education system or profiles of education systems of the countries from which most of immigrants in the Czech Republic come.
What to do when I can't find similar study program provided by the Czech universities
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If you are not sure that the university you have found in the browser provides your study program or if you are not sure that the study program is similar to the program you have completed, don't hesitate to contact the university.
If you are not sure which university provides your study program feel free to contact the Higher Education Institution Department of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MŠMT)
Higher Education Institution Department
Karmelitská 7,
Praha 1, 118 12
email: nostrifikace @msmt.cz
phone: +420 234 811 238
If you found the university providing your study program (or similar) you have also got the contact point for your questions concerning the recognition process.
Step 3 Make sure you have all required documents.
1. Completed application form
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The application form is available on the website of the university providing your study program (or similar).
The graphics of template forms may differ from one university to another. But it always includes general information necessary for identification, such as the name and surname of the applicant, date of birth, official residence address, address for correspondence, name and address of the foreign university, name of the study program, date of start and end of the study.
2. Certified copy of legalized foreign university diploma prepared by the Czech notary (notář) and translated by the Czech court interpreter (soudní tlumočník)
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You are NOT supposed to surrender the original diploma but its copy.
To prove the authenticity of the diploma the document must be legalized in the country where it was issued. Then the copy must by certified by a Czech notary and the document must be translated into the Czech language by the Czech court interpreter.
3. a certified copy of the legalized diploma supplement or the list of completed exams prepared by the Czech notary and translated by the Czech court interpreter.
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If you possess a diploma supplement, have it translated into the Czech language. The diploma supplement is a standardized document issued in the countries that participated in the Bologna Process.
If you don't possess the diploma supplement, submit the list of completed exams. This document has no prescribed form. It should provide evidence as to the study program structure (completed courses) and the scope (number of hours) of each course.
Like the diploma, the diploma supplement, the completed exam list has to be legalized, authorized by a Czech notary and translated by the Czech court interpreter.
4. Documents that the recognition authority can require in case of doubt or dispute
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If the university has any doubts, it can require additional documents, e.g., proving that your study program was provided by an education institution authorized by the ministry of education of the country where you obtained your education.
The recognizing university can also require additional information on the content of your foreign study which can help to evaluate comparability of the study programs. The Academies of Arts may require, e.g., the program of your graduation performance etc.
What to do when I can not obtain a diploma, diploma supplement or a list of completed exams
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If you don't posses the required documents, you can not apply for recognition.
The only exception is if you are holding a subsidiary protection status or are granted asylum in the Czech Republic. Then you can replace the missing documents with a declaration of honour.
Step 4 Submission
Submit your application with all required documents to the university providing your study program (or similar). Usually you can submit your application to the study department, university international department or the mail room. It is always useful to contact the university and ask for details about the place of submission.
You can submit your application:
1. personally
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The easiest and surest way is to visit the competent university and submit the application in person. The university administrator can then examine your application with all attachments and point out possible shortcomings. Thus you can avoid the lengthy process of dealing with written reminders and accelerate the execution of your application.
2. Application can be submitted by your official representatives
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Application can be submitted by representatives who have your official authorization to act on your behalf in the matter of recognition of your university education. You need to provide your representative with written power of attorney in order to provide an authorization to the administrative authority.
The form for authorizing your representative available from the link on the right side of the screen.
3. Submit by mail/correspondence
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Step 5 Execution of your request
How long is the period for processing the recognition request?
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The period given by law for processing the request is 30 days. In difficult and complex cases, the period can be extended to 60 days.
This period shall run only from the moment when all documentation with all supplements have been submitted and the university administrator (or other recognition authority administrator) has not found any shortcomings and accepted the application.
After submitting the application, you need to wait for the observations that the competent authority is supposed to file in the set period. We can recommend that you pay attention to the mail coming to the address which you listed in the application as your contact address. You can also authorize the representative that will receive mail on your behalf and inform you about it. The university may also ask you to supplement the documentation.
You can not speed up the procedure by further inquiry about the state of the process. Contact the authority only if you do not receive the decision within a 30 day period.
What is happening during the process?
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During the 30 day period the university administrators are comparing the list of courses you studied including its scope (number of hours) with the curriculum of a similar study program at the Czech university.
Here you can find a detailed diagram of the Czech educational system.
Do not be disturbed by the fact that the curriculum and the scope (number of hours) of your studying may differ from the study program at the Czech university.
Recognition process bound by an international agreements
If you completed your education in the countries which have signed a bilateral agreement with the Czech Republic (Slovakia, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Slovenia) as to recognizing foreign school reports as equal to Czech education certificates, the content of your study program and scope (number of hours) will not be compared. After submitting all required documents, the regional authority will issue a certificate recognizing the equivalency of the foreign diploma in the Czech Republic. Bilateral agreements, nevertheless, do not cover all types of education. If you obtained your education in one of the countries mentioned, you should make sure which types of education the agreement covers.
Step 6 What may be the result of my request of recognition of foreign higher (university) education?
1. Positive decision
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If the content and scope of your study program conform with the curriculum of similar programs in the Czech Republic, your education will be recognized. Within 30 days from the submission of your application to the recognizing university, you will receive a decision and a recognition supplement to your diploma/school report. Your education is then officially considered as equal to the same type of education in the Czech Republic and your diploma can be used as a document as to education necessary, e.g., for the university admission process or a document providing evidence of your qualification for performance of non-regulated professions.
However, the recognition of your education does not entitle you to use the Czech academic titles (e.g. Mgr, MgA). You can henceforward use the title that you obtained at the foreign university (e.g. MBA etc.).
2. Negative decision / request rejected
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If your education (content and scope) significantly differs from similar study programs in the Czech Republic your request for recognition may be refused.
What shall I do if my request has been refused?
If you receive a negative decision, you have the right to appeal within15 days from the receipt of the decision.
How to submit an appeal?
If the university decision is negative, you have the right to appeal to the higher institution, to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. The appeal must be submitted to the authority that issued the contested decision (university) which will pass it to the Ministry as an appeal body. If the Ministry of Education (or other ministry) was the recognition authority where you submitted your application, you are supposed to file a remonstrance against the decision of this ministry. The remonstrance shall be decided by the minister.
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MŠMT)
Higher Education Institution Department
Karmelitská 7, Praha 1, 118 12
email: nostrifikace @msmt.cz
phone: +420 234 811 705 (111), fax: + 420 234 811 790, http: www.msmt.cz
What to do if I do not succeed with my appeal at the Ministry of Education?
If you do not succeed at the Ministry of Education with your appeal against the negative decision, you may study the program once again in the Czech Republic.
