The Czech Republic offers excellent opportunities for international students to study Medicine. Aspiring doctors can start applying for medical schools after graduating high school and passing the university entrance examination. Medical education in the country lasts for six years, and many universities offer programs in English.
Furthermore, Medicine is typically the most expensive degree program in many countries, and studying in the Czech Republic certainly deviates from this fact. Tuition costs in top-caliber universities in the country range from €8,000 to €13,000 per academic year.
With a top-class education at an affordable cost, it is not surprising to find a considerable influx of international students. If you are looking to become one of them, this article lists the best medical schools in the Czech Republic.
Can Foreigners Study in Medical Schools in the Czech Republic?
Yes, foreigners can study Medicine in the Czech Republic. Medical schools in the country offer English programs and awards the Medicinae Universae Doctor (MUDr) degree, equivalent to Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. European Union countries, the United States of America, and most countries worldwide fully recognize degrees obtained from the Czech Republic medical schools.
One of the universities that accept foreign applicants is Masaryk University. Aspiring medical students must have completed their secondary education and pass the university entrance examination before applying to medical school. The university accepts applicants from the United States and Canada based on their Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score and applicants from France based on their Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills (PACES) score.
What is the most prestigious medical school in the Czech Republic?
The most prestigious medical school in the Czech Republic is Charles University in Prague. The university is one of the largest in the country, with almost 50,000 students across 17 faculties. Established in 1348, it is also one of the oldest in Europe. The university’s QS Top Universities 2020 ranking in Life Sciences and Medicine is at 224th, considerably higher than other Czech universities on the list. Meanwhile, Times Higher Education placed it between 251st to 300th in its 2021 Clinical and Health ranking, also significantly higher than its fellow universities in the country.
Best Medical Schools in the Czech Republic
1. Charles University – First Faculty of Medicine
Charles University has three faculties of Medicine, with the First Faculty of Medicine located in Prague. It is one of the university’s founding faculties since its establishment in 1348, making it Central Europe’s oldest medical faculty. Currently, Charles University is the best medical school in the Czech Republic, with over 1,200 staff and 3,400 students, 800 of which came from over 50 countries.
The faculty offers a Master’s program in Medicine for aspiring doctors, which takes six years to complete. It starts with preclinical and theoretical subjects in the first three years. The next three years allow students to focus on clinical subjects. While the program uses the English language, students must learn Czech to communicate with patients during their hospital training. The faculty provides practical training to students through its clinics in different Prague hospitals, including the General University Hospital and Motol University Hospital.
2. Masaryk University – Faculty of Medicine
Masaryk University is another top medical university in the Czech Republic. Its Faculty of Medicine, established in 1919, has 50 clinical departments with 82 professors and 102 associate professors. The faculty enrolls over 4,300 students and offers General Medicine and Dentistry degree programs. It also has E-Learning preparatory courses in English for aspiring medical students and the Czech Language Course for international students in the university.
The faculty offers a Master’s degree in General Medicine and Dentistry. The General Medicine program lasts for six years and five years for Dentistry, with English as the medium of instruction. However, students need to learn and pass the Czech language year-end examinations during their first four years in medical school. It is to ensure that students can communicate fluently in the patients’ native language.
3. Palacký University – Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
Medicine studies at Palacký University date back to 1753 when the Faculty of Philosophy provided the medical lectures. More than two hundred years and several other transitions later, the university re-established the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry in 1946. Together with other universities, specialized institutes, and hospitals across Europe, this top medical school in Czech Republic delivers leading education and scientific research.
General Medicine, Dentistry, and Doctoral study programs are available in the faculty. Applicants interested in the six-year General Medicine degree may enroll in the English or Czech program. The first two years of the program start with theoretical subjects, and the succeeding semesters introduce the preclinical and clinical courses. Practical training mostly occurs at the Olomouc Faculty Hospital.
4. University of Ostrava – Faculty of Medicine
The University of Ostrava Faculty of Medicine, established in 1993, is the youngest medical faculty yet among the leading medical schools in the Czech Republic. It is also one of the most modern teaching and research centers in Central Europe. With over 1,700 students, the faculty ensures that they graduate well-equipped to pursue medical and healthcare careers.
The faculty offers a six-year Master’s degree in General Medicine. Students learn theoretical courses during their first and second years in the program and preclinical subjects in their third year. Clinical internships occur in the fourth and fifth years and pre-graduation practical training in the sixth year. The entire program uses the English language.
5. Charles University – Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové
Established in 1945, the Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové is one of the three medical faculties of Charles University. It was first established as part of the Faculty of Medicine in Prague and eventually became a separate faculty with high-quality teaching staff and departmental structure. Currently, the faculty provides Medicine and Dentistry education to more than 1,509 students.
It offers a six-year General Medicine degree in the Czech or English languages. Medical students in the English program need to take the Czech language courses to communicate with patients during their clinical lessons in the Faculty Hospital.
I hope that this article on the best medical schools in Czech Republic was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Medical Schools Category!
