The Czech Republic or Czechia is an increasingly popular destination amongst Indian medical aspirants. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 1500 Indian students were studying in the Czech Republic in 2022. The country is renowned for its leading medical schools that hold positions in the top 50 universities, according to QS EECA (Emerging Europe and Central Asia) rankings in 2022.
Meanwhile, the medical schools of The Czech Republic are recognized by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Medical Council of India (MCI). The entry requirements to Czech medical schools include an entrance exam consisting of multiple-choice questions in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.
Students who have completed their secondary school education and have cleared the entrance examination conducted by the respective universities of Czechia are eligible to apply for medical studies. The entrance examination consists of multiple-choice questions in physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics. Applicants may also be required to submit English language proficiency certificates such as IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE.
According to the US News and World Report 2022-23, the top universities in the Czech Republic for the study of clinical medicine are Charles University (Prague), Masaryk University (Brno), and Palacky University (Olomouc).
Charles University is one of the top 2 percent of global universities and is ranked 151-200 for medicine in the QS Ranking 2023 and fifth in the QS EECA University Rankings. Charles University is one of the oldest universities in the world and was founded in 1348. Charles University has five independent faculties of medicine, three of which are located in Prague. These faculties offer medical programmes taught in English, hence making student life easier.
Palacky University Olomouc, the second-oldest university in the Czech Republic is known for its record in excellent education and research. The university has distinguished itself in terms of its publications in science and research and is located in the top student city of Czechia. With over 25,000 students from around the world, Olomouc is known as the Czech Oxford.
Masaryk University in Brno is the second-largest university in Czechia and one of the top 400 global universities. Brno is an important education hub with some of the top-ranking Czech universities located in the city. Masaryk University offers three full-time Master’s degrees in Medicine, Dentistry, and Physiotherapy.
Czechia is a relatively affordable country to pursue medicine with comparatively lower tuition fees and living costs. Students planning to study in this country need to have a budget of £250-540 per month to fund all the living expenses including accommodation, food, transportation, and social activities. The tuition fee at medical schools in the Czech Republic ranges from 10,000 Euros to 20,000 Euros.
The Central European country is home to 14 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and as per Global Peace Index 2022, one of the world’s top 10 safest countries. Czechia is full of rich and colourful cultural traditions reflected in its Gothic architecture, Renaissance castles, and diverse student community. With a population of around 10 million, city life is a beautiful experience as it is not very crowded.