Slavic Brothers
Czech universities, like those in our country, admit applicants – both domestic and foreign – based on entrance exams. All faculties require Czech language as a mandatory subject, plus two other subjects depending on the specialization. Fortunately, our languages share common roots, and our students find it relatively easy to learn the brotherly Slavic language. According to statistics, after just a couple of months in the Czech Republic in specialized language courses, one can learn to speak and understand Czech more or less decently.
It would seem that knowing the language and being well-prepared in specialized subjects, getting into a Czech university is not difficult. But that is not entirely true. Firstly, competition for the best universities and most popular specialties (which, oddly enough, primarily include humanities: psychology, law, sociology, journalism, etc.) is high, and not every Czech can pass it, let alone a foreigner. Secondly, our secondary school certificate has recently become insufficient for admission to a Czech university: there are not enough hours – Czech schools have 13 years of education, while we have 11. Therefore, one either has to take additional exams in some subjects, which is difficult, or first enroll in a preparatory faculty, which the vast majority do.
An important point: for admission to international programs conducted in foreign languages, as well as to most private universities, there is no need to take exams. But tuition there is paid, comparable in price to Western educational institutions. You also have to pay for studying at a preparatory faculty, but not much – 5,960, including accommodation in a student dormitory.
Pre-university preparation programs for foreigners have existed in the Czech Republic for a long time. One can prepare for almost any university at a special educational institution – the Institute of Language and Specialized Preparation (UJOP) of Charles University. Here one can often see many of our compatriots sitting at laptops in the local library.
Graduates of the institute enter higher education institutions of the country under the same rules as Czechs, but because they take entrance exams in writing, they can send applications to several universities at once, not just one. Moreover, it is enough to take the exam once and use the results for admission to different universities. That is, if you do not pass the competition for one university, you can enter another where the competition is lower (for example, at the most famous and prestigious university in the Czech Republic – Charles University – the passing score averages 240 out of 300). Another option is to retake the exams if there are still vacant places in that faculty (too few applicants have passed).
The pre-university course includes, in addition to Czech language, classes in general education subjects. The standard program lasts about 10 months – from September to June. During this time, a graduate of our school manages to learn Czech, improve their first foreign language, prepare in subjects, and – most importantly – adapt to life in a new country. Recently, a shortened, half-year course has been opened, but it is only suitable for very capable and well-prepared students. Those who pass the written exams are allowed to an interview, which tests knowledge of spoken Czech and Czech life realities.
Although UJOP does not give a full guarantee of admission, the failure rate among foreigners – graduates of the institute – never exceeds three percent. The hardest to get into are law faculties. There are practically no problems for those who choose business, economics and related disciplines. If you are already studying at a university, then to transfer to the Czech Republic you will need to take a language course during the semester.
Having become a member of the EU, the Czech Republic has certainly gained in terms of education: universities introduce common European standards, check the quality of curricula and professionalism of teachers, and diplomas from this country are recognized throughout the unified Europe. This means that after graduating from a Czech university, one can go, for example, to Belgium or Spain and get a job there. Of course, employers still choose the smartest, most capable and prepared. Studying in the Czech Republic creates prerequisites for a successful career, and then everything depends on how a person manages their knowledge.
Hungarian Rhapsody
Hungary, like the Czech Republic, is known for its high level of education, and its universities also have experience working with foreign students. But the Hungarian language – it is not Czech, it is not so easy to learn. However, higher education is free. Actually, it is completely free for locals, but foreigners still have to pay – on average €2 thousand per semester. However, it all depends on the program and university – for example, at medical faculties prices are higher, while elsewhere they are, on the contrary, quite low. But in any case, higher education in Hungary is cheaper than similar education in the West.
Most universities set their own system of entrance tests, but certain faculties conduct a unified written and oral exam. Admission rules for a particular university can be found at the special service National Higher Education Admissions Office (Orszagos Felsooktatasi Felveteli Iroda). It can also serve as an intermediary between the applicant and the university, handling the preparation and submission of admission documents. The conditions for admission to a university are similar to ours: it requires a diploma of completed secondary education and successful passing of entrance exams.
The recognition of foreign educational documents is handled by the Hungarian Equivalence and Information Center (Magyar Ekvivalencia еs Informacios Kozpont), which operates under the Ministry of Education of the country. Despite the difference in the duration of school education, a domestic secondary school leaving certificate is usually sufficient for admission even to the most prestigious - medical faculties. The only restriction is age not younger than 18 years.
Preparation of foreigners for Hungarian universities is carried out centrally - in an independent educational institution called International Higher Learning Centre. The center's program lasts 10 months and costs just over $2,000. The center does not guarantee admission. But it still makes life easier for applicants by cooperating with universities on a contractual basis and providing its graduates with some benefits when applying.
Some Hungarian universities also have their own preparatory departments, which can be entered with our secondary school certificate. In addition to Hungarian, the preparatory departments prepare students in subjects that will be required for entrance exams. Some universities count the final exams at the preparatory department as entrance exams.
Preparatory courses also exist at English-language departments of universities. For example, to enter the preparatory department of the medical faculty of the University of Debrecen, it is enough to have a secondary education certificate, knowledge of English, and be at least 17 years old. Classes begin in September.
So far, Hungarian higher education institutions are less known in our country than Czech ones. The first Hungarian university was founded in 1367 in the city of Pécs. The Budapest University also belongs to the oldest and most famous universities. But the system of higher education finally took shape only by the end of the 19th century, and the church, not the state, had a great influence on this process. Therefore, even now there are many universities in this country that belong to religious organizations.
Since 1949, with the coming to power of the communist government, the university system of Hungary was restructured according to the Soviet model, and the Russian language became a compulsory subject of the curriculum. In the late 80s - early 90s, after the fall of the communist regime, a movement towards a unified Europe began. By the time Hungary joined the EU in 2004, the higher education system was fully brought into line with European standards, and academic degrees and diplomas obtained at Hungarian universities became recognized in all European countries, as well as in the USA and Canada.
Hungarian education in the fields of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and pharmacology is highly valued, recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and throughout the European Union. English-language programs are specifically available for foreigners. Such programs in general medicine, dentistry, and pharmacology are offered, for example, by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Debrecen. The faculty includes 22 scientific and 25 clinical departments covering almost all major areas of medicine, and it operates one of the largest hospitals in Hungary with 1,800 beds. About a thousand students study at the English-language department of the faculty, more than half of whom are foreigners from 40 countries worldwide. There are especially many Europeans and North Americans, who are attracted by the fully recognized medical diploma in EU countries and America at a relatively low cost of education.
Hungarian universities also have programs in other foreign languages. Many educational institutions have partnership agreements with prestigious foreign universities. So you can start studying in Hungary and finish in another country. Or get a double degree without leaving the country.
Higher education institutions in Hungary include universities and colleges (most of which are state-owned), as well as universities belonging to religious organizations. Hungarian universities award a bachelor's degree after 4-5 years of study (for medical specialties - after 6 years). A master's degree requires 1-3 years of study, and a PhD is obtained after another three years of study and research. College education usually lasts 3-4 years and ends at the bachelor's level.
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