- When can I start the recognition of my education through the internal evaluation process?
You can start working on the authentication of your documents straight away. However, you need to pass the entrance examination before you can apply for the internal evaluation of foreign education (recognition of education) at a faculty. The faculty will then nominate you for the process. - When do I not have to request the evaluation?
Czech and Slovak education documents, as well as the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the European Baccalaureate (EB), do not require internal evaluation. Selected secondary or higher education diplomas from Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, and Germany fall under international recognition agreements and may not require internal evaluation at CZU. Because each agreement includes specific conditions and exceptions, applicants holding documents from Germany, Slovenia, Poland, or Hungary must always verify with their Study Department whether internal evaluation is required for their specific case. Czech general nostrification is also accepted. A nostrified bachelor’s diploma can be used only for admission to a master’s programme. Applicants to a bachelor’s programme must always present a relevant secondary school qualification. If you do not need to request an evaluation of your foreign education, do not pay the internal evaluation fee. The fee is non-refundable at any stage of the process. - Can I apply for an internal evaluation if I have not yet completed my high school/bachelor's studies? Can I send incomplete documents and add the rest later?
No, the evaluation can only assess completed education. If your studies have not yet been completed, we cannot start the evaluation. The process starts only with a complete set of required, officially translated, and legalized documents. However, review the instructions and be prepared for the process. We accept temporary diplomas/provisional certificates or confirmation of graduation in this case. There is no need to wait for the final diploma. The transcript of records must be final. - What is the difference between internal evaluaion and nostrification?
Without recognition of foreign education, a foreign applicant cannot be enrolled in studies.The assessment of foreign education can be carried out in two ways: within the admissions process, so-called internal evaluation, or general nostrification (outside the admissions process). These are, therefore, two different processes, each with a different duration and different outcomes. The assessment of foreign education as part of the admissions process “internal evaluation,” is the recognition of your prior education by our university (CZU). No document or certificate is issued for the internal evaluation. This is not an administrative procedure in the sense of traditional nostrification; rather, it is a significantly faster and administratively easier process. After the evaluation is completed, you will only receive information by e-mail. The internal evaluation is valid only for a one admissions cycle and for one specific study program. If you apply again or for a different program, you will need to undergo a new evaluation. A positive result from the internal evaluation cannot be used for any other purpose, in another term, or for any entity other than CZU. Keep in mind that requirements may change every year, and if CZU has doubts, it may refer the applicant to general nostrification.
General nostrification is the official recognition of foreign education by the Czech Republic. For secondary education, it is handled by regional authorities; for higher education by public universities. It is a formal administrative procedure under the law and is therefore a longer and more administratively complex process. The outcome is an official decision on the recognition of foreign education in the Czech Republic in the form of a printed document, which can also be used in admission procedures at other schools in the Czech Republic. If you want to apply for an evaluation of your university foreign education outside the admissions process - i.e. nostrification of higher education at CZU - please visit this page general nostrification. CZU does not provide general nostrification of secondary education. - When should I pay the evaluation fee?
After the entrance examination you will be contacted by your faculty or the study department of the rectorate with an information email. Evaluation fee will be set after you are admitted and nominated for the evaluation by your faculty. See the guide, how to proceed with the payment. Without the payment the evaluation cannot be processed. This fee is non-refundable. - What is the deadline for submitting documents?
Submit your documents as soon as possible. The internal evaluation must be completed before registration. The applicant is fully responsible for ensuring timely completion. Submitting documents is only the first step of the internal evaluation process. We are not responsible for missed registration deadlines. - Do I need to send my academic documents to CZU by post, in hard copies?
We require your documents in hard copies delivered by post, DHL, FedEx, UPC or a similar company. There is a partial exception for EU countries, United Kingdom, Iceland, Norway, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, see the article „Authentication of Documents“. Documents can be also submitted in person only at Podatelna/Mail Room (Rector´s Office Building, ground floor), Mon–Fri, 7:00–15:00. The envelope must be addressed to the correct contact person to ensure proper delivery. - Do I need to send to CZU original documents or are copies sufficient?
CZU only accepts documents that are provided with original authentication (such as a superlegalization stamp, apostille sticker, Ministry of Foreign Affairs verification or certified copy depending on the country of origin). Do not send original academic documents, so we can eliminate any problems of returning them back to you. Ask the Embassy or the Apostille authority to issue a certified copy. All certified copies with original authentication stickers submitted to CZU are kept in the student’s file and are not returned. CZU also accepts certified copies issued by a Czech Embassy or a Czech notary. Please note that the notary's stamp must be on every page containing any text or other stamps (such as apostilles or superlegalization labels). The notarization of your superlegalized, apostilled or Ministry of Foreign Affairs authenticated documents from your local notary is not allowed.We only accept the first certified copy of the translated document, copies of copies cannot be accepted.
- Do I need to post to CZU my documents in my language? Or just English or Czech translations?
We require certified copies of your documents in your language, firmly bound with the official translation by a sworn translator, so that no page can be substituted. The notaries or translators do so. The documents bound only with a stapler would not be accepted. - Who can translate my academic documents?
Only registered and authorized official sworn translators can translate your academic documents. Translations from unregistered translators or translation agencies will not be accepted. All parts of your documents must be in English or translated into English (or Czech) – including the notaries’ and translators‘ clauses, stamps etc. - What is an eligibility statement?
The bachelor’s programme applicants should submit an eligibility statement from their secondary school, which states that their high school is accredited by an officially recognized body (town, municipality, state), if it is a private or public school and that their high school education makes them eligible to study a bachelor‘s programme in the country of their study. It is possible to use our form. - How long will the internal evaluation take?
The process may take 2-8 weeks, a longer deadline must be expected, especially in the summer period where there is a high number of applications. This period should be counted from the moment, when the faculty or rectorate has all the required documents from the applicant and the evaluation fee is paid. - For how long is the internal evaluation of my documents valid?
As the internal evaluation procedure is a part of the admission process, the recognized documents are valid only for that specific programme in the particular academic year. If you want to study another programme or you want to study next year, you need to re-apply for the internal evaluation. - Is it possible to enroll in studies without a recognized foreign education?
Without recognition of a foreign education, whether through internal evaluation or nostrification, a foreign applicant cannot be enrolled in studies. This is a requirement of the Czech Education Act. It is important to begin the evaluation process in time and check the enrollment deadlines and any deadlines for requesting an alternative enrollment date. We are not responsible for missed enrollment deadlines.
