Practical Information

Prague is the capital of Czech Republic and has about 1 200 000 inhabitants. According to many surveys, it is one of the most popular tourist places to visit. However, from the practical point of view, it is much cheaper to live in compared to other metropoles.

As the only capital among the cities hosting universities of LCT consortium, Prague offers a wide variety of cultural and entertainment opportunities (museums, galleries, concerts, theaters, clubs, sport events, pubs, ...). There are many shops for those with special (e.g. religious) requirements for their meals.

Prague is a popular tourist destination, so it is always quite easy to find somebody in your vicinity who speaks English. We will of course provide you with a Czech language course, but even without that, it is sustainable to speak English here.

Some practical information for foreigner students can also be found on the Charles University pages (e.g. Guide for International Students (pdf)). However, remember that they are primarily designed for European Erasmus students (not for ERASMUS MUNDUS students).

Long-term residence premit

We strongly recommend applying for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of study in the territory, which allows its holder to travel within the Schengen area.

All students who will spend their first or second year in Prague will receive further information from the local coordinators as soon as they are admitted to the program. In particular, the students will receive a package with documents necessary for a residence permit application, namely:

• The Czech translation of the LCT acceptance letter issued by the coordinator;
• The Czech letter to the consulate confirming the admission, the financial support from the EM grant, and the availability of accommodation;
• The document confirming the accommodation in the student dormitories.

Practical hint: Type-C Schengen Visa is not sufficient for stays longer than 90 days as it cannot be prolonged.

Documents required for visa application (this is only informative list – please check it at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic webpage):

• A travel document (passport);
• 2 photos;
• Completed Application form;
• Evidence of sufficient funds – the Czech letter to the consulate confirming your admission, accommodation and the financial support from the EM grant, and the LCT acceptance letter (mentioned above) are sufficient;
• Evidence of purpose of stay – the Czech letter to the consulate confirming your admission, accommodation and the financial support from the EM grant, and the LCT acceptance letter (both mentioned above) are sufficient
• Availability of accommodation – the Czech letter to the consulate confirming your admission, accommodation and the financial support from the EM grant, and the confirmation on accommodation in the student dormitories (both mentioned above) are sufficient
• Criminal record clearance / Police clearance certificate / an excerpt from the Penal Register;
• Medical report – a report verifying that you do not suffer from a serious disease (if requested by the consulate/embassy)
• Certificate of health insurance – the insurance provided by the LCT program should be sufficient.

Long-term residence permit applications are processed within 60 days after receiving a complete application. In complicated cases even longer time is required.

Once you are in Prague, you may take advantage of it being a capital city with all the embassies - you usually do not have to travel anywhere to get the visa for your second university.

Residence Permit - Foreign Police

All foreigners must register at the foreign police (in Czech cizinecká policie) no later than three days after their arrival. The foreign police office is open Monday-Thursday. Working hours vary depending on the day, so you should check those as well.

Address:
Foreign Policy (in Czech Inspektorát cizinecké policie Praha)
Koněvova 188/ 32, Praha 3-Žižkov
tel.: 974 820 400-2, 974 820 409
fax: 974 820 421
e-mail: ocppraha@mvcr.cz

Practical hint: Usually, there is a big crowd at the foreign police, so we suggest you go early in order to finish everything in the same day.

Accommodation

You will be allocated a room in one of our dormitories. Monthly rent ranges from 2 500 CZK to 4 000 CZK in a double room. Single rooms are available upon request, for about 6 000 CZK.

Finances and Bank Account

Czech Republic has not adopted Euro yet; the currency is Czech crown (CZK, Czech abbrev. Kč). 1€ is worth about 26.00 CZK (official exchange rates). Average salary in the Czech Republic is about 20 000 CZK. If you are a scholarship holder, you will get a very generous amount of about 35 000 CZK (1 350 euro) even after you pay the tuition fee, which will not only cover all your living expenses but also allows you to enjoy the cultural and social life of Prague.

Opening a bank account in the Check Republic will be one of your first obligations after your arrival (the procedure takes approx. half an hour). All major banks in the Czech Republic are owned by respected international companies. We can recommend e.g. KB (Komerční banka) or ČSOB - both of them offer student accounts, namely Gaudeamus offered by KB and ČSOB Student Account Plus.

If you are a scholarship holder the coordinator will send your scholarship to this account directly in monthly installments.

Tuition fee

The LCT consortium will charge you a tuition fee of 8 000 EURO per year (overseas students) / 4 000 EURO per year (non-overseas students). This amount will be paid directly to the consortium and the consortium will transfer the money to the university. Students do not pay anything directly to the Charles University in Prague.

Health Insurance and Health Care

If you are an EU scholarship holder and you have joined the program before 2010 then your health insurance is covered by EM Insurance Scheme. In addition to this EM Health Insurance you are covered by a Czech company.

Erasmus Mundus scholarship holders beginning the program from 2010 are covered by the Erasmus Mundus Insurance Scheme 2. In addition to this EM Insurance Scheme 2 you are covered by a Czech company.

Our international students (European as well as Non-European) can use medical care provided by the Student Health Care Center (in Czech Studentský zdravotní ústav Praha (SZUP)). This center provides medical care of practising physicians as well as of specialists (dentist, dermatologist, neurologist, psychologist and psychiatrist, surgery, otorhinolaryngology and others). The medical care of specialized doctors must be recommended / prescribed by practising physician.

Do not hesitate to visit a doctor as especially EM Health Insurance Scheme ensures you a very good coverage in case of any medical problem!

Address:
SZUP Spálená 12, Praha 1
tram. No. 6, 9, 18, 21, 22, 23 stop Národní třída

Transportation

Prague public transport is well-organized, to the extent that although it is a relatively large city, it is rarely necessary to take a taxi. There are three Metro lines, numerous trams and buses.

• a ticket valid for 75 minutes costs 26 CZK (student ticket 18 CZK)
• a three month-long public transport pass costs 1 480 CZK (student pass 720 CZK)

Czech Republic is a member of the Schengen Area, so if you are a Schengen visa holder, you may travel freely across most of Europe.

International Student Clubs

The main aim of the International Student Clubs is to organize all kinds of meetings, excursions and longer-term trips throughout the Czech Republic and to neighboring states. Students of the International clubs also provide practical information about how to survive and enjoy yourself here. Students of our faculty are welcome to join the Erasmus club at the Faculty of Philosophy & Arts.