Studying in the United Kingdom for Students from the Czech Republic

For Czech students, studying at a university in the UK can be a great opportunity to earn an internationally recognised degree, study in English, and experience university life abroad. But the UK application process has changed quite a bit since the "Brexit", so it is worth knowing what to expect before you start.

Why Study in the UK in an English-taught Degree Programme?

The UK has a huge range of universities and degree programmes, from large city universities to smaller campus-based institutions. Many programmes are highly specialised, and students can often focus on their chosen subject from the beginning of their Bachelor's degree.

For Czech students, studying in the UK also means studying entirely in English and gaining experience in an international academic environment. While famous names such as Oxford and Cambridge may immediately come to mind, there are many other high-ranking, recognised UK universities worth considering – especially if keeping tuition costs lower is your goal.

What Do Czech Students Need to Know in Advance?

There are a few important things to consider before applying, particularly for those from Czechia:

• Entry requirements: UK universities set their own requirements. Your Czech secondary-school qualifications, grades, subjects studied and other qualifications may all be considered, and requirements can vary significantly between universities and courses.

  
  

• English language: Students need to be ready to study at university level in English. Some universities and courses also require formal proof of English proficiency, such as IELTS, Cambridge English or another accepted qualification.

  
  

• UCAS: Most undergraduate applications to universities in the UK are made through UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Students can apply to multiple universities through one application, but there are important deadlines and some courses have earlier application dates.

  
  

• Tuition and living costs: Since Brexit, Czech students are generally treated as international students for UK university fees unless they qualify for a different fee status. Tuition fees can therefore be more significant, and accommodation and living costs need to be included in the overall budget. Students may wish to explore internships or work study opportunities to offset their study costs.

  
  

• Visa requirements: Czech students who did not have protected status in the UK before Brexit will generally need to meet the relevant student immigration requirements. IEUSC helps students check the current rules before making plans, as visa requirements can change.

Why It's Advantageous for Students to Start Planning for Applications Early

Ideally, students should start researching universities and courses well before their final year of secondary school. This gives them time to compare options, check entry requirements, prepare for any required English tests, and understand the UCAS timeline without leaving everything until the last minute.

It also gives students time to think about something that is easy to overlook:

• What they actually want from a university experience or degree?

• Do they want a particular career? A specialised course? A large city? A smaller university town? A placement year? International opportunities?

Starting with these questions can make the university search much more focused, but you don't need to have everything figured out on day one – IEUSC is here to help.