Checked by the NaMED editorial team: 8 September 2026. All amounts in the tables are taken from the official faculty pages and include links. Faculties set tuition fees separately for each academic year, so before submitting your application, always verify the figure using the link at the end of the article.
How much does medical education cost in Czechia
In Czech, medicine at a public or state university is free. No tuition is charged for the programme itself if the student studies in a Czech-taught programme within the standard period of study. This rule is the same for Czech and foreign students: nationality does not affect the price, only the language of the programme does.
In English, the same programme costs from €12,000 to €24,250 per year. The degree awarded is still the same. Over six years, the difference reaches €145,000.
So the main financial question when applying to medicine in Czechia is not “where is it cheaper to study?”, but “how much does it cost to learn Czech to the level needed to pass the entrance exam?”
Tuition fees at all eight faculties
This is the full table for the eight public medical faculties in Czechia. The left column is the Czech-taught programme, the right column is the same programme in English. The figures were taken from the official faculty pages on 8 September 2026.
| Faculty | City | In Czech | In English, per year | Dentistry in English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. LF UK | Prague | Free | €24,250 | €24,250 |
| 2. LF UK | Prague, Motol | Free | 420,000 Kč | Programme not offered |
| 3. LF UK | Prague | Free | 420,000 Kč | — |
| LFHK UK | Hradec Králové | Free | 400,000 Kč | 410,000 Kč |
| LFP UK | Pilsen | Free | 390,000 Kč | 390,000 Kč |
| LF MU | Brno | Free | 380,000 Kč | 400,000 Kč |
| LF UP | Olomouc | Free | €12,500 | €14,000 |
| LF OU | Ostrava | Free | €12,000 | Programme not offered |
A dash means the faculty does not publish the figure on a single official page, not that the programme is free. We do not insert estimates from other websites into such places.
Note the range: the most expensive English-taught option is about twice as expensive as the cheapest one, and you still have to pass the entrance exam everywhere. A paid programme does not remove the admissions selection.
Why Czech is free and when that ends
Free tuition is not a benefit for foreigners and not a promotion. It is a rule of the Higher Education Act: a public or state university does not charge tuition for a programme taught in Czech. Nationality does not matter; the language of the programme does.
The rule has a limit that applicants often learn about too late. Study is considered free within the standard length of the programme plus one year. General medicine lasts six years, so the buffer extends through the seventh year inclusive. After that, the university begins charging fees for “longer study”.
The amounts are real. In its dean’s order for 2026/2027, the Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen set the fee for exceeding the standard length in General Medicine at 52,000 Kč for each first six months; for dentistry, it is 65,000 Kč. Other faculties have their own figures of a similar order.
The practical conclusion is simple: free tuition does not remove the need to pass exams on time. That is exactly why it is important to apply with genuine Czech proficiency, not with the bare minimum for the admissions committee. A student who does not understand the lectures loses a year — and with it, free tuition.
Six years of study: the Czech path versus the English one
A yearly figure does a poor job of showing the scale of the decision. General medicine lasts six years, so the full programme has to be calculated as a whole.
| What we compare | Czech-taught programme | English-taught programme |
|---|---|---|
| Fees for 6 years of study | €0 | approximately €72,000–€145,500 depending on the faculty |
| Preparation before admission | Czech language plus biology, chemistry and physics | English language plus subject tests |
| Entrance exam | yes | yes |
| Final title | MUDr. | MUDr. |
| Recognition of the degree in the EU | the same | the same |
| Language of clinical practice in a Czech hospital | Czech | Czech will still be needed |
The last line is the one people write about least often. Even in an English-taught programme, the student works with Czech patients, and after graduation Czech is needed for practice in Czechia anyway. The English route does not eliminate Czech; it only postpones it to a later and more expensive stage.
That is why preparation for a Czech-taught programme pays off faster than any other admissions expense. The one-year turnkey preparation costs less than one month of English-taught study at 1. LF UK.
What “free” does not cover
A free programme covers tuition, not the whole family budget. An honest list of expenses looks like this:
- Preparation in Czech and the three subject areas.
- Application fee for each application. Each faculty has its own fee: for example, 940 Kč for an online application at 3. LF UK and in Pilsen, 2,500 Kč at 2. LF UK, €80 in Olomouc. Students usually submit several applications.
- Recognition of previous education and certified document translations.
- Visa or residence permit and health insurance.
- Living costs: dormitory or rent, food, transport, study materials.
- Fees for exceeding the standard period of study, if the student studies longer than planned.
We deliberately do not publish the “average student budget in Prague per month”. Such figures become outdated within one semester and depend on the city and lifestyle more than on the university. The cost of living in Pilsen, Hradec Králové, Olomouc and Ostrava is noticeably lower than in Prague — that is a separate argument in favour of non-Prague faculties.
Scholarships: what really exists
There is no single Czech-wide scholarship for foreign medical students. Support comes through the universities themselves, and the usual types are:
- Merit-based — awarded according to the results of the academic year; the amounts and threshold are set by the faculty.
- Housing — the so-called ubytovací stipendium, available to students who meet the university’s conditions.
- Social — for students in difficult financial circumstances, with supporting documents required.
- For research and mobility — for participation in research and exchange programmes.
A foreign student in a Czech-taught programme usually has the same access to these as a Czech student, if they meet the conditions of the specific university. You should check the scholarship page of the chosen faculty: the rules and amounts differ across the eight faculties and change every year.
We deliberately do not list specific amounts here. A scholarship is a welcome bonus, not the main source of study funding, and it should not be used as the basis for a family budget.
How the eight medical faculties differ
All eight award a comparable medical qualification and the same MUDr. title. They differ in city, size, language programmes and the cost of living around them.
| Faculty | University | City | What stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. LF UK | Charles University | Prague | The largest intake and the widest choice of clinical placements |
| 2. LF UK | Charles University | Prague, Motol | Strong paediatric tradition, base in the country’s largest hospital |
| 3. LF UK | Charles University | Prague | Integrated teaching and early clinical contact |
| LFP UK | Charles University | Pilsen | New campus, lower cost of living than Prague |
| LFHK UK | Charles University | Hradec Králové | Small intake, calm academic city |
| LF MU | Masaryk University | Brno | Second-largest student city, strong simulation base |
| LF UP | Palacký University | Olomouc | Compact campus, low cost of living |
| LF OU | University of Ostrava | Ostrava | Youngest faculty, most affordable English-taught programme |
The format of the entrance exam, the competition and the chances of admission at each faculty are covered separately: how to choose a medical faculty in Czechia.
Which medical specialisations you can study
The word “medicine” covers programmes with different lengths, different degrees and different prices for the English-taught version. First you choose the profession, then the university.
| Field | Duration | Title | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Medicine | 6 years | MUDr. | For those who want to become doctors and then specialise |
| Dentistry | 5 years | MDDr. | For those who value clinical work and precise manual skills |
| Nursing | Usually 3 years | Bc. | For those who want to enter clinical practice faster |
| Midwifery | Usually 3 years | Bc. | For those choosing to help women during pregnancy and childbirth |
| Physiotherapy | Usually 3 years | Bc. | For those interested in movement, recovery and rehabilitation |
| Nutrition therapy and therapeutic nutrition | Usually 3 years | Bc. | For those who want to work with nutrition in the healthcare system |
General Medicine and Dentistry are continuous master’s programmes. There is no bachelor’s degree in “general medicine” in Czechia, so you cannot apply to become a doctor after a three-year bachelor’s in a related field: it is a separate application to a six-year programme.
What a Czech medical degree gives you
General Medicine ends with the MUDr. title. For independent practice, a graduate continues postgraduate specialisation according to the rules of the country and the profession.
In the European Union, doctors are covered by a system for recognising professional qualifications. A qualification may fall under automatic recognition if it meets the requirements of Directive 2005/36/EC. “Automatic” does not mean “without procedure”: the graduate submits documents to the competent authority in the country, completes the registration requirements and proves language knowledge.
The average monthly salary of a doctor in Czechia in 2024 was 124,775 Kč, including bonuses and allowances; these are data from the Czech Statistical Office. For comparison: the annual fee for the English-taught programme at 1. LF UK is roughly equal to five such monthly salaries.
What this means for a family that watches its budget
Let’s boil it down to one decision. A foreign family has three real scenarios:
- Pay for the English-taught programme. €72,000–€145,500 over six years, the entrance exam is still required, and Czech will still be needed in the clinic.
- Apply to a Czech programme independently. Tuition is free, but preparation happens without a plan: language separately, subjects separately, documents at the last minute. The most common outcome is a lost year.
- One year of preparation, then a free Czech programme. The cost of preparation is the only major expense across all six years of study.
The third scenario is what NaMED has been doing for seven years. One schedule combines Czech, biology, chemistry, physics, mock exams in the format of specific faculties and document checks. You can start with a free assessment: the practice test in three subjects takes 15 minutes and shows your real starting point.
- Turnkey admissions MAX — language, subjects, documents and relocation in one programme.
- Annual course — biology, chemistry and physics for the academic year.
- Czech C1 and interview preparation — for those who are already strong in the subject tests.
Common questions about the cost of medical education in Czechia
Is medical education in Czechia really free?
Yes, if the student studies in a Czech-taught programme at a public or state university within the standard period of study. No tuition is charged for the programme itself, neither for Czechs nor for foreigners. Applications, documents, housing and preparation are paid separately.
How much does medicine in Czechia cost in English?
From €12,000 per year in Ostrava to €24,250 per year at 1. LF UK. In crowns, the figures most often fall between 380,000 and 420,000 Kč per academic year. Check the exact amount for your admission year on the page of the chosen faculty.
Is the degree from an English-taught programme different from a Czech-taught one?
No. The title, duration and recognition of the qualification are the same. Only the language of instruction and the cost differ.
Which medical faculty in Czechia is the cheapest for a foreign student?
In Czech, all eight are free, so the question comes down to living costs: Olomouc, Ostrava, Hradec Králové and Pilsen are cheaper than Prague. If we are talking about an English-taught programme, the most affordable is Ostrava at €12,000 per year.
Do you have to pay to submit an application?
Yes, the fee is charged separately for each faculty. It is non-refundable and does not depend on the result. For example, 940 Kč for an online application at 3. LF UK, 2,500 Kč at 2. LF UK, €80 in Olomouc.
Are there scholarships for foreign students?
Universities offer their own forms of support, from merit-based scholarships to social support. The conditions are set by the specific university, and there is no single Czech-wide programme for foreign medical applicants. Check the scholarship page of the chosen faculty.
Can you study medicine in Czechia in Russian?
No. Programmes are taught in Czech or English. Russian may help during preparation, but the entrance exam and study are in the language of the programme.
Is there a bachelor’s degree in general medicine in Czechia?
No. Všeobecné lékařství is a continuous six-year master’s programme. Bachelor’s degrees exist in nursing, physiotherapy, midwifery and other related fields.
How much does a doctor earn in Czechia?
The average monthly salary of a doctor in 2024 was 124,775 Kč, including bonuses and allowances, according to the Czech Statistical Office. The real amount depends on the specialty, experience and region.
Is a Czech medical degree recognised in other EU countries?
In the EU, doctors are covered by the system for recognising professional qualifications under Directive 2005/36/EC. The graduate completes the registration procedure in the specific country and proves language proficiency themself.
What to read next
Official sources
- 1. LF UK — Admissions 2026/2027, tuition fee
- 2. LF UK — Fees and Scholarships
- 3. LF UK — General Medicine, tuition fee
- LFHK UK — Tuition fee 2026/2027
- LFP UK — Admission procedure and fees
- LFP UK — dean’s order 3/2026: tuition fee and fee for exceeding the standard period
- LF MU Brno — Tuition fees
- LF UP Olomouc — General Medicine (MUDr.)
- LF OU Ostrava — General information and tuition fee
- Czech Statistical Office — workers and wages in healthcare
- Your Europe — recognition of regulated professions