Reviewed by the NaMED editorial team: 24 August 2026. Deadlines, documents, and admissions formats change every year; before applying, check them against each faculty’s official page.
How a foreign applicant can get into medicine in Czechia
A foreign applicant usually needs 9–12 months. During this time, they need to choose faculties, arrange recognition of their education and applications, prepare Czech, biology, chemistry, and physics, and in the final months move on to full mock exams for the selected faculties.
What the admissions process consists of
The entrance test is only one stage. Before that, the applicant chooses faculties, submits applications, confirms their school education, prepares Czech and the three core subjects. At the same time, they also have to deal with visa issues and relocation. If these tasks do not have a shared calendar, in spring the paperwork starts taking time away from the final mock exams.
At the start of preparation, write down five things: where you are applying, which subjects and exam format each faculty uses, when your documents will be ready, what your current level of Czech is, and where you need a backup option. From this list, you can already put together a year-long calendar.
Step 1. Get the big picture and choose a direction
First check your level of Czech and the three subjects, count the months left until the entrance exams, and confirm the status of your school-leaving certificate. Then choose several faculties whose format you can realistically prepare for in time.
- choose medical faculties and backup options;
- compare the exam format and subject set;
- assess your level of Czech and medical terminology;
- check which documents and translations you will need;
- understand where recognition of education is required and how long it may take.
Step 2. Documents, visa, and relocation
Translations, recognition of education, university applications, and visas take weeks, sometimes months. Create a separate document calendar and set a deadline for each step; the last month before the exam should be reserved for revision and mock tests.
Documents are prepared in parallel with biology, chemistry, and physics. That way, a successful test does not get blocked by a missed deadline or an unconfirmed school-leaving certificate.
Step 3. Czech language C1 and medical terminology
Everyday Czech is not enough for a medical faculty. A student will need to read tasks quickly, understand lectures, answer in seminars, and use medical terms. That is why Czech phrasing should be added to biology, chemistry, and physics from the very first lessons.
A separate vocabulary is needed for anatomy, chemical concepts, biological processes, and the conditions in word problems. A familiar topic should not become unfamiliar just because the question is written in Czech.
Step 4. Biology, chemistry, and physics
Admissions exams check knowledge, reading speed, attention to detail, and the ability to distinguish between similar answer options. After each thematic block, a short timed test is needed; otherwise, the student will understand the topic but will not have time to apply it in the exam.
In biology, review genetics, cell biology, anatomy, and physiology. In chemistry, focus on organic chemistry, reactions, biochemistry, acids, bases, and calculations. In physics, review mechanics, electricity, thermodynamics, optics, and units of measurement. Check the list against the official syllabus of each faculty.
Step 5. Mock exams and error analysis
A full mock exam should reproduce the number of questions, timing, grading rules, and oral part of the selected faculty. It shows where the student rushes, gets stuck, or loses points on a familiar topic.
After the mock exam, write down the reason for each mistake: a gap in the topic, an unclear Czech formulation, a calculation, inattention, or lack of time. The next week of preparation is built around this list.
How preparation at NaMED is structured
One schedule combines Czech, biology, chemistry, physics, Online Academy, mock exams, and document control. The student sees the nearest deadlines and knows which result needs to improve before the next mock exam.
Teachers work through subject-specific mistakes, and a coordinator keeps track of applications, recognition of education, and deadlines. Parents get a clear picture without having to collect the requirements of eight faculties themselves.
Admissions calendar: what to do by month
| 12–9 months before | Choose target faculties, check the exam format, assess your level of Czech, create a study plan, and find out which documents will be needed for recognition of education. |
|---|---|
| 9–6 months before | Build the foundation in biology, chemistry, and physics, start medical terminology in Czech, and prepare translations, certificates, and school documents in parallel. |
| 6–3 months before | Move on to faculty-specific formats: timed tests, tasks with multiple correct answers, interviews, work with popular-science texts if the selected faculty requires it. |
| Last 8 weeks | Write full mock exams, record repeated mistakes, train your answering strategy, check all deadlines, and prepare the final application. |
| After the exam | Follow the results, complete the documents, confirm enrolment, handle visa and practical matters, and prepare for the first semester. |
Which faculties are worth considering
It makes sense to submit several applications: to the Prague faculties of Charles University, Pilsen, Hradec Králové, Ostrava, Olomouc, or Brno. The list depends on the student’s preparation. Some faculties have only a written test, others include an interview, separate somatology, or a minimum score in each subject.
A student who speaks well and can reason out answers may do well at faculties with interviews. If the oral part causes serious stress, it is worth adding written formats to the list. Weak physics should be improved in advance: it is part of the exams at most medical faculties.
Documents: what cannot be left until the last minute
- recognition of foreign secondary education or nostrification, if required by the chosen university;
- official translations of the school-leaving certificate, transcript, and other school documents;
- proof of Czech language level, if the student is applying to a programme taught in Czech;
- electronic applications and administrative fees for each faculty;
- visa, accommodation, insurance, and relocation plan, if the student is not in Czechia;
- deadline control: deadlines and rules may differ from one faculty to another.
What C1 means in practice
The certificate confirms the language level, but at the faculty the student needs to read tasks, understand lectures, work through medical terminology, and answer teachers at a working pace. That is why Czech and the core subjects are best prepared together.
If biology, chemistry, and physics are studied with Czech terms from the very beginning, the student will recognize the topic immediately in the exam. In a calculation problem, one misunderstood word can change the entire meaning of the task.
Typical applicant mistakes
- Choosing a faculty for prestige without looking at the format. The university name matters, but the exam format matters more for the actual result.
- Leaving physics too late. Many students put physics off because they do not like it, and then lose crucial points on it.
- Paperwork in spring. During the final mock-exam period, a student should not suddenly end up with ten bureaucratic tasks.
- Preparing without a timer. Knowledge without speed often does not turn into results on medical exams.
- Only one faculty with no backup plan. Even a strong student may miss out in a given year because of competition, stress, or the format.
FAQ
Can you study medicine in Czechia for free?
Studies in Czech at public universities are usually free, but the student must meet the admissions conditions, prove their language level, and submit documents on time. English-taught programmes are usually paid.
How much time do you need to prepare?
Ideally, plan for an academic year: about 9 months for the subjects, C1, terminology, mock exams, and documents. It is also possible to intensify preparation in 3-5 months, but then it becomes more intensive and more risky.
Do you need to apply to several faculties?
Yes, if the goal is to increase your chances of admission. Several faculties give the student more scenarios, but only if they are chosen consciously and the preparation takes their different formats into account.
What to read next
Official sources
Before applying, always check the current academic year on the official faculty websites. For this article, we used the admissions pages of 1. LF UK, 2. LF UK, 3. LF UK, LF UK in Pilsen, LFHK UK, LF OU, LF UPOL, and LF MU.