Czech Studies
Discover the Czech Republic through its culture, language, and society in a two-year follow-up Master’s programme taught entirely in English.
This international programme is designed for students who wish to understand Czech culture in the Central European context and gain an interdisciplinary education combining both cultural and economic perspectives.
Why choose Czech Studies FF UP:
The entire programme is taught in English – no knowledge of Czech is required at the beginning.
During your studies, you will take an intensive Czech language course led by experienced lecturers.
The programme is organized by the Department of Czech Studies, Faculty of Arts, Palacký University Olomouc, in cooperation with six other departments.
You can choose between two specialized modules – Cultural and Economic – according to your interests.
Admission requirements include a motivation letter and an online English language test at level B2.
Gain a unique insight into Czech culture, broaden your academic and personal horizons, and study in the inspiring environment of one of the oldest universities in Central Europe.
The programme is fee-based, with a tuition fee of 3000 EUR per year.
Olomouc – the ideal univercity city
Welcome to Olomouc, a vibrant university city in the heart of Moravia and the historical metropolis of the Haná region. Thanks to its excellent railway connections to Prague, Ostrava, Vienna, and Katowice, Olomouc is perfectly located for both study and travel. With a student visa, you can easily explore the countries of the European Union.
Just a short trip away, you’ll find the scenic Jeseníky and Orlické Mountains, ideal for hiking, skiing, and weekend getaways.
The city offers rich cultural and sports opportunities, including a wide range of student-friendly activities. You’ll enjoy numerous student benefits, a well-equipped university and research library, and access to extensive electronic databases through the university portal.
Palacký University Olomouc, founded in 1573, is the second oldest university in the Czech Republic. Most of its buildings are located in the city centre, surrounded by peaceful green parks, creating a unique atmosphere that perfectly blends academic life with relaxation.
Enjoy a safe environment, high quality of life, and significantly lower living costs compared to Prague – all in a city known for its friendly student atmosphere and welcoming community.
Graduate Profile – Czech Studies
Graduates of the Czech Studies for Foreigners programme become well-rounded experts in Czech culture, history, and society, with a deep understanding of the Central European cultural context.
Through an interdisciplinary approach, they gain a broad overview of Czech and Central European cultural history, art, literature, and politics, and—depending on their chosen specialization—also economics. They are familiar with key academic literature, understand relevant terminology, and are able to navigate current methodological trends within their field.
Thanks to their strong language skills, graduates are well-prepared to apply and develop their competencies across Europe and beyond.
The programme also provides valuable opportunities to build professional and academic networks and to become an active member of the international scholarly community.
Do you want to study abroad?
Every year, our department sends students for one-semester or two-semester study stays to partner universities in Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Italy, as well as Slovenia and Croatia. You can find the complete list on our main website.
Study at the Faculty of Arts
Who will teach you?
Erik Gilk
Originally, I wanted to become a PE teacher, but literature and thinking about it captivated me so much that I eventually graduated in Czech studies and history at Masaryk University in Brno. In my lectures and seminars, I focus on Czech literature, always paying close attention to its historical context. My main interest lies in interwar and contemporary prose, which I regularly review for literary journals. For my students, I organize literary and topographical excursions: every summer semester, we travel to a different part of the Czech Republic to discover its genius loci and explore its connection to the writers who drew inspiration from the region.
Dana Hradilová
At the very beginning of my academic career, I became interested in teaching Czech as a foreign language. My dissertation focused on Old Church Slavonic lexicology, and modern lexicology—the study of vocabulary—is my area of expertise. However, teaching Czech to foreigners is my favorite field because I can clearly and quite quickly see the results of my work: students are able to express things they couldn’t before, they speak more fluently, write without mistakes, and navigate the Czech cultural environment with ease. I also enjoy being able to share my practical experience—training future Czech language teachers as well as providing professional development for those who wish to further improve their teaching skills.
Vladimír P. Polách
Although I originally studied Czech philology together with history, it was the world of books that truly captivated me—not only the texts themselves, but also their material form and the journeys they take. This early fascination gradually led me from medieval Scandinavia to modern Czech culture, from the lives of writers to the lives of books: their production, distribution, and reception. Today, my teaching and research focus on book history, the Czech book market, media, and cultural transfer between Europe and North America. I enjoy showing students how literature exists not only on the page, but also in society—how books circulate, influence readers, and become part of cultural memory.