What is the difference between “vysoká škola” and university?

Before deciding which school to apply to, it’s helpful to understand some terminology. If you delve deep into our list of universities, you might find, that some universities are called “vysoké školy” in Czech. So, what exactly is the difference between a “vysoká škola” and an “univezita” in Czechia? And how do faculties and departments fit into all of this?

In English, “high school” refers to secondary education. In Czech, this term might be misleadingly translated as “vysoká škola”. The Czech term is therefore difficult to translate directly. Higher education institutions are typically all referred to as “universities” in English. The closest term to “vysoká škola” in English is “college.”

In Czechia “collages” offer – at most times – only bachelor’s degree studies. Universities in Czechia tend to be larger than “colleges” and place greater emphasis on research. They have more students and a broader range of study programs.

Czech universities offer doctoral programs and receive funding from international sources. “Colleges”, on the other hand, focus on teaching bachelor’s programs and only occasionally offer master’s degrees. They are not required to open doctoral programs or engage in research. They do not have faculties (see below) and may not use the title “univerzita”, the exception being when their names are translated into English.

If you plan to work in academia or research in the future, it’s better to choose a university as your alma mater. The Czech Republic has many such institutions, including the oldest and largest ones like Charles University in Prague or Masaryk University in Brno.

If you’re only interested in earning a bachelor’s degree and don’t plan to continue studying, a “college” might be the better choice. You’ll be prepared more quickly for employment in your chosen field.

What is a faculty?

Universities are typically divided into faculties (fakulty in Czech). But what exactly is a faculty and how does it work?

Faculties focus on research and education in specific fields. For example, medical faculties specialize—unsurprisingly—in medicine, faculties of arts focus on the humanities, and law faculties teach various branches of law. A faculty brings together related disciplines.

Faculties are further divided into departments (in Czech katedry). For instance, a faculty of arts might include language departments, arts-oriented departments, and so on. Students spend most of their time at these departments, and the teachers there often become supervisors of their theses.

“Colleges” in Czech Republic do not have faculties. They focus on one type of discipline, such as engineering or healthcare. An example is the Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice.

If you’re unsure whether your chosen institution is a university or a “college”, the name can be a good indicator. “Colleges” usually include their specialization in the name (e. g. Škoda Auto University, in Czech Škoda Auto Vysoká škola), while universities typically do not.

There are exceptions, however. For example, the Czech Technical University in Prague includes its specialization in the name, but it is still a university, not a “college”.

What’s the difference between public and private “colleges”/universities in Czech Republic?

Public institutions are mostly financed by the state whereas private institutions are run by private entities.