Description of the nostrification process at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen

Recognition of foreign higher education in the Czech Republic

Act No. 137/2016 Coll., amending and supplementing Act No. 111/998 Coll., on Higher Education Institutions and on Amendments and Supplements to Other Acts (the Higher Education Act), as amended, came into force on 1 September 2016, introducing an obligation for the applicant to pay a fee of CZK 3,000 (payment details can be found at the end of this page).

I. Legislation governing recognition in the Czech Republic

- Act No 111/98 Coll., on Higher Education - § 89, 90, 90a, 90b, 105, 106;

- Act No. 500/2004 Coll., on Administrative Proceedings (Administrative Code);

- international agreements by which the Czech Republic is bound;

II. Bodies which can decide on recognition

  1. in principle, a public university (UWB in Pilsen) which implements or is authorized to implement a study programme in at least one of the educational areas to which the foreign higher education study programme belongs;
  2. a ministry, if the Czech Republic is bound by an international agreement with the country where the foreign higher education institution is established and recognized, and the ministry is recognized by this treaty;
    – the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic decides on higher education obtained in the military field;
    – the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic decides on higher education obtained in the field of security services.
    • Hungary, Poland, Slovenia – equivalence agreements concluded with Hungary, Poland and Slovenia belong to the category of so-called presidential treaties and therefore take precedence over the law in the Czech legal system. Holders of Hungarian, Polish or Slovenian documents covered by the above-mentioned agreements can use them directly in the Czech Republic without having to submit a certificate of recognition of foreign higher education.
    • Germany – the agreement concluded with Germany belongs to the category of presidential treaties approved by the Parliament of the Czech Republic and ratified by the President. Its scope is the same as in the case of treaties with Hungary, Poland and Slovenia. However, since the provisions stipulate that recognition is "on application", holders must apply for recognition to the relevant body – the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Defence or the Ministry of the Interior.
    • Slovak Republic – the validity of higher education diplomas issued in the Slovak Republic is governed by Agreement No. 33/2001 Coll. Diplomas issued by higher education institutions in Slovakia are recognized as equivalent in the Czech Republic. These educational documents are valid without further official verification in both countries.
  3. in case of doubt, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic determines the jurisdiction of the higher education institution for recognition or may decide on recognition itself, but it is primarily an appeal body in case of rejection of the application.

III. Requirements for applying for recognition of higher education in the Czech Republic

Application requirements that the applicant must fulfil in order to the application be formally accepted and the procedure be initiated:

A written application form from a graduate at a foreign university includes:

  • the name and surname of the graduate,
  • date and place of birth,
  • nationality,
  • address of permanent residence,
  • telephone number, e-mail,
  • address to which the decision is to be sent,
  • the name of the university attended, its location (city and state), the website address of the university,
  • place of provision of foreign education,
  • date of commencement and completion of studies,
  • the name of the study program in the Czech language/ the name of the field of study in the Czech language,
  • the date of application and signature of the graduate of the foreign university (if the application is submitted by a representative of the graduate, then a certified power of attorney),

The annexes are:

  • the original or a certified copy of the diploma, certificate or similar document issued by the foreign university and the original or a certified copy of the Diploma Supplement/ Transcript of Records;
  • an officially certified translation of these documents (into Czech or English);
  • if the diploma was issued outside the Contracting State, authentication of signatures and stamps on the original documents is required by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State in which the higher education institution that issued the diploma is located or by the competent foreign authority and the competent embassy of the Czech Republic;
  • the higher education institution may request the submission of information that the study program was carried out by an institution authorized to provide education comparable to higher education or information on the content of the study.

IV. Procedure, time limits for processing the application, appeals, contacts

  • The procedure is initiated on the basis of a written request form from an applicant to the public university that offers the same or a similar accredited study program belonging to at least one of the educational areas at UWB.
  • The Rector of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen will decide on the recognition of the foreign higher education within 30 days of receipt of the complete application (including attachments) including payment, or within 60 days in complex cases. According to the Administrative Code, the time during which the proceedings are suspended is not included in the time limits.
  • If the Rector grants the application, he or she issues a decision on the application for recognition of foreign higher education and qualifications in the Czech Republic.
  • If the application for recognition of foreign higher education is rejected, the applicant has the right to appeal to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports through the public higher education institution within 15 days of receipt of the decision, if the contested decision was issued by the public higher education institution.

 

Please send your application with attachments to:

University of West Bohemia in Pilsen

Univerzitni 2732/8

301 00 Pilsen

Czech Republic