All tertiary institutions in the Czech Republic, including polytechnics as well as public and private universities, offer Bachelor and Master programs. Doctoral programs are only be offered by universities.
Bachelor programs in the Czech Republic usually take three years, in some cases it can be four. In this time the students gets an overview of his subject. Studies are completed with a bachelor's thesis and a state exam. If the student passes, Bachelor degree (Bc.), bakalář, or Bachelor of Arts (BcA.), bakalář umění, is awarded.
A Czech Master’s program takes between four and six years if not based on a Bachelor degree. As an addition to a Bc. it usually takes two years. Besides the general overview of a subject a certain grade of specialisation is achieved.
The program is finished with a state exam and the defence of the diploma thesis. If the exam and the defence are passed, the title magistr, Master (Mgr.) or magistr umění, Master of Arts (MgA) is awarded.
Some fields of study such as medicine and law require more than one state exam.
A doctoral degree is the highest possible degree in the Czech Republic. The admission requirement for the three to four year doctoral program is a Master's degree. During the course of your studies you will have to do a lot of scientific research, independent studies and also publish your work. After the defence of your dissertation and the passing of the state doctoral examination you will be awarded the title doktor, abbreviated Ph.D.
MBA programs in the Czech Republic are offered only by private schools. They are focussed on problems arising in business situations. Quite often real life case studies are a vital part of these programs. The quality of MBA programs is very high and the participants benefit from each other's practical experience.
In 1998, the Czech MBA Schools Association was established guaranteeing the quality of Czech MBA programs. Private schools offering MBA's include the Prague International Business School, the Institute for Industrial and Financial Management and the US Business School Praha.
Within the European Union academic titles are mutually accepted. If degree programs and titles differ between countries, the length and content are taken into consideration and a comparable academic title in the other country is recognized.
For the recognition of Czech academic titles in other countries you should check the regulations with the respective country. Though there are mutual agreements with some countries, this is not a guarantee for recognition.