Recognition of the Previous Foreign University Degree
Procedure of recognition of foreign higher education and qualification in the Czech Republic in accordance with Higher Education Act
The recognition of foreign higher education is decided on by public higher education institutions (private higher education institutions do not have such an authority), in particular case by public higher education institution providing a degree programme that has similar content. The summary of accredited degree programmes on public higher education institutions in the Czech Republic is available on the web site of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (hereinafter “the Ministry”). In cases of doubt the Ministry will decide on whether a public higher education institution has the required authority or will take the decision concerning recognition of the higher education itself.
The validity of diplomas/degrees awarded by institutions of higher education in the Slovak Republic is governed by the provisions of the treaty between the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic on the mutual recognition of diplomas/degrees awarded by institutions of higher education in the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, published under No. 23/2015 Coll. of the Ministry of Education, and which states that diplomas/degrees awarded by institutions of higher education in the Slovak Republic, except for certain specified exceptions (for example, those diplomas/degrees awarded by universities in the Slovak Republic upon the graduate‘s completion of a study program which was conducted outside the territory of the Slovak Republic) shall be recognized in the Czech Republic as having equivalence with diplomas/degrees awarded by Czech institutions of higher education. Holders of Slovak educational documents may, nevertheless, submit a request for recognition of foreign diplomas/degrees at a public institution of higher education in the Czech Republic, provided that institution offers a degree programme which has similar content.
Holders of Hungarian, Polish and Slovenian documents covered by the equity agreement (No. 92/2005 Coll. I. A, No. 104/2006 Coll. I. A. and No. 89/1991 Coll. I. A.) may use documents in the Czech Republic directly without any need to submit a certificate of recognition of foreign higher education. For the purpose of further study at higher education institutions in the Czech Republic, the certificate of equivalence of documents is not required. If the holder of a foreign document, nevertheless, deemed appropriate and necessary, he/she may request the MEYS Higher Education Institution Department for recognition of foreign higher education and qualification.
Equity agreement on the recognition of equivalence of documents on education in the field of higher education was concluded with the Federal Republic of Germany (No. 60/2008 Coll. I. A.). Holders of a document must apply for the recognition of education obtained in Germany, at a Public University (Article 3 paragraphs 1 and 2 of mentioned agreement).
Procedure of recognition at the VŠE
Procedure shall be initiated upon a written application of a graduate of a foreign university (the applicant) submitted to the Registry of VŠE Prague, , W. Churchill sq. 4, Prague 3. Application shall be made solely on the form which is available in Annex 1.
The mandatory attachments are:
- legally attested copy of a diploma or similar document about graduation,
- Diploma Supplement or list of completed exams,
- supplementary information confirming that the degree programme was carried out by an institution authorised to provide education comparable to higher education pursuant to Act.
In accordance with paragraph 90(a) of Act No. 111/1998 Coll., on universities, as well as with the changes and amendments to other acts (the Universities Act); from 31st August, 2016, the fee to be charged for a certificate of recognition of diplomas/degrees which were awarded by foreign institutions of higher education shall be set at 3,000CZK. The fee is paid exclusively by wire transfer. Wire transfer is the only method of payment which is accepted by the VSE. Upon receipt of a request for a certificate of recognition of diplomas/degrees awarded by foreign institutions of higher education, the VSE will provide the applicant, by email, to be sent to the email address which was provided by the applicant, with all the data necessary for making the payment.
Provided that international treaty does not state otherwise, the Prague University of Economics and Business (hereinafter “VŠE”) requires legalisation of submitted diplomas, i.e. the authenticity of signatures and stamps on the original of diploma must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where the issuing school has its seat and the Czech embassy in/for the country where the issuing school has its seat. As for a diploma issued in a country with which the Czech Republic has an agreement on legal assistance, it is not necessary to authenticate the diploma. According to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the Hague Convention No. 45/1999 Coll. I. A.), the verification can be required in the form of the Apostille issued by a competent authority of the state in which the diploma was issued. List of signatories of Hague Convention and list of countries with which the Czech Republic has an agreement on legal assistance is available in Annex 2.
If documents attached to the application are not in Czech or English language, the applicant must enclose their certified translation into Czech language made pursuant to the Act No. 36/1967 Coll. about experts and interpreters.
In the application the applicant shall state the name of degree programme with which his/her completed education has to be compared and recognized. List of accredited degree programs at the VŠE is available on the VŠE website here.
In the procedure of recognition of foreign higher education, content and extent of foreign study are compared with study in accredited degree programme provided by a public higher education institution in the Czech Republic. In case of discovering substantial differences in the degree programmes being compared or in case that the diploma was issued by foreign institution that is not authorised to provide higher education in the state where it has its seat, the request for recognition will be refused. If a foreign higher education is recognized, the applicant will receive a decision on recognition of foreign higher education enclosing a certificate confirming the equivalence to education obtained by completing the appropriate type of degree program at a public higher education institution in the Czech Republic; or also a certificate of right to use obtained foreign academic title.
The procedure of recognition is an administrative procedure pursuant to Act No. 500/2004 Coll., the Code of Administrative Procedure. VŠE as an administrative authority shall decide on the application within 30 days. In more complex cases the period may be extended for another 30 days. Applicants have the right to appeal within 15 days from receipt of the decision. The appeal must be submitted to the authority that issued the contested decision. The appeal may be decided upon by public higher institution (in case that it meets the appeal) or it is passed on to the Ministry as an appeal body. Ministry then decides on the appeal – either meets the appeal or confirms the decision of public higher education institution. Decision on the appeal is final.
Related legislation
- Act. No. 111/1998 Coll. on Higher Education Institutions and on Amendment to Other Acts (the Higher Education Act), as amended – § 89, § 90, § 90a, § 90b, § 106
- Act No. 500/2004 Coll., the Code of Administrative Procedure, as amended
- International Agreements on the mutual recognition of documents on education
- International Agreements on authentication of public documents
Contacts
Prague University of Economics and Business
legal department, W. Churchill sq. 4, 130 67 Prague 3, http://www.vse.cz
consultation on this issue – Mgr. Martin Lang (Thur 13:00 – 15:30 hours or by prior arrangement)
phone 224 095 866, e-mail: martin.lang@vse.cz