The Summer Schools of Slavonic Studies are three- to four-week Czech language courses organized by several public universities in the Czech Republic, which take place annually in July and August.
The courses are intended chiefly for foreign students, experts (teachers, translators, interpreters) and academics in the field of Czech and Slavic studies who are at least 18 years old. However, due to their broad scope, they are also open to everyone else interested in the Czech language, literature, history and culture.
The Summer Schools of Slavonic Studies offer Czech language courses at various levels of proficiency, seminars focused on the Czech literature, culture, and history, leisure activities including theatre, music, and dance performances, excursions, sightseeing trips, etc.
LOCATIONS AND DATES
Pilsen - University of West Bohemia, 5 – 25 July 2025
Poděbrady - Charles University, ÚJOP, 7 July – 1 August 2025
Olomouc - Palacky University, 12 July – 10 August 2025
Prague - Charles University, 17 July – 14 August 2025
Brno - Masaryk University, 26 July – 23 August 2025
České Budějovice - University of South Bohemia, 3 – 25 August 2025
In 2025, applicants, who are at least 18 years old, from the following countries and territories can apply for an SSSS scholarship:
Albania, Austria, Belgium – Flemish Community, Belgium – French Community, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada (Alberta), People's Republic of China, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mongolia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the USA, and Vietnam.
The scholarships are granted ONLY to candidates nominated by the appropriate authorities of the partner countries or by other authorized nominating agencies, e.g. the Embassies of the Czech Republic abroad and other partner institutions (see below).
These institutions specify the conditions for participation in the selection procedure and can provide detailed information on the offer of summer school courses. The number of scholarship slots and their distribution among individual summer schools are determined by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION
The courses are taught in Czech or on the basis of English, depending on the participant's initial level of Czech language proficiency.
The SSSS program includes courses of all language proficiency levels: from absolute beginners (A0) to advanced students (C1).
HOW TO APPLY
A two-step screening and selection procedure is applied to assess applications for the summer school scholarships provided by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic.
1. The first stage is organized by the respective Embassies of the Czech Republic, partner ministries or other government agencies responsible for student exchanges in the eligible countries. The applicants are required to file their completed application forms for the summer school scholarships and other documents, if they are required, with the relevant institutions accepting applications in the eligible countries, which then select the nominees for scholarship awards.
The application form for the fist stage of the selection procedure is available here:
A CV written in Czech or English must be attached to the completed application form. The institutions receiving applications may also require other documents (e.g. a letter of motivation, language certificate(s) etc.).
The application includes also a statement that the applicant is able to participate in the entire period of the SSSS course concerned.
The application form with the required attachments must be submitted to the appropriate institution receiving applications:
-
List of institutions receiving applications:
Institutions_Applications_2025.pdf
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List of institutions receiving applications in Germany: Institutions_Applications_Germany_ 2025.pdf
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List of institutions receiving applications in the USA: Institutions_Applications_USA 2025.pdf
The relevant deadline is fixed by the appropriate institution receiving applications in each country/territory.
The nomination of candidates, who are recommended for the scholarship awards (referred also as the "nominees" below) shall be presented by the appropriate institutions in the eligible countries to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports by 31 March 2025.
2. The second stage is organized by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the relevant Czech universities. The nominees are obliged to register themselves in the online registration system and submit an online scholarship application. The online applications of registered nominees are assessed within the system by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the relevant Czech universities.
The final outcome of the two-step process described above is either the scholarship award or placement as a substitute on a waiting list.
Applications submitted by applicants who have not been properly recommended for the awards by the relevant institutions in the eligible countries will be rejected.
SCHOLARSHIP
The scholarship consists in the reimbursement of course fees and other expenses related to the accepted candidate's participation in a summer course, which is provided the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports directly to the host university.
The scholarship includes:
- registration and tuition fees;
- study materials;
- board and lodging (accommodation is provided in student dormitories);
- trips and events organised by the summer school concerned.
The scholarship DOES NOT cover:
- international travel costs;
- insurance;
- visa processing.
Applications sent directly to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (MEYS) or directly to the Summer Schools will not be processed!
SELECTION OF CANDIDATES FOR SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
The institutions receiving scholarship applications and performing the first stage of the selection procedure recommend:
- regular nominees,
- substitutes (up to twice as many as regular nominees).
The institutions receiving applications deliver their nomination to the MEYS by 31 March 2025.
The successful candidates will be then invited to register in the online application system and will be subsequently contacted by the relevant Summer School organizer.
Each successful candidate is obliged to confirm his/her participation promptly to the organizer of the Summer School concerned.
If any candidate is unable to attend the Summer School course, he/she is required to notify the MEYS immediately by
sending a message to: Magdalena.VillatoroSladkova@msmt
govcz AND to the contact
person at the Summer School concerned.
The MEYS reserves the right to place any candidate at a different Summer School than the one mentioned as the first choice in his/her application.
RESIGNATION / WITHDRAWAL OF APPLICATION
If any of the officially nominated and admitted SSSS participants is unable to attend the course due to unforeseen
reasons, he/she is obliged to inform the MEYS Department of International Relations and
EU without delay, sending a message to Magdalena.VillatoroSladkova@msmtgovcz, as well as to the
relevant Summer School so that a substitute can be contacted immediately.
If the scholarship quota (regular nominees and substitutes) offered to any given partner country/territory at one of the Summer Schools is not utilized, it is possible to provide the free slots to substitutes from other eligible countries.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Health insurance is NOT included in the scholarship. It is strongly recommended that successful candidates arrange their travel health insurance for the entire period of their visit to the Czech Republic. More information can be provided by the Czech Embassy in the candidate's country of residence or country of origin.
Medical care for EU/EEA citizens, who are properly insured in their home countries, is provided in compliance with the European Parliament and Council (EC) Regulation No. 883/2004, as last amended, and its implementing Regulation No. 987/2009, as amended by Regulation No. 465/2012 - detailed information is available on the website of the Health Insurance Bureau.
Please note that the expenses for repatriation are not covered by the provisions of the aforementioned European Regulations, and it is therefore advisable to obtain an insurance policy to this end even if you come from an EU/EEA country.
Neither the MEYS nor the universities organizing the SSSS bear any responsibility or liability for any health care costs or repatriation costs that may be incurred by the scholarship-holders during or as a result of their visit to the Czech Republic.
VISAS
Detailed information on the regulations governing the entry and residence on the territory of the Czech Republic is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
It is recommended that both regular nominees and substitutes from non-EU/EEA countries apply for their visas well in advance.
PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA
Basic information on the processing and protection of personal data by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (MEYS) is published in the Czech language at: https://msmt.gov.cz/ministerstvo/zakladni-informace-o-zpracovani-osobnich-udaju-ministerstvem, translation in English at: https://www.msmt.cz/contacts-and-informations/basic-information-about-personal-data-processing-by-the.
PARTICIPATION IN SSSS AS A SELF-PAYER
Anyone ready to cover the relevant expenses can also apply for admission to the Summer School of Slavonic Studies as a self-paying participant. Information for self-payers on how to register for the course of their choice is available on the websites of individual organizing schools.
SUMMER SCHOOLS OF SLAVONIC STUDIES: CONTACT INFORMATION
Pilsen: Institute of Applied Language Studies, University of West Bohemia
5 – 25 July 2025
Address: Univerzitní 22, 301 00 Plzeň
Tel: +420 377 635 210, +420 737 141 096
E-mail: isls@ujpzcucz
Web: LŠSS Plzeň
Poděbrady: Institute for language and preparatory studies of Charles University
7 July – 1 August 2025
Address: Jiřího náměstí 1/8, 290 01 Poděbrady
Tel: +420 733 159 866
E-mail: lsss@ujopcunicz
Web: LŠSS Poděbrady
Olomouc: Faculty of Arts of Palacký University Olomouc
12 July – 10 August 2025
Address: Křížkovského 10, 771 80 Olomouc
Tel: +420 776 267 676
E-mail: lsss@upolcz
Web: LŠSS Olomouc
Prague: Charles University, Faculty of Arts
17 July – 14 August 2025
Address: Nám. Jana Palacha 2, 116 38 Prague 1
Tel: +420 221 619 262
E-mail: lsss.praha@ffcunicz
Web: LŠSS Praha
Brno: Masaryk University, Faculty of Arts, Department of Czech for Foreigners
26 July – 23 August 2025
Address: A. Nováka 1, 602 00 Brno
Tel: +420 549 495 970
E-mail: eva@philmunicz
Web: LŠSS Brno
České Budějovice: Faculty of Arts, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
3 – 25 August 2025
Address: Branišovská 31a, 370 05 České Budějovice
Tel: +420 387 774 801
E-mail: Mgr. Jan Lassner, lassner@ffjcucz
CONTACT PERSON AT THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, YOUTH AND SPORTS
Magdalena Villatoro Sladkova
Department of International Relations and EU
Tel: +420 234 811 714
Email: Magdalena.VillatoroSladkova@msmtgovcz
