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"How much will it cost me — in total?"
The question 90% of students ask first. Here is the complete answer: tuition per programme, per year — and then the full multi-year picture with living expenses included, so you know the real number before you commit.
| Programme | Duration | Tuition / year | Tuition — full course |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🩺 General Medicine (MD) | 6 years | €12,000–€17,200 | €72,000–€103,200 |
| 🦷 Dentistry (DMD) | 5 years | €13,000–€16,500 | €65,000–€82,500 |
| 💊 Pharmacy (MPharm) | 5 years | €12,000–€14,000 | €60,000–€70,000 |
For perspective: that six-year total is less than three years of tuition alone at a typical UK medical school (£38,000+/yr) — before UK living costs. Dentistry and Pharmacy totals are lower still because the courses are five years. Want this calculated for your exact faculty choice and lifestyle? That's part of the free consultation.
"What documents do I need to prepare?"
This is where most independent applicants fail — not the exam, the paperwork. One missing apostille or a non-certified translation means automatic rejection. The complete checklist:
Timing: translation, notarisation and legalisation take 6–8 weeks in total. We prepare, check and submit the entire file for you — free — and track the faculty's confirmation so nothing is lost.
"When do applications open — and close?"
Faculties begin accepting applications for the following October intake. This is also the ideal time to start exam preparation.
Translations, notarisation, legalisation (6–8 weeks) run in parallel with weekly exam coaching using original past papers.
Hard deadline for the October intake — no extensions. We submit well before it.
Written exam (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) and the English interview. Results arrive late June – July.
Enrolment paperwork, visa processing for non-EU students (6–10 weeks — start immediately), accommodation confirmed, airport pickup booked.
Winter semester: 1 Oct – 23 Dec. Summer semester: 15 Feb – 1 Jul.
"Is there an exam? When, where — online or in person?"
What's on it?
Written test in Biology, Chemistry and Physics at high-school level — 100 points per subject (max 300) — plus an English interview on your motivation worth up to 30 points. The passing line is 244 / 330. Most of our prepared students score 260–290.
When and where?
The main sitting is in June, in person — in Prague for the three Prague faculties, in Pilsen and Hradec Králové for those faculties. In recent admission cycles several faculties have additionally organised sittings in partner cities abroad and, in some years, online-proctored formats. These options change from year to year — confirming the current year's exact dates, locations and formats for you is part of our free service, so you never book a flight you didn't need.
How do I prepare?
We give you original past papers from previous years, a structured 3–4 month study plan, weekly coaching, and mock interviews. Each Charles faculty examines separately — applying to two or three faculties gives you multiple attempts in the same season.
"Is it fully in English? Do I need the local language?"
The degree: 100% English
Every lecture, seminar, textbook and examination — including final state exams — is in English. You do not need a word of Czech to be admitted or to pass your pre-clinical years.
Czech: taught to you, for the wards
You take compulsory Czech language courses in years 1–3, built into the curriculum. The reason is practical: from your clinical years you will take patient histories from real Czech patients during hospital rotations. The university teaches you exactly the medical Czech you need — students consistently describe it as very manageable, and it becomes one of your professional assets (a second clinical language).
"When do clinical rotations start — and where exactly?"
Years 1–2: pre-clinical foundation
Anatomy (with real dissection), histology, physiology, biochemistry, biophysics. Classroom, laboratory and dissection-room based — this is the theory backbone.
Year 3: the bridge to the hospital
Pathology, microbiology, pharmacology and clinical propaedeutics — your first structured contact with patients, learning examination technique at the bedside.
Years 4–6: full clinical rotations
Internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, gynaecology & obstetrics, neurology, psychiatry and electives — rotating through the university's own teaching hospitals: General University Hospital in central Prague (1st Faculty), Motol University Hospital — the largest hospital complex in Central Europe (2nd Faculty), Královské Vinohrady University Hospital (3rd Faculty), University Hospital Pilsen and University Hospital Hradec Králové. Year 6 concludes with state rigorous examinations.
"What if I fail an exam? Am I kicked out?"
No — one fail does not end your studies
This matters, because at some universities in other countries a single failed exam can cost you the year. Charles University uses the ECTS credit system: each examination normally allows two resit attempts (three attempts in total).
If you exhaust all attempts in a compulsory subject, the outcome depends on faculty rules — typically repeating the course year or an individual study plan; expulsion only follows repeated failure of the same compulsory subject. A limited number of credits can be carried into the next year under faculty-specific conditions.
Our honest advice: the rules differ slightly between the five faculties, and they matter. We walk you through the exact, current examination regulations of your chosen faculty before you apply — so you know precisely where you stand.
"Can I do my specialisation in the same country?"
Yes — Czech residency is open to you
Charles University graduates, including international ones, can enter Czech specialisation (residency) training. The practical requirement is Czech language proficiency — residency means daily patient care — and by graduation you will already have three years of Czech courses behind you. Many of our students reach the required level and stay; Czech residency salaries and EU working conditions make it an attractive option.
Prefer to leave? Your degree also qualifies you for residency in Germany, the UK, Ireland, Austria and beyond — we map your post-graduation route during your final years, including UKMLA/PLAB and USMLE preparation.
"Is the degree recognised — and where exactly?"
European Union — automatic, all 27 states
Under Directive 2005/36/EC your MD is automatically recognised across the EU. Register with the national medical council (Germany, France, Netherlands, Ireland…) and enter residency — no extra licensing exam.
United Kingdom — GMC recognised
Over 1,000 Charles University graduates are on the GMC register. Route: UKMLA/PLAB after graduation — most complete it within 12 months. We provide preparation resources from year 4.
USA & Canada — ECFMG / MCC eligible
WDOMS-listed and ECFMG-recognised: sit USMLE Steps for the US match; MCC eligibility for Canada. Charles's clinical volume from year 4 aligns well with USMLE Step 2 CK content.
Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia
WDOMS listing is the master key: UAE (DHA/HAAD), Saudi Arabia (SCFHS), Qatar, South Africa (HPCSA), Nigeria (MDCN), India (NMC screening), Pakistan (PMDC), Australia/NZ (competent-authority pathway). In practice: 40+ countries. We verify your specific home country before you commit.
Why Charles is the benchmark
Founded in 1348 by Emperor Charles IV, Charles University is the oldest university in Central Europe and a member of the League of European Research Universities alongside Imperial College London and the University of Amsterdam. Over 51,400 students — 12,000 international — study across 17 faculties, and its research spans cardiovascular disease, oncology, neuroscience and experimental surgery; undergraduates can join research groups from year two.
For medicine it operates five separate faculties — each with its own English programme, entrance exam and ranking, meaning you can apply to several at once: the 1st Faculty (founded 1348, top 1% worldwide, medicine + dentistry), the 2nd Faculty (based at Motol, paediatrics powerhouse), the 3rd Faculty (modern problem-based curriculum + own pre-med course), Pilsen (medicine + dentistry, ~35% cheaper living) and Hradec Králové (simulation-focused, 10,000+ graduates), plus the Faculty of Pharmacy (first English pharmacy programme in the country, with its own medicinal garden).
Prague itself ranks in the world's top 10 student cities (QS): one of Europe's safest capitals, €1.50 beer, €3 student canteen meals, €20/month transport, 500+ spires, and Vienna, Berlin and Budapest a train ride away. Student societies, the University Marathon, rowing eights and the Battle on Ice hockey derby fill the calendar. Accommodation: university hostels (Albertov, Hvězda, Kajetánka — €150–220/mo) or private rooms in Žižkov, Vinohrady and Smíchov (€300–450/mo) — arranged by us before you land, with airport pickup.
Quick answers — all nine questions
How much does studying medicine at Charles University cost in total — for all 6 years?
Tuition is €12,000–€17,200 per year depending on faculty, so €72,000–€103,200 for the full 6-year MD. Living costs in Prague add roughly €5,500–€7,500 per academic year (€550–750/month × 10 months), i.e. €33,000–€45,000 over 6 years. Total cost of your entire medical education: approximately €105,000–€148,000 — less than three years of tuition alone at a UK or US medical school. Dentistry and Pharmacy run 5 years, so multiply their annual costs by five. Our placement service adds €0.
What documents do I need to prepare for the application?
You need: (1) your secondary-school leaving certificate (diploma), (2) an academic transcript of your final years, (3) a certified translation of both into Czech or English by a sworn translator, (4) notarisation and apostille/superlegalisation depending on your country, (5) a completed application form for each faculty, (6) a copy of your passport, and (7) the application fee receipt (€25–35 per faculty). Some faculties also request a CV and motivation letter for the interview stage. Document preparation takes 6–8 weeks — we handle every step of it for you, free.
When does the application open and what is the deadline?
Applications open in autumn (around November) for the following academic year. The deadline for the October intake is 30 April. Entrance exams take place in June, results come in late June–July, enrolment paperwork runs through August, and the academic year starts on 1 October. Start working with us 6–9 months before the deadline for comfortable exam preparation.
Is there an entrance exam? When is it, and is it online or in person?
Yes. The exam covers Biology, Chemistry and Physics — 100 points each (max 300), plus an interview worth up to 30 points; the passing line is 244/330. The main sitting is held in June, in person in Prague (or Pilsen / Hradec Králové for those faculties). In recent admission cycles, several faculties have also organised additional sittings in partner cities abroad and, in some years, online-proctored formats — the available options change year to year, and we confirm the current year's exam locations and dates for you as part of our free service.
Is the whole course in English? Do I need to learn Czech?
The entire degree — lectures, seminars, exams — is taught 100% in English. However, you take compulsory Czech language courses during years 1–3. Why: from your clinical years you will interview real Czech patients during hospital rotations, and basic medical Czech is required for that. Students consistently report this is very manageable — the university teaches you exactly the clinical vocabulary you need.
Is it only theory in years 1–2? When do clinical rotations start and where exactly do they happen?
Years 1–2 are pre-clinical: anatomy, histology, physiology, biochemistry — classroom, lab and dissection-room based. Year 3 is transitional: pathology, microbiology, and clinical propaedeutics — your first structured patient contact. Years 4–6 are predominantly clinical rotations. They take place at the university's own teaching hospitals: General University Hospital in central Prague (1st Faculty), Motol University Hospital — the largest hospital complex in Central Europe (2nd Faculty), Královské Vinohrady University Hospital (3rd Faculty), University Hospital Pilsen and University Hospital Hradec Králové. Your final year ends with state rigorous examinations.
What happens if I fail an exam? Am I kicked out?
No — one failed exam does not end your studies. Charles University uses the ECTS credit system: each examination normally allows two resit attempts (three attempts in total). If you exhaust all attempts in a compulsory subject, options depend on faculty rules — typically repeating the course year or an individual study plan; expulsion applies only after repeated failure of the same compulsory subject. You can also carry a limited number of credits into the next year under faculty-specific conditions. We explain the exact current rules of your chosen faculty before you apply, so there are no surprises.
After graduating, can I stay and do my specialisation (residency) in the Czech Republic?
Yes. Charles University graduates — including international ones — can enter Czech specialisation (residency) training. The practical requirement is Czech language proficiency, since residency involves daily patient care; by graduation you will have completed three years of Czech courses, and many of our students reach the required level. Alternatively, your degree lets you enter residency in Germany, the UK, Ireland and elsewhere — we map your post-graduation route during your final years.
Is the degree internationally recognised, and in which countries exactly?
Charles University is listed in the WHO World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS) and holds ECFMG recognition. Concretely: all 27 EU countries (automatic recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC), the United Kingdom (GMC — 1,000+ Charles graduates registered), the USA (ECFMG/USMLE route), Canada (MCC eligibility), Australia and New Zealand (competent-authority pathways), and WDOMS-based recognition across the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar), Africa (South Africa HPCSA, Nigeria MDCN) and Asia (India via NMC screening, Pakistan PMDC). In practice: 40+ countries. We verify your specific home-country requirements before you commit.
What exactly does BecomeADoctor.eu charge me?
Nothing — €0, ever. The university pays us a commission when a student we refer enrols, so our interests are aligned with your success. You receive free: eligibility assessment, faculty shortlisting, original past exam papers and coaching, complete document preparation and application submission, visa support, accommodation arrangement, airport pickup, and support throughout all 6 years.
Other universities you can apply to
You can apply to multiple Czech faculties simultaneously — we identify the right combination for your grades and budget.