Czech Republic International Student Insurance

International Student Health Insurance for Students in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is home to over seventy public and private academic institutions of higher education. Many of these offer Czech language courses designed specifically for foreign students studying in the Czech Republic. So why should you, as an international student, consider studying in the Czech Republic?

Education in the Czech Republic

Higher education has a special place in the history of the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic is home to the oldest academic institution in Central Europe: the Charles University in Prague (founded in 1348). In 1989, Czech students and intellectuals led the Velvet Revolution, wresting governmental control from the socialist regime.

Today, high-quality education in the Czech Republic is available to all students who have completed their secondary education and successfully passed an entrance exam specific to the educational institution in question. Additionally, most Czech universities and colleges have adopted the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, allowing easy credit and degree transfer to academic institutions throughout Europe. The degree structure in the Czech Republic is identical to that of the United States; students may choose to study in a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree program in the Czech Republic.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in the Czech Republic is significantly lower than anywhere else in Western Europe. It is estimated that the total food, housing, and transportation costs for students studying in the Czech Republic is only about US$350-750 a month. This is perfect for international students living on a budget.

Health Care and Insurance in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has one of the best health care systems in Central Europe, and citizens are provided with near universal insurance coverage through their employers. Health care is provided by both state-run and private medical facilities, and the Czech Republic is home to some of the top medical professionals in the world.

International students in the Czech Republic are required to hold proof of medical insurance coverage upon entrance into the Czech Republic. The type of insurance that international students are required to have varies depending on their length of stay and their country of origin.

Students from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland who have valid health insurance in their own countries can apply for the EU health insurance card (EHIC). The EHIC is free and gives you access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the EU countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, under the same conditions and at the same cost as people insured in that country. The EHIC is issued by your national health insurance provider. Remember that these cards are not an alternative to travel insurance, as they do not not cover any private healthcare or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property.

Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cuba, Japan, Macedonia, Montenegro, Turkey, Serbia, and Yemen are not required to purchase medical travel insurance to travel in the Czech Republic. This also applies to participants of the Erasmus Mundus program, Fulbright scholarship program, European Voluntary Service of the EC Youth in Action programme.

All other international students who intend to stay in the Czech Republic for longer than 90 days are required to submit proof of comprehensive health insurance coverage when they apply for a visa. The coverage limit is minimum EUR 60,000 and the insurance must be purchased for the entire period of stay

We offer the following plans to students who are planning to travel, study or visit the Czech Republic: