Czech Republic International Student Statistics 2024
The Czech Republic is increasingly becoming a popular study-abroad destination for international students. The multiple study programs offered make it an ideal country for international students to find a suitable degree program. Furthermore, the Czech Republic provides international students with affordable living costs for international students and a high-quality education.
International students who graduate from a Czech university will have higher opportunities to join the job market.
Quick Summary
According to the latest statistics by the Czech Statistical Office, 52,109 international students are studying in higher education institutions in the Czech Republic.
- 8,917 international students have graduated from universities in the Czech Republic.
- 4,498 international students are enrolled in distance and combined studies.
- There are 10,877 first-time international students enrolled in the Czech Republic.
- The majority of international students are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs, a total of 24,766 students.
- The field of business, administration, and law is the most popular among international students in the Czech Republic, with a total of 11,044 students.
- The majority of international students in the Czech Republic come from Slovakia, a total of 21,913 students.
- Prague is the city with the most international student population in the Czech Republic, with 26,512 students.
Historical International Student Statistics in the Czech Republic
Many international students choose the Czech Republic to study abroad. According to the latest statistics by the Czech Statistical Office, 52,109 international students study abroad in higher education institutions in the Czech Republic.
- 8,917 international students have graduated from universities in the Czech Republic.
- The number of international students in the Czech Republic increased by 3.9% from 2020 to 2021.
- Of the total international students enrolled in higher education in the Czech Republic, 8.6% are enrolled in distance and combined studies.
- On the other hand, of the total international graduates in the Czech Republic, 9.5% are distance and combined studies graduates.
- During the previous decade —from 2003 to 2013— the number of international students in the Czech Republic has increased by 208.7%.
- Since 2013, the number of international students in higher education in the Czech Republic has increased by 29.2%.
- The number of graduated international students in the Czech Republic has increased by 10.2% in the last five years.
| Year | International Students | Distance and combined studies* (Total International Students) | International Graduates | Distance and combined studies*(International Graduates) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 52,109 | 4,498 | 8,917 | 899 |
| 2020 | 50,121 | 4,597 | 8,907 | 855 |
| 2019 | 46,351 | 4,514 | 8,836 | 900 |
| 2018 | 44,687 | 4,658 | 8,583 | 886 |
| 2017 | 43,676 | 4,743 | 8,284 | 962 |
| 2016 | 43,457 | 4,791 | 8,090 | 1,036 |
| 2015 | 42,032 | 4,757 | 7,919 | 1,332 |
| 2014 | 40,920 | 5,173 | 8,303 | 1,744 |
| 2013 | 40,331 | 6,098 | 8,275 | 2,090 |
| 2012 | 39,430 | 7,186 | 8,238 | 2,659 |
| 2011 | 38,707 | 8,766 | 7,571 | 2,381 |
| 2010 | 37,498 | 9,575 | 6,744 | 2,030 |
| 2009 | 34,426 | 9,072 | 5,728 | 1,802 |
| 2008 | 30,119 | 7,688 | 4,876 | 1,403 |
| 2007 | 27,039 | 6,628 | 4,173 | 1,323 |
| 2006 | 23,860 | 5,604 | 3,102 | 856 |
| 2005 | 20,877 | 4,604 | 1,934 | 328 |
| 2004 | 17,054 | 3,215 | 1,149 | 153 |
| 2003 | 13,064 | 2,024 | 763 | 153 |
*Distance and combined studies in the Czech Republic include degrees completed through online learning or a combination of online and in-person learning.
First-Time International Student Statistics in the Czech Republic
- According to the most recent data, there are 10,877 first-time international students enrolled in the Czech Republic, the highest number of registered first-time international students in the Czech Republic.
- Of the total first-time international students in the Czech Republic, 5.6% are enrolled in distance and combined degree programs.
- The number of first-time international students has increased by 1.4% since 2020 (within a year).
- The highest number of first-time international students enrolled in distance and combined studies occurred in 2009, with 1,971 students.
| Year | First-Time International Students | Distance and Combined Studies |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,877 | 616 |
| 2020 | 10,717 | 537 |
| 2019 | 9,260 | 480 |
| 2018 | 8,526 | 476 |
| 2017 | 7,522 | 484 |
| 2016 | 8,525 | 504 |
| 2015 | 8,687 | 549 |
| 2014 | 8,786 | 572 |
| 2013 | 8,656 | 642 |
| 2012 | 8,443 | 780 |
| 2011 | 8,397 | 1,227 |
| 2010 | 8,937 | 1,758 |
| 2009 | 8,600 | 1,971 |
| 2008 | 7,272 | 1,761 |
| 2007 | 6,838 | 1,523 |
| 2006 | 6,260 | 1,374 |
| 2005 | 5,969 | 1,436 |
| 2004 | 5,374 | 1,165 |
| 2003 | 3,287 | 826 |
International Students in the Czech Republic by Degree Level
The higher education institutions in the Czech Republic offer multiple degree programs, which include bachelor’s, master’s, follow-up master’s degree programs, and distance and combined studies.
- The majority of international students are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs, a total of 24,766 students, which is a difference of 104.8% from international student enrollment in master’s degree programs.
- On the other hand, there is a higher number of international students enrolled in follow-up master’s degree programs compared to typical master’s degrees, with a difference of 34.5%.
- The lowest number of international students in the Czech Republic are enrolled in Doctoral Study Programs, a total of 4,356.
- The number of international students studying at the bachelor’s level has increased by 21.7% from 2016.
- The number of international students enrolled in bachelor's degree programs increased drastically from 2004 to 2014, by 262.8%.
- In comparison, the number of international students enrolled in master’s degrees has stayed consistent throughout the decade, with a slight increase of only 21.3% from 2010 to 2021.
| Year | Bachelor’s Degrees | Master’s Degrees | Follow-up Master’s Degrees* | Doctoral Study Programs | Distance and Combined Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24,766 | 7,733 | 10,966 | 4,356 | 4,498 |
| 2020 | 23,394 | 7,766 | 10,611 | 3,998 | 4,597 |
| 2019 | 21,068 | 7,413 | 10,254 | 3,334 | 4,514 |
| 2018 | 20,113 | 7,406 | 9,829 | 2,893 | 4,658 |
| 2017 | 19,995 | 7,404 | 9,197 | 2,628 | 4,743 |
| 2016 | 20,346 | 7,574 | 8,644 | 2,424 | 4,791 |
| 2015 | 20,015 | 7,179 | 8,072 | 2,309 | 4,757 |
| 2014 | 19,429 | 6,879 | 7,571 | 2,187 | 5,173 |
| 2013 | 18,566 | 6,756 | 7,206 | 2,090 | 6,098 |
| 2012 | 17,497 | 6,587 | 6,667 | 1,891 | 7,186 |
| 2011 | 15,951 | 6,505 | 6,153 | 1,746 | 8,766 |
| 2010 | 14,904 | 6,374 | 5,435 | 1,673 | 9,575 |
| 2009 | 13,265 | 6,326 | 4,696 | 1,529 | 9,072 |
| 2008 | 11,668 | 6,198 | 3,601 | 1,393 | 7,688 |
| 2007 | 10,651 | 6,538 | 2,270 | 1,366 | 6,628 |
| 2006 | 8,983 | 6,948 | 1,411 | 1,229 | 5,604 |
| 2005 | 7,224 | 7,279 | 1,009 | 1,053 | 4,604 |
| 2004 | 5,355 | 7,186 | 655 | 986 | 3,215 |
*The Follow-up Master’s Degrees in the Czech Republic typically last for 3 to 4 years and are a continuation of an undergraduate or bachelor’s degree. Other master’s degrees usually last for 5 to 6 years.
Top Study Fields Among International Students in the Czech Republic
International students enrolled in higher education institutions in the Czech Republic study at a number of degree programs available. The top ten most popular study fields among international students in 2021 (the latest statistics available according to the Czech Statistical Office) are listed below.
- The field of business, administration, and law is the most popular among international students in the Czech Republic, with a total of 11,044 students.
- Education is one of the least popular fields of study among international students in the Czech Republic, with only 877 students.
| Study Field | International Students |
|---|---|
| Business, administration, and law | 11,044 |
| Health and welfare | 8,966 |
| Information and communication technologies | 6,908 |
| Engineering, manufacturing and construction | 5,738 |
| Social sciences, journalism and information | 5,592 |
| Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics | 5,056 |
| Arts and humanities | 4,973 |
| Services | 1,729 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and veterinary | 1,613 |
| Education | 877 |
International Students in the Czech Republic by Country of Origin
- The majority of international students in the Czech Republic come from Slovakia, with a total of 21,913 students, followed by the Russian Federation, with 8,575 students.
- A significant number of international students in the Czech Republic come from Ukraine, with 4,613 students, whereas 2,720 students are from Kazakhstan.
- There are 1,530 Indian students enrolled in higher education institutions in the Czech Republic, whereas 1,067 students are from Belarus.
- Other popular countries of origin that bring the most international students in the Czech Republic include Germany, with 1,045 students, China (698 ), Italy (682), and the United States, with 600 students.
Top Cities for International Students in the Czech Republic
Most cities in the Czech Republic have a number of international students enrolled in their higher education institutions, and listed below are some of the most popular choices for international students in 2021.
- Prague is the city with the most international student population in the Czech Republic, with a total of 26,512 students, followed by Brno, with 14,261 international students.
- Olomouc is ranked third among cities of the Czech Republic with the most international students, with 2,483 students, followed by Ostrava with 1,912 students and Pilsen with 1,328 students.
- The city of Hradec is another popular host city for international students studying in the Czech Republic, with 1,250 students.
- There are 1,020 international students studying abroad in Zlin and 679 international students studying in Ceske Budejovice.
- Other popular cities of the Czech Republic with a significant number of international students include Pardubice, with 568 students; Liberec (448), Ústí nad Labem (268), Opava (174), and Jindřichův Hradec, with 168 students.