Guides

You can find the academic calendar here. Note that the dates may vary according to your faculty, so select Faculty of Arts (FF).

The Centre for International Cooperation (CZS) and the ESN MUNI Brno (Erasmus Student Network) run an extensive Orientation Week before every semester. You have an opportunity to participate in Orientation Week with its colorful programme which will help you organize your administrative and study duties further experience a little bit of Czech culture and Czech language and meet and have fun with both the Czech and other international students at events held in both face-to-face and online form.

You do not have to buy the complete OW package with all the activities, however, it is necessary to register for events you want to take part in (also free ones). Moreover, it necessary to participate at the compulsory meeting (Wednesday: Introduction at your faculty and admission). 

Courses taught in English can be found on the websites of Masaryk University’s faculties. Masaryk University uses the ECTS system.

You will find the courses taught at the Faculty of Arts here. You can narrow down or specify your search by choosing a specific term or teaching language.

Students at the Department of English and American Studies can find a separate list of intensive courses here. 

You can find more detailed information about different types of Czech courses on the website of the Center for International Cooperation (CZS) or the Department of Czech for Foreigners.

The main difference is that the CZS offers a course named Survival Czech which will help you to get by in simple day-to-day situations, meanwhile the courses offered by the Department of Czech for foreigners offer various levels according to your needs and are meant especially for those who are planning to apply for study programs in Czech.

At Masaryk University the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) is used. At Masaryk University 60 ECTS represents the workload required for one year’s full-time study, or 30 ECTS/semester. As far as international exchange students are concerned, we require 20 ECTS/semester. 

Grading scale depends on the type of the exam. For exams (zkouška) the grading scale goes from A to F (A, B, C, D, and E being passing grades and F meaning failed); for credit (zápočet) the possible outcomes are Z (započteno = passed) or N (nezapočteno = failed); for colloquium there is either P (prospěl/a = passed) or N (neprospěl/a = failed).

All international students at Masaryk University are obliged to achieve a minimum of at least 20 ECTS credits in each semester.

With respect to our partners (student´s home universities) the minimum number of ECTS credits set by home universities has higher preference. However our minimum number of credits still needs to be achieved.

Example: If your university requires 30 ECTS per semester you need to follow the home university credit requirements. On the other hand if your university requires 15 ECTS you have to follow our credit limit requirements and gain at least 20 ECTS per semester. In some cases a university requires no credit limit – this means you have to follow our credit limit requirements which are 20 ECTS.

If you arrive to Prague by plane, you will have to get from the airport to the city center to catch a bus or train to Brno. Some buses go directly from the airport.

BY BUS

There are several bus companies operating buses from Prague to Brno. The yellow RegioJet buses also leave directly from Prague’s Václav Havel airport. Flixbus operates from the bus station Florenc. RegioJet and Flixbus will drop you off at the Grand Hotel bus station in the city centre of Brno.

BY TRAIN

To get to Brno by train, you will first need to get to Prague’s main railway station (Praha - hlavní nádraží). You can use the Czech Railways (České dráhy) or Regiojet. You can download their apps; you don´t have to print the ticket.

Trains arrive at Brno main train station (Brno - hlavní nádraží). 

You can check all the connections for both buses and trains at idos.cz.

BY BUS

RegioJet and Flixbus operate direct buses from Vienna’s Schwechat airport, and both stop at the Grand Hotel bus station in Brno. 

BY TRAIN

You can also travel from Vienna airport by train. You need to change at the Viena main station (Wien Hauptbahnhof). Please check the tickets here or you can buy it from the Czech railway e-shop.

Trains arrive at Brno main train station (Brno - hlavní nádraží). 

You can check all the trains and bus connections at idos.cz.

BY BUS

From Bratislava bus station (Autobusová stanica) there are connections by various bus companies including Regiojet and Flixbus. To check all the connections, go to idos.cz or cp.sk.

BY TRAIN

You will have to take the train from Bratislava main station (Bratislava - hlavná stanica). There are many connections and the journey takes only 1h30.

Trains arrive at Brno main train station (Brno - hlavní nádraží). 

To check all the connections, go to idos.cz or cp.sk.

From some destinations, there are direct flights to Brno Airport - (Letište Tuřany).

Public transport – bus E76 or N89 (at night). Both will take you to the “Hlavní nádraží” stop. You can check bus timetables online here. The journey from the airport to the city centre takes around 20 minutes.

The biggest bus companies like Regiojet and Flixbus stop at The Grand Hotel bus station – Autobusové nádraží u Hotelu Grand. It is located very close to the main railway station. You will only have to walk 5 minutes to get to the public transport stop “Hlavní nádraží”.

All the other bus companies go to the main bus station (autobusové nádraží) Zvonařka. There is a public transportation bus and tram stop called "Autobusové nádraží", you can take tram nr, 12 to the city centre from there or several buses to various directions. 

The public transport system consists of trams, city buses, and trolleybuses. The main railway station (“Hlavní nádraží”) is the central interchange point of all-night trams and buses.

You can check the connections at idos.cz or use google maps.

TICKETS

The easiest way is to use the BEEP&GO system and to buy your ticket by card right after you get on/in. However, you can also buy tickets at vending machines, DPMB shops, kiosks, and railway stations and via SMS (only with a Czech sim card).

STUDENT PASS

If you are a student younger than 26 years of age, you are entitled to a reduced-student rate pass for two zones which is most practical (cost: 275 CZK per month and 685 CZK quarterly). For buying an electronic ticket for public transport use the Brno ID. 

TIPS FROM LOCALS

If you´d like to read some tips from locals or expats who have lived in Brno for years now, check out this blog post at Foreigners Services about how to buy the transport pass. 

Faculty of Arts (Filozofická fakulta, FF MU) has buildings in different parts of the city. However, most of the classes take place in one of the buildings in the main complex at Arna Nováka. You will also find all the administration services, including our International Office (C building, 1st floor). Please note that the university's Center for International cooperation (CZS) is located at Komenského náměstí, not at the FF complex.

The closest tram stop to the faculty is "Grohova" tram stop (trams 12, 10 and 3), you will find our faculty just around the corner. To see the location of all our buildings, click below. 

MU owns over 100 buildings and uses over 200 other buildings. The application gives you access to university buildings and their location on the map and other useful information.

Buddies are students of Masaryk University who volunteer to help you settle down in Brno. He or she can take you to the halls of residence after your arrival, help you arrange accommodation formalities, and help you with other stuff you might need during your stay in Brno. Tutoring is not a guaranteed service but a voluntary help offered by students.

I want to have a buddy: registration here.

Reservations for international students (Spring 2024) start online on January 3rd, 2023 at 10:00 am CEST.

The Accommodation and Catering Services of Masaryk University (SKM MU) is a purpose-built facility of the university that provides the operation of canteens and accommodation facilities at Masaryk University (www.skm.muni.cz). 

All residence halls have Internet connection, a laundry room, TV room and a study room. All rooms are equipped with a fridge.

Masaryk University offers catering in 9 canteens, restaurants or snack bars that are located in different parts of the city. 

If you don´t want to stay at student dorms, you can always consider other forms of accommodation such as renting a single room or sharing a flat with your friends. There are many ways to find the best deal - we suggest you take a look at some of these facebook groups here, here (in Czech) or here (also in Czech). Or you can check out this web page where you can specify what you´re looking for and narrow down your search results.

Web gotobrno.cz has reviewed the best places to eat and drink in Brno. Check out all the best venues.

The QS World University Rankings by Subject are compiled annually to help prospective students identify the leading universities in a particular subject. Research citations, along with the results of major global surveys of employers and academics are used to rank universities. 

2021 QS Ranking:

• English Language & Literature (Faculty of Arts): 251–300

USE-IT stands for no-nonsense tourist info for young people. USE-IT maps and websites are made by young locals, are not commercial, free, and up-to-date. Some also have a visitors desk, mostly run by volunteers. Every USE-IT publishes a Map for Young Travellers that will guide you through the city in a no-nonsense way. 

Masaryk University is not responsible for this waste collection fee and is not able to provide further information. If you have any queries, please use the contact details below.

From 1 January 2013, the local fees for Brno municipal waste collection shall be paid by all foreign nationals (EU and non-EU) staying in Brno for more than 3 months (a detailed description is also available at the City of Brno web pages). 

The easiest way to register as a foreigner staying in Brno for longer than 3 months and to pay for a waste fee is to use Brno iD website.

Unless exempt due to citizenship or special circumstances (see if you are exempt), you must provide proof that you hold Czech medical insurance before the visa/residence permit is affixed to your travel document. The insurance must cover the entire period of your stay in the Czech Republic determined in accordance with the period your permit has been issued for.

Since August 2nd, 2021 only complex PVZP health insurance will be accepted for visa purposes. 

With your health insurance, you are entitled to visit any general practitioner or dentist. If you have eye problems or any other problem you should first visit a general practitioner, who will examine you and then, if necessary, arrange for you to see a specialist.

Unless it is urgent, we recommend making an appointment in advance on the phone. Don't forget to take the insurance card, number or any document proving your insurance.

Faculty of Medicine has also put together a list of GPs and other doctors that speak English. You can find the overview here. 

If you are a compatriot student (Krajané) you need to take your Decision to award a scholarsip document (Rozhodnutí o přiznání stipendia) to take with you saying that you are a government scholarship holder.

The Accommodation and Catering Services of Masaryk University (SKM MU) is a purpose-built facility of the university that provides the operation of canteens and accommodation facilities at Masaryk University. 

We will send you all the necessary information concerning your application for dormitories by e-mail in advance.

If you would like to start learning Czech on your own, you can try Duolingo or Memrise. With these apps, you can study Czech whenever you have just a few minutes of free time. 

Alternatively, you can also check out this list of study portals and materials put together by the South Moravian Regional Center for the Support of the Integration of Foreigners. They even offer Czech language courses that are free of charge for EU nationals. 

Some useful tips for exchange student coming to Masaryk University – read up more here.

Masaryk University's IS is a website where you administer your studies at the university - you can register for courses, see your timetable and much more. 

When in doubt, consult this handy and well-arranged guide to our IS. There you will find all the useful tips and instructions on how to register and enroll in courses, where to find your exam results and much much more.

SUPO is a university system of settling payments for services generated by the ISKaM accommodation system, among other things.

It acts as a kind of your own university bank account (but it is not a real bank account) that you will use to pay for your accommodation (if you live at student dorms), meals (at university cantines) and for printing (in university libraries).

A majority of Masaryk University’s premises is covered by Wi-Fi network enabling internet connection from laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. MU uses Eduroam, a worldwide network, which enables internet connection at most of the academic institutions around the world based on the principle of unified login. If you already have access to Eduroam, you can use it at MU as well. If you don't, you will get access after you start your exchange at MU.

There is also a second, auxiliary, Wi-Fi network MUNI.

According to 435/2004 Sb. Zákon o zaměstnanosti (Employment Law) § 98, foreign students who are undertaking full-time study accredited programs are allowed to work and they have full access to the labor market (including during the summer).

Should you need a work permit, you should contact the local branch of the Employment Office (Úřad práce), find out more here. It is subject to an administrative fee of CZK 500. It is issued for:

• a definite period of time, the maximum of two years (a foreigner may apply for an employment permit repeatedly);
• six months in case of seasonal employment; the permit shall be issued for no longer than six months within a calendar year and may also be issued repeatedly provided that a period of at least six months elapses between the individual employments.

Detailed information about the work permit can be found on the website of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

Most popular job portals in the Czech Republic are:

• Jobs.cz
• Expats.cz
• Employment Offices' database
• EURES – European Job Mobility Portal
• Facebook group: Multilingual Jobs in Brno

It is usual to send an e-mail to a potential employer; phone calls are not normally preferred. You should send a CV together with a cover letter. Be prepared for an interview.

EU/EEA OR SWITZERLAND CITIZENS

Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland or their family members do not need an employment permit, Employee Card or Blue Card to be employed on the territory of the Czech Republic. These nationals have the same legal status as citizens of the Czech Republic, as the country is a member of the European Union. For more information have a look at the portal of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic.

OTHER THAN EU/EEA (SO-CALLED THIRD COUNTRY CITIZENS)

If you are a third-country citizen (i.e. not an EU/EAA or Swiss citizen), you are allowed to work while studying, but please bear in mind that you are staying in the Czech Republic on basis of a visa for study purposes, therefore paid work cannot be your primary occupation during your stay. Your work should not affect your studies.

Third-country students studying in the Czech Republic in a present (daily) form of studies in a degree program accredited by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports don’t need an employment permit. The employer is only obliged to notify the relevant regional office of the Public Employment Service at the start of your work.

Third-country students who come only for student exchange or study in a distance form of studies are allowed to work without an employment permit too, but only if they are up to the age of 26 and their performance of work does not exceed 7 consecutive calendar days or a total of 30 days within a calendar year.

In all other cases, the citizens who do not come from the EU/EEA countries or Switzerland may be employed in the Czech Republic if they have obtained an employment permit and a residence permit, or an Employee Card or an EU Blue Card (both cards combine a work permit and a residence permit in one document). The local Employment Office shall always be the relevant one for issuing the employment permit. The work permit is issued for a definite period of time, a maximum of two years, however; a foreigner may even apply for an employment permit repeatedly. Please note that the work permit is only valid provided the following attributes are specified in the decision: the employer, the type of work you will be performing, and the location where your work will take place.

If you are a third country citizen, you obtained your university education in the Czech Republic, you have already finished your studies, and you wish to stay in the Czech Republic for work purposes, you have to apply for an employee card. Foreign nationals who have obtained a university education in the Czech Republic have free access to the labor market. In this case, the employee card serves merely as a long-term residence permit where the stated purpose of the foreign national’s stay (longer than 3 months) is employment.

For more information have a look at the dedicated portal of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic.

For obtaining legal advice contact the Integration Centre Prague or the Association for Integration and Migration.

EU BLUE CARD

EU Blue Card is a work permit issued by 25 out of 27 EU Member States to highly-qualified non-EU citizens. Its intention is to stimulate economic development by making Europe a desirable destination for qualified workers to practice professional knowledge and skills as well as allowing free movement within the European Union for non-EU citizens.