Certificates are recognized for entry to establishments when using services. They also simplify travel. Fully-vaccinated holders of the European Vaccination Certificate or holders of recognised vaccination certificates from third countries can come from any country without a test and without self-isolation, just with an entry form.

For your daily stay at the university, you will need an ISIC card. There is a chip in the card that will allow you to open certain classrooms and computer rooms. You will also need your ISIC card for staying at the dorms (and for paying your rent).

Where to get the ISIC card?

1. Click here.
2. Select "First card ISIC Card for Full-time students".
3. Click on "Add to shopping cart".
4. Click on "Order" and follow the instructions.

The amount to pay for the ISIC card is 180 CZK.

As soon as your ISIC card is ready to be picked up in the International Relations Office (in about 2-5 business days), you will receive a message.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

The ISIC card will not be issued without:

1. You being enrolled in the studies.
2. Your photo in the MUNI Information System.

Here is how to set your own photo in the IS (first, you have to log in to the INET application with your primary password). You will also need a scan of your ID.

The photo you want to submit must meet the following criteria:

• Image file format: JPEG (file extension .jpg)
• Orientation: portrait
• Background: white or light grey, plain, all one color and shade
• Framing: head show in full and centered, shoulders visible
• Framing: enough free space around the head (to create a standard crop)
• Headwear and glasses: without headwear (except for medical or religious reasons) and dark glasses
• Dimension: height - minimum 1.000 pixels and maximum 3.000 pixels
• Dimension: width - minimum 1.000 pixels and maximum 2.000 pixels

Place the crop box on the photo according to the following patterns:

• Head inside the ellipse;
• Maintain the same distances from the cutting edge.

You can find the academic calendar here. Note that the dates may vary according to your faculty, so do not forget to select the Faculty of Arts (FF).

The Centre for International Cooperation (CZS) and the ESN MUNI Brno (Erasmus Student Network) run an extensive Orientation Week prior to 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 and 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 parties, workshops, etc.

You do not have to buy the complete OW package with all the activities, however, it is necessary that you participate at the compulsory meetings (Monday: Opening and Admission in Scala cinema, Tuesday: Emergency & Safety, Wednesday: Introduction at your faculty). 

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.

Every degree student in an English-taught program is entitled to study 2 semesters of the Czech language at the Department of Czech for Foreigners for free.

The university also offers other courses of Czech for Foreigners. More information can be found on the website of the Center for International Cooperation (CZS) 

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 ideal workload for one year’s full-time study or 30 ECTS/semester, but it depends on you - it is your responsibility to even out the workload.

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).

You need at least 20 ECTS to be able to pass to the next semester (or 45 ECTS for the last two semesters combined, e.g. if in the previous semester you reached 35 ECTS, this semester you need just 10 ECTS to qualify for next semester).

In order to finish:

• Bachelor studies, you need 180 ECTS.
• Master studies, you need 120 ECTS.
• PhD. studies, you need 240 ECTS.

Notice for the removal of errors in your visa/residence permit application:

• If your application has not met all the requirements, MOI CR will contact you
  to supplement any missing documents and set a reasonable period to do
  so. At the same time, it shall issue a resolution suspending the
  administrative proceeding. After the expiration of the period to
  supplement the documents, the proceedings continue.
• In case, you are not able to obtain the missing documents, you
  are entitled to submit a reasoned request in written form to
  extend the period.

The MOI CR has not made a decision in the statutory time period:

• Time period to decide on your application: 60 days from the day you applied (long-term residence permit and long-term visa with the purpose of studies)
• Request for the acceleration of proceedings: Apply for the acceleration of the proceedings and send it to the respective body. State the procedural number within the request.
• Petition against the inactivity of the administrative authority: In case the proceedings have not been accelerated, file the petition against the inactivity of the administrative authority to the superior body. If the MOI CR does not make a decision on the matter within the statutory time period, the superior administrative body will execute measures against inactivity by its virtue as soon as the superior administrative authority finds out. Submit the petition against the inactivity of the administrative authority in writing to the Commission for decision-making in matters of residence of foreigners, which is obliged to decide within the time period of 30 days. 
  • If you need help with the petition, please contact us at admission@phil.muni.cz.
  • Where to send the petition?
    
    • Komise pro rozhodování ve věcech pobytu cizinců
      Nám. Hrdinů 1634/3
      Poštovní schránka 155/S0
      140 21 Praha 4
      ID of Data box: b78xtfa

The application has not been approved:

• Decision on denial of the application
  Did the MOI CR deny granting a visa/residence permit in the territory of the Czech Republic due to the failure of fulfilling all the legally stated conditions?
  You are entitled to file an appeal against the negative outcome within 15 days after the decision/resolution has been delivered.

Reservations for international students start online on January 3rd, 2022 at 10:00 am CET.

Masaryk University offers 3825 beds in 11 student accommodation facilities in different parts of Brno for different prices.

At all halls of residence, there is Internet connection, a laundry room, a TV room, and a study room. All rooms are equipped with a fridge.

You can find an overview of student dormitories here.

Pricelist is here.

Masaryk University offers catering in 13 cantines, restaurants or snack bars that are located in different parts of the city. 

If you have an active ISIC, you can benefit from discounted student prices. You will pay with your ISIC, but first, you need to top up your Kredit boarding system. It is interconnected with the SUPO system (The Public System of Remittances and Claims of Persons). Boarders with a deposit account can use cashless transfers of finances (recharging) between SUPO and Kredit (manual as well as automatic) in the application WebKredit. In WebKredit you can also see the daily menu and prices.

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 how 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.

If you can’t or don’t want to live at student dorms and you are looking for a private or shared flat, try looking at this guide prepared by Brno Daily where they summarize the main districts of Brno with their pros and cons.

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

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

There are 3 main mobile providers in the Czech Republic:

• T-mobile
• O2
• Vodafone

You can also use the prepaid service of other providers such as Kaktus or Tesco Mobile.

If you become a member of ESN (International Exchange Student Network) you will get free Vodafone SIM card with a special tariff for international students - 3 GB of data and unlimited SMS within the Vodafone network per month within a 50% discount for 6 months. 

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. Get a USE-IT map of Brno here or find out more here.

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. The aforesaid are obliged to 1) pay the fee for the respective number of months and 2) report this fact to the fee administrator.

THE MUNICIPAL WASTE FEE IN BRNO IN 2021

Information for foreign nationals

Since 1/1/2013 the local fees for municipal waste in Brno have had to be paid for by:

• all foreign nationals (both EU and non-EU) residing in Brno for longer than 3 months (until 2012 it was only those with a permanent residence permit). The fee is to be paid for by each person.
• all owners of the property (flats or family houses) in which no person is registered as staying. For example, if you own two flats, and you are registered as a resident in one of them, and if in the other flat no-one is registered as a resident, you are liable to pay once for yourself as a result of your residence and a second time due to your ownership of property in which no-one is registered as a resident.

The above-mentioned fee payers are obliged to:

• pay for the fee in due time (if the fee is not paid for in due time, it may be increased up to three times the fee)
• to report this fact to the fee administrator (electronic forms are available at brno.cz/odpady); failing the reporting duty may result in a fine imposed by the fee administrator.

In the administration of tax all meetings are to be conducted and all documents are to be produced in Czech.

FEE RATE   

670 CZK per payer for the calendar year 2021

FEE TO BE PAID BY   

31/5/2021

You can make the payment from January already. Concerning a duty to pay the fee arising in the period from 1/5 to 31/12, a proportionate part of the fee is payable by the last day of the month following the month in which the duty to pay the fee arose.

ACCOUNT NUMBER 

111220022/0800 (Česká spořitelna, a.s.), the payment reference number ("variabilní symbol") is the personal identification number of the fee payer.

ONLINE PAYMENT AT 

at municipal e-shop: www.brnoid.cz

Paying for the fee AT THE CASH DESK

Address: Šumavská 35, Building C, 3th floor

When making a payment in cash at the cash desk, you need to know the name and surname, address, and date of birth for each of the fee payers that you are making the payment for.

Cash desk opening hours:    Mon: 8:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 17:00

                                             Tue: 8:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 14:30

                                             Wed: 8:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 17:00

                                             Thur.: 8:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 14:00

                                             Fri: 8:00 – 12:00

CONTACT INFORMATION

• In person: Šumavská 35, Building C, 3^th floor, on business days Monday, Wednesday: 8:00 – 17:00 and Friday: 8:00 – 12:00
• By telephone: 542 174 301, 542 174 304, 542 174 305, 542 174 306, 542 174 300
• In writing: Odbor životního prostředí MMB, Kounicova 67, 601 67 Brno
• E-mail: odpady@brno.cz
• www.brno.cz/odpady

(If you are interested in receiving information in Czech by e-mail, please register at this 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.

As of August 2nd, 2021 comprehensive medical insurance for foreign nationals has to be arranged with one particular insurance company – Pojišťovna VZP, a.s. (PVZP).

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. 

The Teiresias Center (the official name is the Support Center for Students with Special Needs) has been an office of the Rectorate at Masaryk University since 2000. The Center's primary task is to provide maximum accessibility to all accredited degree programmes at the University for the visually impaired, the deaf and hearing impaired, people with limited or restricted mobility and people with other types of disabilities.
In the University's organizational structure, the Center is one of the offices at the Rectorate to be concerned with student issues, along with the Office for Studies and Office for Student Welfare.
The Center also coordinates the life-long education programme for the blind. This programme's objective is to allow the blind, regardless of age or social status, to enhance their education in accredited subjects.

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). 

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. 

With higher temperatures, it’s tempting to get out to some quiet place, pop a few beers, or grill a špekáček or two with friends. Grilling season is officially on in Brno.

Since 2016, there are a few public grill spots one can use in the city. Three of them are located on the outskirts of the city on the beaches of Brno Dam and one more in Lužánky park. To find out more, click 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.

You can find the necessary settings and other kinds of advice here.

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
• 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 procedure of application for such a permit is described here. 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.