Discover a hidden gem of a university town in Czechia

Czechia is an exciting place to be a foreign student. Czech culture, beautiful cities, a fascinating national history, as well as a lower cost of living than elsewhere in Europe, together make the country an increasingly popular destination for studying.

What’s more, Czechia has long been renowned for its successes in research and innovation, a heritage which one Czech university is seeking to continue. The University of Hradec Králové (UHK) offers a range of popular programs in science and other subjects, taught in English and open to international students.

With deadlines for admissions for the next academic year approaching, people interested in deepening their knowledge, gaining valuable higher educational qualifications, and joining a tight-knit community of researchers should act now to be in with a shot of getting into UHK.

Why Hradec Králové?

When it comes to studying in Czechia, there’s no shortage of appealing options. Prague and Brno boast some of the country’s leading higher education institutions in science, the arts, and applied subjects such as agriculture and business.

But UHK offers something unique. The university is small and compact, meaning students enjoy a much stronger sense of community and belonging than in the big cities. For international students, this can be especially important; it’s easy to get lost in the crowd in Prague, but in a city like Hradec Králové, it’s easier to find your place.

“Our university is relatively small: we only have around 6,500 students. But our teaching and research are at the same level as other top Czech universities,” says UHK rector Kamil Kuča.

“Our university and the wider city are famous for being a friendly environment for international students. Czechs may still be learning not to be shy about speaking English, but they usually speak at least the basics! And if an international student learns a couple of phrases in Czech, that always opens more doors,” Kuča continues.

“What’s more, the university itself is very internationalized. All necessary documents are translated into English, we have around 30 English-language study programs, and many other subjects are also taught in English.”

For day-to-day life, UHK even provides a special video series called the UHK Guide, helping students orient themselves in the city and at the university while giving advice on great ways to spend leisure time in Hradec Králové.

Quality study programs unlocking potential

The quality of UHK’s study programs was recently highlighted by its strong performance in the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. In 2022, UHK ranked as the sixth best university in Czechia, a leap of two places from the previous year. It tied for the 1,201th position globally.

The rankings are compiled based on evaluation of a university’s research capabilities, its teaching programs, and other factors including the ratio of students to staff members, the institution’s reputational weight, and its “international outlook.” UHK’s appeal for international students was underlined by the fact that its highest score was in this “international outlook” category.

“Students have many possibilities here to pursue their interests and they have less competition, because we’re a regional university. But we have global ambitions which, as the rankings show, we are achieving. What’s more, everybody knows everybody, and if you study well, you can easily get noticed by our top researchers. Then, your career goes through the roof,” says Kuča.

Leading research in every faculty

The compact nature of the university means talented students get noticed, encouraged, and challenged. This is particularly important for long-term success in highly competitive fields such as science.

UHK’s Faculty of Science runs various Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral study programs in the areas of physics, chemistry, biology, cybernetics and more. The faculty boasts the latest in scientific research and teaching equipment, including state-of-the-art laboratories.

“We have brand-new labs at the Faculty of Science with high-quality equipment, so once students get the hang of things, they can start contributing to various research projects. Similar research opportunities apply, of course, in our humanities courses as well,” says Kuča.

A scientific approach to research is also key at the other three university faculties. Popular study paths at the Faculty of Informatics and Management include economics and informatics, while the Philosophical Faculty runs social sciences and humanities study programs including political science, sociology and archaeology. 

More creative activities can meanwhile be pursued at the Faculty of Education, where students can choose to specialize in disciplines including art, music and languages.

As part of UHK’s strongly international outlook, students at the Faculty of Science can take advantage of partnerships with foreign institutions to do part of their studies abroad, in European countries such as Spain, Portugal, Germany, Poland, Sweden and France, or in far-flung countries like Brazil, Korea, Japan, Mexico, Colombia, Ghana and Zambia.

But it’s within the community in Hradec Králové where students really have the opportunity to make their mark, and where the university’s size can provide a head-start in embarking on successful research careers.

“Our excellent teachers produce research alongside their teaching duties, and students also help in this,” says Kuča. “Student participation in research usually takes place at the postgraduate level, but some manage to take part even during their Master’s studies.”

This is an invaluable opportunity for students looking to hit new heights of achievement, whether they see themselves pursuing an academic career in the long term or applying their skills elsewhere after finishing their studies. The University of Hradec Králové is a place where students can become important in the community, immerse themselves in Czech culture, and thrive academically.