International Office

The European Research University is a non-government, non-profit organisation established by the Czech law, whose mission is to primarily provide education in bachelor’s, follow-up master’s study programmes and doctoral study programmes as well as foster and develop scientific and other creative activities in cooperation with domestic and foreign higher education institutions, research and other institutions, state administration and business and cultural sectors.

The European Research University has been operating in the Czech Republic since 1999. In the beginning of its activity, the university realised educational programmes accredited by various Czech ministries and participated in the solution of Czech and international projects. In 2008, the university received government approval from the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports to operate as a private university with its first accredited bachelor’s study programme. The university gradually acquired the accreditation of other bachelor’s, follow-up master’s and eventually even doctoral study programmes as well as lifelong learning programmes. The transformation to a higher education institution of a university-type took place in 2023 after four years of demanding proceedings and assessment by the National Accreditation Office for Higher Education, which included the validation of all relevant areas, in particular the educational and research activities, or the international aspects.

The European Research University is also the institution responsible for several other higher educational institutions which provide vocational education. There are 24 study programmes with valid accreditations, of which 14 are accredited under the Higher Education Act for bachelor’s, follow-up master’s and doctoral studies, always proportionally in Czech and English. The university offers six study programmes in lifelong learning accredited by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. The organisation units with their own legal personality established by the European Research University offer four study programmes that are accredited by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. Around 1 500 students are currently studying at the European Research University and its organisation units. Around 4 000 students are studying in the entire PRIGO group, which the university is a part of.

The PRIGO University, which is the basic organisational unit of the university, organises bachelor’s and follow-up master’s study programmes, lifelong learning and third-age university education. Doctoral studies are organised by the Faculty of Doctoral Studies of the European Research University. Diplomas and academic degrees in all study programmes are issued by the European Research University based on government approval and the Higher Education Act. Diplomas and non-academic degrees of the organisational units with legal personality are issued by the organisation units under the Education Act.

The Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has issued a decision to place the European Research University among research organisations, which demonstrates that the university meets the defining characteristics of an organisation for research and dissemination of knowledge as established by the regulations of the European Union. This enables further development of scientific, research and other creative activities. The university conducts excellent research and is the holder of the prestigious HR Excellence in Research Award, which proves our professional care for researchers.

The European Research University builds on values such as openness and pro-inclusiveness, equal access to education, respect for individual educational needs of each person as well as relevance and efficacy. Its non-profit nature and the values it espouses motivate the university to offer those interested in a truly high-quality university education equivalent to education at private universities abroad the opportunity to use a social programme for talented students. Students can also receive attractive merit or scientific scholarships.

The European Research University accepts students who want to develop and work on themselves, get involved in the classes and project activities from the moment they start their studies and who want to take part in extracurricular events. Therefore, all applicants to studies at the university pass an entrance examination, the purpose of which is to check the applicants’ prerequisites and motivation to study. Following the example of some of the prestigious universities abroad, the applicant’s motivation letter or video footage, in which they emphasise their past achievements, prerequisites and motivation to study, is also taken into account in the admissions process. This is subsequently verified during the face-to-face motivational interview. An important requirement for the applicants is to submit of a short essay on a current social or economic topic, which replaces the entrance tests.

The primary goal of the European Research University is to continue in the established trend and become an elite university at the forefront in European education within the coming decade – i.e. a university focused on the implementation of basic and applied research with high-quality results and with developed external and foreign relations. The university strives that its graduates have a natural sense for social responsibility, accept the challenges associated with life in a multi-cultural environment, with the development of new technologies and sustainability of economic growth. The fundamental element for fulfilling the goals of the European Research University is primarily the stable and loyal core of academics with a high standard of expertise and an appropriate age structure who share common visions and values. The university is also involved in practical activities – cooperating with the business and public sectors as well as with charities and volunteers.

The European Research University presents itself as an international higher education institution, with a half of its students being from abroad. All study programmes are accredited in Czech and English. A significant share of foreign teaching and other academic staff work at the European Research University. The university has developed cooperation in the European mobility programme ERASMUS+ and with other European and non-European universities. Project and publishing activities are exclusively international. As part of its lifelong learning programmes, the European Research University prepares the students of its bachelor’s programmes for the master’s and doctoral studies at the best foreign universities, and it arranges meetings with graduates, students and academic staff from the world’s elite universities.

The European Research University actively participates in the self-administration of higher education institutions in Czechia and is a member of the Council of Higher Education Institutions. The Rector of the European Research University is also an active member of the Czech Rectors Conference.