Our mission.
The European Research University is a non-governmental, non-profit institution whose primary mission is to provide education through accredited undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, non-degree programmes, and lifelong learning initiatives, as well as to undertake associated scientific research activities. Founded on the principles of openness, inclusivity, equality, and respect for individual needs, ERUNI is dedicated to delivering education based on a non-profit model.
The educational experience at ERUNI is highly personalised, with students being actively engaged in research from their undergraduate studies onwards. The number of students admitted to the University is deliberately limited, as applicants undergo a rigorous multi-round admission process in which their research aptitude is assessed. Research activities, and their integration with teaching in the accredited study programmes, remain a central focus of the institution.
In addition to its strong research orientation, ERUNI is distinguished by a high level of internationalisation, which permeates both its teaching and its broader activities, particularly in the field of research. The University maintains collaborations with academic institutions worldwide, and its researchers are regularly involved in international research teams.
In order to facilitate access to higher education, ERUNI operates on a non-profit basis and provides a scholarship programme that, under certain conditions, can cover up to 100% of the costs associated with study. This scholarship initiative is designed to ensure equal access to education for students regardless of their financial or social background.
Our history.
The European Research University was founded in 1999. At the beginning of its existence, the institution implemented various educational programmes accredited by the government and participated in the implementation of educational, development and investment projects, including international ones. In 2008, we were granted state approval by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports to operate as a private higher education institution. Since that year, we have successively obtained a number of accreditations for Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes, as well as lifelong learning programmes.
The transformation to a higher education institution of a university-type took place in 2023 only after two years of demanding proceedings and assessments by the National Accreditation Bureau for Higher Education, which included the validation of all relevant areas, in particular the educational and research activities, or the international aspects. Currently, ERUNI offers all degree programmes, including doctoral studies. The year 2023 was a turning point for the University, not only because it gained the university status, but also because, since that year, it gradually established all its constituent parts - be they faculties, colleges, or other workplaces - not only in the Ostrava metropolitan area but also in Prague, London, Brno, and other cities.
Our structure.
The European Research University includes faculties providing academic degree programmes as well as colleges that provide professional degree programmes, lifelong learning or non-degree programmes, and vocational education. There exist more than 30 study and educational programmes with valid accreditations, of which 14 are accredited under the Higher Education Act of the Czech Republic for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral studies, always proportionally implemented in Czech and English languages. The University offers six educational programmes in the field of lifelong learning, accredited by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, which confer qualifications for teaching staff in accordance with Czech legislation. Colleges established by the ERUNI provide additional study programmes accredited by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, designed to prepare graduates for state-regulated professions, including roles such as social worker or veterinary nurse. Lastly, the ERUNI operates a Recognised Teaching Centre of the University of London, offering four undergraduate specialisations within the Business Administration programme.
The ERUNI group, comprising both its directly managed and autonomous units, currently enrols approximately 3,200 students, while the broader PRIGO group, of which the University is a member, accommodates nearly 5,900 students. Diplomas and academic degrees in all study and educational programmes are issued by the European Research University based on government approval, the Higher Education Act of the Czech Republic, and other relevant regulations, except for programmes offered in collaboration with the University of London, where diplomas are awarded directly by the University of London. Diplomas and non-academic degrees of the autonomous organisational units with legal personality are issued by the organisational units under the Education Act and other relevant regulations. ERUNI group carries out its educational and research activities in the metropolitan areas of Ostrava, Prague, London, and in several other cities.
Our students.
The ERUNI’s non-profit nature and the values we espouse motivate us to offer the opportunity to apply for a social programme for talented students to those interested in a truly high-quality university education that is an equivalent to education at top global private universities. Students can also receive attractive merit or scientific scholarships. We accept 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 activities. Therefore, all applicants to the studies at the university pass an entrance examination, the purpose of which is to check the applicants’ prerequisites and motivation to study. The admissions process takes into account the applicant’s motivation letter or video, in which they emphasise their past achievements, prerequisites and motivation to study. This is subsequently verified during a face-to-face motivational interview. An important requirement for the applicants is to submit a writing sample in form of a short essay on a current social or economic topic, which substitutes the admission tests.
Our vision.
In our vision, the European Research University is an internationally respected institution that achieves excellent results in the field of accredited study programmes and that has a good position in the world university rankings, particularly in relation to the quality of teaching and its connection with research activities. Its graduates are successful later in life and the results of research are socially relevant. We strive that the graduates have a natural sense for social responsibility and that they 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 from all over the world with a high standard of expertise and an appropriate age structure who share common visions and values. The University also cooperates with the business and public sectors as well as with charities and volunteers.
And little bit more.
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports grants the ERUNI with official status of a research organisation, 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.
At the European Research University, we present ourselves as an international higher education institution with students from all over the world. A significant share of foreign teaching and other academic staff work at the ERUNI. The University has developed cooperation in the European mobility programme ERASMUS+ as well as with other universities in Europe and beyond. Project and publishing activities are exclusively international. As part of our lifelong learning programmes, we prepare the students of our Bachelor’s programmes for the Master’s and Doctoral studies at the best world universities, and we arrange 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 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.