Recognition of education abroad

1.  Legal regulations of the recognition of university education and qualification abroad 

2.  General Information

2.1.  Authorities deciding about the recognition of education abroad

Public university which implements an accredited study programme similar in content

Ministry of Defence – decides about education acquired in the military field

Ministry of Interior – decides about education acquired in the field of safety forces

2.2.  Procedure and certificates

In case the relevant authority recognizing education is Masaryk University, the graduate of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programme at the foreign university submits a written application to the MU Rector’s Office – Office for Studies, Žerotínovo náměstí 9, 601 77 Brno. The graduate of doctoral degree programme directs the application for recognition of education abroad to the Research and Development Office, Žerotínovo náměstí 9, 601 77 Brno.

The application must include:

  • First and Family name of the graduate at the foreign university
  • Date and Place of Birth
  • Permanent Address
  • Postal Address
  • Name and address of the foreign university
  • Name of the programme and field of study
  • Date of beginning and closure of studies
  • Date of the submission and the signature of the graduate of the foreign university (in case the application is submitted by the graduate’s representative, one needs to submit it with the approved power of attorney)
  • Purpose of the recognition the applicant demands

Required enclosures of the application for the recognition of education abroad are:

  • Original or approved copy of the university diploma, examination certificate or similar proof of the completion of studies issued by a foreign university
  • Original or approved copy of the diploma supplement, possibly an original or approved copy of the transcript of records
  • Official translations of both proofs into Czech language (in case the proofs are written in English, translations will not be required)
  • Written power of attorney in case other person than the graduate himself is applying
  • Decision of the recognition of the state of a refugee in case the applicant is a person whom this state was recognized

2.3.  Deadline for submitting the application

Deadline for submitting the application is 30 days, for more complicated cases 60 days from the day of the delivery of the complete application, including enclosures. The time of the procedure’s interruption is not counted in deadlines (see Administrative Procedure).

2.4.  Means of correction 

In case the application for recognition of education abroad is dismissed, it is the applicant’s right to lodge an appeal against a decision within 15 days from the delivery to Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. The appeal is lodged by public university in case the assaulted decision was issued by public university. The rector of the university either complies with the application in full by rectification, or remits the application to the decision of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

2.5.  Where to find further information?

  • Masaryk University. Questions concerning recognition of education and qualification abroad can be consulted in writing or by phone, either at the Office for Studies with Mgr. Lenka Vopálková (Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas), e-mail: vopalkova@rectdotmunidotcz, tel. 420 549 494 379, or at the Research and Development Office with PhDr. Hana Součková (doctoral diplomas), e-mail: souckova@rectdotmunidotcz, tel. 420 549 497 390.
  • Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Higher Education Section, Karmelitská 7, 118 12 Prague 1, tel. 420 257 193 711, 420 257 193 238, e-mail: jitkadotmachova@msmtdotcz or zdenkadotpastorova@msmtdotcz (http://www.msmt.cz/index.php?lchan=1&lred=1).
  • Centre for Equivalence of Documents about Education – Centre for Higher Education Studies, U Lužického semináře 13, 118 00 Prague 1, tel. 420 257 530 500, e-mail: skuhrova@csvsdotcz (http://www.csvs.cz/_en/, http://www.naric.cz/).

3.  Verification of the authenticity of the signature and stamps on the original documents 

3.1.  Verification Procedure

Verification procedure can be divided, according to the existing international treaties, into the three following groups:

1.  A bilateral treaty of legal aid with the relevant country is made – appendages stated in paragraph 90, article 3 of the Statute about higher education, do not apply to documents issued in contracting countries; these documents are valid in contracting countries without a necessity of further proof.

2.  Multilateral treaty of a simplified process of verification of foreign public documents is signed with the relevant country (Hague Convention) – certificates do not need to be legalized by a representative authority of the Czech Republic in a contracting country in which the document was issued. A unified form of document verification is set by the so-called apostilla. Contracting countries appoint authorities that will provide documents with apostilla.

3.  Other countries – diplomas and certificates of the closure of studies, issued in remaining countries, must be verified in accord with paragraph 90, article 3 of the Statute about higher education; authenticity of signatures and stamps on the original documents must be verified by:

  • a) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the relevant country where the foreign university has its seat
  • b) relevant foreign authority and relevant representative authority of the Czech Republic in a country where the foreign university has its seat

Copies certified by a notary public and diploma transcriptions can be provided with a higher verification. Such higher verification (the original of which had already been provided with a higher verification) will be enclosed by Ministry of Justice (Vyšehradská 16, 128 10 Praha 2, tel. 420 221 997 111) and, subsequently, by the Legalization of Documents Office of the Consular Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In case of verification of the official translation, a registration of a Municipal Court in Prague translator (Spálená 2, 112 16 Praha 2, tel. 420 221 931 111) is verified. Verification of a registration of a translator working outside Prague is accomplished by a relevant regional court, possibly also centrally by a Regional Court in Prague (nám. Kinských 5, 157 75 Praha 5, tel. 420 257 005 111). Higher verification by Ministry of Justice and verification by the Legalization of Documents Office of the Consular Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs follows.

3.2.  Legal regulations

  • Statute No. 97/1963 of the Statute Book about international law, private law and law of procedure
  • Statute No. 45/1999 of the Statute Book about the admittance of the Czech Republic to the European Treaty on the Cancellation of the Verification of Documents
  • Statute No. 634/2004 of the Statute Book about management charges
  • International treaties about legal aid by which the Czech Republic is bound
  • Hague Convention

3.3.  Whom to contact?

  • Staff of the Higher Education of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports during office hours: Monday, Wednesday (8 am – 5 pm )
  • Staff of the Legalization of Documents Office of the Consular Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs during office hours: Monday, Wednesday (8 am – 5 pm), Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (8 am – 12 am)

3.4.  Chart of the countries

You will find a list of individual countries with a link on the authority which decides about the first stage of the recognition of education abroad, as well as the required verification of university diplomas obtained in a particular country in this chart. The current state of contractual obligations is also available at this web page: link to a new windowhttp://portal.justice.cz/ms/ms.aspx?j=33&o=23&k=387&d=9064 (Czech only).

 
 
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