University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague
Vysoká škola chemicko-technologická v Praze
Czechia's largest chemistry university: free Czech-taught degrees, English bachelor's at about 3,500 euros a year.
- Students
- 4,310
- 2,374 undergraduates
- International
- 26%
- of students
- Tuition
- CZK 84,500
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1952
About UCT Prague
The University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (UCT Prague, or VŠCHT in Czech) is the Czech Republic's largest university devoted to chemistry. Its roots go back to chemistry teaching at the Prague Polytechnic, founded in 1806; it was a school of the Czech Technical University until 1952, when it became an independent institute. Today it has 4,310 students, of whom 1,137 (26.4%) are foreign nationals, and it has the highest share of doctoral students of any Czech university (17.2%).
Teaching is organised in four faculties: Chemical Technology, Environmental Technology, Food and Biochemical Technology, and Chemical Engineering, plus a School of Business. Most programmes are taught in Czech and are free of tuition. UCT also offers three-year bachelor's programmes in English, such as Catalysis and Manufacturing of (In)organic Compounds, Inorganic/Medicinal/Organic Chemistry, Materials, Physical and Computational Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Economics and Management.
The campus is in Dejvice, Prague 6, and the chemistry programmes lean heavily on lab work: applicants to the chemistry bachelor's must be 18 by mid-February of their first year because first-year inorganic chemistry labs use substances minors may not handle. It suits students with solid school maths and chemistry who want a lab-focused science degree at modest cost.
Why students choose UCT Prague
English-taught chemistry bachelor's degrees cost 84,500 CZK a year (about 3,500 euros) in 2026/27, and the fee stays fixed for the whole programme.
Czech-taught degrees carry no tuition fee within the standard length of study (plus one year).
Over a quarter of students are foreign nationals, and UCT has the Czech Republic's highest doctoral-student ratio, so undergraduates work alongside active research groups.
UCT dormitory rooms cost 4,340 to 7,595 CZK a month, and the university estimates total monthly student costs at 10,500 to 19,000 CZK.
Admissions
2027/28 entry (English-taught programmes; dates shown are from the 2026/27 round)
Selectivity
UCT does not publish an admission rate. English-taught bachelor's applicants are selected on application documents, an online entrance exam in mathematics and chemistry and an online selection interview.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school leaving certificate | IB Diploma, Cambridge International A Levels and other high-school diplomas are accepted; UCT strongly recommends Mathematics and Chemistry (and ideally Biology and Physics) at the highest level available. A transcript of the last four school years is required. |
|---|---|
| Age (chemistry bachelor's) | Applicants must be 18 by the end of the first winter semester (mid-February) because of first-year laboratory safety rules |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 B2+ required for English-taught programmes: Cambridge B2 First, TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0, PTE Academic 60 or Duolingo 110; a medium-of-instruction certificate or language-school confirmation of B2 is also accepted. Native speakers are exempt. |
Deadlines
- English-taught bachelor's and master's (chemistry programmes), single intake Non-binding31 January, 23:59 CET (2026 date; portal opened 1 December 2025)
In 2026 the bachelor's online entrance exam was on 16 February and online interviews ran from 16 February to 3 March; all applicants are informed by 15 March; studies start in September. Expect the 2027/28 portal to follow the same 1 December to 31 January window.
- Economics and Management (School of Business, English) Non-bindingRolling, applications all year round
Offered in a 3-year version and a 4-year version with a foundation year in English and maths.
UCT's admission page describes the application period as 1 December to 31 January each year, with a single September intake; the 2027/28 admission decree had not been posted at the time of checking. Czech-taught programmes have separate Czech-language admission procedures.
How to apply
Apply online in UCT's application portal between 1 December and 31 January, pay the 3,000 CZK application fee (payable in euros or US dollars), upload your diploma or confirmation of studies, transcripts with English or Czech translations, English certificate and motivation letter, then take the online entrance exam and interview in February.
What admissions looks for
- Solid foundations in mathematics and chemistry, tested in the entrance exam and interview.
- Strong school results in Mathematics and Chemistry, ideally taken at the highest available level.
- English at B2+ for English-taught programmes.
- A clear motivation letter explaining why you want to study at UCT.
Tips for applying to UCT Prague
- 1 Use UCT's online chemistry practice test before the February entrance exam.
- 2 Start early on document translations: anything not in English or Czech needs a certified translation uploaded alongside the original.
- 3 Non-EU applicants should allow time after the 15 March results for the Czech student visa process.
- 4 If your English or maths is not yet strong enough, consider the 4-year Economics and Management track with its foundation year.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CZK
The rector can waive, reduce, defer or split study fees on appeal, taking into account study-results or social scholarships, difficult social, health or family situations, or outstanding representation of UCT. The application fee (3,000 CZK for 2026/27) is non-refundable and cannot be waived.
- 3,000 CZK
- Application fee (2026/27)
- 4,340 to 7,595 CZK per month
- UCT dormitory room
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (winter semester from September, summer semester from February)
Inorganic / Medicinal / Organic Chemistry (BSc, English)
A broad chemistry bachelor's in the Faculty of Chemical Technology designed to lead into master's study.
Chemical Engineering (BSc, English)
Covers chemical engineering, bioengineering, the food industry and numerical methods for engineering.
Materials (BSc, English)
Studies the link between chemical structure and properties of glass, ceramics, metals, plastics and composites.
Physical and Computational Chemistry (BSc, English)
Lets students join research teams early and choose their area of interest.
Economics and Management (BSc, English)
School of Business programme with year-round admission and an optional foundation year.
Research
- UCT has the highest ratio of doctoral students to total students in the Czech Republic (804 doctoral students, 17.2%).
- 43 active international projects and 66 patents, according to UCT's latest figures.
- Alumnus Tomáš Cihlář, a UCT graduate in fermentation chemistry and bioengineering, played a leading role in developing the antiviral remdesivir.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Chemical Technology
- Faculty of Environmental Technology
- Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering
- School of Business
UCT reports 201 lecturers from industry involved in teaching and 80 industry partners for master's and doctoral theses.
Student life
UCT is based in Dejvice, Prague 6, on Technická street, and runs its own dormitories (1,651 beds) and university canteen, where a student meal costs about 100 to 150 CZK. Student associations and the Active Students community organise events, and the Counselling and Career Centre runs talks on topics like housing and study-work balance. Prague's cheap student transport pass (1,280 CZK for a year) makes the whole city easy to reach.
- 1,651 dormitory beds in UCT's own halls.
- Over a quarter of students are foreign nationals.
- Erasmus Days and exchange programmes; 199 students went abroad on outgoing exchanges.
- Student canteen meals at about 100 to 150 CZK.
Housing. UCT runs its own dormitories (1,651 beds) at 4,340 to 7,595 CZK a month; a room in a shared flat typically costs 9,000 to 15,000 CZK.
Location
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic. UCT's main buildings are on Technická street in Dejvice, part of Prague 6. UCT's own cost-of-living guide puts a student budget at 10,500 to 19,000 CZK a month, with a 30-day student public transport pass at 130 CZK and a flatshare room at 9,000 to 15,000 CZK.
Nearest airport: Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG)
Notable alumni
- OW Otto WichterleChemist who invented modern soft contact lenses; graduated in 1936 from the Czech Technical University's chemistry faculty, the predecessor of UCT, and later became a dean at UCT
- TC Tomáš CihlářBiochemist known for his role in developing remdesivir; UCT graduate in fermentation chemistry and bioengineering
- JD Jiří DrahošPhysical chemist, President of the Czech Academy of Sciences (2009-2017) and Senator for Prague 4 (elected 2018); studied physical chemistry at UCT
- KS Kem SokhaCambodian opposition leader; MSc in chemistry from UCT (1986)
- MK Miroslav KalousekFormer Czech Minister of Finance and party leader; studied chemistry at UCT
- JM Jana MichailiduCzech politician and former acting chair of the Czech Pirate Party; studied drug biotechnology at UCT
Frequently asked questions
Is UCT Prague free for international students?
Czech-taught programmes are free for all nationalities within the standard length of study. English-taught bachelor's programmes cost 84,500 CZK (about 3,500 euros) a year for chemistry and 110,000 CZK for Economics and Management in 2026/27.
When is the UCT Prague application deadline?
The application portal for English-taught chemistry programmes opens on 1 December and closes on 31 January at 23:59 CET, with one September intake. Economics and Management accepts applications all year round.
Does UCT Prague have an entrance exam?
Yes. Bachelor's applicants to English-taught chemistry programmes take an online entrance exam in mathematics and chemistry followed by an online selection interview in February.
What English score do I need for UCT Prague?
B2+: for example TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0, Cambridge B2 First, PTE Academic 60 or Duolingo 110. A medium-of-instruction certificate is also accepted.
How much does it cost to live in Prague as a UCT student?
UCT estimates 10,500 to 19,000 CZK a month, including a UCT dormitory room at 4,340 to 7,595 CZK.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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