PhD Scholarships for International Students in Czechia 2026/2027

International researchers looking for affordable doctoral education in Europe can find several strong PhD scholarships for international students in Czechia. Funding is available through Czech universities, the Czech Government, doctoral income schemes, research projects and special scholarships for talented international researchers.

A major advantage for full-time PhD students is that Czech doctoral funding changed substantially from the 2025/2026 academic year. Eligible full-time doctoral students can receive a guaranteed doctoral study income, which may consist of a scholarship, research-related salary, or a combination of both.

This guide covers some of the best PhD funding opportunities currently available for international students in Czechia.

Are PhD Programs Funded in Czechia?

Many full-time doctoral students in Czechia receive financial support during the standard duration of their programme.

Depending on the university and scholarship, funding may include:

• Monthly doctoral scholarship.
• Research salary.
• Guaranteed doctoral study income.
• Additional international student scholarship.
• Research project funding.
• Tuition support.
• Accommodation or living-cost assistance.
• Performance-based bonuses.

The amount varies between universities and faculties.

Students should distinguish between admission to a PhD programme and receiving an additional competitive scholarship. Some doctoral income becomes available after enrollment, while special scholarships require a separate application.

1. Charles University PhD Funding

Charles University is one of the strongest options for international doctoral candidates in Czechia.

Beginning with the 2025/2026 academic year, Charles University introduced a doctoral study income system. From 2026/2027 onward, eligible doctoral students are guaranteed income equal to at least 1.2 times the Czech minimum wage.

The income can consist of:

• A doctoral scholarship.
• Salary or wages for research and creative activities directly related to the dissertation.
• A combination of scholarship and salary.

Students must normally be enrolled in a full-time doctoral programme and remain within the standard period of study.

Importantly, students must formally apply for the doctoral scholarship through their faculty at the beginning of the relevant academic year.

English-Taught PhD Programs

Charles University offers many doctoral programmes in English across areas such as:

• Mathematics.
• Computer science.
• Physics.
• Economics.
• Social sciences.
• Biomedical sciences.
• Humanities.
• Natural sciences.

For example, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics confirms that students admitted to full-time PhD study are entitled to doctoral income of at least 1.2 times the minimum wage.

Admission requirements depend on the faculty and programme, so applicants should contact a potential supervisor before submitting their application whenever the programme requires it.

2. Masaryk University PhD Scholarship

Masaryk University in Brno offers one of the clearest doctoral funding systems for international students.

For the 2026/2027 academic year, eligible full-time PhD students are guaranteed doctoral study income of at least:

CZK 26,880 per month

The minimum doctoral scholarship component is CZK 12,000 per month. The remaining guaranteed income may include qualifying salary for research or creative work connected with the student’s dissertation.

The funding applies regardless of the language of study to eligible full-time students within the standard study period.

Who Is Eligible?

Students generally need to:

• Be enrolled in a full-time doctoral programme.
• Remain within the standard study period.
• Fulfil their individual doctoral study plan.
• Maintain satisfactory research and academic progress.
• Submit an application for the doctoral scholarship.

Faculties may also provide amounts above the university-wide minimum.

For international applicants comparing PhD salaries and scholarships in Czechia, this guaranteed doctoral income is an important factor when estimating living costs.

3. Czech Government PhD Scholarship 2027/2028

The Czech Government Scholarship is another major fully funded route for international PhD students.

Applications for the 2027/2028 academic year are currently open until:

September 30, 2026

The scholarship supports selected doctoral programmes taught in English at Czech public universities.

Applicants must already have completed a Master’s degree.

Eligible Countries

For 2027/2028, the programme is available to eligible citizens from selected countries, including:

• Bangladesh.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Cambodia.
• Ethiopia.
• Gabon.
• Georgia.
• Guatemala.
• Honduras.
• Mauritania.
• Palestine.
• Ukraine.
• Zambia.
• Eligible Belarusian democratic forces/opposition applicants.

Applicants for English-language programmes must complete an online English test during the scholarship application.

Because nationality eligibility is restricted, international students from countries outside the list should focus on university-funded doctoral positions instead.

4. Czech Technical University in Prague PhD Scholarship

The Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) provides a dedicated scholarship scheme for selected foreign doctoral students studying in English.

The university states that this scholarship can cover the basic doctoral scholarship and living costs of up to:

CZK 16,000 per month

Funding is normally awarded for 6 to 12 months and may be extended when the doctoral student demonstrates excellent research results.

Applicants need approval from their faculty before submitting the scholarship application through the university’s international relations structure.

Recipients are also expected to produce a significant research outcome, such as:

• A publication in an internationally reviewed journal, or
• An application for an international research grant.

Students already receiving certain other scholarships, including Czech Government funding, are excluded from this specific CTU international scholarship.

5. BUTalent Scholarship for International PhD Students

Brno University of Technology (BUT) currently offers the BUTalent Scholarship 2026 for talented foreign students enrolled in English-taught Master’s and PhD programmes.

For PhD students, the 2026 scholarship provides:

CZK 10,000 per month from September through December 2026

Applications are open from September 1 to September 30, 2026.

Applicants need to submit:

• Application form.
• Motivation letter.
• Supporting documents.
• Evidence of enrollment in an English-taught PhD programme.

Additional evidence of research publications, awards, competitions or university activities can strengthen the application.

6. Brno Ph.D. Talent Scholarship

Another valuable opportunity for early-stage researchers is Brno Ph.D. Talent.

For the current 2026 competition, selected doctoral students can receive:

CZK 360,000 over three years

Twenty-five successful applicants are expected to receive the scholarship. Registration for the current round runs from September 3 to September 23, 2026.

The competition focuses primarily on first-year doctoral students in:

• Natural sciences.
• Technical disciplines.

Applicants submit their materials in English, including a professional CV and description of their proposed scientific project.

Typical Requirements for PhD Scholarships in Czechia

Although requirements differ, international applicants should generally prepare:

1. Master’s degree diploma.
2. Academic transcripts.
3. Research proposal.
4. Academic CV.
5. Motivation letter.
6. Recommendation letters.
7. Proof of English proficiency when required.
8. Previous publications or research experience.
9. Agreement or contact with a prospective supervisor when required.

Competitive PhD applications are usually evaluated more heavily on research potential and project quality than undergraduate grades alone.

Are PhD Programs in Czechia Tuition-Free?

Tuition depends on the university and language of study.

Doctoral programmes taught in Czech at public universities are generally tuition-free. Some universities also provide English-language PhD programmes without tuition fees.

For example, Brno University of Technology’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication states that its doctoral programmes taught in English are free of tuition fees.

Applicants should still check their exact faculty because tuition rules can differ between programmes.

Final Thoughts

The range of PhD scholarships for international students in Czechia has become particularly attractive following reforms to doctoral funding.

Masaryk University guarantees eligible full-time doctoral students at least CZK 26,880 per month in doctoral study income for 2026/2027, while Charles University uses a minimum linked to 1.2 times the Czech minimum wage. Additional opportunities include Czech Government Scholarships, CTU international PhD funding, BUTalent and the Brno Ph.D. Talent programme.

International applicants should first identify a suitable research programme and supervisor, then compare the doctoral income, tuition costs and additional scholarships available at that specific university and faculty.

Official Sources

• Charles University – Doctoral Study Funding
• Masaryk University – Doctoral Study Income
• Czech Ministry of Education – Government Scholarships
• Czech Technical University – International Student Scholarships
• Brno University of Technology – BUTalent Scholarship
• Brno University of Technology – Doctoral Income