CIEE PragUe

After acceptance to study abroad as an Illinois student to a CIEE program, you will need to submit a host provider application as well. Navigate to the Host Provider Application with the link below.

CIEE Application

Application Notes

• • Once on the application page, you'll need to create an account as a new user. You'll come back to this account to complete various requirements as part of the application. Application requirements may vary based on the program you are applying to.

  • The Illinois study abroad office will forward your official transcript over to CIEE for you, so you should not have to include that in your CIEE application.

CIEE has significant opportunities in scholarships, and has awarded more than $9 million in awards for 2018-19. There is one application for consideration of all scholarships, and an overview of how to apply can be found on their scholarships webpage. Below is a sample list:

• • Academic Honors Scholarships

  • Guaranteed GAIN travel grants for Pell-eligible students

  • CIEE Gilman Go Global grants for Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship eligible applicants

Scholarship application deadlines

• • Summer & Fall - April 1

  • Winter/Spring - October 15

  • Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship - February 14

In addition to scholarships, CIEE will occasionally offer flight vouchers. Be on the look-out for these promotions prior to starting your study abroad application with CIEE. You'll need to use the application link provided as part of the promotion versus the application link listed in the host application process instructions.

Program Dates

• • Spring 2021: January 26 - May 8, 2021*

  • Summer 2021:

    • Session 1: tba

    • Session 2: tba

  • Fall 2020: tba

  • Academic Year 2020-21: tba

*Dates are tentative

Arrival information, including where to go for your airport pick-up on the scheduled days, and about the orientation schedule will come from CIEE. Therefore, do not book your airline tickets until first verifying the expected arrival and departure dates with them.

HOUSING

• • Students reside in apartments in popular neighborhoods with fellow CIEE participants. In some apartments, students have a local Charles University student as a “flat buddy” – a roommate who helps CIEE with student activities and provides a bridge to the local culture. Students share double rooms and kitchen and bathroom facilities.

  • Apartments are located throughout Prague and commuting times and distances vary. It’s important for students to be aware that commuting is part of daily life in Prague, and the location of most apartments requires daily use of public transportation. It is common for the student commute, including public transportation and walking, to take up to 30 minutes one way. A transportation pass is included in the program fees.

MEALS

• • Meals are not included and are the responsibility of the student. Students can purchase food supplies and prepare meals in the apartment kitchens.

Student Voices on Housing

• Go with the apartment style but with the RA. It sounds like a dorm but it really is just an apartment with a person in your building that you can go to for help if you have trouble adjusting or finding your way around. Everyone in my building were students of my program so I felt safe always and it was nice to meet new people since everyone was so friendly!

Summer students choose one, two, or three 4-week sessions and examine the Czech Republic’s role in Europe today as it transitions from communism to a fluid political and social environment. All students must enroll in one 3-credit CIEE course per session. Warning: financial aid does not apply for summer programs that are less than 6 credits, so for financial aid purposes, it is best to register for at least 2 of the summer sessions.

Fall/Spring students are required to take a minimum of five courses (15 credits), of which at least three must be CIEE courses. In addition to these, students may enroll in courses at our partner institutions, Charles University or FAMU, for up to six credits. Alternatively, students can take only CIEE courses.

CLASS FORMAT

• • For semester programs, CIEE courses are primarily offered to CIEE students, however, they are also open to Charles University students and the Erasmus Program students studying in Prague. Classes meet twice a week for 90 minutes, or once a week for three hours, with class size ranging from five to twenty students. In addition to CIEE courses, students are encouraged to take classes at our partner institutions, including Charles University’s Faculty of Arts, and the Film and Television School at the Academy of the Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU).

  • Summer classes are for CIEE students only. Classes are scheduled Monday-Thursday, with varied weekly structure, i.e., in different weeks the classes may be in session for a different number of days per week. Session-specific class schedule will be distributed during orientation. Our classes are taught in a standard setting of small groups of 15-20 students. In addition to in-class instruction, students can benefit from field trips, guest teachers, and other co-curricular events designed to supplement the course content and enhance student’s firsthand experience.

GRADING

• • Students receive numerical grades which are converted to the U.S. letter grades. Assessment is continuous and is based on overall performance, including class participation, homework assignments, papers, presentations, projects, and exams.

ACADEMIC CULTURE

• • Students are expected to demonstrate a pro-active and independent approach to study. Active participation in class as well as outside of class is essential for a satisfactory academic performance and attendance is strictly enforced. Students should expect an average of two hours of preparation required for each hour in class. Students are encouraged to use public libraries and take advantage of Charles University resources.

TRANSCRIPTS

• • Transcripts will be sent to Illinois automatically after the end of the program. However, the time for receipt and processing can take a few months. Be patient, and you can track to see when your transcript is received by the Office of the Registrar by when the digital copy is uploaded into your My Study Abroad documents.

Student Voices on Academics

• • I had class 4/5 days out of the week. I honestly did not mind because I learned a lot about my host country and I enjoyed the classes that I was in. everyday was about 3‐5 hours of class. (Semester Student)

Student Voices on Course Recommendations: (Which course(s) that you completed abroad did you find most interesting/meaningful?)

• • Art and Architecture in Prague

  • Art and Architecture, intercultural communications and Economics of the EU. I really loved these classes because it honestly helped me so much to gain a better understanding on what the Czech Republic was like and how the EU was as a whole.

  • I enjoyed czech art in the age of the internet interesting as it was all about modern art

Below is a sample of some activities CIEE offers for students:

• • Explore more of the region with two excursions – one day trip and one overnight trip.

  • Get an insider’s view of Prague with the help of your Flat Buddy, a Charles University student who will teach you cultural norms and introduce you to Czech culture.

  • Make your visit official by traversing the Charles Bridge, constructed to cross the Vltava River in 1357.

CIEE Student Blogs

Previous Illinois Student Quotes

• • Prague is a very underrated location to study abroad in Europe! I found this city to be the best, no bias. They have a large airport and train station where it is easy to travel to and from different places. Prague is a big city but also very small.

  • Awesome loaction, people and town!! I loved my place and miss it so much. I gained lifelong friendships on how they set the living situation up and felt safe always! Transportation was amazing as well.