Gap Year Programs in the Czech Republic
What better way to spend your time than taking a gap year in the melting pot of Europe? With influences from the Austro-Hungarian Empire to life post-Communism, spending time in the Czech Republic will put you in touch with history, while living in a modern global society.
The Czech Republic is a great gap year option for students who want to walk through cobblestoned roads of Prague, while being inspired by the gothic architecture, literature, art, film, and central European history.
Students eager to spend their gap year abroad in the Czech Republic can choose from the following options:
- Pre-Health Programs
- Multi-Country Travel Programs
Pre-Health Programs
Students pursing nursing, biology, public health, or even pre-med can spend their gap year overseas in the Czech Republic getting hands on field experience at a local hospital. From shadowing neurosurgeons, to volunteering in children's heart centers, students enrolling in gap year programs can boost their resumes while living in one of the most enchanting parts of Europe.
Multi-Country Travel Programs
From Spain to Hungary, students embarking on a multi-country travel program will get to see most of the countries in between, including the Czech Republic. Be inspired by the famous art and literature based in the places you have always read about! This gap year option is the perfect way for students to learn more about themselves while having an open perspective about the places they visit.
<h5>Visa</h5>
<p>Students enrolling in a gap year program will need to acquire a visa prior to coming to the Czech Republic. It is recommended that students apply for their visa at least 6 months in advance at the local Czech consulate in the U.S. Some program providers will assist students with the visa application process and may include these fees in their program costs.</p>
<h5>Housing</h5>
<p>While participating in a gap year, students can stay in hostels, apartments, student dormitories, or hotels, which are usually included in the program costs. Some programs also offer a homestay option, which will allow students to get a closer look at what life is like in the Czech Republic.</p>
Prague
Visit the capital of the Czech Republic, filled with Gothic architecture, museums, art galleries, operas, bridges and castles from the 1300's, and cobblestone streets. Prague is home to Franz Kafka and many other famous writers and artists throughout history.
Cesky Krumlov
Try this quaint, fairytale castle town about two and a half hours outside of Prague. The castle sits on top of a hill and is guarded by bears who wander in the moat.
Plzen
Home to Pilsner, this town draws in thousands of tourists each year to taste the freshly brewed pivo (beer).
Brno
Brno is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, close to the border with Slovakia, and is known for its role as the capital of Moravia.
Program costs vary by length. Typically students can plan to spend anywhere from $500-$5,000 for gap year programs ranging from two weeks to six months. These fees include housing and meals, and in internship-type programs, shadowing placement.
