Charles University, Second Faculty of Medicine (Prague)

The Second Faculty of Medicine of Charles University is one of three medical faculties in Prague and the only one with a paediatric tradition. It was established in 1953, when the previously unified Prague medical faculty was split into three institutions, and was initially called the Faculty of Paediatrics. It has carried its current name since 1990. The English-language programme General Medicine lasts six years, starts each year in October, and leads to the degree of MUDr. It is a full general medicine degree, not a paediatrics degree, but the faculty's origins shape its teaching and clinical profile to this day.

Motol as the Heart of Clinical Training

Clinical training takes place primarily at the University Hospital Motol, the largest hospital in the Czech Republic. It was formed in 1971 through the merger of the Motol municipal hospital and the Children's University Clinic, and to this day combines a very large adult and a very large children's department under one roof. This is the real differentiator from other locations: you encounter paediatric cases not just in one block placement but throughout the entire clinical course, and in a breadth of presentations rarely seen elsewhere. Training is supplemented by rotations at the Na Homolce Hospital and placements at other institutions in the Czech Republic and abroad. The theoretical institutes are located on the Plzeňská campus, not directly at the hospital.

Programme Structure

The first three years form the common foundation: anatomy, pathology, immunology, and the other preclinical subjects, alongside early training in basic clinical skills and initial patient contact. From the fourth year onwards, the programme shifts almost entirely to the wards, organised in block rotations. The programme concludes with state examinations in public health, internal medicine, surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics, and paediatrics. The fact that paediatrics is a standalone state examination subject says much about the faculty's profile.

What You Should Know Before Applying

The Second Faculty selects in two stages, with written tests followed by an interview for the highest scorers from the first round. It is selective and it is expensive: Prague is by far the most costly study location in the Czech Republic, and tuition is charged afresh each academic year. Academic pressure is also real; the preclinical years filter out a significant share of students. Medschool Experts advises on Numerus clausus-free routes into medicine in Germany and abroad and can explain the differences between the Prague faculties.

Two-Stage Selection Process

In the first round you sit written tests in biology, physics, and chemistry at upper-secondary level; marking is automated. Only those with the strongest results are invited to the second round — a selection interview. The interview focuses on your interest in medicine, your capacity for reasoning and argumentation, and your ability to defend a position. Exemptions from the written examination are available for certain applicants; the conditions are published by the faculty each year.

Application and Deadlines

Applications are submitted electronically through the Charles University information system. The application window most recently opened in early November and closed at the end of April; the processing fee was 2,500 CZK. Dates and deadlines can shift from year to year and may differ depending on the applicant's country of origin; check them directly with the faculty.

Costs

Tuition for the English-language medical programme is 420,000 CZK per academic year (as at academic years 2025/2026 and 2026/2027). Textbooks, accommodation, and living costs are not included. Prague is the most expensive location in the Czech Republic, particularly for rent; the faculty does not publish reliable lump-sum estimates, so calculate on the basis of actual current rental listings.

Structure and Language of Instruction

The programme spans six years and is taught entirely in English, starting in October. Years one to three lay the theoretical foundations and introduce early clinical skills; from the fourth year, bedside teaching dominates. Much of the work takes place in small groups and interactive seminars rather than frontal lectures.

Placements and Clinical Work

Clinical blocks are completed primarily at the University Hospital Motol, supplemented by the Na Homolce Hospital and placements at other institutions in the Czech Republic and abroad. The paediatric component is above average, reflecting the faculty's history and the structure of Motol. Czech language tuition runs alongside the programme, since you cannot work with patients on the wards without it.

Degree and Recognition in Germany

The programme concludes with the MUDr. after passing state examinations in, among other subjects, internal medicine, surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics, and paediatrics. The Czech Republic is an EU member state; the qualification is automatically recognised under Directive 2005/36/EC. You then apply for the Approbation at the responsible Landesbehörde, which typically requires German language proficiency at C1 level and an additional specialist language examination.

Prague as a Study Location

Prague is the largest city in the Czech Republic and an internationally minded one, with a very large number of foreign students. For you that means easy social integration, a wide range of cultural and leisure options, and few language barriers in everyday life. The price is the price: rents and living costs are considerably higher than in Pilsen, Hradec Králové, or Brno.

Accommodation and Getting Around

The Plzeňská campus and the Motol hospital are in the west of the city. Motol has its own metro connection at the terminus of Line A, which makes getting to ward shifts straightforward. Many students live in university dormitories or shared private flats; those who want to live close to the hospital should start looking early.

Getting There from Germany

Prague is well connected from Germany: direct trains and long-distance coaches link the city with Dresden, Berlin, Nuremberg, and Munich, and there is an international airport. For weekends at home, this is one of the most convenient connections among eastern European study locations.

Is the Second Faculty a paediatrics-only degree?

No. You study general medicine in full breadth and graduate with the MUDr. The faculty did emerge from the Prague Faculty of Paediatrics in 1953, and its hospital at Motol combines a very large children's section with adult medicine. The paediatric component of the curriculum is therefore above average, and paediatrics is a standalone state examination subject.

How does the Second Faculty differ from the First and Third?

All three belong to Charles University but are independent institutions with separate selection processes, separate fees, and separate hospitals. The Second Faculty is the one with the paediatric profile and a focus on University Hospital Motol. An application to one faculty is not an application to the others.

How does the admissions process work?

There are two stages: first, written tests in biology, physics, and chemistry; then a selection interview for applicants with the highest test scores. The interview focuses on motivation, reasoning ability, and the capacity to defend a position. Exemptions from the written test are available under certain conditions.

What does a year of study cost?

Tuition is 420,000 CZK per academic year (as at 2025/2026 and 2026/2027). Accommodation, textbooks, and living costs are not included. Prague is the most expensive study location in the Czech Republic; factor that honestly into your six-year calculation.

Can I work in Germany with this degree?

Yes. The Czech MUDr. falls under automatic recognition under EU Directive 2005/36/EC. You apply for the Approbation at the responsible Landesbehörde and must demonstrate German language proficiency, typically at C1 level plus a specialist language examination.