Charles University Faculty of Humanities Guide 2026

Why Choose Charles University Faculty of Humanities

Founded in 1348, Charles University stands as one of Europe’s oldest and most respected academic institutions. Its Faculty of Humanities (FHS), the university’s youngest faculty established in 2000, has rapidly built a progressive reputation for innovative teaching methods and genuinely interdisciplinary study programmes. Located across four campuses in Prague, FHS combines the prestige of a centuries-old institution with the dynamism of a modern, forward-thinking academic environment.

What sets FHS apart from conventional humanities faculties is its commitment to a liberal curriculum model. Rather than confining students to rigid programme structures, the faculty encourages personalised academic journeys that weave together philosophy, history, anthropology, sociology, psychology and economics. This approach mirrors the best traditions of liberal arts education found at leading European universities while remaining distinctly Central European in character.

With over 3,000 students — including more than 150 international students annually — FHS offers a genuinely cosmopolitan learning environment. The faculty’s growth trajectory is impressive: international enrolment has more than doubled in recent years, reflecting growing recognition of its programmes across Europe and beyond. For students seeking a world-class humanities education at an accessible price point, Charles University FHS represents an exceptional opportunity.

Bachelor’s Programme in Liberal Arts and Humanities

The flagship English-taught offering at FHS is the three-year Bachelor’s programme in Liberal Arts and Humanities (SHV). This programme provides a broad foundation across the humanities and social sciences, structured around six carefully designed modules that balance theoretical depth with practical application.

The theoretical segment encompasses three modules — Social Science, Historical, and Philosophical — giving students rigorous grounding in the major intellectual traditions of Western and Central European thought. The application segment comprises the Communicative, Creative and Qualified Skills modules, ensuring graduates possess the practical capabilities employers value most: sophisticated writing, cross-cultural communication and project management.

One of the programme’s distinguishing features is its tutor system. Each student selects a faculty tutor who provides personalised guidance on course selection and thesis supervision. While not compulsory, this mentoring relationship helps students navigate the liberal curriculum’s considerable freedom, ensuring they build a coherent academic profile while exploring diverse disciplines.

The course catalogue is remarkably rich for a faculty of this size. Students can choose from offerings like “Kafka in Prague,” “The Rise and Fall of Communism in Central Europe,” “Psychoanalysis and Cultural Studies,” and “Global Communication.” Courses examining Central European identity, post-communist transformation and multicultural societies give FHS a thematic depth unavailable at most Western European institutions.

At just €2,000 per year in tuition, the BA in Liberal Arts and Humanities offers extraordinary value. By comparison, similar programmes at universities in the UK or Netherlands can cost five to ten times as much, making Prague an increasingly attractive destination for cost-conscious international students seeking quality education.

Master’s Programmes at FHS Prague

FHS offers three distinctive Master’s programmes taught in foreign languages, each designed to develop advanced expertise in areas where the faculty has particular research strength.

Historical Sociology (English)

The MA in Historical Sociology examines long-term social processes and trends including modernisation, globalisation, integration and disintegration, and religious and cultural pluralism. This programme appeals to students interested in understanding how societies transform over time and what drives large-scale political and cultural change. With tuition at €2,000 per year, it represents one of Europe’s most affordable pathways to advanced social science credentials.

Oral History and Contemporary History (English)

This two-year Master’s programme combines contemporary European history with cutting-edge interviewing methodologies and interpretative techniques. Students develop practical skills applicable to academic research, historic preservation, and legal and human rights work. The programme is divided between contemporary history content and methodological training, producing graduates equally comfortable in archives and field interviews.

EuroPhilosophie — Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s

Perhaps the most prestigious offering at FHS, the Erasmus Mundus EuroPhilosophie programme is a two-year joint Master’s taught in German and French across seven European universities including Bochum, Louvain-la-Neuve, Luxembourg, Munich, Prague, Toulouse and Wuppertal. At FHS, the programme focuses specifically on German and French phenomenology, building on the faculty’s strength in this philosophical tradition.

Graduates receive a joint Master’s degree from three participating universities — a credential with significant international recognition. European students pay €750 per semester while non-European students pay €2,400 per semester, though EU grants of up to €20,800 annually for non-European students and €9,000 for European students make this programme financially accessible to talented applicants worldwide.

PhD Programmes and Research Opportunities

For students pursuing doctoral-level work, FHS offers PhD programmes in General Anthropology and Environmental Studies, both available in English at €2,000 per year. The General Anthropology programme spans philosophical, historical, socio-cultural, socio-linguistic and physical anthropology, requiring four compulsory examinations plus a living language exam. Students can pursue the degree in either full-time or correspondence format.

The PhD in Environmental Studies focuses on sustainable development through an interdisciplinary research lens. This programme is particularly appealing for researchers interested in Central European environmental policy and the intersection of natural and social sciences — a growing field as the EU intensifies its sustainability agenda.

FHS maintains an active research agenda supervised by its Department of Science and Research. Notable projects include collaborative work with Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich on “Religious Cultures in Europe of the 19th and 20th centuries” and transdisciplinary investigations into body experiences through philosophical inquiry. These research clusters offer doctoral students access to international academic networks and cross-institutional collaboration opportunities that enrich their work significantly.

Admission Requirements and Application Process

Admission to FHS programmes involves straightforward requirements designed to assess academic readiness and language proficiency rather than impose bureaucratic barriers.

BA Liberal Arts and Humanities

Applicants complete a written entrance examination consisting of summarising an English academic text and answering three follow-up questions. The exam is scored on a 28-point scale (25 points for the summary, 1 point each for the three answers). An unsatisfactory summary results in automatic disqualification. Applicants must hold a secondary school diploma; those who graduated abroad must obtain nostrification of their diploma. The non-refundable application fee is 400 CZK (approximately €16).

Key Application Deadlines

Applications are submitted online through the Charles University information system. Applicants receive notification of their exam date and time by letter. Justified absences (such as documented illness) can be accommodated with an alternative exam date, provided the request is submitted within three working days of the original date.

Tuition Fees and Financial Aid at Charles University

One of the most compelling aspects of studying at FHS is the affordability. The fee structure for English-taught programmes is remarkably competitive compared to Western European and North American alternatives:

The EuroPhilosophie programme offers particularly generous financial support through EU grants. Non-European students can receive up to €20,800 per year, while European students are eligible for grants of €9,000 annually. These grants substantially offset tuition and living costs, making the programme accessible to talented students regardless of financial background.

Prague’s cost of living further enhances the value proposition. Monthly expenses including accommodation, food and transportation typically range from €500 to €800 — significantly lower than cities like London, Amsterdam or Paris. Combined with low tuition, this makes a complete degree at FHS one of the most affordable quality humanities education options in Europe, comparable to what you might find at other Central European institutions offering competitive international programmes.

Student Life and Campus Facilities in Prague

Prague consistently ranks among Europe’s most liveable cities for students, and FHS ensures its international community has everything needed for a comfortable and enriching experience. The faculty operates across four locations in Prague, with the main campus at Jinonice easily accessible via the metro B line.

Accommodation

Charles University operates several halls of residence for international students. Erasmus exchange students are typically housed at the Hostivař dormitory in Prague 10, while other international students are placed at the Větrník or Hvězda residences in Prague 6. Standard accommodation consists of double-occupancy rooms at rates well below the private rental market.

Campus Facilities

The Jinonice campus houses PC workstations with internet access, a faculty library on the ground floor, a dedicated study room, and a student cafeteria (menza) offering affordable meals. Wireless internet via the Eduroam network is available in all university buildings. The CU Student Card provides access to libraries, cafeterias and computer labs, plus a 50% discount on Prague’s excellent public transportation system.

Social Life

The International Office and Czech student tutors organise regular events including Prague tours, exhibition visits and concert outings. The FHS Film Club screens films every other Wednesday evening on campus. An active international students’ community maintains connections through social media and regular meetups, ensuring newcomers quickly build a social network in the city.

Sports facilities are available at the university’s Hostivař Sport Centrum, with courses listed at the beginning of each semester covering everything from swimming to team sports.

Exchange and Mobility Programmes at FHS

FHS participates in an impressive array of international exchange frameworks, making it both a popular destination for incoming students and a launchpad for outbound mobility. The faculty maintains partnerships under Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus, CEEPUS and numerous bilateral agreements with universities across Europe and beyond.

Two particularly notable partnerships distinguish FHS from peer institutions. The UPCES (Undergraduate Programme in Central European Studies) collaboration with CERGE-EI brings students from top-tier American universities to Prague for semester-long immersions in Central European politics, economics and culture. Meanwhile, CET Academic Programs has operated study abroad programmes at FHS since 1982, offering Central European Studies and Jewish Studies in Prague to American undergraduates.

Exchange students apply through their home institution or as free movers. The application process requires a Learning Agreement, proof of language skills and a transcript of records. Free movers additionally submit a CV, letter of reference and motivation letter. Winter semester and full-year applications are due by June 30, while summer semester applications close October 31.

Courses available to exchange students span the full breadth of the FHS catalogue, from “Comprehending the Holocaust” and “Prague as a Living History” to “European Integration” and “Economics of Transition.” This variety allows visiting students to build a genuinely interdisciplinary semester that complements their home institution studies.

Career Outcomes for FHS Graduates

The interdisciplinary nature of FHS programmes produces graduates with unusually versatile skill sets. The faculty’s emphasis on critical thinking, foreign language fluency, cross-cultural communication and independent research equips students for diverse career trajectories across public and private sectors.

Common career paths for FHS graduates include positions in state administration and local government, non-profit organisations, education and academic research. The faculty’s strong focus on Central European politics and culture makes graduates particularly valuable to EU institutions, international NGOs and diplomatic services operating in the region.

Graduates specialising in the applied skills modules find opportunities in public relations, advertising, media and corporate communications. Their ability to create research projects, edit professional texts, process complex information and develop presentations makes them competitive in knowledge-intensive industries where humanities-trained thinkers are increasingly sought after.

For those pursuing academic careers, FHS provides a solid foundation for Master’s and doctoral studies across multiple humanities disciplines. The faculty’s international research collaborations — including partnerships with Ludwig Maximilian University Munich — give graduates access to networks that facilitate academic mobility and cross-border research opportunities. Compared to graduates from other leading European university programmes, FHS alumni benefit from a distinctly Central European perspective that adds unique value in an increasingly interconnected academic landscape.

How FHS Compares to Other European Humanities Faculties

When evaluating humanities programmes across Europe, Charles University FHS occupies a distinctive niche. Its combination of institutional prestige (backed by a 678-year-old university), affordable tuition, genuinely interdisciplinary curriculum and Central European focus is difficult to replicate elsewhere.

Compared to humanities faculties at Western European universities, FHS offers comparable academic quality at a fraction of the cost. Where a humanities degree at a UK or Dutch university might cost €10,000–€20,000 annually in tuition alone, FHS charges €2,000 — with Prague’s lower living costs amplifying the savings further.

The liberal curriculum model sets FHS apart from more traditional European faculties where students must follow prescribed course sequences. This flexibility, combined with the tutor system, creates a personalised educational experience more commonly associated with elite American liberal arts colleges than European public universities.

The Erasmus Mundus EuroPhilosophie programme adds another dimension of distinction. Few humanities faculties can offer a genuine joint degree programme spanning seven countries, with substantial EU funding to match. For students interested in Continental philosophy, this programme is arguably unmatched in Europe.

FHS’s relative youth — just over two decades as a full faculty — means it carries less historical baggage than older institutions. This translates into more innovative teaching methods, greater willingness to experiment with curriculum design, and a faculty culture that values progressive approaches to humanities education. For students seeking intellectual adventure rather than conventional academic conformity, Prague’s Faculty of Humanities delivers.

The QS World University Rankings consistently place Charles University among the top institutions in Central and Eastern Europe, with the university’s humanities and social sciences programmes receiving particular recognition for research quality and international outlook.