The Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies of Charles University (ILPS CU), a leading institution in the field of Czech as a foreign language, opens its doors every summer to participants from around the world through three distinct summer schools for the general public, offering programmes that combine language learning with deep cultural immersion. Each ILPS Charles University summer school offers something different, but all share the same commitment to high-quality teaching, professional instructors, and authentic contact with Czech culture. Two editions of this year’s summer courses are currently underway, with the August Summer School in Prague starting in less than two weeks. The next edition of the summer school is scheduled for July 2026.
Czech and International Cities as Living Classrooms
This year, CU already welcomed international students aged 15–18 to its brand-new English-language Charles University Summer School: Discover Your Future, organized by ILPS. The two-week intensive program, held at the Krystal campus in Prague, offered a unique combination of academic learning, cultural discovery, and personal growth. The summer school was designed to help students better understand their higher education options and support their decision-making about future academic paths.
Students from Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, the USA, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Ukraine, and Portugal had the opportunity to explore a wide range of English-taught study programmes offered at Charles University. The programme was developed in cooperation with four university faculties: the First Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Faculty of Humanities, and the Faculty of Science.
Through thematic sessions, workshops, lectures, and discussions, participants gained deeper insight into disciplines such as the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and medicine. The faculties also opened their historic and modern buildings, offering students an authentic experience of academic life at Charles University. The programme also included excursions to Prague, Poděbrady, Liberec, Kutná Hora, and Dresden, as well as visits to museums, a planetarium, sports activities, movie nights, an international party, and more.
Two Courses in Poděbrady
Along with the Summer School in Prague, two further courses are currently being held in the picturesque spa town of Poděbrady. The Summer School of Slavonic Studies: Czech Republic Sophisticated is a long-established language and cultural course offering intensive and interactive Czech language instruction for all proficiency levels, complemented by a rich programme of lectures, workshops, and presentations focused on Czech culture, history, and literature.
In addition to traditional topics, the school explores modern themes such as Czech comics, brutalist architecture, and street art. The programme also includes excursions to Škoda Auto in Mladá Boleslav, the Lobeč brewery, half-timbered houses in Mšeno, Loučeň Castle, and a Czech glassworks, as well as film nights and folklore evenings that showcase the diversity of Czech life.
Another course, Explore Czechia: Summer Czech Course for Expats and Future University Students, is designed for Czechs living abroad and young people interested in studying at Czech universities, aged 18 to 99. In addition to engaging Czech language learning, the programme includes lectures on communication, migration waves, and astronomy, as well as visits to historically and culturally significant sites such as Slavník hillfort, Kutná Hora, Lidice, and Přerov nad Labem. Popular workshops focus on Czech film, cimbalom music, and Czech beer tasting.
In a friendly atmosphere where age doesn’t matter and curiosity is key, participants explore their Czech roots, build awareness of life in Czechia, gain confidence in using the language, and form new friendships. Local experts guide them not only through well-known tourist spots but also through places of deeper cultural significance, sharing authentic stories along the way.
Get to Know Prague and Its Intriguing Culture & History
The upcoming Summer School in Prague: Enjoy Czech Language and Culture is a practically oriented course for anyone aged 16 and up who wants to enjoy learning Czech in a relaxed and friendly environment. Morning lessons focus on communication and hands-on learning, while three afternoons a week are dedicated to a wide range of optional activities.
The programme includes workshops such as Humour and Goodness in Czech Fairy Tales, a seminar on the Čapek brothers, and historical-literary walks through Prague covering topics like the Prague Defenestration, Operation Anthropoid, and Czech writers connected to the city. Participants can also enjoy cooking classes, film afternoons, and visits to major cultural landmarks in the capital.
Free weekends and two free afternoons per week give students the flexibility to explore Prague and the Czech Republic on their own. This course is perfect for anyone who wants to discover Czechia in depth – through language, culture, and personal experiences with locals.
Applications for the August 11 start are still open at ujop.cuni.cz/summer.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The next edition of the ILPS Summer School is scheduled for 12–25 July 2026. More information about the program and application details can be found on the ILPS Charles University website. Stay tuned for more!
