Verification of previous education

Verification of foreign higher education is an essential part of the application form and the admission process of the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University.

The applicant is required to prove completion of his Master studies by submitting either:

1/ Confirmation of recognition of foreign higher education and qualification in the Czech Republic

• issued by Czech public higher education institution which has a similar degree programme accredited in the Czech Republic or by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Ministry of Defence or Ministry of Interior, in the form of a notary-certified copy

2/ Certificate of foreign higher education, which is equivalent in the Czech Republic under international obligations without further official procedure

• so-called bilateral agreements on mutual recognition of educational qualifications with the Slovak Republic, Hungary, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Federal Republic of Germany
• The applicant submits a Certificate of foreign higher education in the form of an officially certified copy with an official translation into Czech or English (translations are not required for certificates issued in Slovak or English)

3/ Diploma and Diploma supplement

• The Faculty of Science is authorized to verify previous foreign higher education of the applicant for the purpose of the admission process and studies at the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University. This recognition is valid only for the respective admission cycle and only for the studies at the Faculty of Science.
• The verification of foreign education is charged with a fee of 900 CZK, which the applicant needs to order and pay here.

The applicant submits:

• Diploma in form of an officially certified copy or similar proof of completion of higher education with relevant signatures and stamps authentication (similar proof of completion of higher education is only acceptable if the diploma has not yet been issued to the applicant, and if this similar proof of completion also entitles the applicant to access to study in the given study program in a foreign state), and with a certified translation of the diploma into Czech or English (documents issued in English do not need to be translated)
• Diploma supplement (Transcript of Records or another listing) in a form of an officially certified copy with a certified translation into Czech or English (documents issued in English do not need to be translated)

Required means of authenticating signatures and stamps

Masaryk University requires, in accordance with section 90, subsection 3 of Act No. 111/1998 Coll., on Higher Education Institutions, authentication of signatures and stamps on the original of diplomas. Means of authenticating the signatures and stamps occurring on the original of the diploma depend on the country that has issued it, i.e. where the applicant earned his/her education. Please check the list of countries and verification requirements here. 

The signatures and stamps authentication can be classified into three categories, depending on the (non)existence of an international agreement:

• No authentication required: There is a valid bilateral agreement between the country and the Czech Republic, concerning mutual legal assistance. Diplomas issued in these countries are valid in the Czech Republic without the need for any further authentication of stamps and signatures.

• Apostille: The respective country is a signatory to the multilateral treaty abolishing the requirement of legalization for foreign public documents (The Hague Convention). The authenticity of signatures and stamps on a diploma earned in one of the signatory countries must be certified by a so-called Apostille, issued by a competent authority of the country. For the list of competent authorities in all signatory countries please visit the Hague Conference website.

• Superlegalization (Higher Authentication of Documents): Relates to other countries; the authenticity of signatures and stamps on diplomas issued in them has to be certified by means of a so-called superlegalization (Higher Authentication of Documents), i.e. verification of the diploma by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the state which is the seat of the higher education institution that has issued the document (or its authorized foreign body), followed by the verification of the respective Czech representative office (embassy) based in the foreign country.

Please note, that in case the applicants wants to have his/her previous foreign higher education recognized officially with validity for all universities in the Czech Republic, the applicant needs to apply for the recognition of foreign higher education at Czech public higher education institution which has an accredited study program with similar content. Please see the contacts, detailed information, and conditions recognition of foreign education at Masaryk University here.