Academic Overview
Charles University in Prague (Univerzita Karlova v Praze) is the oldest university in Central Europe.  The University was founded in 1348 by Bohemian and Roman Emperor Charles IV.  Originally it consisted of four faculties:  arts, medicine, law, and theology.  Today, Charles University is comprised of 17 relatively independent and self-governing faculties.  Over 42,400 students study at Charles University (including international students) in more than 270 accredited academic programs with 600 departments.  These international students also enroll in ECES (East and Central European Studies Program) courses along with Czech students.  Details regarding credits and course availability can be found on the ECES website.

Location
Unlike traditional college campuses, Charles University is located in buildings scattered throughout Prague.  Prague is home to more than 1.2 million people and it is in the heart of Europe.  The Czech Republic is an inland state in the central part of Europe and it borders Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland.  Its borders (length 2,303 kilometers) are mainly historical and belong to the oldest in Europe.  Within Prague, you will most likely move around the city by foot or by public transportation.  Prague has an excelleny public transportation system composed of a metro, trams, and city buses.

Housing
ECES students will be assigned to a double room at the Komenskéko dormitory.  A limited number of single rooms are available at a surcharge of $130 per semester. The dormitory, which features a gated entry, is located in district 6 near the Prague Castle.  It is about a 30-minute walk or a 20-minute tram ride to the Old Town Square and the main building of Charles University, Faculty of Arts.  Single rooms are available on a limited basis and at an extra cost.  The dormitory consists of suite-style living with a shared bathroom and kitchenette equipped with a refrigerator and a hot plate.  Bedding and towels are provided.  Kitchen utensils are not provided. The dormitory has a community room that includes a lounge area with a TV and a full kitchen with oven, stove and microwave.  A light European style cold breakfast buffet is included in the housing fee and is available on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.  All other meals are not included.  Internet service, a gym, a copier/scanner and laundry facilities are available in the dorm for a fee.  Students must provide their own ethernet cable if they elect to have Internet service.

Costs
The program fee for Spring 2014 is $4,720.  This fee includes tuition, airport pickup, Charles University ID card, 2 excursions during orientation, Czech Intensive course textbook, two walking tours of Prague, and an official transcript.  The housing fee for a double room for Spring 2014 is $2,050 and includes breakfast during weekdays.  Students need an estimated $800-$1000 to cover additional food costs for the semester.  Click on the link to the Budget Sheet above for a more complete cost estimate.

Application Procedures and Deadlines
Please review the Application Process Overview in StudioAbroad.

• Select the Apply Now button at the top of this page to start your StudioAbroad online application which is your application to Augustana for approval to study abroad.  You must complete all your application materials by the application deadline shown below.
• Apply to Charles University - East and Central European Studies Program using their application form .   You will need to also submit a letter of motivation (reason why you want to study with ECES), one passport-sized photograph, one letter of recommendation from an Augustana professor, an official transcript and the health information form. 
• Charles University application deadlines are October 15 for the Spring semester and May 1 for the Fall semester.