A semester abroad at the CEVRO Institute provides students with the opportunity to experience a new culture, meet exciting students from across the globe, and learn amongst world-class professors and lecturers. Studying at the CEVRO Institute will allow you to:
- Engage within small classes and interact directly with professors and fellow students
- Learn from policy experts including former ambassadors, government ministers, and renowned authors who have decades of experience in their respective fields
- Experience the wonders of one of the most beautiful and historic cities in Europe, Prague
- Immerse yourself in a new culture and forge relationships that will last a lifetime
- Explore other unique European cities and destinations such as Vienna, Budapest, or Berlin
Deadlines to Apply
The deadline to apply for the fall term is May 27th.
The deadline to apply for the spring term is December 1st.
Living in Prague
Prague is a city where tradition meets modernity. Filled with Baroque and Art Nouveau buildings, towering spires, and historic squares, Prague has been masterfully preserved over the centuries and remains a quintessential European city. However, Prague has also evolved into a hub of 21st century innovation in recent years, with its many shopping streets providing passersby with a range of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Visit Prague Castle to see how the Kings of Bohemia lived and spend some time in Old Town Square, often considered the gold standard of traditional European squares. There is so much to do and see in Prague and the CEVRO Institute is located right in the heart of the city, providing easy access to all of Prague’s major sights and attractions.
Potential to Travel
Prague truly is the heart of Europe. A train or bus ride of just a few hours will transport you to other historic cities such as Vienna, Budapest, and Berlin. At the CEVRO Institute, opportunities abound to travel and experience the range of cultures that exist throughout Europe. The CEVRO Institute is ready to organize a number of travel opportunities throughout the semester. However, students are also welcome to travel with friends outside of CEVRO’s pre-planned excursions. Travelling is certainly one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences a student can have while studying in Prague.
Cultural Immersion
The CEVRO Institute attempts to give foreign students a true feel of what it is like to live and study in Prague. Students will be taking all of their classes alongside fulltime CEVRO students. Furthermore, American and other non-European students will be taking classes alongside Erasmus Programme students, who come to CEVRO from a number of different European countries for a similar semester abroad program. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to learn from renowned professors from both the Czech Republic and other Central and Eastern European countries. These professors often have an incredible range of experiences that they are eager to share their stories with students from abroad.
Outside of the classroom, CEVRO provides even more opportunities for students to truly engage with the Czech style of living. Often times Czech students will be staying inside of the accommodations with foreign students. Furthermore, upon your arrival at CEVRO, you will be paired with a “Czech buddy,” or a full-time Czech student at CEVRO Institute, who will be there to answer all of your questions about CEVRO, Prague, and whatever else is on your mind. Finally, a great opportunity for foreign students to truly experience life as a Czech native is to stay with a Czech family. Many fulltime CEVRO students are happy to let you stay at their house for a weekend and show you how they live. Many of these students live in smaller villages, giving students a true insight on the lifestyle of people outside of Czech Republic’s commercial hub of Prague.
International Connections
The CEVRO Institute is affiliated with the Erasmus Programme, which allows students from affiliated universities in the European Union to spend a semester abroad at a different Erasmus university. As such, numerous students from European Union countries come to study at CEVRO each semester. Please visit our “Erasmus Students” page at to hear directly from international students who have already experienced a semester abroad at the CEVRO Institute. CEVRO also has developed connections with multiple universities outside of Europe. Each summer, a group of students from the University of Ohio and Florida State University spend a week studying at CEVRO and experiencing Prague as part of a cultural immersion program. Furthermore, CEVRO has signed agreements with universities in China, Mexico, and a range of other countries to have students come and take classes at CEVRO. In short, a semester abroad at the CEVRO Institute will allow you to meet students from across the globe, students with vastly different backgrounds and life experiences.
Eligibility
The entry requirements for exchange students are set by the student’s home university. The CEVRO Institute expects students to have exhibited a high level of academic achievement at their home university and all students must be able to speak English fluently. Before studying at the CEVRO Institute, we encourage international students to have successfully finished at least one academic year at their home university. The CEVRO Institute reserves the right to review all university academic transcripts and records of a prospective student before admitting that student to study at the CEVRO Institute.
As for the application process, students should first apply through their home university. Applicants shall fill in the application form, which is available on the CEVRO Institute website. In the application form students will mark the courses they wish to study at the CEVRO Institute. The application form should be sent by e-mail as well as in print signed by the foreign studies coordinator of their home university. We will then send the foreign studies coordinator an acceptance letter, where we confirm that the student have been admitted to the study at the CEVRO Institute.
| Overseas students (outside of the EU) | EUR 2000 (for one term) |
| EU students (Home students) | EUR 1500 (for one term) |
All courses taught will be taught in English and are designed for students who have completed at least one year (two semesters) of their undergraduate studies. The courses cover a wide range of topics and disciplines such as political science, international relations, history and economic policy. International students are advised to sign up for about 5 courses per semester (each for 6 ECTS/3 US credits). Class sizes are small, with most class having between 10 and 20 students, with even the largest lecture classes having only 40 students or so. Professors look forward to interacting directly with students and budget a part of each class specifically for class discussion and questions.
The courses taught in English—listed below—are designed both for international students (including Erasmus students) and CEVRO Institute students. The courses cover a wide range of topics and disciplines such as political science, international relations, history or applied economics. After completion, students are awarded easily transferable European credits (For more on ECTS see below). International students are advised to sign up for about 3-5 courses in each semester.
Courses for the fall semester 2022/2023
The below courses will be opened provided that a sufficient number of students sign up for them. For this reason applicants are recommended to announce alternative courses in the application form.
NOTE: Erasmus and Study Abroad students are allowed to study courses from our BA Program Economics, Business, Politics.
Students with appropriate prerequisites are allowed to study elective courses from our MA Program Philosophy, Politics, Economics.
Economics (ECTS 9)
The aim of the course is to teach students to think economically. Students will learn the basic concepts of microeconomics and macroeconomics. Upon successful completion of this course, they will be able to explain and apply basic economic theories.
Corporate Finance (ECTS 9)
This course is focused on corporate finance. It deals with methods and processes related to financial decision-making and management of various types of enterprises (small, medium and large enterprises). It also delas with the company’s financial objectives, interpretation of financial results of companies, costs, understanding investment decisions and long-term financing, risk in financial decisions and dividend policy.
Economic and Political Problems of Globalization (ECTS 9)
The course deals with the economic and political dilemmas of globalization and their manifestations in different areas of life. Upen succesfull completion of the course, students will be able to identify long-term trends in the development of society and to use basic knowledge of economics to understand these trends.
Alternative Currencies and Decentralized Monetary Systems (ECTS 6)
This course is focused on the new and old phenomena of alternative currencies and their role in an economy. Students will learn the history and theory of alternative currencies, will understand the functions that money perform and they will know the newest trends in usage of cryptocurrencies, local currencies, virtual currencies, scrips, commodity money, gift economy, voucher-money, moneyless systems and other alternatives. It is also anticipated that the course will take account of new developments in this rapidly evolving field. At the conclusion of this course, students will be well-versed in both the potentials and the challenges of the most important alternatives to the current monetary system.
Comparative Constitutional Systems (ECTS 6)
Asia in International Relations (ECTS 6)
The aim of the course is to inform students about developments in South, Southeast, Northeast and Central Asia, and key issues of domestic development in selected countries and their foreign policy, including regional cooperation and tensions in the region. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to analyze specifics of various regions of Asia and summarize the current problems of Asia in the context of international relations; identify and analyze determinants influencing the position of selected countries of Asia in international relations; assess interests of key players (US, Russia, China, EU) in Asia, and explain the causes of security issues and conflicts in the region (such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, impacts of the Arab Spring, Sunni-Shia disputes in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, US-Iran relations, India, China and Japan in international relations, conflict in South China sea etc.).
Objectivism and Cinema (ECTS 6)
Introduction to the works of Ayn Rand, the definitions and outline of Objectivism, as well as its contemporary interpretations and significance. The seminar will also explore applications of her philosophy to religion, foreign affairs, current events – and any areas of student interest.
Critical reading of Rand’s works, individual evaluation of her ideas, as well as of her critics’ and opponents’ multi-disciplinary philosophical arguments. The course is based on her non-fiction essays (primarily from ‘Virtue of Selfishness’) but recommended literature and material includes her fiction as well as documentaries and movies based on her novels. The course aims at pursuing critical reading skills, as well as fostering presentation and self-expression skills in students through individual assignments as well as through discussions. The evaluation takes that into consideration.
Entrepreneurship and Modern Business-Making (ECTS 9)
In this course, students will learn the process of how to create an innovation-based new venture. As a framework for this, students will develop the essential parts of a business model in which they will strategize, discuss, test, receive feedback and pivot their business models as appropriate with the objective to design a workable and fundable business. To achieve this aim, students will work in teams to launch companies, working through issues of market analysis, technology viability assessment, competitive positioning, team-building, product life-cycle planning, marketing strategy, sales channel analysis, and a strong emphasis on the entrepreneur as a salesperson. This hands-on course teaches a rigorous framework as well as provides a valuable experience to students so that they, upon completion, can be more successful in starting a new venture.
Economic Policies (ECTS 7)
The course systematically analyzes the reasons and consequences of public policies. It deals with the economic arguments for state interventions in the market processes. Upon successful completion, students will be able to analyze a wide range of state interventions in the economy, including their unintended consequences. Above all, it will be about ability understand the difference between market and bureaucratic management; identify the motivation structure of actors in cases of individual public policies; understand the problem of intended consequences in specific cases and identify them; identify the influences of interest groups on the shape of public policies and institutional changes; understand the dynamics of processes within the public sector.
Global Economy Studies (ECTS 7)
The aim of the course is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the interconnectedness of the world economic order and explain the process of shaping the world economy of today. Students will also learn how to compare key economic factors of global economy. In addition to a systemic approach, students will also be introduced to a comparative method of comparative economics. Based on a combination of knowledge about key historical contexts and together with knowledge of current economic events, students will learn to analyze current and future trends in the world economy.
Introduction to Financial Markets (ECTS 7)
The course systematically introduces students to financial markets. The basic types of assets that are traded on the financial markets will be presented; students will get acquainted with the proces of their price formations. Upon successful completion, students will be able to understand the importance, functions and structure of the financial market; apply basic valuation methods to the most well-known types of financial assets; understand the principle of operation of commercial and central banks; identify symptoms of financial crises.
Courses for the spring semester 2021/2022
Please note that the range of courses may be subject to change. Definite list of courses will be announced in fall.
Business Economics (ECTS 9)
The aim of the course is to systematically introduce the theory of the firm, and institutional and political context of its functioning. It deals with the justification of the existence of firms, their internal structure and external regulation, both in terms of interdisciplinary approach of economics and law.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to understand the functioning of companies in a broader context.
Money and Banking (ECTS 9)
The objective of the course is to achieve student’s acquaintance with the nature and functions of money in the modern banking system. Financial architecture associated with existence of central banks will be described and analyzed and students will be explained in detail macroeconomic challanges of various monetary regimes and regulatory schemes.
Conflict Regions in the Current World (ECTS 6)
What are the origins, present and future of conflicts around the globe? Can we predict new conflicts? Can the West prevail in the war on terror? What are the main insurgencies and how to fight them? Former Yugoslavia, Former USSR, Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Northern Africa, Islamic Immigration to Europe, Central Africa, Southern Asia and the War on terror in general…
Lectured by former head of Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan and long-year correspondent from the Balkans.
Civil Society and the Public Sphere in the EU (ECTS 6)
The main objective of the course is to acquaint students with the similarities and differences of contemporary European civil societies and to examine the role of cultural, social and political factors in the processes of European public sphere formation within the process of European integration. In the first part stress will be laid on the description and interpretation of presently existing varieties of European civil societies. The course will help the students to understand the main historical roots of European plurality, i.e. the political, economic and cultural processes that engendered this plurality. In the second part the pivotal theoretical concepts of civil society and public sphere will be discussed and applied to a transnational (European) level. The role of civil societies´ plurality in relation to the quest for a European civil society and European public sphere will be explored and examined.
Business Cycle Theories (ECTS 6)
The aim of this course is to present and compare different theories of the business cycle. Students will know Kondratiev waves, endogenous and exogenous theories, Keynesian theory, Austrian theory, Real business cycle theory, Political business cycle, Marxist theory, Financial instability hypothesis, Yield curve theory, Schumpeterian innovation cycle, Georgist theory and other relevant explanations of the boom and bust cycle. Each lesson explains the history and theoretical foundation of the theories and discusses possible reactions. Business cycles have severe consequences and yet economists do not agree about the causes. By studying their theories students will be able to critically evaluate the appropriateness of different explanations.
Asia in International Relations (ECTS 6)
The aim of the course is to inform students about developments in South, Southeast, Northeast and Central Asia, and key issues of domestic development in selected countries and their foreign policy, including regional cooperation and tensions in the region. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to analyze specifics of various regions of Asia and summarize the current problems of Asia in the context of international relations; identify and analyze determinants influencing the position of selected countries of Asia in international relations; assess interests of key players (US, Russia, China, EU) in Asia, and explain the causes of security issues and conflicts in the region (such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, impacts of the Arab Spring, Sunni-Shia disputes in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, US-Iran relations, India, China and Japan in international relations, conflict in South China sea etc.).
Geopolitics and Diplomacy in Practice (ECTS 6)
The aim of the course is to point at many myths of international politics, show strengths and limits of diplomacy in the real world and also analyse interstate relations and the importance of history and geography for international relations to show functionality of international organizations such as NATO, the EU, and regional groupings such as the Visegrad Four, as well as to argue that there is no real diplomacy which is not backed by power of economy and military.
The course will be based on the concrete experience of the Czech Republic and its long term relations with direct neighbours as well as bigger regional and world powers. Crosscutting issues such as energy security, economic diplomacy, support of human rights and democracy or military to military and intelligence cooperation will be closely examined. The course will be attended by several guest speakers, practitioners who have been dealing with issues of foreign relations, defence and security in several positions and from various points of view during their careers.
Modern Party Politics (ECTS 6)
The aim of the course is to provide students with knowledge about new types of political parties that have emerged in Europe since 1970s and which do not perfectly fit the traditional Lipset and Rokkan’s scheme of cleavages and parties that result from them. The new parties, some of which can be treated as „niche parties“ are discussed from the perspective of their new policies, organization, membership and position in respective party systems.
Ayn Rand´s Philosophy of Capitalism (ECTS 6)
Ayn Rand´s Reading Seminar (ECTS 6)
The reading seminar gathers three times during the semester and it requires the reading of one Ayn Rand’s novels, ‚The Fountainhead‘ or ‚Atlas Shrugged‘. Student performance is evaluated based on discussions.
Course objectives: Immersive reading and discussion of the protagonists and the antagonists of the philosophical novel. Failure to read results in failing the course.
Students will receive a grade of A through F at the end of each course. At the beginning of the semester, each professor will hand a syllabus listing required readings, upcoming assignments, and other important information in regards to the course. Each course has a midterm exam/project and a final exam, the structure of which is decided by the professor. Throughout the course, students will be expected to engage in discussion with both the professor and other students, make presentations on pre-selected and approved topics, and hand in a number of written assignments. Generally, all of these non-exam factors will add up to approximately 30 % of the student’s final grade, with the midterm exam counting for 30 % and the final exam counting for 40 % of the student’s final grade.