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AIFS Abroad in Prague, Czech Republic (CU): Semester logo

AIFS Abroad in Prague, Czech Republic (CU): Semester

by: AIFS Abroad

9.17 (84)Verified

Spend a semester or academic year in Prague, Czech Republic, with AIFS Abroad! You’ll earn up to 18 credits per semester through various courses while studying at Charles University. Courses are taught in English. Get involved in Prague’s community through internship or volunteer programs! Students can partake in a 3-credit International Internship Program. Placements are arranged based on your...

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Program Highlights

Take advantage of an inclusive program fee, which comes with housing, meals, and experienced on-site Resident Director and support staff.

Join AIFS Abroad organized social and cultural activities, excursions, and field trips.

Benefit from our optional AIFS Abroad Flight Package with round-trip flights and airport transfers.

Earn up to 18 credits per semester through Charles University.

Choose from internship and volunteer programs available.

Quick Details

Locations
  • Prague, Czech Republic
Availability
Year(s) Offered2024Terms Available:
  • Fall
Age Requirement:Varies
Types & Subjects:
  • Anthropology
  • Architecture
  • Art History
  • Arts
  • Culture
  • See more
Guidelines:
  • American
  • All Nationalities
See all program details

Awards

Notable Mention - GoAbroad Top Rated Study Abroad Providers 2024Top Rated Provider 2023 - Study AbroadInnovation in Diversity Finalist 2022

Program Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about the programs

Overall Rating

9.17

Total Reviews

84

Genuinely the best time

by: Madelyn MacDonald - United StatesProgram: AIFS Abroad in Prague, Czech Republic (CU): Semester
9

I honestly had the best 3 and a half months of my life while in Prague. The city is so beautiful it's so easy to fall in love with. The other students in the program are now some of my favorite people ever and I miss them dearly now that I'm home.

Unforgettable Memories

by: Carmel Schneur - United StatesProgram: AIFS Abroad in Prague, Czech Republic (CU): Semester
9

Studying abroad in Prague with AIFS was by far one of the best decisions I have ever made. First, the AIFS staff, Renata, Z, and Jenny were some of the kindest and most caring people I have ever met. Their passion for the program, the beautiful country of the Czech Republic, and all the students was honestly beautiful. Being able to learn from Z about absolutely anything you could possibly want to know was phenomenal. They always catered to the students in planning activities and always asked for input on what we would want to do which was so nice because it felt we were getting a personalized experience. The centralized location of Prague made it so easy to take excursions around the area via train or plane which allowed for even more immersion in the cultures of other countries as well. The classes were very fun and the professors were all so passionate about what they taught which made it even more enjoyable to learn from them. The best part overall though was the friendships I made. Living in Kolej created such a lovely community with everyone in AIFS but also with all the other programs that were learning at Charles University. Whether it was seeing everyone in the breakfast room, running into each other while doing laundry, or cooking a meal for 10 in the kitchen every little experience turned into a beautiful memory. I made some of the best friends ever and we still stay in touch daily. Since studying abroad we've traveled all around the US to meet up with each other and I am so grateful for this program for making that happen.

Group picture with the city behindgroup picture with old architecture at the backgroundtwo people wearing aprons with one cutting food on a tray

My Cultural Experience in Prague

by: Stephanie Houser - United StatesProgram: AIFS Abroad in Prague, Czech Republic (CU): Semester
9

Oh, Prague. It was not a traditional choice for a first-time trip overseas, but I think this may be a part of what I learned about myself, and the people I met. Prague is a special place. It became clear to me, a week or so in, just how much the Soviet Occupation (which ended only forty years ago) impacts the behaviors of a society and its culture. Our program coordinator, a local, advised us not to smile at anyone, either on the street, or inside any shops or restaurants. I was a little put off by this at first, but I learned that it is not because Czech people are mean-spirited or unhappy; it is simply not how they live. Most explanations of cultural differences related back to their Soviet occupation, when people were so used to their every move being watched and reported. “Ah, no one usually talks on the trams or metros.” “Don’t wear anything too fancy; people generally don’t like any display of wealth.” “If you smile at a stranger, they’ll panic and think they’re supposed to know you.” Or, my favorite: “If you have a beer in your hand, it’s an open invitation for someone to approach you.” Czech people do not operate in any way that is wrong (except maybe their food), and even though some of their behaviors were significantly different than what I experience in the United States, as time I went by, I found myself adjusting — and even preferring — some of their practices. The biggest takeaway I received was a modification of my “us” versus “them” mentality. It is not that I became ignorantly unaware of our cultural differences, just much more adept at melding to the crowd, allowing myself to observe rather than participate and, importantly, be less hyper-aware of every different thing people were doing. I learned firsthand how people live in dissimilar, sometimes contrasting, ways, and how that changes the way people think. I would sometimes be shocked by the forwardness of some Czechs until I truly understood that I have no right to be offended or shocked — that’s just how they are, and it was my fault for not understanding that. I was a visitor, and that humbled me, allowing me to take a step outside of myself and my American bubble. Franz Kafka lived in Prague, and it makes sense that he was such an absurdist writer. Prague is romantic, but it is also eccentric and can be very odd (like the sculpture of two men peeing so elegantly entitled “Piss Sculpture”). This is to say: many odd situations taught me valuable lessons. Our program coordinator took our small group of twelve to a hidden, members-only bar, where her son-in-law was playing American folk music with a ragtag band that met every week. Despite their expectations, and even with most of us being from the Midwest or South, no one knew any of the songs, so we snuck a peak at our phones so we could sing the lyrics right. Sometimes you just have to play along to make others happy, especially when they’re doing something for you. And when we took a trip to Moravia and sang, with strict rehearsals from our program coordinator, a traditional Czech wine song to the family that hosted us for a wine tasting. The family bluntly told us that we butchered the Czech. I was slightly offended at first, but they were completely right, and there was no harm in admitting it. Czech humor is an acquired taste, and it mostly relies on crass, self-deprecating jokes. (And now, I see the appeal.) Or, when a friend and I ordered beer cheese at a divey restaurant only for it to come with pickled herring. Our waiter was so excited for us to try it we had no choice but to eat. It was awful, but Czechs are particular about wasting food, and he was so happy we had ordered it. Sometimes, you have to steel yourself and just do it. I did more than visit Prague. I saw Vienna, Budapest, Poprad, Smizany, Krakow, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Incisa, Pisa, Rome, and Illnau. I list all of these places because I learned something new in each of these cities. In Budapest, I learned how to respond to a crisis abroad. In Venice, I learned that traveling alone as a woman, while intimidating, is extremely freeing. Florence taught me physical adversity; how to persist despite the almost unbearable temperature of 112°F outside. Illnau showed me the kindness of strangers, and their willingness to talk for hours, exchanging life stories. I kept a daily journal of my travels, telling myself what I did that day so I won’t forget even the little details, which can sometimes hold the most vital lessons. The adaptability, humility, and confidence I learned through my travels will be invaluable to my daily life, allowing me to be a leader among peers and a confidant for friends. I plan to go to law school, and these skills will make it much easier for me to persist and remain optimistic despite the rigorous course load I will have to undertake. The courses I took in Prague while simultaneously trying to explore the city solidified an intense “work hard, play hard” mentality within me. And Prague, of course, will never leave my heart.

AIFS Group in Moravia

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • Prague, Czech Republic

Types and Subjects

  • Subjects & Courses
  • Anthropology
  • Architecture
  • Art History

Availability

Years Offered: 2024

Age Requirement

Age Requirement Varies

Guidelines

  • American
  • All Nationalities
  • This Program is also open to Solo, Group

Program Cost Includes

  • Tuition & Fees
  • Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration
  • Some Program Activity Costs
  • Some Meals / Partial Meal Plan

Accommodation Options

  • Dormitory

Qualifications & Experience

    Language Skills Required

  • English

    Accepted Education Levels

  • University Sophomore (2nd Year)
  • University Junior (3rd Year)

Application Procedures

  • Transcript
  • Online Application

Frequently Asked Questions

Interviews

Read interviews from alumni or staff

Taylor Cline

Participated in 2013

Alumni

An international program while I was in college was always a priority for me, because I saw it as a way to broaden my horizons and challenge my perceptions while also allowing me to see some amazing parts of the world. I was also interested in a change of scenery and meeting new people from all over the country and the world.

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McKenna Johnsen

Participated in 2016

Alumni

Traveling abroad to a foreign country on my own without knowing anything about their language and culture completely scared me, which is exactly why I knew I had to do it. I wanted the chance to push myself outside my comfort zone, meet new people, and explore new lands. Studying abroad would give me the opportunity to travel, eat delicious new foods, and learn how to be truly independent.

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