Summer School of Slavonic Studies

The programme consists of language course, lectures, excursions, cultural events and weekend trips.

• LANGUAGE COURSE

Teaching takes place on the premises of the Faculty of Arts of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice

The course consists of 25 teaching units per week (teaching unit = 45 minutes)

The course is divided into several levels (minimum 3):

Beginners receive 5 hours of intensive language instruction per day (three hours in the morning, two hours in the afternoon), the lessons are conducted mainly in English. They also attend at least 2 thematic seminars during the Summer School.

The course graduates will understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.

Intermediate students receive 3 hours of intensive language instruction in the morning and two hours of intensive language instruction or special lectures in the afternoon. They also attend at least 2 thematic seminars during the Summer School.

Course participants will develop their Czech communication skills. They will learn to respond in various real-life situations and acquire a more complex grammatical understanding of the language.

Advanced students receive 5 hours of instruction with seminars focussing on conversation, phonetics and grammar (three hours in the morning, two hours in the afternoon). The afternoon classes will be replaced on some days by special lectures (minimum 3). During the summer school they will also attend at least 2 thematic seminars.

Course participants develop their Czech communication skills to an advanced level. They will expand their vocabulary to be able to communicate on interesting topics, learn to express their opinion on those given topics and deepen their knowledge of selected grammatical rules and structures. Emphasis is placed on developing productive skills, especially speaking.

Lectures are given in Czech and cover various subjects in linguistics, literary history, Czech cultural history or cinematography.

Thematic seminars are chosen by each participant according to his/her interest. Everyone chooses 2 topics from the current offer (e.g. Czech Poetry, Czech Prose or Czech Politics). There are parallel seminars for beginners and advanced students on the same topic.

• EXCURSIONS AND CULTURAL EVENTS

The programme also includes visits to museums, libraries and galleries. Contemporary Czech cultural life is presented through cinema and theatre performances, concerts and exhibitions etc. For sport-loving participants there are a variety of sporting events.

Some events are free, but sometimes you have to pay an entrance fee. The summer school programme for this year will specify exactly which events are free.

• WEEKEND TRIPS

Hluboká na Vltavou

Český Krumlov (UNESCO world heritage list)

Terčino údolí Nové Hrady

Jindřichův Hradec

Scholarship holders are always fully reimbursed for two trips.

Participants of the Summer School are assisted by our two Summer School Hosts – who are always available to help with any problems that might arise and who also accompany the students to afternoon or evening events around the city. Our Hosts can also provide free rental of sports equipment (badminton rackets, basketballs, etc.) and can help give information about events and places to visit in the city of České Budějovice.

The number of participants at the Summer School is limited (approx. 80). Some of the places (42) are reserved for scholarship holders of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic based on international cultural agreements. International candidates apply for these scholarships through the competent authorities (usually the Ministry of Education) in their country. The remaining places on the Summer School (38) are intended for Self-Paying Participants.

❕ If an applicant does not reach 18 years of age on the first day of the Summer School at the latest, their application cannot be accepted.

• REGISTRATION

Application form (self-payers) can be downloaded → here.

Summer School applicants (Self-Payers) should send their completed application form upon which receipt they are issued an invoice. Upon receipt of the payment, they receive a letter of acceptance. The letter of acceptance also serves as a basis for visa applications. Details of the payment can be found below.

The completed application form must be sent by post or e-mail no later than 12 July 2024. It can either be emailed to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or sent via post to:

Mgr. Helena Dvořáková, Ph.D.
Filozofická fakulta – LŠSS
Branišovská 31a
370 05 České Budějovice
Czech Republic

The scholarship includes:

• Accommodation and full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Tuition, enrolment fee
• Selected two trips and excursions included in the tuition

The payment includes:

• Accommodation and full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Tuition, enrolment fee
• selected excursions

The scholarship does not include:

• International transport costs
• Insurance costs
• Visa processing costs

The payment does not include:

• International transport costs
• Insurance costs
• Visa processing costs
• Weekend trips (can be bought on site)

HEALTH INSURANCE

Health insurance is NOT included in the price. Candidates are advised to arrange travel medical insurance for the entire period of their stay in the Czech Republic.

Neither the MEYS nor the higher education institutions organizing the SSSS accept any responsibility for any health care costs that may arise during the participants' stay in the Czech Republic or for any possible repatriation costs.

The EU/EEA health insurance system is described on the Health Insurance Office website.

VISAS

The conditions of entry and residence on the territory of the Czech Republic for foreigners from countries with visa obligation can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic:

https://www.jcu.cz/international/admissions/practical-info/visa/general-information-about-visa

We recommend that participants from countries with visa obligation apply for their visa well in advance.

Full price of the SSSS (including a four-week language course, selected excursions, selected cultural programme, accommodation, meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)) is 1,500 EUR or 36,700 CZK.

If the participant provides his/her own accommodation or meals, the price will be reduced by this item.

After filing the application, the stipulated amount is to be paid to the account stated in the invoice. Upon receipt of the payment, applicants receive a letter of acceptance. The letter of acceptance also serves as a basis for visa applications.

The payment can be made in Czech Crowns or in EUROS. When transferring a foreign currency payment to CZK, the exchange rate for that day is used. Please note that the price does not include bank charges; please check with your bank what fee they charge and include it in the transaction.

The SSSS students will be accommodated at university dormitories. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided as a buffet in the university canteen.

Both the dormitories and canteen are located near the Faculty of Arts, in the campus of the University of South Bohemia.

ACCOMMODATION

The SSSS students will be accommodated at university dormitory ‘K1’ in single or double rooms. There are shared washroom facilities for two or three rooms. There is a small kitchen available in the shared room cell (hob, sink and fridge freezer).

The room includes: bedding (duvet & cover, pillow, sheets), hand towel and toilet paper. There is a desk and a wardrobe with drawers for your belongings.

The room does not include: cooking utensils, bath towel, air conditioning or fan.

Room assignments are at the discretion of the halls of residence. If you prefer individual accommodation (single room), please be sure to clearly indicate this on your application form. Scholarship holders of the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic are paid for accommodation in double rooms; they can only get a single room if there is a spare room in the dormitory.

All dormitories provide Internet access.

• In the K1 dorm you can connect to the internet both via wi-fi and Ethernet cable (more stable connection). Cables can be rented in limited quantities, but it is recommended to bring your own.

Each resident will be loaned a room key and an access card to the dormitory building. The loss of key or card must be paid for!

MEALS

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided as a buffet in the university canteen.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to cater for all dietary needs (in case of allergies or veganism).

A Beautiful City

"Everyone would like to live in České Budějovice." (Jára Cimrman, the greatest Czech playwright and inventor)

České Budějovice is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region (with almost 95,000 inhabitants) and is the economic, administrative and cultural centre of the region. It is the seat of several universities, important public institutions and offices. World-famous companies such as Koh-i-noor Hardtmuth, Budějovický Budvar, Robert Bosch and Madeta are located here. (You can even take a tour around the Budvar Beer factory – this is a must for anyone interested in Czech beer!).

The town was founded in 1265 by the Czech King Přemysl Otakar II as a support of his power against the noble family of Vítkovec, or Lords of the Rose. České Budějovice was therefore a Royal Town and was surrounded by walls, the remains of which still decorate the historic core of the town. In the centre of the town is Přemysl Otakar II Square - the second largest square in the Czech Republic. There you will also find Samson's Fountain, the historic Town Hall and the Black Tower, which offers visitors a beautiful view of the town and, in good weather, of the surrounding mountains.

The city is home to a number of artistic institutions. First of all, there is the South Bohemian Theatre, which has three ensembles of its own: drama, opera and ballet. There are a number of Art Schools - e.g. the České Budějovice Conservatory and the YAMAHA Music School. There are also amateur theatre groups - e.g. the Theatre Association J. K. Tyl and the Student Theatre StuD. Art galleries also attract visitors – there are Alš's South Bohemian Gallery (branch of Wortner House in České Budějovice and branch of the Castle Riding Hall in Hluboká nad Vltavou), Panská 1 Gallery, Mariánská Gallery and many others to discover.

Every year, the Země Živitelka exhibition is held at the end of August at the Exhibition Grounds in České Budějovice. Read here: https://www.vcb.cz/kalendar-akci/zeme-zivitelka-2024

The International Commission has selected České Budějovice as the European Capital of Culture for 2028. Read more here: https://www.budejovice2028.eu/en

The University of South Bohemia

The University of South Bohemia was founded in České Budějovice in 1991. Its foundation originally consisted of two faculties – the Faculty of Education (originally a branch of the Faculty of Education of Charles University) and the Faculty of Operations and Economics (originally part of the Prague University of Agriculture, now the Faculty of Agriculture and Technology), which merged with three newly established faculties: the Faculty of Biology, the Faculty of Theology and the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences. In 2006, the Faculty of Arts and in 2007 the Faculty of Economics emerged from the existing institutes. The original Faculty of Biology was replaced by the Faculty of Science in 2007. In 2009, the Faculty of Fisheries and Water Conservation was created.

Read more here: https://www.jcu.cz/en/university/about-university

A Compact Campus

"I like that everything is in one place. It takes about a minute from the dorm to the canteen. It takes about two minutes from the dorm to the university." (Alex, graduate of the Summer School of Slavonic Studies)

The participants of the Summer School see a great advantage in the compactness of the University of South Bohemia Campus. The Faculty of Arts is located at its centre and is surrounded by the library, dormitories, canteen and several other faculties. It is possible to buy coffee or small snacks in the cafeteria or vending machines.

A Wi-Fi network is available in all buildings on campus (Summer School participants will receive a password). In the area between the canteen and the library there are solar benches suitable for charging mobile phones.

In close proximity to the campus are the interesting and attractive sites of the Faculty of Agriculture, such as the University Microbrewery ‘Čtyrák’, the Aquaponic Greenhouse as well as the farm and the pastures with horses and sheep. The campus also includes the Kampa Student Club / Bar, where you can sit until the evening hours enjoying a drink or snacks and sometimes even live music. Athletes will be impressed by the workout areas and playing fields right outside the dormitory.

The campus is within easy reach of the City Centre either by bus or on foot through the beautiful ‘Stromovka’ park which is a haven for cyclists, walkers and runners. Just across the river from the park you have a large outdoor swimming pool, perfect for cooling off after a day in lessons and catching up with your new friends and classmates. During the month of August, the city of České Budějovice comes alive in the evenings and at night with a cultural programme for residents and visitors. You will be able to enjoy free summer concerts, music festivals and shows as well as other cultural events.

• Programme
• Information Sheet 2024
• Application form for a self-payer 2024

Application deadline (Self-Payers): July 12th 2024

• Summer School applicants (self-payers) send their completed application form upon which receipt they are issued an invoice.
• Upon receipt of the payment, they receive a letter of acceptance. The letter of acceptance also serves as a basis for visa applications.
• Application forms must be sent via e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or to the postal address below: 

Mgr. Helena Dvořáková, Ph.D.
Filozofická fakulta - LŠSS
Branišovská 31a
370 05 České Budějovice
Czech Republic