Social Support
In the Czech Republic, the socio-economic support of students has long been at a very low level, likely also because it has not received adequate attention in recent years from politicians, academics, or students themselves. This situation is alarming, as financial support for students is a key element that enables access to education and promotes social mobility. A high degree of socio-economic selectivity is, in fact, one of the major problems of the Czech education system. Statistics show that individuals aged 20 to 30 with at least one parent holding a university degree are 2.48 times more likely to study at, or have already completed, a university than those whose parents do not have a university education (Münich and Kořínek, 2021).
As can be seen from the overview below, most financial support for students in the Czech Republic is universal, meaning it is available to all students regardless of their specific needs or circumstances. While this may appear fair and consistent with the principle of equal access to education, it results in insufficient resources being allocated to those who are most socio-economically disadvantaged. Moreover, as of March 2025, an amendment to the Higher Education Act has come into force, changing the conditions for providing certain forms of support (particularly social scholarships and doctoral stipends).
| Support | Description |
| Agreement to Perform Work (DPP) | This form is not specific to students. Since 2024, regulations have been tightened – employers must keep records of hours worked, limits on concurrent DPP contracts have been introduced, and entitlement to paid leave has been established under certain conditions. Income up to CZK 11,500 is exempt from health and social insurance, with a 15% withholding tax, which may be waived under certain circumstances (by signing a taxpayer declaration) or reclaimed through a tax return. Further tightening and reporting obligations for DPP are under consideration. |
| Tax Allowance for Parents of Students up to 26 Years | This is the most significant form of support in terms of volume, received by approximately 90% of parents of university students. For the first child, it amounts to CZK 15,204 annually (CZK 1,267 monthly), for the second child CZK 22,320 annually (CZK 1,860 monthly), and for the third and each additional child CZK 27,840 annually (CZK 2,320 monthly). |
| Doctoral Study Income (introduced in 2025) | The amendment to the Higher Education Act introduces so-called doctoral study income. It must be at least 1.2 times the minimum wage. This income is guaranteed for all newly enrolled doctoral students from the 2025/2026 academic year and will gradually extend to all doctoral students. |
| Child Allowance | CZK 1,080 or CZK 1,580 for individuals aged 15–26, with the eligibility threshold increased to 3.4 times the subsistence minimum. Funded from the budget of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MPSV). |
| Accommodation Scholarship | Somewhat similar to a basic study grant, but not available to all university students. It depends on the specific university. The state provides CZK 5,400 annually; this amount has remained unchanged since 2013 (it was higher in 2010 at CZK 6,250). Received by slightly less than half of university students. |
| Social Scholarship | Until 2016, a fixed amount of CZK 1,620 was provided, with a family income threshold of 1.5 times the subsistence minimum. Since 2016, it equals one quarter of the minimum wage, while the threshold remains unchanged; it is currently received by around 600 students. The latest amendment to the Higher Education Act proposes a significant expansion of eligible recipients (to 3.4 times the subsistence minimum), while keeping the amount unchanged. The Ministry of Education (MŠMT) estimates an increase to approximately 5,400 students. Funding will come from the higher education budget. |
| Transport Discounts | With an ISIC card, students are entitled to a state-mandated transport discount. Since 1 April 2022, the discount is 50% of the full fare across the Czech Republic for both bus and rail transport. |
(source: Fischer, 2023) – updated in 2025
The only exception in this regard is the social scholarship, which is intended for students from low-income families. However, the conditions for its allocation have so far been set rather strictly, which is why only hundreds of students (less than 1% of the total) have received it in the Czech Republic. The recent amendment to the Higher Education Act has significantly expanded the eligibility threshold, and therefore it can be expected that in the coming years the social scholarship will reach more students than before.
Even within universal support, however, there are fundamental shortcomings. In the case of the accommodation scholarship, the main issue is the lack of indexation. Compared to other European students, Czech students spend the highest share of their expenses on accommodation, which accounts for 43% of total expenditures, and on food, which represents 33% of their monthly expenses (Hauschildt et al., 2018).
Finally, a significant gap in the current system of student financial support in the Czech Republic is the absence of student loans. In many European countries, such loans are a key instrument for supporting students, as they can also be provided to those from less favourable socio-economic backgrounds.
Proposals of the Student Chamber of the Council of Higher Education Institutions
- Introduction of student loans
- Improvement of accessibility of social scholarships
- Increase and better targeting of accommodation scholarships
Low-interest loans represent a tool through which students can better optimise their finances during their university studies. These loans would expand the existing spectrum of support by introducing an independent option that is currently absent in the Czech system. Without dependence on their family, students would have a realistic opportunity to attain higher education.
References
Hauschildt, K., Vögtle, E.M., Gwosć, C., 2018. Social and Economic Conditions of Student Life in Europe. Eurostudent VI 2016-2018 | Synopsis of Indicators.
Münich, D., Kořínek, O., 2021. IDEA Studie 8 2021 Financni podpora studia [WWW Document]. URL https://idea.cerge-ei.cz/files/IDEA_Studie_8_2021_Financni_podpora_studia/IDEA_Studie_8_2021_Financni_podpora_studia.html#p=1 (accessed 7.1.23).
