Nostrification: Survival Guide to Prepare for the Exams

#LifeInCzechia Are you interested in getting your Bachelor’s degree in the Czech Republic? Have you obtained your previous education certificate abroad? If yes, it is necessary to acquire an official document verifying that your education is equal to the education in the Czech Republic. This process is called nostrification. The recognition of completed education differs according to the level of education which you need to get validated.

Some prospective students may have to take nostrification exams.

 

What you’ll need 

For the recognition of your foreign diploma, you need to submit a document of recognition of your high/secondary school education by the Czech recognition authority. Your previous education should be at least the equivalent of a Czech high school, which is 4,000 hours. 

If you did not accomplish these hours, the Czech authorities are going to schedule exams for you.

It is important to be aware of the super-legalization of documents issued outside the Czech Republic. Check here the list of countries that need this confirmation. If a document of education is issued by a country that was a part of the 1961 Hague Convention, it must be apostilled. Click here for the list of countries.

Contact us if you need some help in obtaining your nostrification. You may also check our Nostrification post to know all the documents you need. 

 

My personal experience with Nostrification exams

My Nostrification process was not that easy, it took around a year for the Czech authorities to count the equivalent hours. 

Moreover, the study plan from your home high school should indicate the number of teaching hours for each subject per year. The list of subjects has to correspond with the attached certificate alongside the grades. 

In my case, I attached my schedule for every semester taken so they could equal the hours I studied in each subject.

 

What to expect on the exam day

The first thing that you have to deal with is the exam schedule. Do not fret! The process for scheduling exams is very simple – the fewer study hours you have for a subject, the more likely it is that it will be assigned as an exam.

The most often assigned subjects are the ones of Natural Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Geography, and Physics. 

Nowadays, they assign more exams on Computer Science, English, and History. The subjects that I was assigned to take were English, Geography, and History.

Exams are held at grammar schools or colleges. My exams were oral, so I needed an interpreter. If you don’t speak Czech, don’t forget about this! 

 

The structure of the exams

There are 20 topics in each subject. You randomly take a number from a box – 1 to 20 – and what you draw becomes your topic. You will have a couple minutes to write down notes before taking the oral exam. You have 20 minutes for each exam.

Geography topics may vary from the origin of the universe to the economic development of the Czech Republic. History topics range from ancient civilizations to the globalization era. However, history and geography are the most challenging topics. You need to ensure that you study all the topics once the subjects have been assigned to you. Also, do not forget to study the history and geography of the Czech Republic. 

The English exam consists of a 50% written and 50% oral exam, so make sure to practice with someone and to do some tests online to practice.

Remember that if you fail one of the exams, you automatically fail all of the other exams, even if you passed the majority of them.

 

How to study smart and not hard for the exams

The best way to study the topics for history is by writing a guide with the most important details of each of the topics. It is enough to know about 60% of the study material to successfully pass the test.  

The method I used for studying is the Pomodoro Technique. This technique is based on 25-minute stretches of focus work broken by 5-minute breaks, but you can adjust it according to your study style and needs.

During the geography exam, you will have a map where you can locate the region they ask you about, so I would suggest you familiarize yourself with and study all the maps you can possibly get.

You have the right to ask for the syllabus for the exams you have to take, which are in the Czech language. 

Are you looking for someone who can help you arrange your Nostrification? Look no further than us. Remember the Foreigners team is here to support you in every step you might need. You can contact us HERE, all you need to do is choose your location.

Ariana Saucedo

Hi there, this is Ariana from Mexico, adventure seeker, always looking for new experiences. I have been an expat in Brno for 3 years already. Being an expat is a lifestyle and can be challenging, so I am gonna help you to at least make it easier. Join me on this journey!

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