Who We Are
The Undergraduate Program in Central European Studies (UPCES) is one of the world's top study abroad programs located in the heart of Prague, Czech Republic. With our program, you'll experience Europe from a brand new perspective and learn about the Czech Republic's history and culture.
"I am eternally grateful to UPCES and my abroad semester for the realization that not everybody in the world thinks like I do, and for the ability to connect with people of different cultures."
- Doug Newell, UPCES Alumnus
Why UPCES?
UPCES is the undergraduate study abroad program of Charles University and CERGE-EI in Prague, Czech Republic.
With UPCES, students learn new subjects, study a foreign language, gain wider perspectives, and experience cultural immersion—while living in an incredible European city.
The UPCES curriculum infuses topics relevant to Central Europe into a wide variety of liberal arts courses, all taught by a faculty of distinguished scholars, government figures, and industry specialists.
UPCES classes meet in the Schebek Palace, a historic building in the center of Prague. Courses bring together European and American students in a small and interactive classroom setting.
Outside the classroom, UPCES students explore the cultures of Central Europe firsthand. Program trips, excursions, and immersion activities offer opportunities to discover new places, people, and perspectives.
Crucially, UPCES offers a personalized approach to study abroad. Students receive all the resources essential to a rewarding semester of immersion and discovery.
Program at a Glance
- Location: Prague, Czech Republic
- Building: Schebek Palace
- University: Charles University Faculty of Humanities, CERGE-EI
- Director: Lindsay Allen
- Dates: View our Academic Calendar
- Credits: 16 academic credits per semester
- Language of Instruction: All courses taught in English
- Eligibility: 3.0 GPA and three completed college semesters by the time of enrollment
- Housing: Sponsored Student Apartments
- Application: Online
- Trips: Karlovy Vary/Kutna Hora, Litomerice, Cesky Krumlov, and Krakow
UPCES Students
UPCES welcomes motivated and accomplished students from diverse educational backgrounds. UPCES students should have a strong interest in liberal arts studies and a genuine enthusiasm for cultural immersion in Central Europe.
UPCES students come from colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. UPCES also hosts local Czech students from Charles University and exchange students from dozens of countries in Europe and around the globe. For a full list of the colleges and universities that have sent students to UPCES, please follow the link here.
Mission Statement
The mission of UPCES is to provide undergraduates with an unmatched semester abroad in Prague through dedicated instruction, international integration, and excellent program support.
