What international PhD students really face in the Czech Republic

What is it about?

This study looks at what it is really like for international PhD students who move to the Czech Republic to continue their education. While many countries already know a lot about the experiences of foreign doctoral students, almost no one has looked closely at what happens within Central and Eastern Europe. Our work focuses on Czechia, a country where English is not the main language and where the academic culture is shaped by strong hierarchies, traditional values and formal systems. We interviewed seventeen international PhD students who arrived from Europe, Asia, Latin America and other regions. They described what motivated them to study in Czechia, how their daily academic life works and what challenges they face. They also talked about how they cope with these challenges and what they hope for after finishing their PhD. The students told us that language barriers were one of their biggest problems. Many university services, administrative forms and even day to day interactions were available only in Czech. This made it harder for them to get support, make friends or feel included. Some also experienced discrimination linked to their skin colour, nationality or gender. Others struggled with unclear expectations, strict hierarchies, low financial support and limited career opportunities in the future. Despite these difficulties, students found ways to stay resilient. They used coping strategies such as building routines, staying motivated by their research topic and seeking support from friends or family abroad. Many of them tried to remain positive or reinterpret difficult experiences so they could continue with their work. Our findings show that although these students bring valuable diversity and talent, the academic environment is not always ready to support them. Improving language access, administrative help, equity policies, mental health services and career guidance could make a significant difference in helping international PhD students feel welcome and succeed in their studies.

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Photo by 佳叶 范 on Unsplash

Photo by 佳叶 范 on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research fills an essential gap because experiences of international doctoral students in Central and Eastern Europe have been almost entirely overlooked. Most existing studies focus on countries like the United States or the United Kingdom. By examining a region with different cultural norms, power structures and academic traditions, this study provides insight into challenges that are often invisible in Western contexts. Our findings highlight issues that are not widely recognised, such as the double language barrier that affects both academic and everyday life, and systemic problems like nepotism or gender bias that shape students' opportunities. These insights can help universities identify what they need to change in order to become truly international. The work is also timely, given the increasing mobility of students worldwide and the growing number of international programmes offered in non English speaking countries. By drawing attention to these issues, the study can influence policies that support fairer, more inclusive doctoral education.