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Prague Connect Fall Program

Prague Connect is a unique program for first-year students admitted to NC State as part of Spring Connect.

About the Program

The Prague Connect program gives ‘Spring Connect’ students an opportunity to earn NC State credits in Prague during the fall semester, preparing them for academic and social life before matriculating into their degree programs in January.

Prague Connect is a highly structured study abroad program in which students take a pre-set track of courses taught by NC State and European instructors. These courses are held at the NC State European Center in Prague, where students benefit from a supportive on-site team to welcome and assist them throughout the program.

View the program brochure.

Join our virtual information session to learn about program details, courses, costs, funding, and former students’ experiences.

Virtual Info Session: April 4, 2024, 6:00-7:00 PM

Deadlines

Prague Connect Application* DeadlineDecision Notification
Application Deadline (Early Action)April 24, 2024 April 29, 2024
Application Deadline (Regular) May 15, 2024May 20, 2024
Scholarship Application DeadlineApril 24, 2024April 29, 2024

*Applications will be reviewed after each Application Deadline, with decisions sent out within a week.  In case of a high number of applicants, prioritization will factor in time of application submission.  We therefore strongly suggest completing the program application as soon as possible to better ensure chances of selection.

Scholarships:

NC State Prague will offer limited scholarships to students with high financial need. NC State Prague will also offer one Social Media Scholarship. Scholarship decision notifications will be sent out prior to the application deadline.

Program Dates

Program Dates: August 28 – November 20, 2024

August 8Pre-Departure Orientation (in Raleigh)
August 28Arrival Day
August 29 – August 30Mandatory On-site Orientation
September 2-5USC 100
September 6-7Mandatory Excursion within the Czech Republic
September 9Classes Start
October TBAMandatory Out-of-country Excursion
November 13-14Last Day of Classes
November 18-19Final Exams
November 20Check-Out & Departure Day

Program Details

Overview

The program in Prague begins with a week-long orientation and USC 100 course, which aims to help new students transition into life in the university and in Prague. During this time, students participate in activities and discussions to develop community, clarify expectations, and introduce the approach to courses at NC State Prague. The on-site orientation also serves as an introduction to the city of Prague and Czech culture.

Students will be enrolled in 14 NC State credits during their 12 weeks in Prague, using the city and NC State Prague as their classroom. The program exposes students to the historical riches of the city through visits to museums, national monuments, cultural landmarks, and other significant venues. Through these activities, students become better engaged in their coursework, providing first-hand experiences that inform critical and creative thinking.

Eligibility

Must be admitted to NC State for the spring semester through Spring Connect. Students will be automatically enrolled during the fall term as a Non-Degree Studies (NDS) student. 

To be eligible to participate in the program, students must confirm enrollment at NC State.

Courses

While in Prague, all program participants will be enrolled full-time, taking a pre-set schedule of classes along with their Prague Connect peers. Except for USC 100, all class sizes are 15 or fewer students.

All classes are NC State courses and fulfill General Education Program requirements (GEPs) or electives. Students will be classified as ‘Non-Degree Studies’ (NDS) during the semester in Prague. But these courses will matriculate into students’ degree audits once officially enrolled as degree-seeking students in the following spring semester. All courses are graded with a letter grade and do count toward students’ cumulative NC State GPA.

Three course tracks are available: an international studies course track, a science course track, and a business course track. No more than 15 students will be placed in each track.

Course PrefixTitleCreditsGEPInstructor
USC 100Transition into a Diverse Community1ElectiveTBD
FL 395Czech Culture & Language3ElectiveLenka Davisonová
PY 123/125Stellar and Galactic Astronomy with Lab4Natural SciencesBruno Jungwiert
SOC 202Principles of Sociology3Social Science, U.S. DiversityEwa Grigar
PS 341European Politics 3Social Science, Global Knowledge
Jiří Koubek
Course PrefixTitleCreditsGEPInstructor
USC 100Transition into a Diverse Community1ElectiveTBD
FL 395Czech Culture & Language3ElectiveLenka Davisonová
MIE 201Introduction to Business Processes3HumanitiesVáclav Švec
PHI 221Contemporary Moral Issues3HumanitiesMatěj Král
SOC 202Principles of Sociology3Social Science, U.S. DiversityEwa Grigar

Program Cost

  • Admin Fee: $450 ($75 non-refundable set-up fee and $375 study abroad fee)
  • Program Cost: 10,950
  • TOTAL: $11,400
  • Tuition and fees
  • Housing
  • Laundry facilities/services
  • International health insurance
  • Airport pickup
  • Orientation activities and materials
  • Welcome and farewell dinners
  • Transportation pass
  • 2-day in-country excursion
  • 5-day out-of-country excursion
  • Cultural activities, field trips
  • On-site student support services
  • On-site emergency assistance 24/7
  • International airfare (Students are responsible for booking their flights as NC State Prague does not arrange group flights)
  • Meals
  • Personal expenses
  • Textbooks and studio materials
  • Passport fee (if applicable)

For more details: Cost & Funding

Scholarships

Due to the NDS status, participants are not eligible for State or Federal financial aid or NC State Study Abroad scholarships. However, Prague Connect applicants are eligible to apply for the following scholarships:

NC State European Center Scholarships

NC State Prague will offer limited scholarships to students with high financial need. Approximately two to five students will be awarded scholarships ranging from $1000 to $5,000. To apply, students must:

  1. Complete the free FAFSA form
  2. Complete the NC State Prague Connect Scholarship Application by April 24, 2024. Students will be notified of the decision by the end of the business day on April 29, 2024.

NC State Prague Social Media Scholarship

NC State European Center in Prague will also offer one Social Media Scholarship (open to all Connect applicants).

If you are tech-savvy, like taking pictures and making great videos, and love sharing your travel stories, you are the perfect candidate for this scholarship! You will join the communications team and gain hands-on experience.

To apply: Complete the NC State Prague Connect Scholarship Application and the Social Media Scholarship section by April 24, 2024. Include a letter of motivation explaining why you want to contribute to NC State Prague’s social media and a list of social media profiles to which you’ve contributed. You will be notified of the decision by the end of the business day on April 29, 2024.

Shelton NDS Scholarships

Students are invited to apply for the Shelton NDS Scholarship. The NC State European Center does not manage the Shelton NDS Scholarship. Questions concerning the Shelton NDS Scholarship should be directed to Tiffany McLean, tiffany_mclean@ncsu.edu, from the Shelton Leadership Center.

Excursions, Cultural Activities and Field trips

When studying abroad “the world becomes your classroom,” and so your formal learning will be enhanced by opportunities in the greater setting of the city of Prague and the Czech Republic. Local instructors take students to relevant locations for hands-on learning and multiple field excursions. Past trips have included the National Museum, the Museum of Communism, the Center for Contemporary Art, and local Czech movie screenings, to name a few. In addition to the course-related excursions, students can also sign up for optional cultural activities organized by staff throughout the semester (examples may include a night at the opera, a day trip to a medieval castle, or an adventurous hiking trip in area parks and forests).

Housing

The NC State European Center in Prague provides housing for all program participants.
In addition to their program peers who live in the same building, several Czech dorm mates (local university students) also reside in the same building and provide additional support and local connections. All students will have access to a shared kitchen in the student residence.

Accepted students will be sent an online form where they can indicate housing preferences (roommates, single or double rooms). The program fee includes a standard double room. The number of single rooms is limited, but students can request a single room for an additional cost.