Prague Connect Fall Program

About the Program

Prague Connect allows students to earn NC State credits in Prague during the fall semester, preparing them for academic and social life before officially starting their degree program on campus in the spring.

The Prague Connect study abroad program is highly structured and includes courses taught by NC State and European instructors. In addition to the instructors, NC State European Center in Prague has an on-site team eager to welcome and available to support students throughout the program. Additionally, experienced NC State students will be on-site, participating in a concurrent study abroad program during the Classic Fall semester. Approximately 30 incoming first-year students participate in the Prague Connect program every fall semester. Students are divided into smaller groups of 15 or fewer for classes.

Deadlines

Application Deadline: May 12, 2023

Scholarship Deadline: April 28, 2023

NC State Prague will offer limited scholarships to students with high financial needs. NC State Prague will also offer one Social Media Scholarship. Scholarship decision notifications will be sent out by May 26.

Program Dates

Program Dates: August 30 – November 22, 2023

Program Details

Overview

The program in Prague begins with a week-long orientation and USC 100 course, specifically for Prague Connect participants. During this orientation and course, 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 the Czech culture.

Students will enroll in 14 NC State credits during their 12 weeks in Prague, using the city and NC State Prague as their classroom. The program utilizes the historical city by visiting numerous museums, national monuments, cultural landmarks, and other significant venues to engage students in their course work-providing first-hand experiences that inform critical and creative thinking.

Courses

While in Prague, students will enroll in a set group of classes. All students will be enrolled in 14 NC State credit hours. Students take classes as a cohort with their Prague Connect peers. Except for USC 100, all class sizes are 15 or less.

All classes are NC State credits and most fulfill General Education Program requirements (GEPs) or electives, depending on academic major. Students will be enrolled as Non-Degree Studies (NDS) during the semester in Prague. Courses matriculate to students’ degree audits when officially enrolled as degree-seeking students for the spring semester. All courses are graded with a letter grade and count toward students’ NC State GPA.

Program Cost

• Admin Fee: $450 ($75 non-refundable set-up fee and $375 study abroad fee)
• Program Cost: 10,900
• TOTAL: $11,350

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 needs through a reduced program cost. 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 28, 2023. Students will be notified of the decision by the end of the business day on May 26, 2023.

NC State Prague Social Media Scholarship

NC State European Center in Prague will also offer one Social Media Scholarship in the form of a reduced program cost (the scholarship is open to all 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 28. 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 May 26.

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

The NC State European Center believes “the world becomes your classroom,” namely the Czech Republic and Prague. Local instructors take students to relevant locations for hands-on learning and multiple field excursions. Students have visited the Museum of Communism, the Center for Contemporary Art, Czech movie screenings in a local cinema, and the National Museum, to name a few. On top of the course-related excursions, students can sign-up for optional cultural and sporting activities (such as opera, a day trip to a medieval castle, or a hiking trip organized by their Czech dorm mates).

Benefits of prague connect

Develop a Cohort of Friends

Prague Connect students build strong relationships with their peers through studying, living, and exploring together, ultimately coming to campus with life-long friendships they developed in Prague. 

Build Cross-Cultural Skills

Students who study abroad develop strong cross-cultural competencies that will help them navigate a large campus like NC State and equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary for a global workforce. 

Housing

The NC State European Center in Prague provides housing for all program participants.
In addition to NC State 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.

• Housing
• Student life
• Health and Safety

PAST PRAGUE CONNECT STUDENTS:

Meet Rowan Mladsi

I was intimidated about living in a different country when I didn’t know the language or about Prague. During the first few weeks of being here, the language barrier was something to overcome. Still, you pick up on common words and phrases. […] 

Meet Austin Robinson

Some of the reasons why I wanted to come to Prague had to deal with the semester-long gap of being a Spring connect student. When I realized that I was not coming into the fall semester like I wanted to, I was scrambling to look at the other options I had. […] 

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Learn more about NC State Prague

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