Winter: Study in Prague, Czech Republic (USAC)

Prague, Czech Republic

Program Overview

Term Start Date End Date Application Deadline
Winter 2027
Dec 28, 2026
Jan 16, 2027
Oct 01, 2026
Language(s) of Instruction
English
No
No
No
Class Standing
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
2.5
Credits

3

Program Advisor
Lloyd Pearson

The Program

Earn 3 RU credits and experience one of the best European cities over winter break.

Prague offers an immersive academic experience where history, culture, and creativity converge in one of Europe's most compelling cities. Its medieval architecture, complex political past, and influential artistic traditions create a vivid backdrop for exploring how societies change and how people understand identity, memory, and expression. With a lively creative scene, a growing focus on sustainability, and an atmosphere that blends deep historical roots with modern energy, Prague provides an inspiring setting for interdisciplinary learning across the humanities and social sciences.

Prague during Christmas time

Program Locations

Prague city

Czech Republic

Prague

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and the country’s largest city. Prague has a population of 1.2 million residents. It is nicknamed the City of One Hundred Spires because of the ample number of towers that define the city’s skyline. Here you will find some of the most beautiful examples of medieval, gothic, renaissance, baroque, neoclassical, nouveau, and cubist architecture. Not to mention Prague offers a wide range of riverside parks, museums, clubs and bars. Some of the must-sees in Prague include the Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge.  Once you are in Prague, it will not take you too long to understand why it is considered one of the best cities in Europe.

Academics

Rutgers is partnering with study abroad provider USAC to offer this opportunity during J-term. You will enroll in one three-credit course during the January term. Courses are small and meet daily for a minimum of three hours plus homework outside of class. The intimate class size allows for meaningful discussions and close interaction with your professor and other students. No prior knowledge of the Czech language is required since all courses are taught in English.

The courses offered are listed below. For more information and syllabi, visit the USAC website:https://usac.edu/study-abroad-programs/czech-republic/prague/courses/2027/january/8341

  • Czech Cinema - Image and Memory
  • From Medieval to Contemporary: Exploring the Great Art and Architecture of Prague
  • Postwar 2.0: Central Europe from WWII to Today
  • Spies, Secrets, and Surveillance
  • Sports Marketing: Czechia and Europe

Academic Calendar

December 27, 2026Departure from the U.S. on optional group flight
December 28Arrival in Prague | Program starts
December 28Move into program housing
December 29Mandatory orientation
December 29First day of instruction
January 1, 2027Holiday - New Year's Day
January 2Field trip – Karlovy Vary
January 9Field trip – Kutná Hora and Bone Chapel
January 14Last day of instruction
January 15Final examinations
January 16Program ends
January 16Move out of program housing
January 16Optional group flight return | Individual return

Housing and Meals

USAC students are placed in apartment buildings located in central Prague. One building is in a quiet part of the Old Town near the former convent of St. Agnes and the famous Astronomical Clock on the Old Town Square while another is located across the street from the Karlín Musical Theatre and the Prague Main Bus Station Florenc.

The Karlín and Žižkov neighborhoods are the most culturally rich parts of central Prague; centuries-old streets host mostly small apartment buildings, shops, restaurants, music bars, alternative art galleries, and all services an inhabitant of the city may need and enjoy. All means of transportation run through Žižkov and Karlín, and it is a matter of minutes to travel to any place in Prague. The long-distance bus and train stations are within a short walk from the housing.

For more information, visit the USAC website:https://usac.edu/study-abroad-programs/czech-republic/prague/living-accommodations

Financial Information

Program Costs

This is the billed amount that will appear on your Rutgers term bill during the term you study abroad.
NJ Resident non-NJ Resident
Program Cost $4,720 $5,190
Program Cost includes:
  • Tuition
  • 24-hour emergency support
  • University organized social activities and events
  • Administrative Fees
  • Emergency Medical Access Abroad

Out-of-Pocket Costs

These are estimated expenses that are not part of your term bill. Students will need to pay for these expenses out-of-pocket.
Airfare $1,100
Additional Meals $400
Local Transportation $50
Personal Expenses $300
Total $1,850.00
Out-of-Pocket Cost includes:

The above costs are estimations and represent the known out-of-pocket costs students encounter during their time abroad.

Some of these expenses will be paid for prior to going abroad, such as an airline ticket, while some of these expenses, such as meals and personal expenses, will be paid in-country as part of your daily expenses. As you plan, you will need to budget these costs and spend wisely throughout your time abroad.

Scholarships

Available to all Rutgers students participating in a Rutgers Global–Study Abroad program. Applications can be found inside of your study abroad program application. For more information, please visit the Scholarship section of our website.

Students enrolling in Winter Session should be aware that little to no federal or state financial aid is typically available for Winter term. Winter courses are typically 3–4 credits and are considered less-than-half-time enrollment, so most students leverage refund checks from the fall semester or rely on any remaining loan eligibility from the academic year to cover costs. For more information, visit the Scarlet Hub.

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program (Gilman Program) provides up to $5,000 in merit-based scholarships to outstanding American undergraduate students with high financial need to pursue credit-bearing academic studies and career-oriented internships abroad. These opportunities equip Gilman Scholars with international experience, global networks, and foreign language skills essential to advancing the U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.

To be eligible for the Gilman Program, applicants must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of their study abroad program or internship.