Visit our NYU in Prague photo gallery to see images of the program and city.
Orientation
The first week of the NYU in Prague program includes intensive Czech classes, cultural programs, sightseeing and other events to welcome students and familiarize them with life in Prague. There is also a lecture series organized to provide students with an understanding of Czech history and the current political environment before classes commence.
In the past, orientation activities have included a guided tour of the Prague Castle combined with a guest talk given by President Havel's Chief of Protocol, Miroslav Sklenar; guided tours of the Old Town and the Jewish Quarter; excursions to galleries and museums; tickets to cultural events such as concerts, operas or ballets at the renowned performance spaces of the State Opera House, The Estates Theater or the Rudolfinum.
Orientation workshops include activities such as buying student metro passes, finding ATMs and American Express locations, locating grocery stores, post offices, English-language bookstores and other practicalities.
Housing and Meals
While all NYU in Prague students are required to live in NYU housing, you'll have a choice of housing options. If you prefer residence hall living, you may live in one of two NYU in Prague residences, both of which are recently renovated and feature student lounges with a televisions, study rooms with panoramic views of Prague, and suites with modern kitchens and bathrooms. The residences have both wireless Internet and computer labs and are located in the residential neighborhood of Vinohrady (named for the fact that it was covered in vineyards dating back to the 14th century), a neighborhood well known for its bohemian cafés, acclaimed restaurants, and beautiful art nouveau buildings.
If you'd prefer a more independent lifestyle, you may choose from NYU-leased apartments that are available in recently renovated, early-20th-century buildings in the Nusle and Holesovice neighborhoods. These loft apartments are fully furnished and feature modern kitchens and baths, laundry facilities, and spacious rooms with exposed-beam ceilings. Travel time from all the residences to the NYU Center is about 20 to 30 minutes. Regardless of where you choose to live, you'll have the option of preparing your own meals, purchasing low-cost lunches and dinners at the Charles University dining facility, or dining out.
Health and Safety
The NYU Student Health Center and the Department of Public Safety work closely with program staff to plan for safe, healthy, and enriching opportunities long before you arrive. You will be introduced to many of these services in the months leading up to your program abroad while others will be explained in detail during the mandatory on-site orientation such as meetings with local health care providers, presentations of local laws and crime prevention techniques, and examples of cultural differences.
While an issue is unlikely to surface, should an emergency situation arise, there is a contact person designated for wellness issues on call 24 hours a day located locally; as well, the Department of Public Safety in New York will assist with international emergencies (212-998-2222). For medical situations, the University provides coverage by HTH Worldwide, an international insurance company, to ensure that treatment is available to you by qualified professionals when needed with no out of pocket expense. Students are also required to maintain insurance with their home policy. For assistance in extremely rare situations, the University has contracted with International SOS, the world's leading provider of international customer care, which includes evacuation services.
The Department of Public Safety in conjunction with the Office of Global Programs works to create a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors to pursue their educational and professional goals and aspirations. The annual security report for NYU in Prague contains useful and relevant information.
Before you depart for the semester you will be instructed on how to use NYU Traveler, a Web-based information collection tool where flight and travel details, local and U.S. telephone numbers, and emergency contact information can be stored so that NYU staff can assist you if needed.
Trips and Activities
Because Prague is so rich in history, every moment you spend outside of the classroom will reveal some new tidbit of information. If studio art interests you, NYU in Prague offers courses in photography and sometimes art workshops in such areas as lithography, puppet making, and glassblowing. There are also tours-included in your tuition-of art galleries, museums, exhibition halls, and historical houses, all led by NYU in Prague faculty. You'll choose nightly from a rich schedule of events, including the ballet, opera, philharmonic, or theatre for just a few dollars at Prague's most prestigious performance spaces, such as the National Theatre, the State Opera, and the Estates Theatre, where Mozart staged the premiere of Don Giovanni in 1787.
Every semester, NYU in Prague organizes several day and weekend trips to nearby cities and towns to introduce you to Czech culture. Some of these excursions are required components of your course work and are included in the cost of your tuition. Other, optional day trips have additional fees, but are quite affordable. You'll travel to nearby villages to study medieval architecture and learn about the musical heritage of Bohemia and Moravia. You'll travel to such medieval cities as Cesky Krumlov and to Karlstejn Castle, built under the rule of Bohemian King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV to safeguard the Empire's crown jewels. Bohemia is full of wonderful hiking trails and near the "holy cave monastery." In Kutná Hora, you'll visit the truly spooky and fascinating Sedlec Ossuary, where the walls and art are almost entirely covered in human bones.
The NYU in Prague student-run clubs also plan events and trips that you might find of interest. Past excursions have included trips to Dresden and Prague, Germany; Budapest, Hungary; and Vienna, Austria. Destinations in Western Europe like Paris, Madrid, and Florence are accessible via budget airlines for independent travel on weekends and during breaks.