Branch programme/details

As the programme exposes students to topics in mathematical economics, mathematical statistics and finance, applicants are required to have an excellent background in high school mathematics. Prior knowledge of economics or finance is an advantage but it is not required. In addition, applicants should have a good command of English and they should be capable of reading textbooks of economics and mathematics without difficulties.

Mandatory courses introduce the students to microeconomics, macroeconomics and provide students with nontrivial tools of mathematical analysis and statistics. Mandatory courses are intended to give a broad overview of major topics in economics and finance, and to provide a solid background for further studies of specialized elective courses. Elective courses cover a wide range of specific areas in economics and finance, which allows the students to specialize in the field of their interest. The topics include finance and banking (e.g. introductory banking, financial accounting, international finance, public finance), economic policy (e.g. economic policy, global financial crisis), strategic management, international trade and European economic integration. We also offer courses in complementary areas (e.g. history of economic thought, game theory and political economy, introduction to sociology).

E-mail: ies@fsv.cuni.cz

Website: https://ies.fsv.cuni.cz/en/admissions/bachelors-degree-programs/bachelor-economics-and-finance-bef

Description of verification and evaluation criteria:

In addition to the application form, every applicant needs to provide the following documents:

a) A copy of a diploma to show at least completed secondary or high school studies or confirmation that ongoing secondary or high school studies will be completed in the current academic year

b) Transcript of records and academic results from previous studies

c) Structured CV

d) Motivation letter

e) Document showing the level of English proficiency

f) Document showing the level achieved in mathematics.

Ad a) Confirmation of studies may be substituted with a transcript of records, provided that these are from the same academic year as the application.

Ad d)  Motivation letter should include explanation why the applicant decided to apply to the Economics and Finance program at the Charles University. Further, it can include any of the following: (i) what interests them about economics and finance, (ii) what they expect to learn and how they imagine their future after graduating from the program, and (iii) what might be their positive additions to the student body, i.e. describe their background, interests or talents that might add to the student community. The recommended length of the personal statement is approximately 2 000 characters, including spaces.

Ad e) Applicants should provide a certificate from one of following standardized tests:

• IELTS Academic - the minimum required overall band score of 6.5, with band score 6.0 or above in all four components;
• TOEFL Internet-Based Test (iBT) & TOEFL iBT Home Edition - the minimum required overall score of 83, with a minimum scaled score in the four sections: reading 21, writing 22, listening 20, speaking 20;
• Cambridge ESOL FCE - minimum Cambridge English Scale Score of 180;
• Cambridge ESOL CAE and CPE receiving a certificate;
• LanguageCert ESOL - Communicator with High Pass, Expert or Mastery

A standardized English test is not required from applicants who:

• are native English speakers;
• have studied in English at the secondary school level for at least two years;
• have studied in English at the university level for at least one year;

When a score from an English-language test is not presented, the applicants should provide a certificate/official letter of their use of English during their prior studies to support their claim. The certificate/official letter should contain contact information (an email address and a telephone number) to a person (a program director, or high school counselor) who has observed your ability to write and communicate in English and can confirm the scope of the use of the English language in the program.

Ad f) Part of the degree programme is highly mathematical in content and therefore another pre-condition for acceptance is to reach the required number of points set by the Dean for that particular academic year, through one of the following options:

• Predicted or final score in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB) Group 5 – Mathematics; 
• applicants with their IB assessment after November 2020: a predicted or final score of Mathematics: applications and interpretation SL, Mathematics: applications and interpretation HL, Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL, Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL will be assessed. A minimum overall predicted or final IB subject score of 30 is required; 
• applicants with their IB assessment prior November 2020: a predicted or final score of Mathematical Studies SL, Mathematics SL, Mathematics HL, or Further Mathematics HL will be assessed. A minimum overall predicted or final IB subject score of 30 is required; 
• Predicted or final score in the European Baccalaureate (EB) course Mathematics, at least 3 hours per week in the final two years and written or oral examination. A minimum overall predicted score at least 70% is required.
• Grade from A level Mathematics in the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE A Levels) not including General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills, Knowledge and Enquiry, Global Perspectives and Research or Project Work. We are happy to consider applicants with the combination of A Level Mathematics and A or AS Level Further Mathematics. Please, indicate whether or not the applicant’s school or college offers Further Mathematics classes. The required minimum A Level is ABB. Applicants taking four subjects will not be at an advantage compared to those taking three. GCSEs or equivalent qualifications may be taken into account but will not be considered without A Levels;
• Score in the College Scholastics Ability Test (CSAT, Suneung) subject Mathematics;
• Score in the SAT section Mathematics.
• Score in the ACT Composite Test section Mathematics.
• Score in AP Calculus AB exam, or in AP Calculus BC exam.
• Score in the SCIO Mathematics Test.
• Final exam score in Mathematics from ÚJOP, Charles University, Poděbrady. 

For SCIO, SAT and ACT, only test results from the year of the intake or from the previous three calendar years can be accepted. An alternative to all listed tests or exams is to have passed the course JEB122 Introductory Mathematics at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University.

The required minimum along with the distribution of admission points for all the options of proving Mathematical abilities and knowledge of English will be determined using the latest publicly available statistical distributions of grades and scores in March 2025.

All documents which are not originally in Czech, Slovak or English must be officially translated into English.

The admissions committee will assess applicants on the basis of the submitted documents. Firstly, the documents proving English proficiency are examined for the level required for study. Only those applications that fulfill the requirements for English proficiency are assessed further by the admissions committee and given a ranking from 0 - 100 points. The following criteria will be evaluated: (i) Mathematics (0-45), (ii) English (0-45) and (iii) General profile of the applicant, based on the respective tests, CV and the Personal statement (0-10). The point limit for accepting applicants is set by the Dean with respect to the number of applicants and the capacity of the programme.

Admission to Bachelor's studies is conditioned by completed secondary education confirmed by a school-leaving certificate.