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AAU Announces Afghan Refugee Scholarship

Our University has decided to create two full scholarship opportunities for Afghan refugees who were evacuated from Afghanistan and settled in the Czech Republic this August. The scholarships will cover the tuition and fees for an entire degree program at AAU as well as other potential expenses. The estimated value of these two up-to-3-year scholarships is 1.2 million Czech crowns. 

In the radio podcast, Cesky Rozhlas Plus, President Jaroslav Miller spread the news locally about these opportunities:

“Overnight, those people lost their homes and perhaps the hope of returning as well. Therefore, we are trying to offer a new opportunity and a safe environment to at least some of them, in order to help them cope with the unprecedented situation they find themselves in. At the same time, it is our attempt to help integrate refugees into the Czech society,” explained President Miller, adding: “This offer is not just a humanitarian gesture, but also a chance for us to materially support the values which AAU believes in. One of them is responsibility towards communities; not just the local ones, but also to the socially and culturally diverse international environment. AAU itself is a university with the highest share of international students in the Czech Republic, welcoming students from all over the world.”

As much as we are excited to announce this, specific application details and requirements are still in discussion. However, should you need any information, our Admissions Team will try their best to answer your questions. In an attempt to simplify the paperwork related to studying in the Czech Republic, president Jaroslav Miller has been dealing with the Ministry of the Interior, which is in charge of the database and of issuing the required refugee documents.

AAU aims in its capacity to create a safe, inclusive environment to provide unique spaces for each individual to grow and be successful. This is not the first time that AAU has opened its doors for those who have lost everything and find themselves starting from scratch:

“Well, in October 2014 I came to Prague from a war zone country, Afghanistan. The study atmosphere and student life was a wonderful new experience for me here at AAU. The majority of professors are experts in their field and they are very kind. It’s amazing that you find yourself in a multicultural atmosphere where your friends and schoolmates are from diverse social backgrounds. I studied journalism and mass communications at AAU and now I am working as a TV director in an international media company here in Prague. It was a great decision I made and I’m willing to continue my master’s degree at AAU soon!”

Anonymous, Niche.com, 2021

We are hoping that these scholarships will provide a stepping stone to better things for those who need it most now. The conversation continues as we encourage current students to participate in the upcoming Professors in the Pub event, this Thursday 23rd, September.  This month’s topic on Afghanistan provides a safe platform for open debate and discussion regarding current events and global perspectives. This event is open and there’s no need to register- come along and join the discussion!

Professors in the Pub: Afghanistan

What does the two decades of war mean for the various participants? What happens now to Afghanistan and the Afghanis? What does this outcome mean for the role of US-centric alliances around the world as new regional and global powers emerge? Come discuss these questions and ask your own.