Record interest in BUT: The highest number of applications in the last decade
(PR, Brno, April 17) Interest among high school students in studying at Brno University of Technology (BUT) is growing, with most applicants leaning toward electrical engineering, civil engineering, and business! This year, BUT received a record-breaking 13,336 applications for Czech-language bachelor’s programs – an increase of almost 11% compared to last year and the highest number in the past ten years.
Future university students could choose from 43 Czech-language bachelor’s programs offered at BUT. Among them were four entirely new study programs responding to current societal needs, particularly in the areas of sustainability and new technologies. These include Environmental Engineering, E-Mobility and Sustainability, Visual Communication in Creative Industries, and Chip Design and Modern Semiconductor Technologies.
Interest in studying at BUT increased year-on-year by 10.9%, marking the best result in several years. “I truly appreciate the growing interest in BUT among high school students and I am very pleased that our efforts to highlight the importance of technical fields and their societal role are bearing fruit. Our university has a lot to offer – from engineering to the arts, where creativity meets cutting-edge technology. Beyond academic development, students can join various student organizations, take part in international internships and exchange programs, or turn their ideas into real-world projects with the support of BUT. I would like to thank all staff, academic community members, and students who contributed to this success,” said Iveta Šimberová, BUT Vice-Rector for Internationalization and External Relations.
In total, high school students submitted 13,336 applications to begin studies in the 2025/2026 academic year, which is 1,309 more than last year. Applicants also paid the application fee for 93% of all bachelor’s applications in Czech. Preliminary data also shows rising interest in programs taught in English.
Interest Is Growing Across Faculties
The most interesting programmes for future undergraduates are Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry for Medical Applications, Business Economics or Power and Electrical Engineering.
The largest year-on-year increases in the number of bachelor’s applications were recorded by the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication (FEEC, 21.4%), Faculty of Civil Engineering (FCE, 19.8%), and Faculty of Business and Management (FBM, 14.3%). The Centre for Sports Activities also saw a more than 40% rise in applications, although in absolute terms the numbers are still relatively small due to capacity limits.
The increasing interest in studying at BUT is often linked to its modern teaching approach, which adapts to industry demand and current societal topics – such as chips and space technologies, both areas of focus at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. According to Dean Vladimír Aubrecht, the year-on-year increase is due to larger graduating classes and attractive programs. “In addition to traditional electrical engineering programs, high school students showed significant interest in semiconductor technology. We expect similar results in the future from the new E-Mobility and Sustainability program,” added Tomáš Kratochvíl, FEEC Vice-Dean for External Relations.
In terms of the number of submitted applications, the Faculty of Business and Management was the most successful, receiving 2,654 applications. “We found that having students lead most of our campaign really paid off. They created campaign videos for social media and participated in physical events like fairs and open days. This worked especially well when applicants met the same people in person they had seen online. It also showed them that even as students, they could already work on similar projects,” explained FBM Vice-Dean for External Relations Vít Chlebovský.
The Faculty of Civil Engineering followed with 2,311 applications, then the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication (2,197), and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (2,124). The significant increase at FCE is the result of several key factors. “The faculty participated in the university-wide campaign, which emphasized the diverse career opportunities in construction. We also maintain active contact with high schools, which has helped steadily increase interest in civil engineering,” said Zdeněk Dufek, FCE Vice-Dean for External Relations, Internationalization and Marketing. He added that the rising interest in construction programs is also influenced by high demand for skilled professionals in the job market.
Slovak Students Make Up One Fifth of Applicants
This year continues the trend that Brno University of Technology remains a popular choice for Slovak high school students. They submitted 2,755 applications to bachelor’s programs, making up roughly one fifth of all applicants. Unlike Czech students, Slovak applicants are primarily interested in computer science, but also share an interest in electrical engineering and business.
The number of applications submitted by female students at BUT is also steadily increasing. Compared to last year, there were 419 more. Faculties such as the Faculty of Architecture and Faculty of Fine Arts traditionally attract more female than male applicants. Notably, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (23%), Mechanical Engineering (16%), and Civil Engineering (14%) all reported significant increases in applications from women this year.
BUT as a Place to Begin
Not only has the university's Here's Where You Can Start campaign had a positive impact on the growing number of applications, but also online faculty campaigns, which have the advantage of being able to target applicants much more precisely. "This year's recruitment campaign has built on the communications from the previous two periods. Consistency in communication with graduating seniors and their younger classmates helps us to better convey information about what our university offers students and what new knowledge and experience they can gain here for their future lives. We are also constantly trying to find and try new ways to reach and attract the target group," said Helena Sadílková, who works with applicants at BUT.
Meeting applicants directly with students from the BUT also plays an important role in the recruitment campaign. "That is why we have traditionally participated in the Gaudeamus post-secondary education fair, which is held in several cities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We also targeted Slovak applicants at contact roadshows in various cities in Slovakia," said Markéta Soukupová, head of the marketing department. Every year, interested students can also visit the Open Days at selected faculties and find out more details.
Source: vut.cz/en
| Responsible person | Ing. et Ing. arch. Jana Němcová |
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