General questions
We are the European Centre for Career Education and we help students develop practical skills and share experience via short-term intensive offline and online educational programs with an emphasis on relevant and engaging lectures and effective and enriching internships.
Our mission is to help students bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-life experience, through high-impact study abroad programs & internships. Our goal is to continuously enhance students’ personal and professional development, provide them with various networking opportunities, and connect them with inspirational people and companies.
We solve the lasting problem of students and young professionals not being ready for their careers and not understanding what their fields are about in the real world. We have support from more than 450 companies from around the globe that allows us to design practical programs in a number of fields.
Currently our programs take place in three locations, Prague, New York & Dubai.
In Prague, our programs focus on Law, International Business, Architecture & Design, IT, Engineering & Sustainability.
In New York, our program helps students and young professionals select the best career path.
In Dubai, our programs focus on Law and International Business.
They revolve around two core aspects:
· 3 weeks of intensive career-focused courses & mentorship by relevant and successful industry leaders
· 4-week-long internship in a company within your field
We also organize various networking events and many fun free-time activities, field trips, and sightseeing trips on weekends to make sure all our students coming from around the world have a wonderful time.
Absolutely. There are so many exciting things we would like to share with you so please reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
How to apply
Click on the APPLY button in the top-right corner of our website and follow the instructions to fill in the form. After submitting your application on the website, you will receive an automatic email confirming that you have successfully submitted your application.
Within 24 hours, an ECCEDU team member will contact you via the provided e-mail address to give you further instructions. Please, do not hesitate to contact us via question@eccedu.net if you feel that something might be wrong with your application.
After you submit your application through the ECCEDU website, we will contact you for a copy of your English CV and arrange a short online interview.
The interview is an introductory discussion which will help us understand your needs, expectations and assess your suitability for the program. And it is also a chance for you to ask us anything you wish to know.
Then we would confirm/refuse your application and provide you with payment information.
For more information, please reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
The required documents are:
- English CV
- English Proficiency Test Result (optional)
For more information or to schedule an interview, please reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
No, it is not necessary to have experience in the field. In general, you will make the most of the program if you have some background knowledge and have studied your chosen topic before because you will be able to know more about what you want to learn from us. However, our program will give you a great opportunity to learn new skills and get the experience you do not yet have. If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to contact us at question@eccedu.net.
Yes, fluency in both spoken and written English is very much required for the lectures and internships. If English is not your mother tongue, you should be able to provide evidence (such as test results) that your spoken and written command of English is sufficient to study and work in English. We also ask all applicants to send us their CVs, and we also arrange an online interview with each applicant before the program starts – this way, we get to know you better and can properly assess whether our program could be a good match for you.
The applications for our 2022 programs are now open!
We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that you have plenty of time to prepare the necessary travel and study arrangements, and the documents required for your visa application if needed.
We also assess applications on a rolling basis and allocate spots on a first-come-first-served basis; we only make a limited number of places available, to make sure we deliver a quality experience to each student. As a result, we might close applications early if we reach the maximum number of students it is possible to enroll, so we strongly encourage you to apply as soon as possible to give us the chance to properly consider your application.
We offer an Early Bird Discount and other discounts & incentives, so please reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
Fees, payments and other money-related issues
Please refer to our website for accurate pricing information or reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp +90 546 577 09 46 or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net). We have great discounts & incentives for you!
The program fee covers the cost of 3 weeks of lectures, the 4-week internship, an opening reception (our “Grand Reception”), and a Graduation ceremony with food and drinks. The fee also covers transportation to field trips and sightseeing trips organized by ECCEDU, and free snacks and drinks during the lectures. The program fee does not include food, flight tickets, visa fees, and accommodation expenses. Please refer to our website for more details.
You can pay us via a bank transfer. After you have applied through our website and successfully completed the initial interview, we will send you an email with a reference number and ECCEDU’s account details, so that you can pay the program fees. The currency will automatically be converted into EUR.
You can also pay us via Alipay: If you are from China, payment through Alipay can be very convenient for you. The detailed instructions will be sent after you apply.
Certainly, we will be happy to discuss this with you and agree on a payment calendar. Please reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
We understand that being a student is not easy sometimes. We are here to help! There are numerous options you may consider. Please reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
Yes, each spring, we hold a scholarship competition for each of our programs – winners get to join our program free of charge. Please pay close attention to the updates on our website and social media for more information about the competition.
Moreover, we offer various scholarship options to students who are unable to cover the full tuition fee of the program. For further details, please reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
Under certain circumstances described below, it is possible to receive a refund. However, the specific amount refunded always depends on the time when the cancellation request was submitted to ECCEDU and the reason for cancelling the participation in the program.
We accept withdrawal requests through e-mail, you can send them to us at operations@eccedu.net.
Below, you can find our standard refund policies. The bank fees are always deducted from the total refunded amount.
IMPORTANT: No matter the reason for cancellation, every student is always given the option to postpone his/her participation in the ECCEDU program for the next year (upon agreement, the participation can be postponed for a maximum of 2 extra years). Alternatively, depending on the program field, the student can select to participate in another of our programs which take place in a different time period or location.
1. Program participation withdrawal due to health issues (for this reason to be accepted, we must receive and validate the medical proof):
– If the cancellation request is submitted more than 60 days before the program starts, the refund will be 95% of the paid amount of the program fee.
– If the cancellation request is submitted 60 days or less but more than 30 days before the program starts, the refund will be 50% of the paid amount of the program fee.
– If the cancellation request is submitted 30 days or less before the program starts, the refund will be 20% of the paid amount of the program fee.
– If the cancellation request is submitted on the day the program starts or later, no refund is possible.
2. Program participation withdrawal due to visa rejection (for this reason to be accepted, we need to validate that the concerned student submitted all their documents properly and on time and there was no mistake on their side during the application process – this will be evaluated based on the reason for rejection the embassy provides the student with and we will request the student to share with us all the application documents):
– If the cancellation request is submitted more than 30 days before the program starts, the refund will be 80% of the paid amount of the program fee.
– If the cancellation request is submitted 30 days or less before the program starts, the refund will be 30% of the paid amount of the program fee.
– If the cancellation request is submitted on the day the program starts or later, no refund is possible.
3. Program participation withdrawal due to other reasons:
– In such cases no refund is possible; however, the student can opt for postponing his participation to the next year or select to participate in one of our other programs in a different time period or a different location.
We strongly believe that you would benefit from the internship opportunity. However, if you do not have the time or do not wish to attend the second part of the program, you can apply for the first part of the program only. In that case, you would not need to cover the full program fee, but a reduced one. Please reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
Prague: Living costs in Prague are rather cheap compared to other EU countries. While the prices change over time, here is a general guideline for your budgeting purposes. Student housing typically ranges between 10-30 EUR per night. If you cook for yourself (a kitchen is available in our student accommodation), the food from supermarkets is very affordable, and 5-10 EUR a day would be sufficient. If you decide to go to a restaurant, expect to find a meal for 5-10 EUR. To this, you must add the price of your public transportation pass. You can find accurate rates here.
Dubai: Dubai is a city that offers incredible infrastructure. Therefore, it caters to people of all budgets. Generally, the cheaper 3/4 star hotels are situated a bit far from the Central Business District (Dubai Downtown). However, Dubai has great public transport, so that should not be inconvenient. The cost of student housing is expected to be around 40-50 USD/night. A monthly pass (approx. 95 USD) is recommended and applies to the Dubai metro, buses, trams, etc. The cost of food can be cheap (8 USD per meal) if eating from a supermarket or fast-food restaurants in the shopping malls. If you plan to cook, it would be cheaper, around 10 USD per day.
We will be happy to provide you with recommendations for housing during the process and you are certainly welcome to find your own. Please reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
You do not need to travel with cash at all. Upon arrival, you can easily get some money from an ATM and at most places, you can pay by card.
For travelling to the Czech Republic, you should be medically insured. Standardly, it is an obligatory part of any visa application and the embassies usually require you to be insured for a certain amount of money, i.e. 30 000 USD, 60 000 EUR, etc., so make sure to check this information with your embassy. In such a case, when submitting your visa application, the embassy will require an insurance certificate to be attached.
In case you do not need a visa to travel to Prague, we still emphasise that insurance should not be an option but a must – you never know what may happen and the medical bills can be very high without insurance.
As we are not an insurance provider, we cannot advise you on what insurance to buy, so it is completely your responsibility.
Having said that, since insurance recommendation is one of the most common inquiries from our students, we have recently started a cooperation with AXA Assistance which we believe is a good insurance provider. We have asked what basic insurance they could provide our students with and they offered a package for approx. 550 CZK/month (approx. 23 EUR/month) with this basic coverage:
Therefore, if you are interested, you can purchase this insurance from AXA by clicking on the link here: https://www.axa-assistance-insurance.eu/CS/ArrangeInsurance.aspx?type=INB&externalPartner=03000978&language=en-US
And in case of any illness / accident / injury, you can easily contact the AXA insurance provider by clicking on this link: https://saxana.axa-assistance.cz/Travel/en.
ECCEDU reserves the right to cancel a program should we not have a sufficient number of participants and/or should there be circumstances avoiding us to design and develop a program in the desired acceptable quality. ECCEDU will notify each applicant at least 4 weeks prior to the official program start. ECCEDU guarantees to work with each applicant individually on the best possible solution for both parties, including offering an alternative program at a different location and/or during a different time period, postponing the program to the following year, securing modified services such as an internship requested by the student, etc. ECCEDU will provide a full refund in case the program is fully cancelled and no alternatives are possible or acceptable for the applicant.
Program structure, location, internship
There are 2 parts of the program:
- 3 weeks of intensive career-focused courses & mentorship by relevant and successful industry leaders
- 4-week-long internship in a company within your field
For more information, please reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
Yes, you can join our program without the internship. Different pricing applies here. Please visit our website to learn more or reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
No, you cannot apply for the program without the lecture part. The two parts are interconnected, providing a wealth of information & experience sharing during the lectures followed by challenging internships where knowledge from the lectures is applied. This combination ensures success not only during the internship but more importantly, in our students’ future careers.
For more information, please reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
There will be about 30 topics covered during the first three weeks – that is two topics a day. Lectures are typically arranged from 9 AM to 12 PM and from 2 PM to 5 PM. You will get a 2-hour break after the morning session. Be prepared for an extremely intensive schedule during these initial weeks!
There are 2 locations for the career-focused courses & mentorship – Prague in the Czech Republic & Dubai in the UAE. The internships can take place in other locations in these two regions (Europe; Middle East).
For more information, please visit our website and reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
We secure the venues for the career-focused courses & mentorship in cooperation with our partners and always announce this a few weeks prior to the programs.
We also recommend student housing and provide contact information upon request. You can arrange accommodation on your own as well if preferred.
For more information, please reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
Our programs are all in English. You should have a good command of English for the career-focused lectures and for working independently during the internship.
For more information, please reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime and schedule a call via her Calendly. Also, you can reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
Due to the ongoing pandemic and possible inability of some students to travel, we are happy to inform you that our New Technology & Business Law Program in Prague is also offered online. Special pricing applies, so reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz anytime to discuss this in detail. You can also schedule a call via her Calendly or reach Binnur via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net).
Yes, you can. After each day of lectures, we will share most of the materials with you. However, it might happen that some lecturers prefer not to share their presentations as they can contain sensitive information. Whenever possible, we will give you the materials in advance.
Allocation criteria: In order to allocate students for the internships within the ECCEDU Prague program 2024, ECCEDU evaluates the following criteria of each student:
– Internship interview with ECCEDU (conducted after the payment in the second part of April)
– CV
– Motivation letter (students will be asked for their motivation to join the selected companies)
– *Portfolio (only students of the Architecture program)
The allocation of students will take place in May and June 2024.
The process goes as follows:
1. In the second part of April 2024, the internship interviews with ECCEDU will take place.
2. ECCEDU will evaluate the students based on this interview according to various criteria (language fluency, experience, motivation, interests, preparedness, etc.).
3. In May 2024, ECCEDU will share with the students the list of companies with confirmed capacities (with the informatio about their locations and requirements) and a motivation letter to be filled.
4. Students will have a limited time to select 5 preferred companies (sorted from 1 to 5, 1 being the most preferred company, 5 being the least preferred company) and write a motivation why do they want to intern at each of them.
5. ECCEDU allocates students to one of the selected companies based on: – The requirements and preferences of each company – The internship interview score (the higher the score, the higher the priority) – The motivation letter & CV
6. The companies approve selected candidates (ECCEDU shares with them students’ CVs, motivation letters, and – in case of Architecture students – portfolios).
Important information:
1. The students can select only the companies which internship requirements they fulfil. Should the students select a company which requirements they do not comply with, automatically, they will not be considered for such option.
2. In case the student cannot be placed in one of the 5 selected companies (for example because the student does not comply with the companies’ requirements, or the companies are already filled with higher-scoring students, or the companies cancel their capacity for receiving students last-minute, etc.), the student will be asked to select another 5 companies from the remaining companies.
3. Even though ECCEDU tries to allocate every student to one of their selected companies, it is not guaranteed. In such situation, ECCEDU will individually discuss with the students the internship options outside of the list of selected companies. The students will be informed about their internship company at the beginning of July 2024 and will be connected with the companies in the first part of July 2024. Should any student be allocated to other location than Prague, Czech Republic, they will be informed as soon as ECCEDU receives the company’s confirmation, so the student has sufficient time to make all the travel arrangements (visa, flight tickets, accommodation, etc.).
ECCEDU carefully selects each one of the partner companies for its portfolio. Therefore, even students with worse internship interview score are guaranteed an internship at a high-quality company. However, the better the interview, CV, and motivation letter, the higher the chance the student will be allocated to their most desired company.
Yes, this is certainly possible. Please make sure you communicate this request to us during the interview process and we will take it into consideration.
We will be asking you about your ideal internship during the initial interview already. We will carefully assess your CV and ask you to answer a few questions for us in writing (we will focus on your motivation, future career aspirations and your preferred industries/companies/departments/type of work). This will be a process and you will be involved.
In general, each company will offer up to 2 internship positions.
Yes, you can extend your internship if you reach a mutual agreement with your internship company. However, our program and therefore ECCEDU’s part in your internship finishes after the 4 weeks, so bear in mind any internship extension will be only between you and your company without our involvement.
You can expect tailor-made internships with the minimum number of working hours per week to be 20. In most of the companies, you will be a full-time intern working around 35 to 40 hours a week but this might differ based on your individual arrangement with your company.
Yes, it is possible but you need to inform us about your preference during your entry interview. In such a case, we will try to confirm a top-level internship for you even before the commencement of our programs. This process is not usual but we truly want to help our students to the best of our ability and our portfolio of partners allows us to do so.
Yes, you will get a Completion Certificate after the 3 weeks of the education part and upon request, you will receive a Recommendation Letter / Reference Letter from your company after your internship. This will help you build up your CV effectively and professionally.
Prague: During weekends, we organize trips to well-known towns and castles of our students’ choice, outside of Prague. These weekend trips are covered by the program fees. During weekdays, based on the students’ request, we also organize various activities, such as treasure hunts, Tapfactor, boat trips, or escape rooms. However, these are not covered by ECCEDU and in general, ECCEDU does not cover the entrance fees to the attractions.
Dubai: During the weekends, you will have the option to visit some of Dubai’s famous sights with us including Burj Al Arab & Jumeirah Beach, Burj Khalifa, or Dubai Museum & Al Fahidi Fort. ECCEDU does not cover the entrance fees to the attractions.
We hope you will be satisfied with the overall experience and we will definitely want to learn feedback from you. And we certainly hope you will want to stay in touch with us as we can help each other. We can help you with our vast network of connections and you can help us promote our programs among your family, friends & colleagues. You can become one of our ambassadors and you are more than welcome to join our regular webinars to continue learning and make valuable connections.
Visa
The majority of Asian, Middle Eastern, African & South American nations will need a visa to attend our programs. Please check the particular embassy website for more information.
Prague: You will need to apply for a short-term Schengen visa (up to 90 days) to join our program. Please search ”Embassy of the Czech Republic (in your country)” and visit the “Visa and Consular Information” page to book an appointment. We recommend that you do so well in advance. ECCEDU will issue an invitation letter for your visa application.
Dubai: GCC citizens do not need a visa to enter the UAE. Some other nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival while others need to apply for a visa in advance. Find out if you need a visa to enter the UAE online.
We suggest you start doing research on the official embassy website and check the available dates for a visa appointment first, even if you do not have all the documents ready. The visa processing time varies in each country but in our experience, it can take from 5 to 60 working days.
Unfortunately, our invitation letter must mention that you have paid for the program in full; embassies care about this deeply because they want to make sure that people granted a visa are really coming for our program. We will refund most of your program fees if your visa application is in perfect order (e.g. you provided the embassy with all the required documents) and still gets declined by the embassy.
Covid
We recommend checking available online resources for the latest and most accurate information, for example here for Prague and here for Dubai. Please make yourself familiar with the requirements and restrictions prior to traveling so that you can make all the necessary arrangements, e.g. obtain Covid-19 test results in time.
In addition to our standard safety measures, we will adhere to all pandemic restrictions, obligations and recommendations as required by respective legislatures of the Czech Republic and the UAE. We will share details with all participating students closer to actual travel due to the ever-changing nature of such reflecting the development of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to and during the program, we will closely monitor the situation and advise the students accordingly, ensuring maximum safety. During the program, our team will be available 24/7 to assist with any emergencies.
How to prepare
You will be doing a lot of things, attending lectures, participating in cultural & social events, meeting with friends, conducting the internship. You will be responsible for your own meals and for transportation to events. We will provide you with useful information and various tips so that you acclimate easily and get the maximum out of the experience. You will be independent and yet, there will be resources available for you in case you need help.
Imagine the duration of your stay and think about all the things you may need – for attending lectures, for cultural & social activities, for the internship, and for your free time. You can find laundry service in the destination as well as various shops but a few things may be useful to add to your suitcase – medicine you are used to (prescribed and for common possible ailments such as cold, flu, stomach problems); chargers and a converter if needed; phone, laptop, tablet, books to read, outfit for sports, small umbrella, sunglasses, hygienic products you like and may not be able to purchase abroad. Think about what you use at home and what would be difficult to miss while you are traveling.
It can be fun to learn a few phrases from the local language, there are so many resources & apps available online. You may read some books or review online articles on the destination to get yourself familiar with the place where you will spend several weeks. You can explore the subject of your studies specific to the country you will be visiting. The more you do in advance, the easier your stay will be. Read about local customs, learn a bit about the history, check out local food & drinks, explore entertainment venues, look at the map and start getting a sense for orientation in your new city.
Need more information or help?
You can reach us via our chatbox on our website, you can send us a message anytime here or you can send the question to question@eccedu.net. We also have a person dedicated to student affairs who will be happy to assist quickly and professionally – Ms. Binnur Yilmaz – schedule a call via her Calendly, send her a message via WhatsApp (+90 546 577 09 46) or write her an e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net). You will hear back really soon.
Absolutely. We have a network of alumni ambassadors around the world who will be happy to tell you about their experience with ECCEDU. Reach out to Ms. Binnur Yilmaz (WhatsApp +90 546 577 09 46) or e-mail (binnur.yilmaz@eccedu.net) and she will be happy to connect you.