Minnesota Carlson: I-Core Abroad - Gold Block in Prague
Undergraduate Global ImmersionProgram Dates:
Spring 2026:
Applications open/lottery begins: March 3, 2025
Priority application deadline/lottery closes: April 1, 2025
Final application deadline: September 5, 2025 at noon (or until program fills)
Program Dates: January 15 - May 14, 2026**
Arrival in Prague: January 15, 2026
Orientation: January 16 - 22, 2026
Classes Start: January 23, 2026 (some classes may start during orientation week)
Spring Break: March 30 - April 3, 2026
Final Exams: May 4 - 12, 2026
Earliest Departure Date: May 14, 2026
* US Citizens who would like to participate in this program must have their updated passport in hand by September 1, 2025 in order to apply for their Czech student visa. Students must apply for their Czech student visa by October 20, 2025. Carlson Global Institute will hold a Visa Workshop in October 2025 (specific date will be shared with accepted students).
** Dates are subject to change
Program Details
- Boards & Brews : Playing board games in a local board game café
- Opera show at the National Theatre
- Czech Pub Food Tasting
- Ice Hockey Match
- Walking Tour of Historic Prague
- Karlštejn Castle & Hiking surrounding area
- Paddle boating on Vltava river
- Weekend overnight visit to Český Krumlov
- Weekend overnight visit to Jáchymov
- Day trip to Kutná Hora
The I-Core Abroad: Gold Block in Prague program offers Carlson students the opportunity to fulfill required Gold I-Core business classes in a cohort model, fulfill liberal education requirements, and complete the International Experience. This program is uniquely designed for Carlson students to complete foundational business coursework and learn about business from the Czech context. This program also includes two Traveling Seminars, where students travel to multiple countries in a group tied to one of their courses. The Czech Republic is an ideal location to study management and business due to its core geopolitical position in Central Europe, thriving economy, and complex history from WWII and communism to its current day membership in the European Union.
"Czechtivities" & Excursions*:
Carlson students will be integrated into weekly cultural activities and site visits with CET Prague semester students. Activities will be determined closer to the program start date and are term specific, but examples include:
* Costs associated with activities and excursions are included in the program fee.
Carlson students will live in shared apartments throughout the city. These are typically 4-6 students per unit in double bedrooms. Carlson students will live with other students from the UMN, the United States, and potentially have a local Czech student as a roommate.
Amenities include: fully furnished kitchen, at least one full bathroom, a living area, Wi-Fi, and in-unit or in-building laundry, apartment cleaning service of common areas every other week.
A Welcome and Closing dinner are included in the program fee. Students are responsible for all other daily meals.
- All courses will take place at the CET Study Center, located in central Prague.
- All grades will come back A/F on the official UMN transcript
- All Carlson students will enroll in 5 courses worth 3 UMN credits each for a total of 15 UMN credits. All below courses are required for all program participants:
- Finance Fundamentals (3 UMN credits)
- Approved for FINA 3001
- Sustainable Supply Chain & Operations (3 UMN credits)
- Approved for SCO 3001
- Human Capital Management (3 UMN credits)
- Approved for HRIR 3021
- Business Communication in a Global Context (3 UMN credits)
- Approved for BA 3033W
- International Business in the Central European Context (3 UMN credits)
- Approved for Global Perspectives liberal education theme requirement
- Finance Fundamentals (3 UMN credits)
Spring 2026 Course Information:
Traveling Seminars: There are two Traveling Seminars built into the program. One Traveling Seminar is 9 days long and typically brings students to Moravia, Poland, and Austria. The second Traveling Seminar is typically 4 days long and goes to Hungary. The cost of transportation, housing, and some group meals are covered in the total program fee for the Travel Seminars and the exact itinerary varies based on the course.
- GPA minimum: 3.0
- Students must be an active Carlson School of Management students
- Students must meet the following course prerequisites:
- BA 2051: Modeling Business Scenarios in Excel
- BA 2551: Business Statistics in R
- ECON 1165: Business Economics
- ACCT 2051: Financial Reporting
- All students are required to have an updated passport
- Students traveling on a U.S. passport will need to apply for a student visa to study in the Czech Republic for a semester
- The Carlson Global Institute and CET Prague will provide guidance, resources, and advising on the visa application process for accepted and confirmed students.
Spring 2026 applications will open on March 3, 2025 and will close on April 1, 2025. Students will be charged a $50 application fee, and applications will be reviewed on a lottery system. Students will be informed of their application decision one week after the lottery closes. All applications submitted by the application deadline will be reviewed at the same time on a lottery system.
Applications will be reviewed and accepted after the April 1, 2025 deadline on a first-come, first-serve, space-available basis.
- Eligibility: Carlson School of Management undergraduate students who are applying to participate on the I-Core Abroad: Gold Block in Prague program in Spring 2026.
- Fellowship Application Deadline: May 21, 2025
- Fellowship Notification Timeline: The committee will review all applications and send notifications of awards by June 6, 2025.
- Award Amount: $1,000.00
- Total awards: 10
- Application Process:
- Write an essay (250 words maximum) responding to this prompt:
- "If a friend or family member asked you to explain why studying in Prague will be important to your Carlson education and career preparation, how would you respond?"
- To submit your fellowship application, please email [email protected] with a PDF attachment of your essay and include in the header: Your Name, Student ID#, and UMN Email Address.
- Write an essay (250 words maximum) responding to this prompt:
- Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.
Most financial aid may be applied to study abroad. See "Financial Aid" for more information.
Apply for a Spring 2026 I-Core Abroad: Gold Block in Prague Fellowship Scholarship!
Cost
These estimates will vary based on student preference and exchange rates. All details subject to change based on economic and international factors. Most financial aid may be applied to study abroad programs. Students should also maintain their U.S.-based health insurance plan while abroad.
| Estimated Expenses - Spring 2026 | Gold Block in Prague | UMTC On-Campus Costs (Carlson Semester) |
| Minnesota Carlson MN Resident Tuition (billed to UMN student account) | $0 (included in Program Fee) | $8,066 |
| CGI Program Fee (billed to UMN student account) | $1,500 | N/A |
| CET Tuition & Educational Costs (billed to UMN student account) | $9,516 | N/A |
| CET Non-Tuition & Educational Costs (billed to UMN student account) | $7,499 | N/A |
| Minnesota Carlson Tuition Surcharge (billed to UMN student account) | N/A | $1,450 |
| UMN On-Campus Fees (billed to UMN student account) | N/A | $1,497 |
| One credit online UMN Global Identity Course (optional) (charged to UMN student account) | $200 | N/A |
| Airfare (to and from program site) | $1,250 | N/A |
| Passport Fee (cost of US passport) | $160 | N/A |
| Visa Fee (based on US passport) | $130 | N/A |
| Books and Materials | $0 | $500 |
| Housing & Food (housing included in Program Fee) | $2,250 | $7,336 |
| Essential Daily Living Expenses | $1,400 | $1,100 |
| Miscellaneous | $500 | N/A |
| Total Estimated Expenses | $24,405 | $19,949 |
| Program Incremental Cost (additional cost for studying abroad vs on-campus expenses) | $4,456 |