CONTENTS The Charles University Timeline 3 Notable People at Charles University 4 Faculties at Charles University 5 UK POINT Charles University in Numbers 5 Studying at Charles University 6 OPENING HOURS: Development Plans 8 Monday–Thursday 10am–5.30pm International Cooperation 10 Friday 10am–4pm Research 12 Saturday–Sunday 11am–5pm Student Life 19 Information and Other Student Services 24 Publishing at Charles University 26 CELETNÁ 14, PRAGUE 1 Notable Buildings and Collections 28 Phone: +420 224 491 842 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://point.cuni.cz THE CHARLES UNIVERSITY TIMELINE Being the oldest university in Central Europe, 1920 – The Czech university is renamed the history of Charles University goes almost as “Charles University” seven centuries back. Its narrative is tightly interwoven with that of the Czech nation, as 1939 – After the Nazi occupation many defining moments in the country’s history followed by demonstrations on have steered the university’s course since the the 17th November, Charles University medieval times until today. is closed and re-opens only after the Liberation in 1945 1348 – By a Charter from April 7, the King 1950 – A law on universities abolishes academic of Bohemia and future Holy Roman autonomy and subjects higher education Emperor Charles IV establishes to the control and supervision of the a university with four faculties Communist party (free arts, medicine, law and theology) 1989 – A student demonstration 1654 – By the Decree of Union, to commemorate the events of the Emperor Ferdinand III sets up 17 November 1939 triggers the the Charles-Ferdinand University Velvet Revolution and the fall of the Communist regime 1882 – by an Ordinance of the Emperor Franz Joseph I, the Charles-Ferdinand 1990 – A new law on universities renews University is divided into two separate university autonomy and freedom universities, one having Czech and the of research and teaching other German as the teaching language 2000 – With the founding of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University becomes a university of 17 faculties 3 NOTABLE PEOPLE AT CHARLES UNIVERSITY Many renowned personalities associated with Bernard Bolzano (1781–1848) Karel Čapek (1890–1938) the university have contributed to the good Professor of Philosophy of Religion at the Faculty Renowned Czech writer, journalist, playwright, name of the university with their knowledge of Arts of Charles-Ferdinand University translator and photographer and professional achievements. These include the following Jan Evangelista Purkyně (1787–1869) Jaroslav Heyrovský (1890–1967) Natural scientist and physiologist, one of the Chemist and physicist, inventor of the fathers of Czech scientific terminology polarographic method, professor at the Faculty Charles IV (1316–1378) of Science, laureate of Nobel Prize in Chemistry Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (1850–1937) founder of Charles College and Prague Philosopher and sociologist, professor Jan Patočka (1907–1977) University – the oldest university in the Holy at the Faculty of Arts of the Czech One of the most influential Czech philosophers, Roman Empire north of the Alps Charles-Ferdinand University, the first spokesman for Charter 77 president of the Czechoslovak Republic Jan Hus (c. 1371–1415) Jan Palach (1947–1969) Master of the Faculty of Arts, Bachelor of Albert Einstein (1879–1955) Student at the Faculty of Arts, who committed Theology, later Dean of the Faculty of Arts Physicist, author of the theory of relativity, suicide by self-immolation as a political protest and Rector of the university, preacher Nobel Prize laureate, Professor of Physics against the invasion of Czechoslovakia and church reformer at the Faculty of Arts of the German by the Warsaw Pact forces part of Prague University Jan Jesenius (1566–1621) Petr Eben (1929–2007) Physician, Rector of Prague University, executed Franz Kafka (1883–1924) Distinguished composer of contemporary for his part in the rebellion against the Habsburgs One of the most influential novelists classical and organ music and short-story writers of the 20th century 4 FACULTIES AT CHARLES UNIVERSITY CHARLES UNIVERSITY IN NUMBERS Today, Charles University is acknowledged Catholic Theological Faculty Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové as a prestigious, cosmopolitan and dynamic www.ktf.cuni.cz www.faf.cuni.cz university. Out of all Czech universities, it is the largest and most renowned and achieves the best Protestant Theological Faculty Faculty of Arts scores in international rankings. www.etf.cuni.cz www.ff.cuni.cz Structure of Charles University Hussite Theological Faculty Faculty of Science 17 faculties – 14 of these are in Prague, www.htf.cuni.cz www.natur.cuni.cz one in Plzeň (Faculty of Medicine) and two in Hradec Králové (Faculty of Medicine Faculty of Law Faculty of Mathematics and Physics and Faculty of Pharmacy) www.prf.cuni.cz www.mff.cuni.cz 3 university institutes 6 other departments for teaching, 1st Faculty of Medicine Faculty of Education scientific, research, development and www.lf1.cuni.cz www.pedf.cuni.cz other creative activities and for provision of information services 2nd Faculty of Medicine Faculty of Social Sciences 5 university-wide facilities (including www.lf2.cuni.cz www.fsv.cuni.cz Department of Dormitories and Refectories) 3rd Faculty of Medicine Faculty of Physical Education and Sport www.lf3.cuni.cz www.ftvs.cuni.cz Staff When converted to full-time job equivalent, the Faculty of Medicine in Plzeň Faculty of Humanities university has more than 7,800 employees, more www.lfp.cuni.cz www.fhs.cuni.cz than half of which are academics and researchers. Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové Budget www.lfhk.cuni.cz The annual budget of Charles University amounts to more than 8 thousand million CZK, 32 % of which are governmental subsidies for teaching activity, 39 % are funds obtained in open competition from grant agencies and in other areas of science and research and 29 % are Charles University’s own earnings. 6 STUDYING AT CHARLES UNIVERSITY Thanks to its broad selection of study placed second, behind the Academy of Scholarships for specific purposes programmes, the value of its degrees and Performing Arts in Prague Doctoral scholarships and grants excellent job prospects of its graduates, there is each year, Charles University offers Contributions to cover accommodation costs a great interest in studying at Charles University almost 300 lifelong learning courses (paid Need-based Financial Aid each year both from domestic applicants and preparatory courses, language courses, foreign prospective students. job-related courses, courses for teachers, Awards courses for senior citizens and many others), Charles University awards outstanding attended by up to 13,000 participants achievements in the course of study and research Charles University Students and other accomplishments, both on the faculty in Numbers Study Programmes and Subjects and university-wide level. It also nominates its every year, Charles University receives Top quality teaching and the interconnectedness students for non-university awards. Among the more than 64,000 applications for degree of theoretical knowledge and practical research most prestigious awards at Charles University are: programmes have always been the cornerstones of Charles almost 54,000 students are studying University. The university offers a wide range of The Bolzano Prize at Charles University (around 1/6 of all study programmes and subjects, many of which are (awarded to students in Bachelor, Master students in Czech higher education) unique in the Czech Republic (such as Addictology, and Doctoral degrees for exceptional original almost 25,000 students are enrolled Egyptology, Climatology and others). Some of the work with outstanding creative content and in Master degree programmes programmes can be studied as double majors, interdisciplinary aspects carried out in the course more than 21,000 students are studying some can be combined with programmes at other of and based on their studies) for Bachelor degrees faculties. Bachelor and Master degrees follow the The Rector of Charles University Prize more than 8,000 students are enrolled European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) rules. (awarded for exceptional results in scientific in Doctoral degrees (around 1/3 of all This system allows students to choose optional research, sports or cultural activity) Doctoral students in the Czech Republic) lectures or seminars in other programmes or The Rector of Charles University the annual number of graduates from faculties, furthering the openness, variability and the Special Prize Bachelor, Master and Doctoral programmes interdisciplinary nature of education and facilitates (awarded for acts of exceptional civic courage is higher than 8,500 student mobility among partner institutions. or self-sacrifice) there are over 300 accredited study programmes, further divided into more than Scholarships Other student awards include a whole 600 study subjects (in all degree levels) Charles University supports its students by range of faculty-level awards, the Award for in a 2010 survey of the relative success granting the following kinds of scholarships: Representation of Charles University, the of graduates of 25 Czech universities Scholarships awarded for outstanding Minister of Education Award and the Josef Hlávka on the job market, Charles University study results Prize for the best students and graduates. 7 Rozvojové plány UK DEVELOPMENT PLANS The Biocentrum