Current Students

The effective functioning of the study credit system requires increased attention and good mutual communication on the part of students, teachers and administrative staff. To a large extent the study credit system allows students to independently decide on their study load, choose the rhythm and content of their studies, deepen their knowledge in the chosen field, but also expand their specialization. The broader possibilities for choice of the individual study progress, the greater demand on the student's responsibility and informedness.

In order for the student to effectively use everything that the system offers and not to get into study difficulties, he/she needs to get acquainted with his/her study programme and with basic documents, especially with the Study and Examination Code of Palacký University and other regulations, which can be found at this address. Additional regulations and standards applicable to students of the Faculty of Science are available here.

Each department has designated staff (credit advisor) who oversee the completeness and accuracy of the credit system of study programs guaranteed by the department and who can advise students in creating their study plan.

Credits and Courses

All courses are rated by a certain number of credits. The credit unit expresses the degree of the student's workload within the study of a given course. The student will receive credits for successful completion of courses (i.e. for passing an examination, colloquium or course credit). The number of obtained credits is a basic indicator of the fulfilment of study obligations in the set time. On average, a student should earn 60 credits per academic year.

Courses are divided into the following categories: compulsory (category A), compulsory-elective (category B) and elective (category C). The ratio of the number of credits that must be obtained for compulsory, compulsory-elective and optional courses is given by the study plan of the given study programme.

Compulsory courses (category A) are courses that the student must complete. Compulsory courses are the basis of the study programme and their content is usually included in the requirements of final exams. All students are required to enroll in all courses of this type. In the event that a student fails to complete a compulsory course and obtain credits for it, he/she is obliged to enroll in this course in the next academic year in which this course is reopened. If the student fails for a second time, his/her studies are terminated. When repeating the course, at the beginning of the semester the student can ask the teacher to recognize his/her already fulfilled obligations, such as the course credit, if the student is to take an exam. However, the teacher is not obliged to recognize the student’s fulfilment of the obligations (course credit granted) and has the right to insist on obtaining the course credit again before the exam.

Compulsory-elective courses (category B) allow specialization in the programme and the student enrolls in them according to his/her own choice. However, the student must obtain the prescribed minimum number of credits for this category of courses. For some study programmes, compulsory-elective courses may be grouped into blocks.

Elective courses (category C) represent the student’s possibility to suitably supplement the content of the study at his/her own discretion. Any course taught at Palacký University Olomouc can be an elective course. In addition, in the list of lectures there is usually a list of recommended elective courses provided for each study programme at the Faculty of Science. By completing elective courses, the student obtains the remaining number of credits necessary for the mandatory limit of the study programme. The registration of optional courses from other faculties of Palacký University Olomouc is regulated by the Dean's directive.

The choice of some courses is limited by ‘prerequisites’, i.e. by prerequisite and preclusive courses. Successful completion of a prerequisite course (gaining credits for it) is a necessary condition for passing a follow-up course (the one for which the prerequisite course is listed). The student can enroll in both prerequisite and follow-up course simultaneously, but in such a case, passing a prerequisite course is a necessary condition for enrollment in the follow-up course exam.

Preclusive course indicates a course, a completion of which precludes the student the registration of the given course. Preclusive courses are those with a similar content. A student can obtain credits for a given course no more than once within one study programme (or follow-up programmes).

Study Organization

The minimum amount of credits from all courses for the whole duration of study is:

• 180 credits in Bachelor study
• 120 credits in Master study
• 240 credits in Doctoral study

Fulfilment of these obligations is a necessary condition for admission to the final state examination. Students are required to acquire a minimum of 40 credits during one academic year or such a number of credits, which – together with the credits acquired in the previous academic year – equals a minimum of 80 credits; this does not apply to the last academic year of study.

To a certain extent students can choose their study progress individually. Compulsory courses should be registered in the recommended year and semester, if possible. By registering for courses, student creates a personal study plan. When choosing compulsory and optional courses, the student abides by the chosen study program, by the instructions of the department's credit advisors, by the instructions of the study affairs office and by course's annotations that contain information about the course content (i.e. course guarantor, scope of course's teaching, number of credits, prerequisite and preclusive courses, course completion). Compulsory-elective and elective courses listed in the study plans do not have to be opened annually due to capacity reasons. Instructions for course registration in the STAG database are set for each academic year by the Rector's directive, the dates are given in the schedule of the academic year.

Study Evaluation

Completion of the course means meeting its requirements in one of the following ways: course credit, colloquium, examination. Students register for the announced dates of colloquia and examinations through the electronic system of study records (STAG). The rules for enrolling are regulated by the UP Study and Examination Code and the directive of the Dean of the Faculty of Science.

The course credit is awarded for meeting the requirements, which for its acquisition is determined by the course program set by the course guarantor. The course credit is recorded in STAG, including the date of its award, as well as the dates on which the credit was not awarded.

The colloquium usually takes the form of an examiner's interview with a group of students in order to verify the required knowledge of individual students as well as their ability to cooperate with others and respond to the examiner's questions. The colloquium is recorded in STAG, including the date of its award, as well as the dates on which the colloquium was not awarded.

The examination aims to verify the depth and breadth of the student's theoretical knowledge and practical skills and student's ability to use them creatively. The aim of the exam is also to assess the student's understanding of the respective field. The exam may be oral or written, or may consist of an assessment of practical or creative performance. If the student did not pass the exam (was graded "F"), he/she is entitled to a first re-sit date. Should the student also fail the first re-sit, he/she is entitled to a second re-sit, which is always a board examination. The right to the first and second re-sit may only be exercised on the scheduled exam dates. The result of the exam is assessed in grades A to F. The exam result is recorded in the STAG by entering the letter designating the grade, and the exam date.

Student Obligations

For continuation to the second year of study, the student (Bc., Mgr., Ph.D.) must obtain at least 40 credits for the academic year (i.e. usually by the end of the 1st week in September).

For continuation to the third year (resp. fourth) of study, the student (Bc., Ph.D.) must obtain at least 80 credits for the 1st and 2nd (resp. 2nd and 3rd) year and pass all courses that he/she had enrolled for the second time.

To complete the whole study, the student must successfully complete all compulsory courses (cat. A), obtain the required number of credits from compulsory-elective courses (cat. B) and in total (including elective courses of cat. C) must obtain the required minimum amount of credits (see Study Organization above).

The student can take the final state examination, including the defense of a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral thesis, only after he/she has met all the conditions set by the study programme. The student must pass the final state examination (including the thesis defense) no later than two calendar years from the day when he/she fulfilled the conditions for its completion, while observing the maximum study period set by the study programme.

The credit system brings a number of benefits to the student, but at the same time places demands on him/her. The student bears full responsibility for each of his/her decisions. If the student does not follow the recommended study plan, he must be aware of certain risks, such as:

• the student does not have to have a secured schedule, because the teaching of the chosen courses can take place at the same time,
• the student must think ahead about the next step in his/her study, as an inappropriate choice could complicate or completely block the possibility to continue the studies (he/she can obtain a set number of credits but not meet other conditions, e.g. for prerequisite course),
• if the student enrols in courses worth the exact minimum number of credits (i.e. 40) within one year of study, he/she must complete all these courses, otherwise he/she will not be able to continue the studies,
• if the student decides to enrol in the maximum number of possible courses per year (90 credits) with the intention not to complete further courses after fulfilling the required 40 credits, he/she must realize, that non-completed courses will be graded "failed" and the student unnecessarily exhausts one of the two options for completing the course, and will negatively affect his/her weighted study average.

If the conditions defined by the study regulations are not met, the student's studies may be terminated.

• Don't forget to study thoroughly all the important study rules
  Above all, check the Study and Examination Code and the Disciplinary Code for Students. Likewise, don't forget the faculty's internal regulations and standards, as well as Student Accomodation Rules. Ignorance is no excuse.
• Greet (not only) your teachers
  Even if they sometimes don't answser you.
• Behave yourself in the Student Affairs Office
  Also, don't go there unnecessarily. Find out what you need in advance and whether it is not within someone else's competence.
• Leave the cheat sheets at home
  Here you are not only in danger of a confiscated test, but also of disciplinary proceedings. This also applies to plagiarism, which the university can detect.
• Keep an eye on the schedule of the academic year
  You will know by when you should have everything done, when there are days of sport, May Festival or other interesting events.
• Rely primarily on yourself
  No one will lead you by the hand here anymore. You have to watch the message boards and necessary facts for survival yourself.
• Check your deadlines
• Count your credits right at the beginning of the academic year
  Check how many do you need, where to get them, which courses to do in winter and which in summer semester. Worst case scenario: what will you catch up next year.
• Be careful about your absences
  Lectures are mostly optional, in seminars usually 25% absence per semester is tolerated, sometimes not even that.

How many credits do I have to have per year?
The minimum for continuation to the next year is 40 and at the same time the maximum is 90. The maximum number also includes recognized credits from previous studies. In total with the previous year, you must achieve at least 80 credits (however, this does not apply to the last academic year of the standard study period).

I need a confirmation of study, where can I get it?
You can generate the confirmation on your own whenever you need it via the UP Portal. Follow this guide.

How many times can I repeat the exam?
In addition to a regular exam date, you are entitled to two additional re-sittings. The second re-sitting, however, is always a board examination (with an examination committee, in written or oral form).

I failed the exam for the third time. What else can I do?
If it is a compulsory course (category A), you have to register it again the following year. You do not have to re-register the compulsory elective (category B) and optional (category C) courses. However, you must meet the credit limit set for that block of credits.

I would like to extend my studies.
The study can be extended in the third year of Bachelor's study, second year of Follow-up Master's study and fourth year of Doctoral study. You have to fill in the general request form and give a proper reason for the extension. (Without it your request can be disapproved and you may be expelled.) In case of doctoral students, the request has to be signed by the student, the supervisor and the chairman of the Subject-Area Board of the student's study programme.

Didn't find the answer to your question? Send your suggestions at waleria.slowikova@upol.cz.

Study plans of Bachelor Study 2023/2024 (IS/STAG).

Study plans of Folow-up Master Study 2023/2024 (IS STAG).

• General Request form
• Registration Sheet
• Agreement on securing professional internship 
  Instructions for completing individual contracts of professional experience

Study plans of Doctoral study 2023/2024 (IS/STAG).

Students should submit their Application for recognition of publishing activities only when they have met all the conditions for recognition of publication activity.

For students of the current first, second and third years of doctoral studies, the conditions are given by the new accreditation and by the Provision of the Dean of the Faculty of Science UP, which regulates the structure of doctoral study programmes in credit system within Institutional Accreditation of the faculty (PrF-B-18/04-UZ02, Article 3. d).
For students of fourth and higher years, the conditions are determined by the current study plan in accordance with the relevant accreditation, either new (see above) or old one (A-14/10/OD, section III.).

Students prove the fulfillment of partial courses from the section (Compulsory) Elective Subjects/Courses - Publication activity (B) by submitting a general request form. The request form shall include:

• the abbreviation and name of the course,
• the full title of the article,
• where was the article published,
• whether the student is the main author or co-author, or a confirmation of the publication of the article.

If the student has the article in printed form, he/she can submit it together with the request form. The request form is being approved and course fulfillment entered in the STAG by guarantor of the course. Then the student delivers it to the Student Affairs Office.

It is necessary to apply for the state doctoral examination at least 2 months before the estimated date of the exam.

To your student affairs officer you have to submit:

• the application for a state doctoral examination, including a brief supervisor's statement, signed by you, your supervisor and the chairman of the Subject-area Board,
• printed Course of study form with the list of all exams from IS STAG (you have to have a minimum of 180 credits from particular courses - see Provision of the Dean, Art 5, 2c.),
• dissertation's annotation printed 7x.

• General Request form
• Registration Sheet
• Individual Study Plan
• Exam record
• Evaluation of the Ph.D. student
• Application for recognition of publishing activities
• Application for dissertation defense
• Application for a state doctoral examination

List of Subject-area Boards of the doctoral study programmes accredited within the institutional accreditation (in Czech)