For students
Before Your Arrival at Olomouc
We strongly recommend you read carefully through the prf.upol.cz and upol.cz websites, especially the sections Practical Information and Studying. It is recommended to arrive in Olomouc at least one week before the start of the semester. This will allow you to attend Orientation Week organized by the International Office of Palacký University. Register yourself into the Buddy System provided by ESN UP. The “Czech Buddy“ System can make your arrival much smoother and easier.
For more information about the Czech Republic – visit the webpage Study in the Czech Republic
Useful information concerning arrival to UPOL, visa, accommodation, livelihood, etc. also find on the webpage of the WELCOME OFFICE
How to get to Olomouc
Olomouc is located in the middle of Moravia and is easily accessible by bus or train. There is a rapid connection from Prague by train or on the highway through Brno. From Vienna you can go by bus via Bratislava. Olomouc is also comfortably accessible from Poland or Slovakia.
By plane:
Prague: Airport Václava Havla (280 km) http://www.prg.aero/cs/
Bratislava: Airport M.R. Štefánika (210 km) http://www.airportbratislava.sk/
Vienna: Vienna International Airport (260 km) http://www.viennaairport.com
Krakow: Airport Jean Paul II (265 km) http://www.krakowairport.pl/
You can come from all these airports by train or bus. Tickets for the main train routes can be purchased online at www.cd.cz/eshop. Information on passenger trains in the Czech Republic are free on the phone number 840 112 113.
All mentioned airports are also connected with Olomouc by a private transport company where you can buy tickets online on the RegioJet web page.
By bus or train
Bus or train travel is very comfortable, fast, and cheap in the Czech Republic. You can find online all bus and train connections on http://www.idos.cz.
After Your Arrival to Olomouc
Please report your arrival in person to Mrs. Eva Žwaková (room 2, 030 2nd floor of the Faculty of Science building). It is also necessary to contact Ms. Dana Gronychová from the Study Department (room 1.004, 1st floor of the Faculty of Science building). You will be given instructions on how to use portal.upol.cz and how to get your ISIC card. The ISIC card gives you access to the university cafeteria and library.
If you have not already done so, please read thoroughly the prf.upol.cz and upol.cz websites, especially the sections Practical Information and Studying. Please do not forget to read through the Study and Examinations Code. It is important to note that each student is responsible for reading all emails delivered to his/her university email address (check the e-mail section in portal.upol.cz).
All students need to report their place of residence to the Foreign Police within three (3) working days after their arrival to the Czech Republic. For additional information on this or how to extend your residence permit, please contact ASAP after your arrival Welcome Office – they will give your instruction regarding the next steps.
Medical Care in Olomouc
All international students must have valid health insurance – a complex one, not a basic one! You must provide it once your visa is approved at the Czech Embassy.
Detail information on the web of the Welcome Office.
MUDr. Darina Kaiprová
e-mail: kaiprovad@vnol.cz
Palacký University has made an agreement with doctors at the Olomouc Military Hospital (Sušilovo nám. 5 (MONASTERY building), Olomouc, main entrance, A1, 1st floor, look for „Praktický lékař“ ) to provide health services for international students and UP employees. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8–11 am.
- If your medical problem can´t wait, come during office hours and take a seat in the waiting room. Students from the EU take an ID card and confirmation on insurance registration by VZP and non-EU students should bring confirmation on the comprehensive health insurance they bought from a Czech insurance company PVZP a.s. More information is in the section Insurance.
- In other cases, please write an e-mail kaiprovad@vnol.cz. Please specify your name, surname, country of citizenship, phone number, Olomouc address, gender, date of birth, and your medical problem or needs. Importantly, write the number of the insured person from the registration document issued by the VZP (Czech health insurance provider). The doctor will get back to you within 24 hours, usually in the afternoon. Very often this is how most problems can be solved.
Please don’t call the office, the doctor is attending to patients and can’t answer you.
In case you receive an automated reply about the absence of MUDr. Kaiprova, please contact the substitute doctor. MUDr. J. Křivohlávková, e-mail: jana.krivohlavkova@email.cz
Please be aware that this doctor does NOT provide gynecological, ophthalmological, and dentistry services.
More information about health care in Olomouc.
Czech for Foreigners
If you are interested in studying the Czech language, we recommend you to contact Mrs. Kadlecová from the Department of Foreign Languages. Alternatively, you can consult the UP-LIFT website.
Academic Calendar
The academic calendar is available at the following link. Please keep in mind all important deadlines and dates.
Master Thesis and Essay Rules
For all the important information related to the master thesis, please read the master thesis rules. General rules from „Rules for completing master thesis“ are also valid for all essays that students write during their studies.
The most important sources for master thesis and essays should be Electronic Information Resources (EIRs). Popular resources include JSTOR, EBSCO and Web of Science. EIRs are fully accesible when using the university´s internet connection (including university dormitories). If you want to access EIRs also from another internet connection, you can use the Shibboleth connection (click on the Shibboleth link next to the resource which you want to use and follow the instructions; however, this option is not available for all resources) or you can set up VPN connection.
The submission of the master thesis can be done only by students who meet the criteria to apply for Final Exams.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Students may not plagiarise with respect to their diploma theses or any essay. Plagiarism means any case in which the author of the diploma thesis intentionally, directly or indirectly, uses a published or unpublished work, part of a work or manifested idea of another person in order to create an impression that the work or idea is his/her own.
Final Exams
Only students who have completed at least 120 credits and the minimum amount of credits from each block of subjects can apply for the Final Exams (see below). Students must apply for the Final Exams via portal.upol.cz at the beginning of the semester (the system of subscription is the same as for the subscription of subjects and exams during the studies). Students must also apply for a concrete date of exams via portal.upol.cz a few weeks before the Final Exams are held.
- Minimum amounts of credits:
- Compulsory courses I (general): 65 credits
- Compulsory courses II (specialization): 20 credits
- Compulsory options 1 (specialization): at least 15 credits
- Compulsory options II (general) : at least 10 credits
The Final Exams are composed of three subjects. Each subject contains 15 to 20 different topics. Each student draws one topic from each subject at the beginning of the exam. Once the student has drawn the four questions, they are given a 15-minute period in which the are allowed to use only pen/paper to organize and prepare. After the preparation period, the oral exam begins with each of the four questions taking approximately 10 minutes.
Graduation Ceremony
In a graduation ceremony, the student officially leaves Palacký University, taking the academic pledge and receiving a diploma which entitles him or her to use the academic degree.
Graduation ceremonies take place in the faculty building at the end of June or at the beginning of July for those who have successfully finished their studies* in June and in November for those who finish their studies in August. Graduation ceremonies feature university insignia and university officials wearing academic gowns.
In case that students leave the Czech Republic before the Graduation Ceremony, he/she can claim their diploma which entitles him/her to use an academic degree at the Study Department. The Study Department guarantees that this diploma can be ready for graduates within five weeks after his/her successfully completion of studies. However, it is important to note that the diploma cannot be sent to students via postal services.
For more information about the Graduation ceremony and related issues please contact Mrs. Dana Gronychová from the Study Deparment.
*Student must pass final exams and successfully defend his/her thesis in order to finish successfully his/her studies.
The first graduation ceremony of IDS students was held in the building of Faculty of Science on 25 August 2016.
Internships
Students who are interested in seeking an internship during their studies should consult the section International Opportunities/Do an Internship Abroad or the intlag.upol.cz web page. In case further advice related to internships is needed, please contact Ms. Simona Šafaříková.
Scholarships
For more information about the scholarships provided by Department of Development Studies, Faculty of Science or Palacký University, please consult the section Scholarships. In case of any questions related to the Vavroušek Scholarship, please contact Mr. Schlossarek. In case of any questions related to ERASMUS+ scholarships, please contact Ms. Frličková. If you have any questions about any other scholarship provided by the university or faculty, please contact Ms. Dana Gronychová.
