Academic Calendar & Organization of Study
The academic year is divided into two semesters. Each semester is 13 weeks long. Winter semester starts in late September; in the last week before Christmas there are no classes because it is a “credit week”, which is one week of mostly written tests which are either a completion of the courses themselves or a prerequisite of registering for an oral exam in the exam period. The exam period goes on through January until mid-February. The summer semester runs from mid-February to mid-May. The last week is again a credit week, with the exam period lasting until the end of June.
Academic calendar 2022/2023
The academic year starts on September 1, 2022 and ends on August 31, 2023. The winter semester classes end before Christmas. Exams are scheduled throughout January. The summer semester begins in the middle of February and classes end in the middle of May with exams continuing until the end of June.
- With approval from respective departments, students can take examinations also before the official examination period.
- Winter semester at the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences starts on September 12, 2022 and ends on February 3/January 6, 2023.
- Summer Semester at the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences starts on January 26/February 13, 2023 and ends on June 2, 2023 (Fac. of Medicine and Dentistry) and May 26, 2023 (Fac. of Health Sciences).
Arrival at the dormitories | September 9 - 11, 2022 |
Orientation week Winter semester (for Erasmus+&Exchange students) | September 12 - September 16, 2022 |
Winter semester (beginning of classes) | September 19, 2022* |
Winter semester (ending of classes) | December 16, 2022* |
Christmas break | December 19, 2022 - January 2, 2023 |
Examination period beginning* | January 2, 2023 |
Examination period ending | February 10, 2023 |
Arrival at the dormitories | February 3 – 5, 2023 |
Orientation week Summer semester (for Erasmus+&Exchange students) | February 6 – 10, 2023 |
Summer semester (beginning of classes) | February 13, 2023* |
Summer semester (ending of classes) | May 12, 2023* |
Palacký University Olomouc Academic week | February 13 - 19, 2023 |
Sports Days | September 28, 2022 + May 10, 2023 |
Examination period beginning * | May 15, 2023 |
Examination period ending | June 30, 2023 |
Complete information to be found in Czech language at: https://files.upol.cz/normy/normy/R-B-20-02-N01.pdf
Academic calendar 2021/2022
The academic year starts on September 1, 2021 and ends on August 31, 2022. The winter semester classes end before Christmas. Exams are scheduled throughout January. The summer semester begins in the middle of February and classes end in the middle of May with exams continuing until the end of June.
- With approval from respective departments, students can take examinations also before the official examination period.
- Winter semester at the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences starts on September 13, 2021 and ends on February 4/January 7, 2022.
- Summer Semester at the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences starts on January 27/February 14, 2022 and ends on June 3/May 27, 2022.
Arrival at the dormitories | September 10 - 12, 2021 |
Orientation week Winter semester (for Erasmus+&Exchange students) | September 13 - September 17, 2021 |
Winter semester (beginning of classes) | September 20, 2021* |
Winter semester (ending of classes) | December 17, 2021* |
Christmas break | December 18, 2021 - January 2, 2022 |
Examination period beginning* | January 3, 2022 |
Examination period ending | February 11, 2022 |
Arrival at the dormitories | February 4 – 6, 2022 |
Orientation week Summer semester (for Erasmus+&Exchange students) | February 7 – 11, 2022 |
Summer semester (beginning of classes) | February 14, 2022* |
Summer semester (ending of classes) | May 13, 2022* |
Palacký University Olomouc Academic week | February 14 - 20, 2022 |
Sports Days | September 28, 2021 + May 11, 2022 |
Examination period beginning * | May 16, 2022 |
Examination period ending | September 5, 2022 at the latest |
Language Requirements
The language of instruction at Palacký University is Czech, however, the University offers a wide range of courses taught in other languages, such as English, German, French, Spanish, etc.
Palacký University requires the minimum level stated in the bilateral agreement (Erasmus+ programme). If students do not meet the required level, they should submit a proof of their English language competence along with their application form. In this case the level should be equal to English level CEFR B2 or TOEFL score 72 and higher.
The students who are willing to take courses from the Department of English and American studies (Faculty of Arts, courses with the code KAA/) are obliged to submit the English language certificates within their online application form.
Nominated students within the Erasmus+ programme can use the language assessment done before mobility within OLS (online linguistic support – see more at: http://erasmusplusols.eu/assessment-test/ or use any other official score report/assessment to prove their English language competence.
Classes
The schedule and instruction methods logically vary between faculties and disciplines. Classes can start in the early hours of the morning (7am) and run until 8pm at the latest. Individual classes are 45 mins or 90 mins long. Lectures tend to be longer, followed by shorter, more practical seminars or exercises. At lectures, students mostly passively listen to the presentation, while at seminars, active participation and homework in the form of readings, essays, exercises or seminar papers are required. UP students may combine disciplines freely and attend courses outside their home departments or even faculties. It may happen that a course primarily designed for one particular year is also attended by students of higher or lower years. Everything depends on the capacity of the course and the instructor’s decision.
As the method of instruction and course requirements are determined by the instructor, always check with them for details before registering in the course!
Medical students follow their own specific rules and a fixed schedule which they can complement with optional courses.
Course completion
Some courses may be completed through good attendance and the fulfilment of continuous tasks throughout the semester or by submitting a semestral project or paper, without the need for another exam. However, completion of the majority of courses requires first the acquisition of a “credit” and then passing an exam. The “credit” is usually a written test. It may consist of an essay, but mostly it is a classic test with open- or closed-ended questions. Credit tests are mostly held in the last week of the semester. By acquiring the “credit” you either complete the entire course or qualify for an exam. Exams are held in the exam period. They may be written, but are very often oral. Prior to the exam, students receive relevant topics or questions and need to revise the contents of the course in the semester. At the oral exam you discuss the selected topic with the instructor; the test can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour or more, again depending on the discipline, instructor, and logically on how you are performing in the exam. If you fail your “credit” or exam, you can do up to two retakes. Note that many courses are concluded only with a credit or “kolokvium” (oral assessment through discussion), i.e. only the pass/fail evaluation, without a grade (A, B, C, D, E, F). If your home university requires grades, remember to choose courses that are concluded with an exam. UP cannot give you grades for courses that are concluded with a “credit” or colloquium.
Only if teachers are willing to evaluate your performance in such courses in percent, then based on the conversion table your home institution can get a grade. Please note that the transferred grade can´t be explicitly written in the UP ToR, the conversion table available in the official document must be used to prove the grade.
For illustration see the final part of the ToR with a conversion table:
Transcript of Records
The official document which shows your completed or failed courses is called the Transcript of Records. This ToR is automatically printed from STAG by the faculty international relations officer once all your courses / exams / grades have been registered in the system by the teacher. Please note that, if required, you must hand in the EF/yellow card in order to get your ToR. The ToR is sent to your home institution with several weeks after your departure. If you completed all your courses and still have not received your ToR in 6 weeks, please contact your faculty international relations officer.
For illustration see a sample of the UP Transcript of Records:
Confirmation of study period
This confirmation is issued at the beginning and at the end of your study period to confirm the dates of your arrival and departure. Erasmus+ and exchange / short-term students can get it in the central International Relations Office. You can bring a form from your home institution or the official one issued by UP.
Please note that the International Relations Office cannot confirm the date of departure earlier than 2-3 days prior to the real departure.