Christmas Opening Hours

• Canteens and FreshUPs: Changes from Friday, December 19. Completely closed from December 20 to January 4. Changes at some locations will apply until February 8. More here.​

   

• UP Student Club: From December 15 to February 7, exam period mode (in Czech): MO 10–14, TU 10–14, WE 10–14. Closed from December 18 to January 2.​

   

• UP Library: From December 17, adjusted opening hours at Zbrojnice and branches, closed from December 20 to January 4. Also take advantage of the option to borrow on-site books home on December 19! More here.​

   

• UPoint: Exceptionally open on Saturdays, December 6 and 13 (12–17) and December 20 (10–14). From December 21 to January 11, UPoint will be closed.​

   

• UP Press (VUP) Book Shop and Printer will be closed December 20 – January 4. The E-shop will run without restrictions. Details can be found on the website (in Czech).​

Safe University: UPlikace, Crisis Flyers, Practical Courses, and New Website

Security alerts in your mobile targeted at specific buildings, flyers with crisis contacts, physical security courses, and videos for students as well as security tips. These and other security tools and information for the Palacký University environment are now summarized on the new Safe University English website – check it out and help keep UP safe.

STUDY & RESEARCH

UP Has Unified Standards for PhD Supervisors Across Faculties

Basic standards as well as rights and obligations of supervisors of PhD students at UP are set from November 19, 2025, by the new internal regulation Standards for Supervisors of PhD Study Program Students at UP (in Czech). It defines the basic framework for quality supervision of PhD students across all faculties.​

Get Funding for Your Project in the Student Grant Competition

Are you studying a master's or doctoral program at UP? Do you have a running research project, or just an idea, and are looking for where to get funding? Register for the student grant competition (in Czech), whose 17th year was announced by the UP Rector on Monday, November 24, 2025. Applications are due by January 15, 2026.​

New Courses in the Aurora Network: Online and BIP from Iceland to Spain

Do you want to experience studying differently – more intensively, internationally, and practically? The European universities network Aurora is opening new courses for 2026 and you can be part of it! Virtual online programs and BIP courses await you, which combine online teaching with a short trip abroad. You will have the chance to deepen your intercultural skills, develop in inclusive education, dive into social innovations, or peek into topics of language diversity or sustainable education. Check the offer on the Aurora website.​

CHALLENGES

Roll Up Your Sleeve: Join the Faculty Blood Donation Competition

A small thing for the donor, a big thing for the recipient. Half a liter can save a human life if filled with the most precious fluid. Until December 19, you can join the Roll Up Your Sleeve faculty competition. The cup will go to the faculty with the largest total volume of blood donated by students and employees, further to the faculty with the highest percentage representation of student donors, and third to the faculty with the highest percentage representation of employee donors. Just fill out the form and you can also win one of the prizes. More on daruj.upol.cz.​ (in Czech)

Charity Punch for Good Place for Life

The UP Volunteering Center (in Czech) is joining the sale of punch at the Good Place for Life stand this year. You can support our efforts on Saturday, December 13. The proceeds from the sale will be donated to the activities of the non-profit organization SeniorOn, which provides education to seniors in the field of digital literacy.

Already on Saturday, December 6, you can meet members of the Olomouc Dentistry Students Association at the same stand and together support secondary schools, primary schools, and kindergartens for the hearing impaired.​

Explore Christmas Tips for Popular Science Books from UP Press

Have you baked yet? We have! At UP Press, we agree that knowledge is the best treat. And in our freshly baked books this year, there is knowledge to go around! Do you plan to give your loved ones an offline experience in today's online age that will "feed" them even after Christmas? We have selected 10 popular science books for you that will make different generations happy under the tree. (in Czech) We also have a Christmas discount and for the indecisive, new Christmas vouchers, thanks to which you can transfer responsibility for the right title choice to the recipients.​

INVITATIONS

Pre-sale of Tickets for the University Ball Starts December 15

The Palacký University Representative Ball in 2026 will take place on Friday, February 20, in the premises of the NH Collection Congress Olomouc hotel. The upcoming ball, which will be the climax of the UP Academic Week, will this time be in swing rhythms. The Olomouc big band NEW STREET BAND will take us on a trip to the 1920s and 1930s with a special tribute to Frank Sinatra. The modern take on swing will be handled by the popular Slovak duo Malalata with their dj SWING THING project and dj PAPA DJANGO. In addition, you can look forward to traditional pre-dancing, swing dance workshops, acrobatic show, rich tombola, and excellent buffet! Ticket pre-sale starts December 15 on the website ples.upol.cz.​

Welcome Office & ESN Invite You to a Czech Christmas Celebration

Join us for a warm and festive Czech Christmas gathering on December 10, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at Vodární 6, room 1.04. You can look forward to discovering Czech Christmas traditions, enjoying seasonal treats, listening to traditional music, and relaxing in a friendly holiday atmosphere. Feel free to bring friends and family for an evening full of connection, flavor, and Christmas spirit. No registration is required and participation is free. We look forward to celebrating with you.​

AFOKINO: Kratom Collectors

Don't miss the last AFOKINO (in Czech) of this year, which will take place on Tuesday, December 9, from 6:30 p.m. at the Fort Science! You will see the documentary Kratom Collectors, the audience winner of AFO60, which brings closer the journey of controversial kratom and its impact on society. For some, it changed their life for the better, others it led to psychiatric treatment. After the film screening, there will be a debate with guests and the director. Entry to the screening is free without reservation.​

St. Nicholas Tradition Comes to Campus

Advent is here, and with it comes the lively tradition of St. Nicholas, the devil, and the angel! This year, on December 5, this beloved custom is coming to the university campus too. Thanks to the INSIGHT project, which connects international and local communities through shared traditions and customs, the St. Nicholas group from the Welcome Office and SpeakClub UP will meet you at the dormitories, university campuses, and faculties. Have you been a good student? A treat may be waiting for you, so follow our social media and do not miss the St. Nicholas group!​

COMPETITION

Compete for Books from UP Press

Win a gift package of books from Palacký University Press. Three of you will take home a gift bag of three publications that will delight small and large. Just answer the competition question by email to soutez@upol.cz by Wednesday, December 10, and the gift under the tree is quite possibly yours. Competition question: What is the name of the big band that will play at the UP Representative Ball in 2026?​

In Advent, we have extended opening hours at UPoint so you can calmly solve all university gifts. UPoint will be open Mo–Fr 9:00–17:00 and also on Saturdays December 6 and 13 (12:00–17:00) and December 20 (10:00–14:00). From December 21, it will be closed and due to inventory, we will reopen only on January 12, 2026. If you have gift vouchers, don't forget to redeem them by Saturday, December 20. If you don't know what to choose yet, you can exchange them with us for new ones valid until the end of 2026.​