First-year students must obtain 5 credits by 15 March

The revised Study and Examination Code of UP (in Czech) brought several changes for students at UP in October 2025. One of the most significant is the new requirement for first-year students to obtain at least five credits for their studies by 15 March of the given academic year. Failure to do so is grounds for termination of studies. You can find more details here.

Christmas opening hours

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

• UP Student Club: From 15 December to 7 February exam-period opening regime (in Czech): Mon 10:00–14:00, Tue 10:00–14:00, Wed 10:00–14:00. Closed from 18 December to 2 January.​

• UP Library: From 17 December, opening hours at Zbrojnice and the branches will be adjusted, from 20 December to 4 January it will be closed. You can also take advantage of the opportunity to borrow reference-only books to take home on 19 December! More here.​

• UPoint: Exceptionally open also on Saturday 20 December (10:00–14:00). From 21 December to 11 January UPoint will be closed.​

• UP Press Book shop and print shop will be closed from 20 December to 4 January. The e-shop will operate without restrictions. You can find details on the website. (in Czech)​

UP Chronicles: A bridge between Tihar and Christmas

How can a vibrant five-day Nepali festival feel surprisingly close to Christmas in Czechia? In the latest UP Chronicles, Moktan Pratap introduces readers to Tihar (Deepawali/Yamapanchak) and highlights the shared “cultural soul” of both celebrations: light, music, sweet treats, generosity and family bonds. Dive in for a warm cultural bridge between the Himalayas and Olomouc.​

STUDY AND RESEARCH

Study abroad with support for semester stays from Aurora

Discover the science behind the Northern Lights in Iceland or gain experience in international business at the prestigious Copenhagen Business School. Focus on water resources and their protection at the confluence of the Rhine and Ruhr in Duisburg-Essen or on biomedical disciplines not far from the golden sands of Tarragona. Not only study, but also life experience awaits you during a semester stay at one of the European universities that, together with UP, form part of the Aurora university network. The length of the study stay is one semester during the 2026/2027 academic year, and you can submit your application until 31 January 2026.​

NEkonference – informal meeting of science communicators

Are you interested in science communication? Would you like the world to know what you are working on? On Thursday 15 January from 17:00, Olomouc will host for the third time the UNconference – informal meeting of science communicators (in Czech), a space for sharing experience and networking across disciplines. The meeting is organised by UP science communicator Vendula Lužná in cooperation with the SciComHub association. At the event you can also contribute with a short presentation in which you introduce your communication or research project, a topic that has caught your interest, or questions for which you are currently seeking answers. And to make the meeting truly informal, it will take place in the pub Olomoucká citadela. Registration for the event is required here.​

PhD Existence: A conference (not only) about doctoral students and for doctoral students

Every generation speaks its own language, looks up to different role models and takes for granted what was once a revolutionary novelty for another. Come and build bridges between generations and get inspired at the 16th year of the Czech-Slovak psychological conference (not only) about doctoral students and for doctoral students PhD Existence, which will take place on 26–27 January 2026 at the UP Arts Centre (Konvikt). The theme Clash of Generations will open a space for dialogue between experience and new perspectives, offering expert contributions, workshops, a poster section and a social evening. You can take part either actively or as a member of the audience. More information and registration at www.phdexistence.cz.​

INVITATIONS

Give university ball tickets as a Christmas present

The best gift is a shared experience. Tickets for the UP Representative Ball (in Czech) are already on sale, so you can treat your loved ones to a trip back to the 1920s and 1930s in the rhythm of swing. The ball will take place on Friday 20 February 2026 from 19:00 at the NH Collection Congress Olomouc hotel. Further information is available at ples.upol.cz (in Czech), tickets are sold via SMS Ticket. Discounted admission is available for students again this year.​

Take the Peace Light of Bethlehem at UP away from UP

A flame taken from the eternal light burning in the grotto beneath the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is a symbol of peace, love, hope and friendship. You can freely take the Bethlehem Light from the lantern placed in the passage of Zbrojnice on the book drop box opposite the porter’s lodge and the entrance to the Coffee Library. The flame burns continuously and is accessible at least during the hours listed here.​

The Three Kings are coming to UP

The Three Kings (Magi / Wise Men) on horseback will, during their journey through Olomouc on Tuesday 6 January, make a short stop at UP (in Czech). Come and meet them at about 10:05 in the courtyard of the Rector’s Office (Křížkovského 8). You can sing carols with them and listen to the message they bring. There will also be an opportunity to contribute to the Three Kings charity collection boxes.​

NEW STANDARDS

• Flexible education at UP
  This internal UP regulation, effective from 19 December 2025, (in Czech) is intended for teachers and learners (i.e. students and participants of lifelong learning) at UP. It lays down procedures and rules for the implementation of flexible education within degree programmes and lifelong learning programmes at UP

   

• Procedures and methods of quality assurance at UP – Amendment No. 6
  This amendment to the internal UP regulation, effective from 23 December 2025, (in Czech) is intended in particular for academic staff, students and other UP employees. It adjusts the calculation and standard of selected quality indicators based on the evaluation of data that these indicators achieve in the long term, and it clarifies the definitions of the indicators.​

All UP standards, including the ineffective ones, divided by UP units, with the possibility of filtering and searching in them can be found by students and employees of UP after logging in to files.upol.cz.

COMPETITION

Win free tickets for Colours of Ostrava!

A Christmas newsletter deserves a proper gift in the form of a competition. In 2026, UP will again be a partner of the Colours of Ostrava festival, which currently offers four-day tickets for students up to 21 years of age at a special price. However, for two winners there will be a ticket completely free of charge. Just send an answer to the competition question by 24 December to soutez@upol.cz, be lucky in the draw and you may find a four-day ticket for one person as if under the Christmas tree. Question: What is the name of the New Zealand singer who became famous in 2013 with the hit Royals and who will perform at Colours of Ostrava in 2026?​