Study Information

Academic year

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.

The academic years start on September 1 and end on August 31. 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.

Academic calendar 2024/25

The academic calendar for the following academic year is usually published in April.

Many different programmes can be studied at the faculty, e.g. Languages and literature (English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Polish Philology), Arts (History of Art, Musicology, Theatre and Film Studies, Media Studies), Humanities (History, Philosophy) and Social Sciences (Journalism, Psychology, Sociology, Andragogy, Cultural Anthropology, Politics and European Studies).

The language of instructions is Czech, but courses in English or other foreign languages are offered to exchange students.

1. Courses designed for exchange students:

• CJV/ECEX - English Communication for Exchange Students
• CJV/GCEX - German Communication for Exchange Students
• KAA/ERAS - Czech Culture and History
• KPE/BCEU - Central Europe and the European Union (first semester only)
• KBH/CJPC 1 and 2 - Czech for Foreigners courses are offered by the Department of Czech Studies. The Czech for Foreigners course is also available for beginners. Students who study Czech already (i.e. other than beginners) are asked to sit for a placement test. The course last for one semester and is worth 4 ECTS credits. Taking an exam is optional and is not recommended to beginners. Students register for KBH/CJPZ1 or KBH/CJPZ2 to sit for such exam (1 ECTS credit).

2. A list of courses intended for exchange students

the list of courses offered for exchange students in 2024/2025 

3. Faculty of Arts courses

Theoretically, an applicant can choose any course from the faculty‘s offer. However, they should always respect the study programme they are enrolled in. Information about courses and their syllabi can be found here.

Click on Courses and enter both the department and the course abbreviation. If the course information is not sufficient, please contact the teacher of such course (contact details of the teacher should be provided).

portal.upol.cz/ (without log in) → STAG → Browse IS/STAG → Courses

Course requirements

• The standard number of credits per semester is 30 ECTS. In case a student does not need the full number of credits, the minimum number of credits at the faculty is 20 ECTS per semester. In justified cases students can apply for an approval of a learning agreement with a lower number of credits.
• Students must choose most of the courses at the Faculty of Arts. At the same time, students must enroll in at least half of their courses at the department where they would study. This condition should be observed provided that such department offers enough courses in English/foreign language.
• Exchange students must register for their courses in the information system STAG.
• Students may register for courses at another faculty (one to three courses maximum).

Unless otherwise agreed, we require B2 competence in the respective language (as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference).

Students interested in enrolling in courses offered by the Department of English and American Studies must submit an official international certificate of language proficiency corresponding to the minimum level of CEFR B2 (e.g. TOEFL, Cambridge, Duolingo; any other official certificates to be approved by department coordinator). The required certificate must be uploaded to the online application in IS STAG by the application deadline!

UP Portal

Students can access information not only about their studies through the portal.

Information available on the portal:

• staff and student directory
• complete information about studies
• canteen meals/meal orders
• access to the university email account
• computer technology centre information (network connection, etc.)
• location of the university buildings

IS/STAG

UP information system STAG is used to administer the study at different levels throughout the entire mobility/study.

The main use of STAG for students:

• registration for courses, preparation of the course timetable
• data browsing (timetable, information about courses and study programmes, study results, teachers, departments)

Exchange students must register for their courses in STAG. Registration for courses is possible under the following conditions:

1. the student is already officially admitted/has been assigned a student personal number

2. the enrolment period is open

BEWARE!

Instructions on when and how to enrol for courses are sent to the exchange students’s email boxes upon acceptance to study with the STAG assignment of a personal number. Course registration instructions are sent by the Faculty Incoming Students Coordinator well in advance of course registration.

What grading system is used at UP?

How it is with the 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).

When do I get my Transcript of Records?

You will receive the Transcript of Records within 4 - 5 weeks days of your departure, after completion of all your courses and after recording of your results in the IS STAG by your teachers. The transcript will be uploaded in the IS STAG - ECTS arrivals, Incoming Study Visit section.

How do I get my password if I forgot it? Internet connection problems / Trouble logging in

If you have problems with the connection, try asking Czech colleagues for help or consult the faculty/dormitory network administrator. Accurate and updated contact details of the administrator are available at the UP Portal, section: Helpdesk.

If you forgot your password or if you have problem logging in UP Portal, use this CVT (IT service of UP) help-line at stag-help@upol.cz.