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Glossary

Accreditation:
Programmes of study and branches of study are subject to accreditation awarded by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. If a degree programme is not accredited, it is not possible to admit any applicants, hold classes, carry out examinations or award academic degrees. An accreditation of a study programme is granted for no more than ten years, and may be, even repeatedly, extended. (Higher Education Act No. 111/1998 Sb., Part VIII.)
Programme of study (=study programme):
A higher education is earned through studies within the framework of an accredited programme of study offered in line with the curriculum. (Higher Education Act No. 111/1998 Sb., Part IV.)
Branch of study (=study branch):
A study programme may be further divided into branches of study. (Higher Education Act No. 111/1998 Sb., Part IV.)
Type of programme of study:
Bachelor’s, Master’s, Master’s (long-cycle), doctoral.
Bachelor study:
Bachelor’s programmes of study are intended to provide the qualifications for practising a profession as well as for continuing to study in a Master’s programme of study. Bachelor’s programmes of study draw directly on current knowledge and methods while also including, to the degree required, theoretical knowledge. The standard length of study including practical training is no less than three and no more than four years. The study programme is completed with a final state examination that as a rule includes the defence of a Bachelor’s thesis. Graduates of Bachelor’s programmes of study are awarded the academic degree of “bakalář” (“Bachelor”, abbreviated as “Bc.”, used in front of the name). (Higher Education Act No. 111/1998 Sb., Part IV.)
Master study:
Master’s programmes of study are intended to promote the acquisition of theoretical knowledge based on current scientific and scholarly knowledge, research and development and to lead students to apply this knowledge and develop their creative facilities. Master’s programmes of study in the area of the fine arts are designed to provide demanding artistic training and encourage the development of the students’ talents. Master’s programmes of study follow on from Bachelor’s programmes of study (with the exception of the long-cycle Master’s study programmes); the standard length of such a programme is no less than one and no more than three years. In case of a Master’s programme of study that does not follow on from a Bachelor’s programme of study (a long-cycle Master’s study programme), the standard length of study is no less than four and no more than six years. The study programme is completed with a final state examination that includes the defence of a Master’s thesis. Studies in the field of medicine are completed with a state rigorosum examination. Graduates of Master’s study programmes at the Charles University are awarded the following academic degrees: “Doktor medicíny” (“Doctor of Medicine”, abbreviated as “MUDr.”, used in front of the name) in the field of medicine; “Zubní lékař” (“Doctor of Dental Medicine”, abbreviated as “MDDr.” used in front of the name); “Magistr” (“Master”, abbreviated as “Mgr.”, used in front of the name) in other areas of study. (Higher Education Act No. 111/1998 Sb., Part IV.)
Doctoral study:
Doctoral programmes of study are aimed at scientific research and independent creative activities in the area of research or development, or independent theoretical and creative activities in the area of the fine arts. The standard length of studies is no less than three and no more than four years. Studies within the framework of doctoral study programmes are subject to individual curricula under the guidance of a supervisor. Doctoral studies are completed with a doctoral state examination and the defence of a doctoral thesis. These are intended to show the ability of the candidate to carry our independent activities in the area of research or development, or independent theoretical and creative artistic activities. The thesis must contain original as well as published results or results accepted for publication. Graduates of doctoral programmes of study are awarded the academic degree of “Doktor” (“Doctor”, abbreviated as “Ph.D.”, used after the name). (Higher Education Act No. 111/1998 Sb., § 47 odst. 5)
Form of study:
“Full-time” form of study shall enable students to acquire the knowledge directly through on-site instruction. “Combined” form of study includes elements of both the full-time form of study (e.g. courses, workshops) and the distance form of study (e.g. home study, electronic conferences).
Standard length of study:
Period of study with the moderately distributed workload set by study plan; standard length of study is stipulated in the accreditation of the study programme.
Rigorosum procedure:
Graduates of Master’s programmes of study who have been awarded the academic degree of “Master“, may take a state rigorosum examination, in the same field of study, which includes the defence of a rigorosum thesis. For the option of a state rigorosum examination, please, click at the detailed descriptions of individual Master’s and long-cycle Master’s study branches. After passing the state rigorosum examination, the following academic titles are awarded: in the field of law “Doctor of Law“ (abbreviated to "JUDr." preceding the name); in the field of humanities, pedagogical and social sciences, “Doctor of Philosophy“ (abbreviated to "PhDr." preceding the name); in the field of natural sciences “Doctor of Natural Sciences” (abbreviated to "RNDr." preceding the name); in the field of Pharmacy “Doctor of Pharmacy” (abbreviated to "PharmDr." preceding the name); in the field of theology “Licentiate of Theology“ (abbreviated to "ThLic." preceding the name) or “Doctor of Theology“ (abbreviated to “ThDr.“ preceding the name); or for the field of Roman Catholic Theology “Licentiate of Theology“.
Variant of study:
A study branch denoted as “one-branch study” can be studied independently, as a single branch. A study branch denoted as “two-branch study” can be studied only in combination with another branch of the same variant (two-branch): in this case two study branches compound to a single study.
Accreditation status:
Status “accredited” means that a study programme /branch can be taught and new students can be admitted (provided that the respective faculty opens the branch in the given academic year); the status “accredited to complete the studies of current students” and the status “limited accreditation” mean that new students must not be admitted to the study programme.
Language of instruction:
The instruction is referred to in full meaning of the word i.e. inclusive administration and communication as a whole.