Glossary of Terms
The collective body of all academic staff and students at a university (academic community of the university) or at a faculty (academic community of the faculty). Academic staff are university employees who teach and carry out scientific, research, or other creative activities (e.g. professors, associate professors, assistant professors, assistants, lecturers, etc.).
E-learning is the university's web platform where teachers upload organizational information, study materials (including UCT Prague textbooks), presentations, and sometimes homework or practice exercises.
Information is updated at the beginning of each academic year.
You log in using your university login and password. You can search for courses by name and browse courses even if you are not yet enrolled in them.
Tip! Download shared presentations to your tablet or computer before lectures, or print them out, and take notes directly in them.
A teaching session designed to put lecture theory into practice (calculations, graphing, problem-solving, etc.). It is strongly recommended to attend seminars, even if attendance is not compulsory, as they provide an opportunity to practice the material and ask questions. Whether attendance is mandatory is determined by the course teacher, so pay close attention during the first class.
EMIL is UCT Prague's own mobile app. It provides access to selected SIS functions (such as exam registration), displays your timetable, helps you navigate the campus using interactive maps, and shows daily menus from university cafeterias and nearby dining options. You can find the online version here.
A tab on the SIS homepage where you can find your results from course-credit tests and exams. After opening it, simply select the course whose results you want to view.
The official ceremony marking the beginning of Bachelor's studies and welcoming first-year students into the academic community. It takes place in September, and first-year students receive detailed information from their Study Officers.
A traditional paper booklet for recording grades and study information. It is possible to buy it in respirium. It is optional, and its use has largely been discontinued because all study results are officially recorded in SIS.
One of the ways a course can be completed. A Marked Course-credit is awarded for fulfilling study requirements throughout the semester (such as completing laboratory work, projects, or continuous assessments) and is graded without taking a final exam.
Credits (ECTS) represent the workload of a course, including lectures, seminars, and exam preparation. Earning enough credits is one of the requirements for successfully completing your studies.
You collect credits according to your study plan for each successfully completed course.
In SIS, you can see the credit value of each course, your enrolled courses, and the total number of credits you will earn after completing them successfully.
How many credits do you need?
In each semester, you must earn at least 15 credits from compulsory and compulsory elective courses.
At the end of each academic year, your total number of credits must satisfy the formula:
30 × n − 15
where n is the number of completed semesters.
This is where you finally get to perform experiments and experience chemistry in practice. To attend laboratories, you must first complete the required theoretical prerequisite course (for example, General and Inorganic Chemistry I before Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory I).
Attendance is always compulsory.
An Exceptional Study Plan individually adjusts a student's study progress by modifying deadlines and requirements for fulfilling study obligations. It is primarily intended for students with specific needs, health or social difficulties, pregnancy, or childcare responsibilities for children up to three years of age. In other justified situations, the Dean may also approve an Exceptional Study Plan.
It is recommended to consult your Study Officer before submitting the application.
A parallel teaching group within the same course (usually a seminar). The content is the same, but groups are usually taught at different times and by different teachers.
A course that you must successfully complete before you can enrol in and take a follow-up course in a later semester or year. Prerequisites ensure that students have the necessary background knowledge. For example, to enrol in Inorganic Chemistry Laboratories, you must first complete General and Inorganic Chemistry I and Chemical and Balance Calculations.
Prerequisites are listed in SIS, so make sure to check each semester that you meet the requirements for your upcoming courses. Some courses have no prerequisites and can be enrolled in at any time.
The ceremonial conclusion of your studies, during which diplomas are awarded. Graduation ceremonies are usually held in June and September, depending on your degree programme. After successfully passing your State Final Exam, you will receive an invitation and further details by email. More information can be found here.
An exam date offered during the final weeks of the semester, before the official examination period. Taking advantage of an early exam term helps spread your workload, gives you more preparation time, and leaves room for additional attempts if needed.
A preliminary survey of students' interest in courses, held during the second half of each semester. During this period, you should pre-register your compulsory elective courses in SIS so that departments can estimate attendance and open enough parallel groups.
You can still change your selection during the official course registration period.
The main teaching component of a course, introducing its theoretical foundations. Attendance is usually not compulsory, but it is highly recommended. During the first lecture, teachers typically explain everything you need to know to complete the course successfully.
A test covering the entire semester's content for students who did not earn enough points in continuous course-credit tests but still fall within the eligible score range. The required score range is announced in e-learning or during the first lecture. Comprehensive tests are usually held during the examination period, although not every course offers them.
Tip! If you don't earn enough points, don't give up. Review your test with the teacher, ask about the mistakes you made, and you might even recover a missing point.
The State Final Exam verifies your overall knowledge and is required to officially complete your degree and obtain your academic title (Bc., Mgr.).
It consists of two parts:
- the defence of your Bachelor's or Master's thesis,
- an oral examination covering theoretical and practical subject areas.
More information can be found here.
SIS is the university's information system containing most study-related data for students, teachers, and university staff. It allows you to view your timetable, register for courses and exams, check your grades, and manage many other aspects of your studies. You can find guides on how to work with SIS here.
One of the ways a course can be completed. A Course-credit is usually awarded for continuous assessment after obtaining the required number of points. It is assessed simply as Pass or Fail, without a grade. Be aware that obtaining a Course-credit is often a prerequisite for taking the exam, which means that without the Course-credit it is not possible to take the exam.
At UCT Prague, courses are graded using letters: A = Excellent, B = Very good, C = Good, D = Satisfactory, E = Sufficient, F = Fail. Your exam grades are always recorded in SIS.
Tip! While you won't receive a gold star for good grades at university, excellent academic results may qualify you for a merit scholarship.
A Bachelor's or Master's thesis is a written piece of work completed within a prescribed scope, demonstrating a student's ability to solve a discipline-specific problem using scientific methods. The defence of the final thesis is an integral part of the State Final Exam. Detailed information about how to write the thesis are available here.
One of the ways a course can be completed. Exams usually consist of a written and an oral part. Unless stated otherwise, you normally take the exam with your lecturer. You have three attempts. If you fail all three, you must repeat the course. Attend your exam dressed appropriately and remember to bring your student ID card.
If you are registered for an exam and can no longer withdraw through SIS, email your lecturer or the contact person listed in SIS, explaining the reason for your absence.
Tip! Don't leave a long gap at the beginning of the examination period or postpone difficult exams until the final week. Otherwise, you may lose the opportunity to use all three attempts.