How to register

Have you received the decision about your admission? Now you are entitled to register for the first year of your study. The date of registration and necessary forms are issued by each faculty individually. On the day of your registration, you will become a regular student at the University of West Bohemia. 

In the registration process, you will receive the student credit book called the “index”, an important document into which your grades are entered. The Faculty of Design and Art, the Faculty of Philosophy and the Faculty of Education do not use the “index” and keep the record of grades electronically.

How to register for courses and create a timetable

Each student creates his/her own personal study plan within their field of study.  Courses are either required (“A” courses) or required elective (“B” courses) or optional (“C” courses).  During registration, you will focus on the course syllabus which describes the course content and its outcomes. 

From the second year on, or even from the summer semester of the first year, you will register your subjects electronically through the UWB information system.  Keep in mind that you can choose subjects from all the faculties and departments.

Why do I need credits?

Each course at the university is assigned a specific number of credits.  Credit points are used to measure the amount of work and effort that the student should put into the course in order to successfully master the subject.  Information about the number of credits you need to earn is available on the UWB portal.  You will earn your credits if you successfully complete the subject with a credit (zápočet) or an exam.

How many credits do you need?  At least twenty during the first semester, and at least forty for the entire year.  But be sure to check on the specific requirements of each faculty.  Earning sufficient credit points opens the door for further study. We recommend earning sixty (maximum 75) credits to complete the academic year successfully.

Certificate programmes

Certificate programmes are a great way to make your study more attractive.  These are comprehensive courses consisting of optional, or “C” subjects.  They are offered to students of all faculties.  There is, however, an important condition:  the certificate programme of your choice must differ from your field of study.  For example, if you study in a technical field, you might choose among certificate programmes focusing on humanities. 

Our university offers more than thirty certificate programmes, such as History of Art, Journalism, European Private Law, Technical Ecology and Environment, Technology of Pilotless Flying (this is about the very popular drones), or Fundamentals of Industrial Design.  You can check the complete list of certificate programmes, including their study plans.

After you complete all the subjects of the given programme and meet the requirements for the final exam, you will receive a certificate along with your degree.

Why do I need an Orion account?

The Orion account is your virtual self at the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň, a useful tool for all students and most employees.  Thanks to this unique electronic identity, you can use the university mailbox, the UWB portal, and the WEBnet computer network; you can work in public computer labs and servers.  You can also use the support services of the HelpDesk (Center of Information and Computer Technology - CIV). For assistance with the system or advice, please contact helpdesk@zcu.cz.  

How to create an Orion account? It is easy. You will receive registration link at the beginning of the first year to your personal e-mail address. You choose your username and password (which is valid for two years).  With the Orion account registration, you will automatically gain access to your university e-mail to communicate (not only) with your teachers. Please note that you are required to read the incoming e-mails. 

What is the uwb portal?

The UWB portal provides quick and easy-to-use access to study information.  You can find information about timetables, grades, exams, scholarships, and university regulations, as well as your personal data or obligations towards the university.  You will also use the UWB portal to register for your subjects and book your exams.  You can access the system from any network using your Orion registration data. 

If you encounter a problem while using the UWB Portal, please let us know.  We will fix it and make sure it does not repeat.  Email us at helpdesk@zcu.cz, describing what you were trying to do and with what result.  Also add your name, Orion login, and student number. 

What is the JIS card and where do you get it?

All our students and employees use the JIS card (JIS being a Czech acronym for the Integrated Identification System).  This is not only your identity card, but it also enables access to labs, libraries, or dorms.

You apply for the JIS card by filling in an online form.  After paying the amount of 100 CZK (or 300 CZK for a card combined with the Plzeň Card) to the UWB account, we will print the card for you.  You will find out when it is ready for pickup by entering your identification number on the same website.  You will pick up the card at the HelpDesk on the main UWB campus in Bory.  We recommend that you deposit some money on your card and use it for copying purposes or in the cafeteria.  The deposit can be made in the cafeteria, at the dormitory administrative office, or in the library. You may also make a transfer from your account or credit card.

Where do i find the Student affairs department?

Do you need help or advice? The experienced staff of our Student Affairs Departments will answer questions concerning your studies.  Their responsibilities are quite comprehensive and cover administrative issues concerning students in the application process, as well as those already enrolled.  You will also contact Student Affairs Department of your faculty in case you interrupt or finish your studies, and when you want to return the student card or settle your obligations towards the university.  There is a Student Affairs Department at each faculty; please refer to the list of the individual Student Affairs Departments.

Using Public transportation

To be able to use the Plzeň public transportation system, you will need the so-called Plzeň Card.  As a UWB student, you can apply for it along with your JIS card (see above).  Your student card will then also be used for public transportation.  By the way, with your JIS card, you can also register in the Study and Scientific Library of the Plzeň Region so that you do not have to carry too many cards. 

Making your way around UWB

The heart of UWB beats on the modern campus in Bory.  Its three technical faculties (Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, and Applied Sciences), the Faculty of Economics, and Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art are located there.  It also houses the Rector’s Office, the Institute of Applied Language Studies, and the Centre of Information and Computer Technology, where you can pick up your JIS card.  There are also several research centres (RICE, RTI, NTIS), gyms, a canteen, a large library as well as several cafés.

University buildings are also located in the historical centre of the city.  The faculties of Law, Education and Philosophy and Arts are located there, as well as the Faculty of Health Care Studies, where nurses and other healthcare professionals prepare for their careers.  Several libraries, a café and a university gallery can also be found in the city centre.  Part of the Faculty of Economics is located outside of Plzeň, in the town of Cheb. 

Who is who at the university

The Rector, Deans, the Bursar, Doctors, and many other. The university environment is complex, and the hierarchy of people is based on their qualifications and positions.

The head of the university is the Rector, elected by the Academic Senate for a four-year term, and appointed by the President of the Czech Republic.  During university ceremonies, the Rector is addressed as “Magnificence“ (Latin for magnificent).  As the top representative of the university, the Rector appoints and dismisses Vice-Rectors, Deans, Directors of institutes, the Bursar, and other directors of university facilities.  

Vice-Rectors represent the Rector in specific areas and are directly responsible to him/her.  They manage teaching and learning activities, university development, external relations, etc.  The ceremonial title of a Vice-Rector is “Honorabilis“ (Latin for honourable). 

University management and internal administration are handled by the Bursar, who is the chief administrator at the university and represents it in business, financial and legal areas. 

Every university is divided into faculties.  There are nine faculties and two institutes at UWB.   Each faculty is headed by a Dean elected by the Academic Senate and appointed by the Rector for a four-year term.  The ceremonial title of a Dean is “Spectabilis” (Latin for renowned or famous).  

Similarly, the Dean appoints Vice-Deans responsible for specific administrative matters at the faculty, such as teaching and learning activities, development, and external relations.  The ceremonial title of a Vice-Dean is “Honorabilis“. 

Each faculty has its Secretary, who handles its internal administration and management. 

The powers of faculties are governed by the law and the university statutes.  Each faculty performs both teaching and research activities that complement each other.  Departments, as organizational units of a faculty, are devoted to a particular academic discipline.  Members of the department are teachers and experts responsible for teaching specific subjects.  The list of departments at each of the faculties is extensive and can be found online. 

Let us explain the term Academic Senate.  It is a self-governing representative body present at every university.  Its role can be compared to that of a parliament in a democracy.  Its members are elected from academic staff and students.  The UWB Academic Senate has almost sixty members elected for three years, of which one-third are students joined in the Student Chamber. 

What are the roles of the Academic Senate? The senators approve the university budget and regulations, elect the Rector, and discuss the overall situation at the university.   Do you want to join the Academic Senate?  It is possible, because every student and academic staff member can run.

Each of the faculties has their own academic senate with similar roles and responsibilities.  The number of members and the student/staff ratio differ at each faculty. 

Another useful body is the University Council, which is a platform for  representatives of all universities in the country.  Each university is represented by two delegates from the university senior management, one student, and one representative per faculty.  The Student Chamber of the University Council is the highest representative body of all students in the Czech Republic.  The delegates’ mandate is three years.  

How to address your teachers

There are large differences between countries in the way students address their teachers.  At Czech universities, the use of academic titles is common, and the level of informality is quite low.   Written forms of communication are expected to be more formal than face-to-face communications.

Most university teachers hold a Ph.D. degree; they carry the title of Doctor, and   they should be addressed “Dr.”, as in “Dr. Novák”.  This is a very common way to address your teachers and lecturers.

Professor (prof. Novák) and Docent (doc. Novák), the equivalent of Associate Professor, are the highest academic degrees in the Czech context. They are awarded to respected scientists and researchers after a certain number of years of teaching and successful accomplishment of significant research and publication work.  In practice, though, the title of Professor is used for all university teachers rather than only for those who are full professors. This is true especially for international students who are not familiar with the structure of academic degrees in the Czech university system. 

It is advisable to learn the academic degrees of your teachers before you first meet them.  However, if you need to address your lecturer without knowing his or her preference, the safest option might be Dr. Novák.  Professor Novák is a good alternative.  Calling your teachers Mr or Ms might not be the best option.    

What degrees can YOU acquire at the university?

The first one is a Bachelor's degree, abbreviated Bc. or BcA. in the field of fine arts.  The vast majority of undergraduate programmes offered in the Czech Republic have a standard duration of three years.

A Master's degree (abbreviated Mgr. or MgrA. in the field of fine arts) is an academic degree awarded upon completion of a Master’s programme in humanities, such as education, sociology, or law.  The Master’s programme usually follows the Bachelor’s study, but there are also five-year Master‘s programmes.  At UWB, you can find them at the Faculties of Education and Law. 

Graduates in technical and economic fields gain the Ing. degree (engineer), which has the same value as the Mgr. degree.  Graduates from faculties of architecture gain the Ing. arch. degree.

A separate category are the so-called “small doctoral degrees” awarded to graduates in medicine (MUDr.), dental medicine (MDDr.), veterinary medicine (MVDr.), philosophy (PhDr.), natural sciences (RNDr.), law (JUDr.), pharmacy (PharmDr.), and theology (ThDr. and ThLic.).  After successfully graduating from their field of study, students can continue their studies as doctoral students and earn a Ph.D. degree. 

Matriculation

Before describing the actual ceremony, let us explain what matriculation is.  It is a traditional ceremony attended by all first-year students in the fall.  The original of the word can be found in Latin in-matriculo which means “an entry on the list”.  During a traditional ceremony, you will become members of the academic community and officially launch your university life.  It is a good opportunity to get to know the university leaders.        

It is important that you arrive on time, appropriately dressed.  So, please, leave your sneakers at home.   The Dean, Vice-Deans, Heads of study programmes, representatives of the Students’ Chamber of the Academic Senate, as well as the staff of the Student Affairs Department – all these take part in the matriculation ceremonies of the individual faculties.  You will also meet the Master of Ceremonies who manages the event, as well as the Beadle, a historical figure carrying the Dean’s sceptre.  Of all the people in attendance, you, students, play the main role.  After the Dean’s speech, you will take an oath and will be officially registered as students.   Although the oath is the main part of the ceremony, you do not have to memorize its text.  It will be read by the MC and you will affirm your agreement.

What can the Library offer to me?

Every university student has used the library at least once, to look up the necessary information in the publications not available elsewhere.  The UWB Library is very large and has several branches: four in Plzeň, one in Cheb, each of them specialized for their respective faculty.  You will also visit the library for other than study purposes: to charge your JIS card or copy seminar materials.  While there, you can also connect to the university computer network. 

Where can you find the individual branches?

The Bory Library:  This library, located on the modern Bory campus, offers its services mainly to faculties on the campus.  Therefore, technical publications constitute a vast majority of resources, along with publications from the humanities, social sciences, economics, literature and arts.  

The Philosophy and Law Library can be found close to the Faculty of Law in the Sady Pětatřicátníků Park and serves students of the Faculties of Philosophy and Law. 

The Health Care Studies Library:  In the very centre of Plzen, on Sedláčkova street, you will find a library which provides services to students of the Faculty of Health Care Studies (future physical and occupational therapists, nurses, midwives, paramedics and others). 

The Pedagogical Library is the largest of the UWB libraries.  Publications from pedagogy and psychology, as well as social and natural sciences, can be found in this library on Klatovska street. 

The Economics Library in Cheb serves half of the students of the Faculty of Economics (the other half use the library on the main campus) and offers resources in business, management, marketing, trade and services, accounting, etc.   

Students with specific needs

If you are one of the students with specific needs and require special equipment or diagnostics, contact our Information and Advice Centre. Its staff will be happy to give you advice and, if needed, will arrange for assistance or an opportunity to hire disability equipment for the entire length of your studies (such as personal hearing amplifiers for individuals with hearing loss, or TV magnifiers for those with impaired vision). We will help create conditions which will enable you to fulfill your potential in all areas of your life.

Registering for the next year

By registering for your courses, you create your personal study plan. From the second year or even from the summer semester of the first year, you will register for your courses electronically through pre-registration on UWB Portal. Keep in mind that you can choose courses from any Faculty or Department. Detailed information can be found on Faculty websites. You must put together a sufficient number of courses that will provide the credits needed for further study. Please note that pre-registration is required. If you do not pre-register in time, you have three days after the deadline to apologize to the Dean and ask for a deadline extension. 

Pre-registration is followed by registration proper, which requires that on a date set by the Office of Academic Studies you come to a designated classroom and have your chosen courses officially confirmed. You can register for the next year of study providing that you acquired an appropriate number of credits during the past academic year. The Office of Academic Studies will also help you if, due to serious reasons, you need to make changes in your registration.

The date and format of the registration are set by individual Faculty Deans. If you miss the registration date, you have five days to apologize to the Dean and ask for an alternative registration opportunity. If you fail to do that, your study will be terminated. 

Examination versus Course credit

There are several ways to complete a course. The basic ones are examinations and course credits (zápočet in Czech).

Receiving a course credit means completing a course without evaluation. The attempt to gain a course credit can be repeated once. If you for some reason fail to get the credit, you can go to the Head of the Department, who will review your case. If he/she does not allow you to obtain the credit, you can ask the Dean, who has the final word on the decision.  

An examination is a standard way of completing a course. A course credit can be a pre-condition for taking an examination. It can be oral (in which case you learn immediately whether you passed or not) or written (the results are available within three working days at the latest). The examiner evaluates your performance with grades from one to four, four being a failing grade. The grade is entered into the so-called course credit and examination register and the student record book. No record is made if you fail the examination. If you fail at all attempts (max. 3), a four is entered into the record, and you must re-enrol in the same course. Keep in mind, though, that in case you complete the course only after re-enrolment, grade four for the previously failed exam stays in your record. You gain credits, but the grade influences your study average. Your grades can be found on UWB Portal. 

You book all your examinations through UWB portal. By completing the course, you gain credits needed for further study. 

All regulations related to studies are described in detail in the Study and Examination Regulations which every student should be familiar with. 

Scholarships/Grants

Studying and getting paid at the same time? It may sound like science fiction, but nothing is impossible. The University of West Bohemia provides several types of scholarships and grants, the most common being an accommodation grant and a social allowance. Other types include a scholarship for outstanding academic achievement, a scholarship for exceptional cases, and a scholarship in support of studies in a doctoral degree programme.  

A scholarship for outstanding academic achievement requires maintaining the best possible weighted average grade. The student must earn at least sixty credits during the previous academic year and comply with the standard length of study. More detailed conditions for obtaining this type of scholarship are set by the Dean of each Faculty. The Office of Academic Studies staff will be happy to tell you all the details.

Accommodation grant

You can obtain this grant if you live either in a dormitory or in a rented flat. To be eligible, you have to fulfill all necessary conditions described on the Information and Advice Centre website. The application is submitted through UWB Portal.

Scholarship for exceptional cases

This type of scholarship may be granted to you by the Rector or the Dean for outstanding academic results, professional achievements, publications, extraordinary success in the area of culture or sports, representing the Faculty, or other types of accomplishments. The proposal can come from the respective institution, from the student himself or herself, as well as from the Rector or the Dean. 

A scholarship in support of studies in a doctoral degree programme is granted by the Dean to doctoral students in the regular system of study. The grant amount is proposed by the supervisor and the Study Field Board and is granted for a 12-month period. The recipient must comply with the standard length of study.     

More information can be found in the UWB Scholarship Regulations.

Fees

Study programmes taught in Czech are completely tuition free. Annual tuition fee for programmes taught in English is 3,000 EUR.

IT support

Information technology is the bread and butter of every UWB student. You will use computers in the classrooms, register for exams through UWB Portal, and use your JIS card every day. Let’s look at the Centre of Information and Computer Technology (also known as CIV), which provides all these services. It is located on the Bory campus and you first visited it when picking up your JIS card in your first year. The Centre’s experts introduce and maintain information technology systems at our University and make sure that everything works properly.

What if something goes wrong? Students often need to resolve an immediate problem, such as a forgotten password or data loss. That is where our HelpDesk can help. Its offices are located on the Bory campus and on Jungmannova street, as well as in Cheb. In addition to the HelpDesk, there is also the RT (Request Tracker) System, which files under unique numbers all the requests submitted through the CIV, the helpdesk.zcu.cz information server, and the HELPS student service provided by trained UWB students on workdays, from 7 a.m. till 5 p.m. They are the first ones to help you with basic user needs and problems, such as log-in, printing, wi-fi access, etc. They either help you themselves or refer you to the administrators. If you are computer savvy and would like to earn some extra money, you can join the HelpDesk team. Just email helpdesk@zcu.cz or call +420 377 638 888.

CIV also runs the IoT lab, which can help you work on your course projects in the field of the Internet of Things.

Institute of Applied Language Studies

“The more languages you know, the more you are human”, a famous Czech saying popularized by the first Czechoslovak president Tomáš Garrique Masaryk, still holds true. You cannot do without speaking foreign languages in today’s world.  Our university, therefore, pays close attention to language education, which is provided by the Institute of Applied Language Studies, where you can study English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and Latin, as well as Czech for Foreigners. As a rule, these are compulsory elective or optional courses.

The Institute of Applied Language Studies is divided into departments of English, German, Slavic, and Romance languages. It also runs the American Center U.S. Point, founded at our University in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy.

Along with teaching languages, the Institute of Applied Language Studies pursues many other activities, such as the International Summer Language School, which is becoming increasingly popular. During the summer holidays, it offers day-long, morning, and afternoon language courses which can last from one to three weeks. Anybody interested can participate. The youngest participants are only six years old. Courses are taught by qualified teachers including native speakers, all in a casual atmosphere. The Summer School also organizes a rich accompanying programme including excursions, workshops, sports events, and social gatherings. The Summer School participants can eat at the university canteen and stay in the dormitory. 

Other Institute activities include translations, proofreading by native speakers, Czech Language proofreading, language consultancy for presentation preparation, and audits of employees' language skills. It also participates in international projects such as ELTACS, PELLIC, and DeafPort.

Information and Advice Centre

Is the transition to university life difficult for you? Do you deal with family problems that keep you from studying? Do you struggle with health problems and need advice? Don’t be shy and come to our Information and Advice Centre.  We are ready to help you find a solution.

The Information and Advice Centre of the University of West Bohemia offers a complete system of counselling services related to studies, as well as social, psychological, and legal issues. It also organizes regular free consultations with lawyers and psychologists and deals with issues concerning scholarships and study fees. It also provides counselling to students with special needs to whom the university pays close attention, including persons with physical impairment, visual or hearing impairment, autism spectrum disorder, and specific learning disabilities. In addition to the main University campus, this counselling service is available also in the Kulturka club, which is located close to the main square. The Centre is located on the Bory campus and can be contacted by email at ipcentr@rek.zcu.cz and by phone at +420 377 631 350-7.  

Exchange Students

An international student can choose from a wide variety of possibilities – either one semester or one-year-long study stays within the framework of various European mobility programmes, cooperation arrangements among university networks, summer schools and more. All  exchange students can apply for accommodation at the university dormitories and can use the two university canteens.

The best-known mobility programme is ERASMUS+,  which is very popular among students. If your home university signed an inter-institutional agreement with the University of West Bohemia, you can apply through this programme. The admission procedure is easier then, and you will receive an Erasmus+ grant from your home university. All our faculties have several partner universities within the Erasmus+ programme and offer various study programmes and cycles. You can choose from a list of courses taught in English and offered to international students at any study level. Students can also choose from a study stay or an internship. Every year we receive around 200 new Erasmus students, and some of them enjoy it so much that they decide to extend their stay for a second semester.

In addition, there are so-called Freemover students. If you cannot use any other mobility programme, you can come as a "Freemover". Admission always depends on the decision of the faculty concerned and is not guaranteed. The student can choose from the same list of courses as the Erasmus+ students and can stay for one or two semesters.

At the University of West Bohemia, there are several student organizations (ESN, AIESEC, IAESTE, AEGEE, ELSA) providing useful help to incoming international students. Throughout the year they also organize many cultural, social and sport activities. Exchange students can apply for a "buddy" – a Czech student who gets in touch with them before their arrival and tries to help with everything needed.

Dormitories and Canteens

Independence, maybe a bit of an adventure, new contacts, friendships, and experience – dormitory life is an important part of the university experience. UWB offers several options for students to stay and take advantage of various benefits such as internet connection, laundry, and indoor bike parking.  

How to arrange for a dormitory room? Students apply according to the accommodation chart available through the ISKAM system of the Accommodation and Catering Administration, using the My account bookmark. It is important to know that dormitory fees must be paid by the 15th of every month, either by bank transfer, in cash, or with a credit card in the dormitory office.  

If you run into a problem, please contact the dormitory manager or the students’ dormitory self-government, which is composed of elected students living in the dorm. If you don’t like your room, you can move to another one once in a semester. If there are no free rooms available, you can find someone to trade a room with and contact the dorm manager. If you have a serious problem with your roommate and cannot find a student to trade your room with, also contact the dormitory manager. 

And now, let us see where our university dormitories are located and where three thousand students live every year.

Dormitory – B1 Bory

Two four-storey buildings with 379 beds are located at Máchova street 14 and 16 in Plzen – Bory.  There is a study, a gym, and a music rehearsal room available exclusively to students. On the dorm premises, there is a playground and the popular Studna club. The dorm is very close to the bus and tram stops:  a tram will take you to the city centre and buses 30 and 24 to the main campus at Bory. The dorms are next to Bory Park, a popular relaxation zone for Plzeň citizens. There is a parking lot in front of the buildings; two shopping centres are close as well. 

Dormitory B2 – Bory

A seven-storey building with 498 beds, close to the B1 dorm at Máchova street 20.

Dormitory B3 – Bory

Another seven-storey building with 480 beds, close to B2 on Baarova street 36, just a short walk from the Tram 4 final stop.

Dormitories A1, A2, A3 – Armabeton

A complex of three buildings with a total of 574 beds located on Borská street 53. A2 and A3 buildings are connected by a corridor. The Bastila students’ club can be found here.

Dormitories L1, L2 – Lochotín

This complex of two interconnected nine-storey buildings with a total of 714 beds is the largest dorm in Plzen, located on Bolevecká street 30, close to Tram 1 and 4 stop Pod Záhorskem, not far from the city centre. The dorm premises offer study rooms, a gym, a fitness centre, the Ucho student club, and the Naporo Island bar.

Dormitory K1 – Bory

This dormitory is a two-storey, wheelchair accessible building with 155 beds, completely reconstructed in 2005.  Situated in the former military barracks at Klatovska 200, this dorm is well suited for students with special needs, especially those with physical disabilities, for whom there are two specially arranged rooms (each with three beds) with adjusted sanitary facilities and kitchen units with a microwave oven, an electric kettle and a small, two-burner electric cooker.  

Information for international students: Do you need to provide Proof of Accommodation for a visa application? The dormitory will issue this document on request - see information on Dormitories and Canteens website.

The word canteen usually evokes an image of a good meal, which is correct. There are two canteens in Plzeň, one in the city centre, and the other one on the Bory campus. Together, they can provide more than six thousand meals a day. As far as the price is concerned, students are entitled to a discount (on two meals per day), which means you can have a decent meal for as little as twenty or thirty Czech crowns. You can pay cash, with meal coupons, or with your JIS card.  The discount prices are valid only in case of a JIS card payment, so try to use your JIS card as often as possible. You can recharge your JIS card at the canteen check-out counter with a minimum deposit of 200 CZK.  

Canteen IV – Bory

Located in a separate building on the Bory campus, this canteen is open on workdays from 10:30-15:00. You can choose from five to eight meals. You can have meals with meat, vegetarian salads, Thai meals, organic food, or get snacks and drinks at the self-service counter. Its capacity is 350. 

Canteen I – Kollárova

In the very centre of Plzeň on Kollárova street, there is a canteen with a capacity of 314 seats which can provide more than two thousand meals a day. You can choose from five to six meals, and use a buffet with baguettes, salads, bakery products, drinks, and sweets. It is open Monday to Friday 10:30-14:30.

Where to get your Coffee

Slow down, enjoy a cup of coffee and a good snack and simply relax for a while.  NO, you have not made a mistake, you are still on the UWB website. We know all too well that all of us need to take a rest occasionally and find new energy or inspiration for further work. Where to go, then? (Czech only)

Kulturka

Do you need a place to organize a lecture or a seminar? Try Kulturka, a meeting place in the historical part of Plzeň on Sedláčkova street, close to the Družba café. Who is Kulturka intended for? Students, of course, but also the University staff as well as the general public. Although it is not large, Kulturka offers full office equipment including an interactive board and a flipchart and is therefore well suited for cooperating on university activities. It is a convenient place to work on your projects and organize meetings and events. Kulturka also offers regular cultural events, such as readings, exhibitions, workshops, discussions, and charity events. Its door is always open. It sells selected titles published by the University publishing house, and you can have your books purchased through the e-shop delivered there. The Kulturka club is administered by the Information and Advice Centre,   which provides counselling services for students with specific needs and students from diverse cultural backgrounds on its premises. The Kulturka club is wheelchair accessible and offers free WiFi. Detailed information on the programme can be found on its Facebook profile.  

Bussiness Innovation Club – BoostUp

Do you have an interesting idea and think you might be able to break into the market? We know that starting a business is not easy at all, and therefore we are here with our BoostUp, ready to support you. Do not be afraid: show us what you have to offer.

The Business Innovation Club, or student incubator, is a service that helps students who come up with an interesting idea and would like to start a business. Nowadays, just having a good idea is not enough. You also need to have a business plan and some marketing knowledge, and be able to do research to avoid creating something that already exists. We are ready to help you transform your idea into a reality and launch a fast-growing company – a successful startup.

It does not matter what Faculty you are from – everyone is welcome. As we know, the best results are achieved in a team. Therefore, our idea of ​​the most effective business team is one that is composed of students of various Faculties. A student of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, for example, comes up with an idea of ​​constructing an interesting car, a student of the Faculty of Economics prepares a business plan and handles the necessary administration, a law student works on industrial and legal protection, which implies the acquisition of a patent, and a design student creates the design of the car. Come up with a good idea and a desire to taste the world of business – we will help you take care of the rest.   

Sport at UWB

Sport is an integral part of university life. The University of West Bohemia takes pride in supporting different kinds of sports and games on the campus and beyond. It offers many opportunities to its students and employees to take an active part in activities of sports organizations and clubs.

Sports facilities at UWB

A large sports hall that belongs to the Department of Physical Education and Sports of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is located on the Bory campus.  Volleyball, basketball, handball, floorball, and football are regularly played there. There is also a training room for karate, judo, gymnastics, and self-defence for women, a climbing wall and a well-equipped gym in this wheelchair accessible complex. The Department of Physical Education and Sports also makes use of the TJ Lokomotiva sports hall, the swimming pool on Sokolovská street in Lochotín, squash courts in Doubravka and the TJ Slavia VŠ sports complex in Bory. Students can also use the gyms in the Lochotín dormitory on Bolevecká street, and in the Faculty of Education building on Klatovská street.

Rector’s Cup

The annual Rector’s Cup is an opportunity for Faculty teams composed of students and staff to compete in team and individual sports such as basketball, floorball, futsal, volleyball, badminton, sport climbing, night orientation run, and table tennis. How to participate? In this long-term competition, teams and individuals collect points for their Faculty during the whole academic year. The Faculty with the most points wins the Rector’s Cup. 

The organizer of the Rector’s Cup is the Department of Physical Education and Sports, which concludes the Cup by inviting the representatives of the winning Faculty to spend a sports weekend together.  

Dean’s Barrel

This annual autumn football tournament is organized by the student organization Koordinátoři FEL. A barrel of Pilsner Urquell beer is the main prize.

Czech Academic Games

This regular student competition in which UWB students take an active part was first held in 2002. Each year, around two thousand students from all Czech universities and colleges compete in almost thirty disciplines for the title of Czech Academic Champion.   

Akademici Plzeň Hockey Team

Akademici Plzeň is an ice-hockey team composed of students from the University of West Bohemia and the Charles University Faculty of Medicine in Plzeň. The team has played hockey in Plzeň since 2014 as a member of the European University Hockey League. They organize lots of attractive events including the Battle of Plzeň, a traditional hockey match between students of UWB and the medical students. The Battle attracts more than 2,500 viewers. Other events worth mentioning are a charity hockey match called Plyšáková bouře [Plush Toy Storm], during which the players collect plush toys for children in the Plzeň Faculty Hospital, and an afternoon hockey match for elementary and secondary school students called “From School Benches to the Hockey Stadium”. 

Western Stars

The Western Stars are genuine stars from the West, proud representatives of the University of West Bohemia. This sports programme launched in 2018 is becoming an inseparable part of our academic life, enabling talented students to merge their studies with a career in sports by means of various types of support during their studies. We will create excellent conditions for your studies and your career in sports and you will represent your Alma Mater in sports competitions both at home and abroad. One of the goals of our sports programme is building a positive image of the University, the city of Plzeň, and the Plzeň Region. You can join the Western Stars by filling in a registration form which can be downloaded from the Faculty of Education’s website.

UWB Futsal University League

This variant of football played on a hard court has been very popular at our University since 2014, when the Futsal University League was launched. Several university teams compete in the Bory sports hall each year and Plzeň futsal players represent our University at the Czech Academic Games. 

Ways to complete your studies

You can complete your studies in several ways. The first and proper one is  graduation, for which you have to fulfil three basic requirements: earn a sufficient number of credits, submit a thesis and pass the state final examination. Finished? Congratulations!

How successful you were during your studies will be reflected in the overall evaluation which is finalized after the state examination and attached to the degree. The best students receive the so-called "red diploma", i.e. a diploma in a red folder, indicating that they have passed with distinction. To achieve this, your grade point average for the entire length of study must not exceed a value of 1.5 and you must pass the state final examination with a grade of “excellent“. Those who pass without distinction receive diplomas in blue folders. 

There are other ways you can finish your studies besides graduating. Let us discuss situations that you should avoid if you want to succeed.  The basic rule is to obey the Study and Examination Regulations. It is important to obtain a preliminary registration and a registration proper. Keep in mind that you must earn at least twenty credits during the first semester if you want to continue your studies. Credits are important for you throughout your studies.  Watch your average grade, because if it exceeds 3.40, you may be in trouble. You will also have a problem if you fail a subject, a comprehensive examination, or an end-of-semester project for the second time. You should carefully watch all deadlines for submitting your assignments, as well as the total length of your studies, because deadlines matter.   

You also can terminate your studies of your own will, which can be done at any time. If you decide to do so, you have to inform the Dean through the Office of Academic Studies. You also will have to prove that all your obligations towards the University have been fulfilled, and present your student record book and your JIS Card at the Office of Academic Studies. You will find more on this topic in the section What to do after finishing your studies. You will find more on this topic in the section What to do after finishing your studies.

Bachelor’s and Master’s theses

You are approaching the final stage of your studies, during which you work on the final thesis and defend it in front of the examination committee. As a Bachelor’s programme student, you will work on a Bachelor’s thesis, as a student in a Master’s programme, you will work on a Master’s thesis. All the final theses are called “qualification theses“. Typically, the Master’s thesis is more extensive than the Bachelor’s thesis. So much for the terminology.

What is expected of you? You should be able to handle the assigned topic in both a theoretical and practical manner, to present your work and defend it in front of the examination committee. Now you have a chance to show what you have learnt. The final thesis is a complex work, during which you will use and put to the test your acquired knowledge while elaborating on a specific topic or a problem area. The thesis and its defence are part of the state final examination, which you have to pass in order to complete your studies and become a university graduate.

The topics of final year theses are announced by the Heads of the Departments by the end of the previous academic year, at the latest. It should be added, though, that you can come up with an interesting topic on your own initiative. The most important part of the process is the assignment, which you obtain six months prior to the deadline for submission of the thesis, at the latest. The assignment also includes a submission deadline which may at first appear to be in the distant future.  But be careful, postponing work on the thesis till a later time does not pay off, which many graduates who have experienced tough moments because of it would confirm. If you are under serious time pressure and fail to meet the deadline, you must, within a maximum of three workdays, apply to the Dean for an alternative submission deadline. 

The final version of your thesis is evaluated by an opponent who provides an expert opinion. The supervisor of your thesis, who is assigned by the Head of the Department, provides an evaluation. It is advisable to keep in touch with the thesis supervisor, who can provide guidance if you are having difficulties. You will receive the evaluation and expert opinion at least five working days before the thesis defence. By law, theses are made public. We definitely recommend that you have a look at how students who have gone before have managed.

State Final Examination

You have a degree at your fingertips. To be able to complete your studies properly, you must pass the state final examination.  Now let us take a closer look at what it entails.

The state final examination consists of two parts. The first part is the defence of your final thesis; the other part tests your knowledge in the examined subjects. 

In order to be able to sit the final state examination, you must observe basic rules. As in the case of other examinations, you register for the state final examination through UWB Portal at the time of the preliminary registration for the final year of your studies. Our Study and Examination Regulations state that you must fulfil all the requirements stipulated by the recommended study plan of a given study programme. What does that mean? For example, it is necessary to successfully complete all compulsory and elective courses and obtain the minimum number of credits. You have to keep an eye on this.

What about the evaluation? Each part of the state final examination is graded separately. At the same time, the state final examination is assessed as a whole, with the following grades: “Excellent”, “Very Good”, “Good” and “Failed”.

The examination committee provides an assessment of the state final examination as a whole based on the assessment of its parts, including the defence of the thesis. If you pass the state final examination with a grade of “excellent“, and your grade point average for the entire length of study does not exceed a value of 1.5, you can look forward to receiving a red diploma.

It is important to complete the state final examination before the maximum period of study expires. If you, for a legitimate reason, fail to arrive at the state final examination, you must excuse yourself within three working days at the latest. The Dean decides if the excuse is well-founded; his/her decision is then final. If you do not provide a legitimate excuse or break the rules in a serious manner, you receive the “Failed” grade. It is also good to know that you may withdraw from the state final examination no less than 72 hours before the examination date.

If you fail the state final examination, it is not the end of the world. You can resit the state final examination or one of its parts a maximum of two times. It is good to know that you will only resit the failed part. The committee for the state final examination is comprised of at least three members, including the chair, deputy chair, and other members. The chair leads the meetings and makes a record of the state final examination proceedings.

What to do after finishing Your studies

There are a number of practical steps you need to take soon after finishing your studies. Let us see what they are.  As was mentioned above, you have to turn in your JIS card.  To be able to do that, you must fill in a form (available on the website or at the Office of Academic Studies) proving that you have fulfilled all your obligations towards the University, including paying your bills in the canteen and returning everything you have borrowed from the Library.  Once you have stamps from these institutions, you'll bring your JIS Card to the HelpDesk (Centre of Information and Computer Technology - CIV), which you will find on the Bory campus.  There you will have the card return form confirmed and turn it in at the Office of Academic Studies. You do not have to return the JIS card if you continue to study.

Graduation ceremony

Graduation ceremony – an exciting and festive occasion for university graduates, their families, and the University community. The ceremony during which degrees are formally conferred marks the end of your university life and is often an experience of a lifetime.  What is the ceremony like and how to prepare for it?

You will attend the graduation ceremony only after you have completed your studies and successfully passed the state final exam. Even if you do not like celebrations, your family members might enjoy the ceremony during which mothers and grandmothers often shed a tear. A chapter in your life is closing and another one is about to open. The graduation ceremony is one of the traditional university events, along with matriculation, during which you become a member of the academic community at the beginning of your university studies. The ceremony is held in a festive hall of either the Měšťanská Beseda building, the J.K. Tyl Theatre, or the Kozel castle, and has strict rules. 

The Rector, one of the Vice-Rectors, and the Dean of the respective Faculty participate in the ceremony. There is also the Beadle, a historical figure carrying the Rector’s sceptre, and the Master of Ceremonies who manages the event: opens the ceremony, introduces the graduates, and reads the graduates’ pledge. The graduates then affirm their agreement and receive their university diplomas. The student anthem Gaudeamus Igitur closes the ceremony. 

Continuing Your studies – choosing a Doctoral programme

Have you enjoyed university studies and would like to deepen your knowledge?  Do you feel attracted by a career in science? If you are reading these lines, you may be considering doctoral study. The University of West Bohemia offers doctoral study programmes at all its faculties except for the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art and the Faculty of Health Studies.  

Whereas the Master’s programme is a natural follow-up to the Bachelor’s programme, the doctoral studies have a different content. Doctoral study programmes focus on scientific research and independent theoretical and creative work. Your studies can open doors for you to real science. You should consider whether this is the way you want to go.

Doctoral study programmes usually last three or four years and are completed by the state doctoral examination and the defence of the doctoral thesis. The graduates earn a Ph.D. title (the highest degree that you can earn during your studies), written after the name, and are referred to as Dr. __. The earlier variations of the Ph.D. title are CSc. or Dr.Sc. (Doctor of Sciences), which you can still come across today. Doctoral studies are based on an individual study plan and are carried out under the leadership of a supervisor.  

It is common for doctoral students to participate in the teaching process. You may have met some of them in your classes, because they run seminars and conduct lessons on a regular basis. They work on their research projects, write articles for scientific journals and participate in international conferences. They are entitled to receive a scholarship, which is granted for the entire academic year.  The recipients must comply with the standard length of study and study in the regular system of study.