First year student’s handbook

Dear colleagues, first year students!

Welcome to the Faculty of Science of Charles University! We are happy that you have chosen our faculty and we believe that you will not regret your decision. A few years ago, we were in your shoes, also entering the world of university full of expectations (and a bit of nervousness). But don't worry, there's much more than just endless hours of lectures!

College means many things to us - not just knowledge, but also friendships, experiences and memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. You will learn not only how to understand nature, but also how to cope with the occasional stresses and difficulties of student life. To make things a little easier for you, we've put together this handbook full of useful information to help you navigate your new surroundings.

You'll find everything you need to know about your new school - from study matters to leisure tips. Think of this handbook as a guide, but remember that you can find detailed information in the official regulations and in the Karolinka. This guide will give you a basic overview and point you in the direction of where to find out more. It will serve you throughout your studies.

If you have any questions or problems, please do not hesitate to contact your student representatives on the Faculty Academic Senate or your Tutors. 

Remember that in addition to your responsibilities, you also have rights. You too can contribute to making our faculty an even better place.

I wish you a successful start and look forward to working with you!

Daniel Vašek

Chairman of the Student Chamber, Academic Senate, FSc CU

Dear Students,

Congratulations on completing your high school studies successfully and on being admitted to study at the Faculty of Science, Charles University, which – being the fifth oldest Faculty at Charles University – one of the oldest, most prestigious, but also the most demanding schools in our country. We are pleased that you have chosen "Natural Science at Karlovka" from the wide range of options for your university studies. Welcome to the campus, welcome among us!

By your interest in natural sciences, which you have shown by submitting your application, together with your successful admission to the Bachelor's degree programmes, you are also becoming the continuators and spreaders of the traditions of natural science research at Charles University. We hope that during your studies you will not only acquire a lot of new knowledge and skills that you will apply in your life, but together with the teachers you will also succumb to the desire to discover the previously unknown, and often the urge to be useful to nature and society.

During your studies, you will make new friendships with fellow students and teachers, at home or abroad if you head for a study stay at one of our dozens of partner universities during your Bachelor's studies. Let your studies be a personal challenge. We hope that studying will give you the fulfilment and inspiration needed for creative work and personal development, and that you will enjoy it.

You are holding in your hands a handbook created for you by your older colleagues – students and members of the Academic Senate of the Faculty of Science. They have filled it with information that will make navigating a new environment easier for you and help you understand what studying at a university is all about. The handbook summarises everything that its authors consider important based on their own experience. Everything else will be up to you. Please respect the instructions given to you by the guarantors of your programmes and all your teachers, and also pay attention to the regulations regarding studies, information, and methodological guidance from the Faculty’s Department of Student Affairs. If you experience problems fulfilling your academic duties, we recommend you try and find ways of solving these, as well as contacting the officials at the Department of Student Affairs and the student advisors (called tutors), as well as the guarantors of their programmes. The Faculty is ready to help those who find themselves in a difficult life situation.

Do not hesitate to get involved in student life at the Faculty. Be sure that you can gain a great deal of information and experience by joining student networks that transcend individual years and programmes of study. This will make studying easier for you.

We hope you regard your choice to study at the Faculty of Science as the challenge of your life and are happy with your studies and duly complete them. And once that happens, we will be happy if you continue to remain friends with your alma matris.

Prof. Jiří Zima

Dean

doc. RNDr. Milada Teplá, Ph.D

Vice-Dean for Study Concept

Assoc. Prof. Pavel Chromý

Vice-Dean for Education

Contents