Univerzita Karlova v Praze Matematicko-fyzikální fakulta

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CHARLES UNIVERSITY IN PRAGUE FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS

RULES FOR ORGANIZATION OF STUDY

Article 1
Initial provisions

These Rules for the organisation of study at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics (hereafter “Regulation“) specify, under article 19 (1) and (2), and related provisions of the Study and Examination Code of Charles University in Prague (hereafter “University“), requirements for study programmes given at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics (hereafter “Faculty“) and modify the details of the organisation of study at the Faculty.

Part I. Requirements for Bachelor and Master Study Programmes
in accordance with the Study and Examination Code of the University

Article 2
Units of study programmes

(An amendment to article 4 (5) of the Study and Examination Code of the University)

Units of all the study programmes are school years.

Article 3
Proportion of credits in optional subjects for continuing assessment of study

(An amendment to article 4 (10) of the Study and Examination Code of the University)

1. The number of optional credits allowed to students in the Bachelor Study Programmes is proportional to the normal number of credits taken each year, according to the percentages listed below. The dean's approval is required to be eligible for optional credits exceeding this number
   1. 15 % for completing the first unit of study,
   2. 30 % for completing the second unit of study,
   3. 100 % for completing the third to fifth unit of study.
2. The number of optional credits allowed to students in the Master Study Programmes is proportional to the normal number of credits taken each year, according to the percentages listed below. The dean's approval is required to be eligible for optional credits exceeding this number
   1. 50 % for completing the first unit of study,
   2. 50 % for completing the second unit of study,
   3. 100 % for completing the third to forth unit of study.

Article 4
Minimum number of credits

(An amendment to article 4 (11) of the Study and Examination Code of the University)

1. The minimum number of credits required for enrolment in the next unit of study in Bachelor Study Programmes are
   1. 35 credits for enrolment in the second unit of study,
   2. 80 credits for enrolment in the third unit of study,
   3. 125 credits for enrolment in the fourth unit of study,
   4. 170 credits for enrolment in the fifth unit of study,
   5. 215 credits for enrolment in the sixth unit of study
   2. The minimum number of credits required for enrolment in the next unit of study in Continuing Master Study Programmes are
   1. 45 credits for enrolment in the second unit of study,
   2. 90 credits for enrolment in the third unit of study,
   3. 135 credits for enrolment in the fourth unit of study,
   4. 180 credits for enrolment in the fifth unit of study

Article 5
Individual plan of study

(An amendment to article 4 (12) of the Study and Examination Code of the University) Details for individual study plans are not specified.

Article 6
Forms of study, transfers

(An amendment to article 4 (1)4 of the Study and Examination Code of the University) 1. Study plans for the combined form of study are usually identical with the full-time form of study; it is possible, however, to modify the timing and scheduling of study requirements. This can be done upon an application by the student to the dean. 2. During his/her course of study, the student can transfer from one form of study to another with the agreement of the dean. The dean will also determine the number of credits which is to be accredited to the student from his/her previous study.

Article 7
Change of the study plan during an interruption of study

(An amendment to article 5 (6) of the Study and Examination Code of University) Details for the procedure after an interruption of study, during which the study plan used by the student was changed, are not specified.

Article 8
Right for enrolment in a course

(An amendment to article 6 (2) of the Study and Examination Code of the University)

The right to register for a course given at the Faculty is overruled

1. by the study plan of the study programme given at the Faculty, if the plan for the relevant course determines or eliminates enrolment in the course under article 6 (5) (a), (c), or (e) of the Study and Examination Code of the University, if the course is given as required or required core in the relevant study programme,
2. due to lack of capacity under article 6 (6) of the Study and Examination Code of the University; in these cases priority is given to students who enrol in the course in accordance with their recommended study plan; and registration in the course is decided by the dean,
3. in accordance with common legally binding regulations enrolment in a course can be determined by the submission of medical records of ability to participate in classes of the relevant course,
4. in accordance with common legally binding regulations the enrolment in the course can be determined by the submission of a certificate of completion of the Labour Protection Course,
5. if the course is not given in the academic year.

Article 9
Right to have enrolment repeated

(An amendment to article 6 (7) of the Study and Examination Code of the University)

1. If the study plan does not explicitly determine differently, the student cannot enrol in a course if the course, or a course which is incompatible (see the definition in the SIS) with it, was completed during previous study units.
2. If the study plan does not explicitly determine differently, during one study unit the student cannot enrol in the same course repeated times, neither can he/she enrol in the course simultaneously with a course which is incompatible.
3. If the student does not pass an examination or does not earn a credit, he/she can enrol in the course once again. In these cases, it is possible to enrol in the course or substitute course no more than two times during his/her course of study.

Article 10
Colloquium, credit, and course test

(An amendment to article 6 (10) of the Study and Examination Code of the University)

1. Credits are given by the teacher of the course, lecture, etc. which confirm the requirements for the course were met. The credit is usually given at the end of the semester. Requirements for gaining the credit are announced by the teacher during the first two weeks of the semester. If it concerns practical classes or seminars that belong to a lecture, requirements are announced by the lecturer. Requirements can involve attendance at classes, passing tests, submission of protocols of measuring, debugging a computer program, writing a report etc.
2. In the case where a class is lead by a student of Doctoral, Master or Bachelor Study, who is not an employee of the Faculty, the credit is given by the supervising teacher to whose course the credit belongs, or by another teacher accredited by the head of the department which is responsible for the teaching. If a credit and an examination are required for completing the course, then gaining the credit is a requirement for being admitted to an examination, provided study plans do not state otherwise.

Article 11
Sitting for parts of State Final Examinations

(An amendment to article 7 (7) of the Study and Examination Code of the University)

1. For study plans of the Bachelor Study of Teacher Training or Teaching, the first part of the State Final Examination is in a subject in which the student will not defend his/her Bachelor's thesis (the second subject for the teaching qualification). The number of credits required for this part of the examination is 140. The next part of the State Examination is the defence of a Bachelor's thesis. In the last part the student is examined in the area in which he/she defended his/her Bachelor's thesis (the first subject for the teaching qualification).
2. For study plans of Continuing Master Study of Teacher Training or Teaching, the first part of the State Final Examination is a subject in which the student will not defend his/her Diploma thesis (non-diploma subject). The number of credits required for this part of the examination is 90. The next part of the State Examination is the defence of the Diploma thesis. In the last part the student is examined in the area in which he/she defended his/her Diploma thesis (diploma subject).
3. With the exception of the Bachelor or Master Study programmes (specializations) in which the order of the parts of the State Final Examination is given in paragraph 1 and 2, the defence of the Bachelor or Master thesis precedes other parts of the State Final Examination and the student enrols simultaneously in all the parts for the State Final Examination that he/she has not passed yet.
4. If the student fails any of the parts of the State Final Examination, he/she will repeat only the part (parts) in which he/she has failed.

Article 12
Total number of credits for required and optional core courses

(An amendment to article 7 (8) of the Study and Examination Code of the University)

To sit for particular parts of the State Final Examination in study programmes provided by the Faculty, the total number of credits adequate for all required courses and the minimum number in optional core courses does not differ from the number given in article 7 (8) of the Study and Examination Code of the University.

Article 13
Further requirements for graduates with honours

(An amendment to Article 7 (1)1 of the Study and Examination Code of the University)

Further requirements for graduating with honours the student must not have been given the mark "satisfactory" during his/her study. If so, the student can ask the dean for permission to repeat the examination in no more than two subjects. It is necessary to pass examinations in those subjects before the student applies for the last part of the State Final Examination. In this case, the student is not allowed to re-sit the examination.

Part II

Details of the organization of study in Bachelor and Master Study Programmes

Article 14
Academic year

1. Classes and related activities follow the official schedule of that academic year. The dean in accordance with the respective rector's measures announces the schedule.
2. Teaching in each semester lasts at least 13 weeks if the study plan does not specify differently.
3. The examination period in both winter and summer semesters usually lasts 5 weeks.

Article 15
Study plans

1. The rector appoints guarantors of respective study programmes who are responsible for the preparation of study plans based on proposals of the dean of the Faculty and commented upon by the Research Board under article 23 (3) of the Constitution of Charles University in Prague.
2. On the proposal of a guarantor or the Board of Guarantors of study programmes, after comments of Senate and approval of the Research Board of the Faculty, the dean announces study plans no later than the beginning of the academic year.

Article 16
Teaching

1. Teaching is led by staff of the Faculty, or specialists from outside (hereafter "teachers") designated by the dean of the Faculty. Students of Doctoral, Master, or Bachelor Study can also be designated to lead seminars, practical classes or laboratory work.
2. Students have the right to have consultation.
3. The Study department keeps a register of file records of each student.
4. For the subjects in which enrolment is conditioned by submission of a medical record of ability to participate or a certificate of completion of the Labour Protection Course, it is noted in the study plans.

Article 17
Study Information System

1. The student registers for courses in the Study Information System (hereafter SIS) and the courses must be put in the study credit book on the dates set by the dean.
2. The appropriate teacher records the result of the examination, credit or graded course-credit in the study credit book and in SIS. The student should check the results of examinations, credits, and graded course-credits in SIS. If there are differences in these records the student must immediately contact the appropriate teacher, who can correct any discrepancy without delay. If it is not possible to make a correction in time, it is resolved by the dean.
3. On the date given by the schedule, the student allows the Faculty to check records in the study credit book. If records are not made available, it is assumed the student did not meet requirements of the study programme.

Article 18
Examinations

1. Examinations should be held during the examination period of the semester in which the classes are given. During this period, the teacher offers dates of the examination in accordance with the rules published in the Study and Examination Code of the University. The examining teacher offers the dates no longer than two weeks before the end of the semester, so that students have the opportunity to space examinations evenly during the entire examination period. The dates and maximum number of students for each date are announced in SIS. The number of dates must be appropriate to the number of students. If both the teacher and the student agree, the examination can be held outside the examination period.
2. If the student does not come for the examination on the date he/she signed for without a serious excuse or reason, he/she is not given a mark and the number of remaining dates for the examination lowers by one. The teacher determines the validity of the reason of absence.
3. In the case of an excessive number of students taking an examination, the dean can decide on an additional teacher. The dean can also decide on another teacher other than the initial teacher.
4. Rules for the examination are specified and announced by the teacher at the beginning of the semester during the first month of teaching. Requirements for the examination are based on syllabi of subjects published in SIS. If a credit and an examination are required in the study plan for the respective subject, then obtaining the credit is the requirement for taking the examination if the study plan does not specify differently.
5. Before the actual oral examination, the student has the right to adequate preparation.
6. The student or the teacher has the right to request that the re-sitting of an examination be held with a board of examiners chosen by the dean.
7. A combined examination is held in front of a board of examiners. The student registers for a combined examination at the Study department on the date set by the schedule of the academic year.

Article 19
Acceptance of credits during matriculation from Bachelor to Continuing Master Study

On the basis of the student's written application the dean usually accepts credits in subjects or their equivalents, gained during the Bachelor Study, for the Continuing Master Study provided that the following conditions are fulfilled

1. if courses in the study branch of the Continuing Master Study are required or optional core,
2. if credits gained in the courses during the Bachelor Study are above the number of credits required for successful completion of the Bachelor Study,
3. if the courses are not required in the Bachelor Study Programme.

When judging the equivalence of courses the procedure will be the same as with an application for recognition of study requirements.

Article 20
State Final Examination

1. The student must apply for the State Final Examination or its part in writing at the Study department on the date set by the dean.
2. The defence of the Bachelor's thesis is part of the State Final Examination of the Bachelor Study. The defence of the Diploma thesis is part of the State Final Examination in the Master Study.
3. The Board for the State Final Examination has at least five members; there is a chairperson and at least one vice-chairperson who can fully substitute for the chairperson. The Board has the right to decide if the chairperson, or vice-chairperson, and at least two members of the Board are present. A record that the State Final Examination or its part took place is made out, and the chairperson, or vice-chairperson and all the present members of the Board sign it.
4. The chairperson of the Board designates at least one external examiner who writes a report on the submitted Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis. The chairperson enables the student to acquaint him/herself with the report(s) no later than five days before sitting for the examination.

Article 21
Bachelor's and Diploma thesis

1. The student who has met the requirements given by his/her study plan is qualified for assignation of the Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis.
2. The student who has chosen the topic of his/her Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis applies for setting the topic through SIS. If the department that assigns topics agrees with supervision of the thesis, the head of the guaranteeing department sends the signed form on setting the Diploma thesis to the Study department on the date prescribed. On this basis, the dean assigns the Diploma thesis to the student. The dean is responsible for assignation of a sufficient number of topics. Apart from assigned topics, the student has the right to propose the assignation of an additional topic.
3. A student can, under extenuating circumstances, ask to change his/her thesis topic or his/her supervisor of the Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis. This is only allowable once.
4. The supervisor of the Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis can ask the dean, under extenuating circumstances, to be removed from supervising an assigned Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis. If the dean agrees the application is obligated to assign another supervisor for the Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis.
5. If the study plan requires a credit in the Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis, the supervisor of the Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis can confirm that the credit was earned by work done in the previous semester. When the credit is not gained, the supervisor of the Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis can propose cancellation of the assignment of this thesis to the dean. The student must then ask for a new topic.
6. The Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis must be submitted in an appropriate form in the Czech (Slovak), or English language. It must include an abstract in the Czech (Slovak), or English language. If the dean agrees, the Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis can be written in another language.
7. The student will submit the Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis in the required form to the chairperson of an appropriate Board for the State Final Examination on the date prescribed by the dean. First, the chairperson decides, after the submission of the thesis, whether he/she will admit it for the defence. If not, the thesis is considered as if it were not submitted. The student can file an appeal against the decision to the dean. If the thesis is admitted for the defence, the chairperson of the Board appoints the external reviewer of the Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis and proposes the date of the defence. The supervisor and the reviewer submit reports on the thesis within a time limit that will allow the student to acquaint him/ herself with them at least five days before the defence.
8. The Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis is evaluated and marked by the Board taking into consideration the evaluation of the supervisor and the reviewer of the thesis.
9. If the student does not defend the Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis, he/she can either rewrite it and submit it on any future available date, or he/she can ask to be assigned a new Bachelor's (Diploma) thesis; in both cases no more than twice.

Part III
Details for organization of study in Doctoral Study Programmes

Article 22
Boards for Specialization

1. The content of Doctoral Study, in particular Doctoral Study Programmes, is specified, and its execution organized (also in the partner's research facilities) by the Boards for Specialization (hereafter BS). The rector, on the recommendation of the dean and after the comments of the Research Board of the Faculty, both designates members of the BS to hold the office and can remove them from it. The BS has at least five members, two thirds of which must be professors or associate professors, one third persons other than members of the academic community of the Faculty, at least one of whom belonging to the academic community of the University. The chairperson of the BS is elected by its members.
2. In addition, a Board for the Doctoral Study Programme (hereafter BDSP) is established for each study branch given in the Doctoral Study Programme and is the Sub-board of the BS for the respective study branch. The BDSP proposes the content of Doctoral Study in the respective study branch and checks its execution. Members of the BDSP are chosen from among teachers and research workers of the Faculty or other research workplaces, and they are designated to hold the office and are removed from it by the dean after agreement of the Research Board of the Faculty. The chairperson of the BDSP is elected by its members.
3. The BS and the BDSP are usually established for five years. Members of the BS and the BDSP can be designated to hold the office repeatedly.
4. The BS on the basis of proposals of the respective BDSP specifies requirements for the state Doctoral Final Examinations. On the basis of these requirements the BDSP
   1. proposes the composition of the entrance examination boards and requirements for entrance examinations,
   2. prepares programmes of courses, seminars, lectures and other forms of Doctoral Study,
   3. evaluates and approves individual students study plans, and approves the topics of Doctoral theses,
   4. performs annual assessment of study requirements,
   5. proposes the Examination Boards for State Doctoral Examinations and defences of Doctoral thesis. The dean appoints members of these boards, who are full professors, associate professors, and specialists approved by the Research Board of the Faculty. The dean also appoints the chairperson, and one or more vice-chairpersons, who are members of these boards.

Article 23
Participation of partner workplaces

1. Participation of partner workplaces in financial, organizational and personal support for Doctoral Study, and their representation in the BS and the BDSP and examination boards is a matter of bilateral agreements between the Faculty and those workplaces, or rather a matter of common accreditation. The supervising workplace is then the workplace where the study plan is carried out.
2. Financial expenses connected with the realization of the study plan for Doctoral Study are paid within the framework of agreements from organizations which are participating in Doctoral Study.

Article 24
Admission Procedure

1. In the application form for Doctoral Study the supervisor expresses with his/her signature approval of the function as supervisor. The head of the supervising department confirms with his/her signature that the supervising department can cover adequate material and financial matters of the student's research activity and also expresses agreement with the assigned supervisor. In the application form the BDSP confirms their agreement with the proposed topic of the Doctoral thesis, with the supervisor, and with the supervising department.
2. During the admission procedure, the applicant must prove his/her ability to study in the relevant branch, and to do independent scientific research. The future supervisor has the right to take part in the admission procedure. The dean can exempt from the specialized part of the entrance examination.
3. The committee has a secret ballot at a closed session to determine the result of the entrance examination. The majority of votes of the members present is deciding. The number of members of the board present must not be less than three. In case of a tie, the chairperson's vote is the decider.
4. If the dean decides against the admission Board proposal, he/she acquaints the admission board and the respective BDSP with his/her reasons.

Article 25
Supervisor and external advisor

1. The supervisor advises the doctoral student when making up the individual study plan and solving the given research topic. The BDSP and the head of the supervising department approve the supervisor, and the dean appoints him/ her after comments of the Research Board of the Faculty. The appointment depends on the supervisor's agreement to perform this function.
2. The supervisor can suggest the designation of an external advisor from among pedagogical, research, or specialized employees of the Faculty or partner workplaces or other organizations, who thanks to his/her specialized knowledge or methodological or technical skills is able to help the student during a certain period of his/her Doctoral Study. The advisor is appointed by the dean based on the proposal of the BS of the Faculty and after the external advisor's previous agreement.

Article 26
Enrolment

When enrolling, the student will submit the individual study plan which was put together in co-operation with his/her supervisor. The individual study plan must be recommended by the respective BDSP.
1. An individual study plan includes
   1. the list of chosen courses, seminars and lectures,
   2. the time schedule of sitting for examinations and gaining credits,
   3. the assigned topics of the Doctoral thesis,
   4. assumed dates of research work periods,
   5. further study requirements.

Article 27
Assessment and changes of course of study

1. The supervisor evaluates the student once a year and he/she submits the report to the BDSP. On the date prescribed the BDSP passes the supervisor's report, together with its point of view, to the Board for Specialization for approval, and then to the dean. The report states that the student
   1. has fulfilled the individual study plan,
   2. has not fulfilled some parts of the individual study plan with no valid reasons given,
   3. has not fulfilled requirements prescribed by the study programme under article 2 (1) (b) of the Study and Examination Code of Charles University in Prague.
2. The student who has not fully fulfilled his/her individual study plan due to reasons worth special consideration is also evaluated in accordance with article 1 (a).
3. In the case under article 1 (b) the BS, on the proposal of the BDSP, decides how to remedy mentioned deficits; the case under article 1 (c) is considered as if requirements of the study programme were not fulfilled.
4. Details of the student's individual study plan for a further year of study are usually the part of the report.

Article 28
Study abroad

1. Working at research facilities abroad can be a part of the Doctoral Study.
2. On the proposal of the BDSP, the dean can credit examinations passed during Doctoral Study abroad as examinations prescribed by the individual study plan.

Article 29
State doctoral examination

1. The Examination Board for the State Doctoral Examination must have at least five members. The chairperson of the Examination Board is usually the head of the supervising department, or the person designated by him/ her, who is assigned by the dean of the Faculty. At least one member of the Board must not be a member of the academic community of the Faculty. At least two members of the Examination Board must be full professors, or research workers with the degree of DrSc. or DSc. At least two members must be from other than the supervising department. One of the members of the Examination Board is usually the supervisor. The State Doctoral Examination can be held if the chairperson and at least two other members of the Board, one of which at least must be from another than supervising department, are present.
2. The Examination Board discusses the result of the examination behind closed doors. The examination is evaluated with the mark "passed" if more than a half of the votes are affirmative. For passing the State Doctoral Examination, at least 3 affirmative votes are needed.
3. The chairperson must submit the date and the place where the State Doctoral Examination will be held at least one month before the examination takes place.

Article 30
Doctoral thesis and its defence

1. The defence of the Doctoral thesis can be held only after passing the State Doctoral Examination.
2. The Doctoral thesis must be submitted in the required form in the Czech (Slovak) or English language. The thesis must include an abstract in the Czech (Slovak) or English language. If the dean agrees, the thesis can be also written in another language.
3. A thematically homogeneous collection of publications in journals supplemented by a unifying commentary can also be submitted as a Doctoral thesis.
4. The student submits for the defence
   1. the certificate of the State Doctoral Examination,
   2. a short curriculum vitae with basic personal data,
   3. a minimum number of copies of the Doctoral thesis prescribed by the Board for Specialization,
   4. the author's report and annotation of the Doctoral thesis,
   5. a list of publications or papers accepted for publishing and their possible quotations,
   6. documents showing the successful completion of a compulsory examination in the English language.
5. The dean determines further materials needed for the defence; among these may be reports on the Doctoral thesis from at least two reviewers, and the supervisor's report on the applicant and on the thesis.
6. During the preparation of the Doctoral thesis defence the dean appoints, on the basis of a common proposal of the chairperson of the Defence Board for Doctoral thesis and the chairperson of the relevant BDSP, two reviewers (at least one of them from a different department than that which supervised the student), and a Sub-board, in front of which the defence will be held. If agreement on the proposal can not be reached, then the dean appoints the reviewers and the Sub-board. The Sub-board consists of the chairperson who is usually a chairperson or one of the vice-chairpersons of the Defence Board, and at least four other members of the Defence Board; at least two of those people must be from other than the supervising department, and at least one person must not be a member of the academic community of the Faculty. A member of the Sub-board must not be either the supervisor or the external advisor of the student whose Doctoral thesis will be defended.
7. If the student submits his/her Doctoral thesis, and if all prescribed documents are available, the dean sets the date and the place of the defence on the proposal of the chairperson of the Board in front of which the defence will be held.
8. The date of the defence must be announced and published in an appropriate form at least one month before it will be held. During this time, the Doctoral thesis is free for public observation at the Study department. The announcement on the defence is sent to the chairperson and members of the appointed Sub-board, reviewers, supervisor, and the student.
9. The defence can be held if the appointed chairperson of the Sub-board and at least its four other appointed members (at least two of them must be from different than the supervising department, and at least one must not be a member of the academic community of the Faculty) are present. Evaluation of the Doctoral thesis is discussed at a closed session in which the chairperson, members of the Sub-board present, reviewers and the supervisor take part. All the members of the Sub-board present and reviewers have the right to vote in a secret ballot. The thesis is evaluated with "passed" if more than a half of the votes cast are affirmative.
10. If the Doctoral Study is carried out on the basis of a written agreement between the University and a foreign university on the training they have in common, then the agreement can specify requirements on the defence of the Doctoral thesis (members of the committee, the place of the defence, the language in which the thesis must be submitted, etc.). In this case the dean appoints the Board ad hoc for the defence of the Doctoral thesis in accordance with the fact that Czech representatives will be appointed out of an appropriate Defence Board (again on the basis of the common proposal of the chairperson of the Defence Board and the chairperson of the respective BDSP). The defence is valid if its course meets the requirements of the agreement.

Part IV
Transitional and Final provisions

Article 31
Transitional provision

The rights and requirements of the students enrolled at the Faculty in Master Study programmes with the standard five-year study period are given in the existing Study and Examination Code of the Faculty before this Regulation of Study and Organization of Study goes into effect if the Study and Examination Code of the University does not determine differently.

Note

Only the Czech version of these regulations is in force; the English version has been added for the student's benefit. If there is any discrepancy the Czech version will take precedence.