University General

Text

One of the oldest universities in Europe was Charles University, founded in 1348 by Charles IV. Students could study at the Faculty of Arts, Theology, Medicine, and later also at the Law Faculty. The Faculty of Arts aimed to expand basic church education and teach grammar, rhetoric, dialectics, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music. By the early 15th century, more than 1000 students were enrolled, accommodated in collegiate housing known as colleges. 80% of the students at the Prague university came from abroad, particularly from Hungary, Austria, Poland, and Germany.
In medieval times, one could graduate from university with a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctor’s degree. The requirement included an oral examination before a committee. Some fields of study took longer than today – up to more than 10 years. Upon passing the final exams, the student received a diploma.
Since its inception, the university has been led by a rector and deans of individual faculties, along with members of the university council and numerous instructors: professors and lecturers. Among its lecturers and prominent figures was Jan Hus, who also held high positions at the university.

Artwork