When going to study in the Czech Republic, future doctors are usually surprised by the large number of medical faculties at Charles University. How come there are so many? We decided to tell you why it is like this and explain how the faculties differ from each other.
Studying and teaching of medicine at Charles University began from the day it was founded by Charles VI in 1348. The Faculty of Medicine was one of the first four faculties of the university. This was until 1945, when branches of the Faculty of Medicine were established in Pilsen and Hradec Králové, which became independent faculties in 1958 and 1959, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Faculty of Medicine, located in Prague, in 1953 was divided into the Faculty of General Medicine, the Faculty of Hygiene and the Faculty of Pediatrics.
Later, in 1969, the Faculty of Pharmacy was established in Hradec Králové.
But that’s not all of it! Three faculties in Prague changed their specialized names to ordinal numbers in 1990 and became the First, the Second and Third Faculty of Medicine.
If you are confused, here is a list of all six modern medical faculties at Charles University:
Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové (Lékařská fakulta v Hradci Králové)
Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové (Farmaceutická fakulta v Hradci Králové)
The oldest medical faculty with a long tradition, with the widest clinical base. It is located right in the beating heart of Prague's city centre. With its five clinical facilites, it is the biggest medical faculty in terms of the size of its student collective. Besides General Medice and Dentristry, it also offers Addictology as a separate follow-up masters's programme.
Located in Prague
Official website: www.lf1.cuni.cz
What is taught at the faculty:
General Medicine (Studium všeobecného lékařství)
Dentistry (Studium zubního lékařství)
Degrees in the field of health care without medical qualifications (Studium zdravotnických nelékařských studijních programů):
Addictology (Adiktologie)
Ergotherapy (Ergoterapie)
Nutritional therapy (Nutriční terapie)
Obstetrics (Porodní asistence)
Physiotherapy (Fyzioterapie)
Read more about programs at the First Faculty of Medicine
The Second Faculty of Medicine takes pride in its favourable teacher-student ratio. Such Individual approach only enhances the quality of the teaching methods. The additional focus on paediatry allows students access to the biggest clinical facility in the country and one of the biggest in all Europe, the University Hospital in Motol.
Located in Prague
Official website: www.lf2.cuni.cz
What is taught at the faculty:
General Medicine (Studium všeobecného lékařství)
Physiotherapy (Fyzioterapie), including: occupational therapy, social rehabilitation, balneotherapy, exercise therapy, etc.)
Nursing (Všeobecné ošetřovatelství)
Nrsing in Pediatrics (Pediatrické ošetřovatelství)
Read more about programs at the Second Faculty of Medicine
The Third Medical Faculty stands out for its unique way of teaching. So-called "modules" link related subjects together into a problem-based curriculum. Modules are taught simultaneously, allowing students to have more comprehensive understanding the subject while stimulating the individual approach to study. The acquisition of practical skills is emphasised as students meet patients already from the first year onwards.
Located in Prague
Official website: www.lf3.cuni.cz
What is taught at the faculty:
General Medicine (Studium všeobecného lékařství)
Intensive care (Master’s degree)
Physiotherapy, dental hygiene, medical nutrition, nursing
Read more about programs at the Third Faculty of Medicine
The Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen is located in a modern campus in close proximity to the clinical facility. The campus includes a state-of-the-art Biomedical Centre dedicated to research on the replacement, support, and regeneration of vital organs. In the Simulation Centre, students practice emergency and intensive care using latest technologies.
Located in Pilsen
Official website: www.lfp.cuni.cz
What is taught at the faculty:
General Medicine (Studium všeobecného lékařství)
Dentistry (Studium zubního lékařství)
Read more about programs at the Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen
Science and research, together with educational activities, are the main priority of the faculty. Research activities include all major areas of biomedicine. In addition to basic research, the faculty develops applied research, including integration of knowledge and technology into the commercial sphere.
Located in Hradec Králové
Official website: www.lfhk.cuni.cz
What is taught at the faculty:
General Medicine (Studium všeobecného lékařství)
Dentistry (Studium zubního lékařství)
Nursing (Ošetřovatelství)
Read more about programs at the Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové
The Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové is one of our smaller faculties with family atmosphere and vibrant student life. Together with several other institutions of heiger education, it lends this beautiful college town a youthful touch. The faculty also developed a wide range of academic supports while stimulating the modernization of its facilities.
Located in Hradec Králové
Official website: www.faf.cuni.cz
What is taught at the faculty:
Pharmacy
Laboratory diagnostics in healthcare
Bioanalytic laboratory diagnostics in healthcare
Read more about programs at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové
"I came to the Medical Prep course in ÚJOP because I did not cope well at the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University.
The preparatory year gave me enough time to revise as well as learn new skills to take care of myself.
In addition to the English language, I also improved the Czech language enough to travel around the Czech Republic.
I love the fact that the school is located in a spa town. When I realized I will study in a castle on the riverbank, it seemed pretty interesting to me.
The school organizes lots of events like Christmas, Halloween, or St. Nicholas' day. It helps us to socialize with different people in our diverse community of students from both the English and Czech preparatory programs."
"First, I applied to General Medicine at Charles University directly, but unfortunately, I did not pass. This Pre-Medical course really helped me to prepare for the entrance exam – I can say it now, as I am actually accepted to the university now.
One of our teachers here is actually a professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University that I wanted to go to. This is a really big advantage. The teachers and curators are very supportive. They helped me also with my school reports, nostrification, and visa."
"I did not pass my entrance exam to Charles University, but I did not want to give up on my dream. My agency advised me of this Preparatory program.
The course did really help me, as now I have got to the university I wanted. I am confident; I do have more knowledge than I did a year ago.
I find medical ethics really useful, as this topic I have not really learned about previously. We covered practical situations that can happen in the everyday life of a doctor. Now I have the chance to consider different aspects, and I will be able to make a well-thought-out decision faster.
ÚJOP is really flexible - for personal reasons, I could not join the program at the beginning. The staff here is very caring and made sure I felt welcomed and settled down well. I feel ÚJOP is a safe place to be and express myself freely.
My initial expectation was that the preparation year would be long and sad waiting for my university, but I was wrong. It is funny, but I am grateful that I did not get to the university straight away. Now I have more knowledge, more friends that are coming with me to the university. This year was definitely worth it!"
"I applied directly to the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University one year ago. During the exam, I realized there were topics I had never learned at school. I did not pass the exam. I was recommended the preparatory program at ÚJOP CU.
Throughout this year, I have learned subjects and topics I had not covered in biology, chemistry, or physics so far. This knowledge gave me the foundation to pass the entrance exam now, and I have been accepted for next year's studies.
Poděbrady is a nice and safe town. I recommend everyone to come here and study. During the year here, I visited many other places in the Czech Republic, such as Pilsen, Prague, and Hradec Králové. It is easy for foreigners to travel and navigate here. I also had time to go to other countries in Europe. Here we are in the center of Europe, so catching a train, bus, or plane is pretty cheap and easy. During the year, I found a group of new friends who helped me feel at home. We love watching football matches together and having a lot of fun in our free time."
"I was exploring my options to go to universities all over Europe. In the Czech Republic, I found the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Hradec Králové. It seemed pretty interesting. But that time it was too late because the admission was closed. So, I was about to lose one year, but I continued my search on the website, and I found the Medical preparatory course.
My main objective was to increase my knowledge and become more aware of the country.
Poděbrady is a small and pretty town; I familiarized myself with the environment: trains, buses, food, communication, banking system. Even though the Czech language is not that easy, with the support of the teacher, I acquired the basic knowledge and can get on with life here easily."
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