Study-related Information (DD study)

The information below applies to exchange students who have been officially accepted and enrolled at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague.

 Core Study Principles at UCT Prague

Exchange students must familiarise themselves with the following general study principles for a successful academic experience at UCT Prague. Additionally, students should review the specific study regulations and guidelines for detailed information about their course of study. 

  Arrangement of the Academic Calendar

 In the Czech Republic, the academic year in higher education institutions typically follows a two-semester system, similar to many other countries. The structure of the academic year at UCT Prague is as follows:

•  Winter Semester: The winter semester at UCT Prague begins in September and runs until February. Students attend classes and lectures during this period, engage in practical sessions, and work on assignments and projects.
•  Summer Semester: The summer semester at UCT Prague starts in February and continues until June. Similar to the winter semester, students attend classes and participate in various academic activities during this time.
•  Exam Periods: At the end of each semester, there is an exam period during which students take their final exams or submit their major projects. The exam period can last several weeks, an essential time for students to demonstrate their understanding of the course material.
•  Academic Holidays: Besides the winter and summer breaks, national holidays and public vacations are observed throughout the academic year.

Note: the specific dates and details of the academic year can vary slightly between different universities and study programs. Therefore, exchange students are advised to check the academic calendar of UCT Prague and finish their studies according to the deadlines.  Additionally, the academic year in the Czech Republic aligns with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), making it easier for students to transfer credits between European universities.

 For more information, follow our webpage Academic Year.

What about classes?

Classes occur between 8:00–19:50 (8:00 AM – 7:50 PM). There may be long breaks between your classes; however, not that long that it would be worth going to the dormitories and back. You can relax in break/relaxation rooms called Respirium in building B.

Note: prolongation of study exchange must always be discussed with the Department of International Relations beforehand and in a timely manner!

  Study Information System (SIS)

 Study Information System (SIS) is a platform that UCT Prague uses to provide students with information regarding matters connected to their studies. You access SIS at the address: https://student.vscht.cz or through the university app EMIL (download here Android | Apple).

What You Can Find in SIS

• Schedule 
• Syllabuses of subjects 
• Enrollment in Exams 
• Grades 
• Personal Details 
  

The login and password are the same as in the school email (you will not be able to log in with the initial password!).

E-Learning

Courses at UCT Prague have their materials mostly on the e-learning portal (https://e-learning.vscht.cz). You will find presentations, recorded lectures and sometimes scripts or assignments/submissions of homework. You log in there with your school login and password.

  Study Plan and Schedule

During the application period, you already signed the Learning Agreement with UCT Prague and created your study plan according to the agreement that our institutions signed together..

The Dean's office will register you for the courses in the Student Information System, which you will get access to after receiving your login credential during Enrollment. You can check your schedule after you officially register yourself at UCT Prague.

The semester ends with fulfilling all subjects prescribed by the study plan and obtaining the number of credits corresponding to your Learning Agreement.

  School Email Address and Computer Network

The school email can be accessed at https://mailex.vscht.cz

Your school email, with the address in the form login@vscht.cz, will work immediately. We recommend checking this e-mail regularly as the official electronic communication between a student and the UCT concerning study matters occurs only through the assigned school email address.

Tip: you can set up the forwarding of information to your personal e-mail.

 As a student of the UCT Prague, you get an account in the computer network of the UCT Prague, which will allow you to:

• log in to the UCT computer network (computer study rooms, network drives ...)
• use UCT Wi-Fi "vscht"
• use the university e-mail address
• log in to the Study Information System (SIS)
• log in to the Emil app

Password Change

You will get the username (login) and the initial password on Enrollment Day from the Department of International Relations.  You have to change the initial password before using it. On Enrollment Day, you will be guided on how to do that.

 Download Password to UCT Prague Computer Network - in this document you can read how to change to password and what to do in case you forget your new password

   Academic Integrity and Ethics

Higher education institutions in the Czech Republic place significant emphasis on academic integrity and ethical behaviour. Plagiarism and academic misconduct are strictly prohibited and can result in severe consequences!

UCT Prague, under any circumstances, will not tolerate cheating and plagiarism during the examination period. Please remember this. UCT Prague is constantly trying to improve the quality of education, and it is our high priority to provide you with the best education. For that reason, professors and students must live up to their responsibilities. We are deeply convinced that integrity is essential to an authentic educational experience, so please prepare yourself for the exams as much as possible and ensure you can finish your study exchange without any problems.

Here is included  the Code of Discipline for Students of the UCT for you to review. We highly recommend reading it and familiarising yourself with the rules. If we receive information about a cheating accident during the exam or plagiarism has occurred, the Department of International Relations will immediately begin to investigate it and seek appropriate action.

  Assessment (Exam) Period

During the examination period, students' performance is evaluated through various assessment methods, including assignments, presentations, and quizzes. At UCT Prague, exams play a significant role in the evaluation process. These exams can take different forms—some being written tests, others being oral assessments. Particularly challenging subjects often encompass both written and oral components. In such cases, passing a preliminary test is a prerequisite for advancing to the final oral exam.

Professors provide advance notice regarding the type of exam and its requirements, allowing students to adequately prepare. 

How it works with exams:

• You schedule the exams yourself. It is up to you in which order you fulfil your duties, but your goal is to meet them all.
• Your professors will insert dates for exams in the SIS section EXAMINATION TERMS – tab Register
• You should be able to see the dates, times, and lecture rooms where the exam takes place.
• Registering for the term is similar to enrolling in courses. You pick any date you like (if it's not complete, of course) and press "Register" at the bottom.
• Now you should be able to see the registered exam in the section EXAMINATION TERMS – tab My dates.
• If you need to change a term after registering, it's not a problem. You can change it in SIS. However, there is usually a deadline (hours before the exam), and after that, you cannot change the date of the exam anymore. If you do not attend the exam, you lose the attempt, and your professor will mark it as F (Fail) in SIS.

If a student has failed to unregister from the examination for severe reasons, they may excuse their absence in advance (!) directly to the examiner. Unexcused absence or unrecognised excuse for absence from the exam is assessed by the classification "F".

A student has the right to two re-sits should they fail the first term of the exam. However, they must respect the terms announced by the department conducting the subject. The right to re-sit an exam expires if the student has not used the opportunity to take the exam within the regular examination period.

Note: You must understand how to complete your course successfully. Please ensure you have all the information you need from your professor and meet the prescribed exam dates and deadlines for your presentations and papers. Your lack of knowledge does not excuse you from missing the exam date or not fulfilling the proper study obligations. If you need help understanding or are unsure, always ask your professor, the Department of International Relations or your classmates. Your studies are your responsibility.

See below the 4 “types” of examination you must pass. The examination type is mainly connected to the complexity of a subject.

• Cr+ZK – Course-credit + Exam ⇒ mostly the hardest subjects; this is a two-level exam. During the semester,  you will be handing in homework or assessments or writing one or more course-credit tests. You must fulfil all duties/pass the tests, and your professor then marks a course-credit (Cr) as passed in SIS. At this point, you should check it in the SIS section SUMMARY OF EXAMINATION RESULTS. If you cannot see the mark there, contact your professor. Without this Cr in SIS, you won’t be allowed to attend the Exam (ZK).
•  ZK – Exam ⇒ all you need to do is to pass the exam in the examination period.
•  KZ – Marked course credit ⇒ this means that there is no Exam in the examination period. You usually finish this subject at the end of the semester. It is similar to the course credit; however, you get a grade for your assessments or tests.
•  Cr – Course-credit ⇒ credit-course means that you complied with requirements of the subject during the semester (typically just attendance). There is no exam and you will be evaluated according to requirements specific to the course.

 If you feel a bit lost, don’t worry. Your professor will explain the requirements for that specific subject in your first lecture.

Classification

At UCT Prague, we use the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).  Each course or module is assigned a specific number of ECTS credits, reflecting the workload required to complete it. One ECTS credit is typically equivalent to 25 to 30 hours of student work, including attending lectures, seminars, lab work, self-study, and exam preparation. A full academic year usually amounts to 60 ECTS credits, and one semester is approximately 30 ECTS credits. As far as international exchange students are concerned, we require 20 ECTS/semester.

The examination classification is published in the SIS by the examining teacher.

 As an ECTS credit is a standardised unit, students can easily transfer their credits from one institution to another within Europe. For example, if a student completes a course worth 5 ECTS credits at their home university and decides to study abroad for a semester, the host university will recognise those 5 ECTS credits toward their academic program.

When students study abroad or transfer credits, the host institution may convert ECTS grades into its local grading system. There is usually a conversion table that helps translate ECTS grades into the corresponding grades of the host institution.

Note: while the ECTS system ensures a standardised approach to grading and credit recognition, individual universities may have additional assessment methods, grading scales, or requirements specific to their courses and programs. Therefore, exchange students should familiarise themselves with the particular regulations and grading policies of UCT Prague for accurate assessment of their academic performance.

  Advice from fellow students

• Don’t waste your time! The exam period is usually around 5 weeks long (the spring exam period is a bit longer), which means 5 exams for 5 weeks.
• You have 3 attempts for each exam in one examination period and can enroll in the same course 3 times throughout your studies. This may sound helpful, but there is a catch! The fact that you have 3 attempts for the exam tempts our professors to make them more challenging. They don’t want us all to easily pass on the first attempt, and they know that a lot of people will come to the first attempt just to look at the test and to know what to expect when they arrive, better prepared next time. We do not recommend these tactics, but they work for some people. The most important message here is: Do not stress too much when you fail on your first attempt. It is just how it works around here, it happens to many people, and it is good to have this experience. Believe it or not, it will make you stronger. And the second thing is to consider your possible failures when planning your exams. Not everything might go just as you would wish it.
• Don’t postpone the most challenging exams! You need those the most and be done with them as quickly as possible.

   What to do at the end of the exam period...?

When you successfully passed all exams (or you have no more attempts for those you failed), and if you gained all required course credits at the end of the examination period, inform the Dean´s office.

  Student Support Services

ESN offer various support services to help exchange students succeed academically and personally. ESN members are volunteers, so please keep this in mind. They will help you with questions and problems you may encounter during your study stay. ESN will prepare a lot of informative events for you, as well as an online group where you can communicate with other students from abroad.