Charles University was founded in the year 1348. During the almost 670 years of its existence it has undergone a number of changes. It is currently a publicly-funded university which comprises a total of seventeen faculties, of which three are theological, six are faculties of the humanities and social sciences, five are medical and three are dedicated to the sciences. Within the University great importance is attached both to the classical scientific disciplines (philosophy, theology, mathematics) and more modern disciplines (ecology, computer science, social work, gender studies), as well as disciplines oriented towards a specific profession (e.g. the medical and health sciences, law, pharmacy, teaching, social work, translation and interpreting, archiving).
Its mission is to enable its students to obtain a quality education, as well as to play an active role in the public discourse on social and ethical issues and the shaping of civic society. Charles University positions itself as a research university which emphasises the Humboldtian principles of unity and freedom of research and education and autonomy and applies them to a broad spectrum of fields in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and medicine. The University therefore considers it essential that education in all types of degree programs is founded on scientific knowledge based on research carried out by academic and research staff, either independently or in cooperation with their domestic and international peers.
Charles University strives to encourage students to think critically, guide them to make the most of their potential and provide them with a comprehensive university education so as to enable them to succeed in demanding professions. It offers a wide range of degree programmes taught in Czech, all of them are free of charge. Assistance in the field of language training for both applicants and students is offered by the Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies, a constituent part of the University, which offers Czech language courses for foreigners, including online courses. In addition, more than sixty degree programmes at the University are taught in a foreign language, predominantly in English, with more than half of these comprising doctoral programmes. Fifteen degree programmes are taught in cooperation with foreign universities, and European universities in particular. The University also offers a number of opportunities for the joint supervision of dissertations, especially in cooperation with Francophone universities (France, Belgium, Switzerland).
