Palacký University in Olomouc

Palacký University Olomouc (UP) is an internationally respected and scientifically and academically highly productive university in Central Europe. Founded 22 December 1573, it is the second-oldest university in the Czech Republic and the oldest one in Moravia. For 450 years it has contributed to the intellectual wealth of society and to its scientific, cultural, and social development.

Every year 23,000 students study UP’s eight faculties, which provide over a thousand combinations of Bachelor’s, Master’s, and doctoral study programmes. Virtually every discipline is on offer, in teacher training, law, theology, physical education and sports, the humanities, social sciences, and arts to those in natural, medical, and health sciences. The UP credit system is fully compatible with international ECTS.

The university operates a number of modern science and research centres employing renowned international teams. In 2021, a university institute was established, the Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), bringing together teams from the CRH, RCPTM and IMTM science centres. Michael Kohajda has been UP Rector since May 2025.

Palacký University Olomouc also focuses on “third mission” community engagement and service activities via educational and socio-cultural events. Since 1966, it has been organising the unique festival of popular science films Academia Film Olomouc (AFO). It founded a popular science centre, Fort Science, and runs the UPoint information centre and shop in the city centre. Since 2021, the university has established a Sustainability Office – Sustainable University, has created the UP Sustainable Development Strategy and is responsible for its implementation. Great emphasis is being laid on international relations and internationalisation. In the global university rankings, UP is regularly ranked among the top three Czech universities.