TIMELINE OF CHARLES UNIVERSITY IN PRAGUE

1347

studium generale is established by the Pope Climent´s privilege

1348

the Czech and Roman King Charles IV establishes by a foundation  charter on April 7 a university consisting of four faculties (faculty of liberal arts, faculty of medicine, faculty of law and faculty of theology)

1366

Charles IV establishes a college for twelve masters (Charles College)

1372

faculty of law sets up an autonomous university of lawyers (which continued up to 1418/19)

1383

Charles College obtains a house at the Old Town (Carolinum) which serves as a residence of the whole university from the reconstruction in 1383/86

1409

on January 18, King Wenceslas IV declares so-called Decree of Kutna Hora which enables the Czech university nation to gain a preferential position (apart from others, a university in Leipzig rises by the departure of members of other university nations)

1417

the university stands up for Hussitism (Utraquist confession) and is punished by a pontifical ban on activity

1419

university activity is restricted by Hussite wars (until the beginning of the 17^th century only one faculty exists- faculty of arts)

1556

Jesuit Order comes to Prague and establishes the academy in Clementinum where philosophy and theology is taught (1616 it becomes a university)

1609

beginning of university reforms: fixed academic regulations have been established, professor celibacy canceled, university management and economy in charge of the bursar

1618

the university takes active part in resistance movement against the catholic ruler

1622

after the defeat of the Protestant Estates the Charles university is handed over to the Jesuits

1638

so-called secular faculties (faculties of medicine and law) with their home in Carolinum are under the direct supervision of the state

1654

by the Decree of Union of Ferdinand III Carolinum and Clementinum are merged into a single university  (Universitas Carolo-Ferdinandea) containing four faculties

1718

architect F.M.Kanka has finished the Carolinum reconstruction in the Baroque style

1773

the Jesuit order canceled

1781

the beginning of university reforms: 1781 non-catholics are permitted to study, 1783 the university becomes a state institution and is deprived of its own economy, 1784 the university jurisdiction is canceled, German language is established an educational language by the academic regulations

1848

the university demands academic freedoms and equal rights of Czech and German languages in education

1849

law on the university organization increases authority of the academic senate and of professorial staff, study regulations (1850) introduce PhD and final-year examinations (with JUDr., MUDr., PhDr., ThDr. academic titles)

1882

February 28, by the decree of the Emperor Francis Joseph I the Charles-Ferdinand university is divided into two independent universities with Czech and German languages in education

1920

by the law on the situation of the two Prague universities the Czech university is given the name “Charles University“; the faculty of sciences is established

1939

after the Nazi occupation the German university (Deutsche Karlsuniversität  Prag) is incorporated into the Reich, after the student demonstrations on November 17 the Charles University and other Czech institutions of higher education are closed

1945

the Charles University activity starts again – branches of faculty of medicine in Pilsen are established (from 1958 Faculty of Medicine of CU) and in Hradec Kralove (from 1959 Faculty of Medicine of CU), the German university was abolished

1946

the Faculty of Education activity starts (1959-1964 is not part of CU)

1948

a student demonstration against the totalitarian regime ( followed by a mass exclusion of non-communist teachers and students from the university)

1950

a law on universities cancels an academic autonomy and subordinates their activity to a communist party supervision; the Theological Faculty is separated from the Charles University (1950-1990 as an independent faculty in Litomerice)

1952

the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics is established

1953

the Faculty of Medicine is divided into the faculty of general medicine, hygiene and paediatrics (from 1990 called first, second and third faculty of medicine)

1959

the Institute of Physical Education and Sport becomes part of the CU (from 1966 the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport)

1960

the Institute of Culture and Journalism is established (from 1965 the Faculty of Culture and Journalism, from 1990 the Faculty of Social Sciences)

1968

the University takes part in the events of so-called Prague Spring, after 1969 a new wave of repression of nonconformist teachers and students   

1969

the Pharmaceutical Faculty in Hradec Kralove is established

1989

a university-student demonstration in memory of the events of November 17, 1939 initiates a fall of the communist regime

1990

the Czech Law on Universities restores the university autonomy and freedom of research and education

1991

three theological faculties -Catholic, Protestant and Hussite- are  statutorily incorporated into the Charles University 

2000

the Faculty of Humanities is established

2000

the Charles University contains 17 faculties (3 are outside Prague):

Catholic Theological Faculty

Protestant Theological Faculty

Hussite Theological Faculty

Faculty of Law

1^stFaculty of Medicine

2^ndFaculty of Medicine

3^rdFaculty of Medicine

Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen

Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove

Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove

Faculty of Arts and Philosophy

Faculty of Sciences

Faculty of Mathematics and Physics

Faculty of Education

Faculty of Social Sciences

Faculty of Physical Education and Sport

Faculty of Humanities