Nature inspires us to explore, innovate, and share knowledge across biology, chemistry, geology, geography, environmental sciences, and their interdisciplinary intersections and applications.
This idea lies at the heart of the Faculty of Science, Charles University - a place where the tradition of the oldest university in Central Europe meets the dynamism of modern science.
The Future: Science for Society
Today, the natural sciences are at the forefront of addressing global challenges, including climate change, biodiversity conservation, the sustainable use of resources, and rapidly advancing technologies. The Faculty of Science, Charles University, is actively helping to shape this future.
We develop new methods of environmental monitoring, contribute to pharmaceutical research, investigate processes within the Earth and across the landscapes around us, analyse the transformation of cities and societies, and build interdisciplinary teams that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries.
Our goal is not only to make discoveries but also to share knowledge - with students who will shape the future of Czech and global science, and with society as a whole as it navigates profound and rapidly changing challenges.
Talented students and the continuous development of high-quality teaching are also supported by the Faculty of Science Foundation Fund, established in 2017. Its mission is to provide students with the best possible conditions for study, help them gain international experience, and foster collaboration with distinguished international scholars who share their expertise and experience with the Faculty community.
Excellence in Research, Quality Education, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, and an Open Environment
One of the Faculty’s greatest strengths is the breadth of scientific disciplines brought together under one roof. Students benefit from a comprehensive education and naturally work across disciplinary boundaries, with collaboration among biologists, chemists, geographers, physicists, and mathematicians forming an integral part of both teaching and research.
The relatively small size of many study programmes allows for an individual approach and early involvement of students in laboratories, research teams, and grant-funded projects. From the first years of their studies, students have opportunities to work alongside leading experts in their fields.
We are proud of the Faculty’s international outlook. As an active member of the 4EU+ Alliance, we offer a range of degree programmes and courses taught in English and support student mobility through Erasmus+ and other international exchange programmes.
Alongside academic excellence, the Faculty places strong emphasis on developing the skills required in today’s labour market. Through the Centre for Lifelong Learning, students can strengthen their soft skills and interdisciplinary competences, preparing them for a wide range of professional careers.
A Modern Faculty with a European Reach
The Faculty of Science, Charles University, is inseparably linked with the historic Albertov Campus—the University’s largest campus and one of the symbolic centres of Czech science and academic life. It was here that the Velvet Revolution began, and Albertov became a lasting symbol of student activism and civic engagement.
The campus offers a unique combination of teaching, research, and public space. It is home to university museums, a botanical garden, an open-air amphitheatre, and specialised teaching and research facilities. The Faculty also operates its own boathouse in Prague’s Podolí district, expanding opportunities for sports and field-based learning while contributing to the Faculty’s distinctive identity.
The University’s strategic development includes several major projects that extend beyond the Faculty itself. These include BIOCEV, a biotechnology and biomedicine research centre, as well as the emerging Albertov Biocentre and a new building in Plavecká Street, both of which will further strengthen the Faculty as a modern centre of education, research, and academic life.
The Albertov Biocentre project brings together the scientific and educational capacities of several faculties and strengthens participation in European research networks. The Faculty also actively supports international student mobility, cooperation with prestigious universities worldwide, and engagement with secondary schools, academic institutions, and the wider public.
Student Life
Studying at the Faculty of Science is about much more than academics. A vibrant student community is supported by numerous student societies and organisations, and students actively participate in Faculty governance, including through equal representation in the Academic Senate, reflecting their role as genuine partners in decision-making processes.
In addition to Faculty-based activities, students can benefit from the wide range of services offered by Charles University, including Kampus Hybernská, a university space in the centre of Prague that serves as an important hub of student life and interfaculty collaboration. It features a café, podcast and recording studios, a makerspace, a music venue, and a diverse programme of cultural, educational, and community events. The campus fosters collaboration, personal initiative, and the exchange of ideas, enabling students to pursue interests beyond their academic disciplines.
Students can also participate in a wide range of sports courses, including activities based at the Faculty’s own boathouse in Podolí, as well as numerous field excursions.
Student life at Charles University is further supported by a network of university residence halls, which provide affordable accommodation for both Czech and international students. For many, university housing offers not only a practical place to live during their studies but also an opportunity to meet peers from different faculties and become part of a broader academic community.
Since the Beginnings of Science
The roots of the natural sciences at Charles University date back to the fourteenth century. The Faculty of Science was established as an independent faculty in 1920 in response to the rapid development of modern natural sciences in the Czech lands. Thanks to its long tradition and the scope of its research activities, Charles University has become one of the leading scientific institutions not only in the Czech Republic but throughout Central Europe.
The Faculty was founded by scholars who shaped entire scientific disciplines - from the pioneers of Czech geology and biology to distinguished chemists and geographers who explored and mapped the world at a time when such endeavours were far from commonplace. The Faculty has also been associated with internationally renowned figures such as Albert Einstein, Nobel Prize laureate Jaroslav Heyrovský, Otto Wichterle, and the eminent chemist Antonín Holý.
This tradition remains very much alive today. The Faculty of Science, Charles University, is an institution built on strong historical foundations while continuously evolving to meet the needs of contemporary science and society.