Credit system

Charles University uses the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). The ECTS is a credit system based on relative student workload. This involves lectures, practicals, and self-study and includes all the work required to prepare for examinations.

The basic allocation of academic credits in ECTS is 60 credits per year of studies, i.e. 30 credits per semester. Where a course is completed by a study requirement other than an examination (e.g. course work or a seminar paper), it is not graded, but is recorded as a Zápočet (Credit), with only two possible outcomes: Pass or Fail.

Information for students who began their studies between 2017-2023:

The number of credits earned is checked at the end of each academic year in September. This means that you can stagger the requirements in the winter and the summer semester according to your preferences. For example, you can complete only 20 credits in the winter semester and 40 credits in the summer semester. However, it is recommended that you complete the requirements on a continuous basis so that you earn approximately 30 credits each semester.

To graduate, a total of 180 credits is required for the entire study.

Information for students who began their studies in academic year 2024/2025:

In order to pass into the 2nd (summer) semester you need to earn at least 15 credits in the 1st (winter) semester. Semester credit check is done after the end of winter semester exam period. Another credit check is done at the end of the 2nd (summer) semester exam period in September. You need to have at least 50 credits in total to pass into your 2nd year of studies.

Semestral credit check is done only in the 1st year of your studies. From 2nd year the amount of earned credits is checked after the summer semeter exam period of each academic year. This means that you can stagger the requirements in the winter and the summer semester according to your preferences. For example, you can complete only 20 credits in the winter semester and 40 credits in the summer semester. However, it is recommended that you complete the requirements on a continuous basis so that you earn approximately 30 credits each semester.

To graduate, a total of 180 credits is required for the entire study.

Number of credits needed for passing into the next unit of study

Students who began their studies in academic year 2024/2025: