The University of West Bohemia (UWB) is the only public institution of higher education based in the Pilsen Region. Currently, the University has nine faculties consisting of more than sixty departments and three institutes of higher education. More than 12,000 students studying at the University can choose from a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral study programs, the choice of the form of study, i.e., a full-time, part-time, or combined form, being a matter of course.
The educational activities at the University of West Bohemia include life-long learning programs for the general public in the form of lectures, courses, and comprehensive training programs, including the famous Third-Age University. In addition to its educational activities, the University is also an important center of Research and Development, with massive investment in University development and construction activities on the University campus. The University campus, in particular, is currently undergoing very dynamic changes – with an annex to the University Library building, and new buildings of the European Centre of Excellence NTIS and the Centre of Technical and Natural Science Education and Research growing in front of our eyes. These investments are the largest in the history of the University of West Bohemia. In the future, they will form a very promising base for even more intensive cooperation with universities all over the world, not only in the field of Research and Development but also in student mobilities. The newly constructed research centers will strengthen the links between the University and businesses and other institutions. This is also one of the reasons UWB scientists involved in various disciplines and UWB students win prestigious awards for their activities every year.
The University of West Bohemia has a significant position among universities in both the Czech Republic and Europe. This is documented by the ECTS Label (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System designation) the University received in late 2012, which confirms that the study environment at the University of West Bohemia fully matches European standards. As a result, the University has officially entered the area of European tertiary education. Three different types of degree can be studied at UWB:
- Bachelor study programs are intended to provide a qualification to enter a profession using current knowledge and methodologies, and they also contain selected theoretical knowledge. The standard length of study, including practice, is 3 or 4 years (180 or 240 ECTS credits). The study is completed with a state final exam, which generally includes the defense of the bachelor thesis. Graduates receive the academic degree "bakalář" (i.e., "Bachelor"), abbreviated as "Bc." or "bakalář umění" (i.e., "Bachelor of Arts"), abbreviated as "BCA.".
- Master study programs are intended to provide theoretical knowledge based on the current state of scientific knowledge, research, development, and practical application. They also aim to develop creative skills. The standard length of study is 2 - 3 years (120 - 180 ECTS credits). Master study programs that do not follow after a bachelor study program last five years (300 ECTS credits). The study is completed with a state final exam, which includes the defense of the master thesis. Graduates receive the academic degree "inženýr" (i.e., "Engineer") abbreviated as "Ing." or "magister" (i.e., "Master"), abbreviated as "Mgr." or "magister umění" (i.e., "Master of Arts"), abbreviated as "MgA.".
- Doctoral study programs are focused on scientific research and independent creative activity in research or development or on independent intellectual and creative activity in the arts. The standard length of a doctoral study program is 3 or 4 years. The study follows an individual study plan under the guidance of a supervisor. The study is completed with a state doctoral exam and defense of the doctoral thesis. Graduates receive the academic degree "Doktor" (i.e., "Doctor"), abbreviated as "Ph.D." Only the Faculty of Philosophy and Arts applies a credit system to doctoral study programs.
A study program can be full-time, combined, or distance. In the full-time form, most of the teaching is carried out through regular lectures, tutorials, seminars, practical laboratory lessons, consultations, etc. The student is in direct contact with the lecturers. The distance from the study is multimedia-based without direct contact with the lecturers. The combined form of study incorporates methods from full-time and distance forms. This means that the study comprises regular consultations and self-study, supported by study facilities, including e-learning tools.
The study at particular faculty follows internal regulations. The study system is fully compatible with ECTS, which was introduced soon after the university foundation. This system enables the student to decide partly about the study's pace and content within the chosen study field and also extend the student's specialization. It allows choosing from a wide range of subjects offered by all university faculties.
Many credits evaluate every subject according to its importance. To accomplish the study program, students have to acquire a certain number of credits in both compulsory and optional subjects.
The offer of optional subjects joined in thematic areas provides an opportunity to study certificate programs. Accomplishing this program, students get after graduation not only the degree in the given field of study but also the certificate.
As the credits are transferable within the ECTS framework, university students can participate in their studies at a university abroad.
The University of West Bohemia in Pilsen was given accreditation of the European federation of engineering associations FEANI to provide academic degrees EUR ING to the graduates of technical faculties. The University of West Bohemia in Pilsen provides a wide variety of courses for both Czech and international students. It is the only institution of higher education in this part of the country which prepares students for careers in engineering (electrical and mechanical), science (computer science, applied mathematics, physics, mechanics), education (both primary and secondary), economics, philosophy, politology, archaeology, anthropology, foreign languages, law and public administration, art and design. The administration connected with academic matters is the responsibility of the Faculty Offices of Academic Affairs.
The research and development activities are based on the departments. There are, however, also interdepartmental and interfaculty teams which to work on projects closely related to the fields offered in the Ph.D. study programs at the Faculties of Applied Sciences, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering. In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in the Faculty of Education's research activities and the three new faculties established in the last ten years - Faculty of Economics, Law, and Philosophy, and Arts. Research and development focus on three types of activities:
- Research, aimed at obtaining knowledge of underlying phenomena and observable facts.
- Applied research, directed towards a specific and practical goal.
- Experimental development, which employs existing knowledge obtained through research or based on experience.
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