1347

A privilege granted by Pope Clement VI opens the way for the establishment of a Studium generale in Prague

1348

By the Charter of 7 April, the King of Bohemia and of the Romans Charles IV founds a university with four faculties (liberal arts, medicine, law, and theology)

1366

Charles IV founds a college for twelve masters (Collegium Caroli)

1372

The Faculty of Law establishes a separate university for jurists (which remains in existence until 1418/19)

1383

The Collegium Caroli acquires a building (the Carolinum) in the Old Town, which has served as the seat of the University ever since its reconstruction in 1383/86

1409

On 18 January, King Wenceslas (Václav) IV issues the Kutná Hora Decree, by which the Czech university “nation” is given priority status (the departure of the other university “nations” leads to the establishment of a university in Leipzig)

1417

The University claims allegiance to the Utraquists (Hussites) and is punished by the Pope, who imposes a ban on its activities

1419

The Hussite wars curb the activities of the University (until the beginning of the 17th century, only one faculty – liberal arts – remains open)

1556

The Jesuit Order arrives in Prague and founds an academy in the Clementinum where philosophy and theology are taught (promoted to university status in 1616)

1609

Start of University reforms: fixed rules of study are introduced, celibacy of professors is abolished, the bursar is put in charge of the administration and management of the University

1618

The University takes an active part in the resistance against the Catholic monarch

1622

Following the defeat of the Protestant Czech Estates, the University is handed over to the Jesuits

1625

Answering a call from a Jesuit general, Rodrigo Arriaga arrives in Prague. He later goes on to become the most significant representative of Spanish scholasticism and Dean of the Prague Theological Faculty

1638

The faculties of medicine and of law residing in the Carolinum are placed under direct supervision by the state

1654

By the Decree of Union, Ferdinand III joins the Carolinum and Clementinum into one university (Universitas Carolo-Ferdinandea) with four faculties

1718

The architect F. M. Kaňka completes the reconstruction of the Carolinum in the Baroque style

1773

Jesuit Order abolished

1781

The start of University reforms: 1781- non-Catholics allowed to study; 1783 - the University is taken over by the state and divested of its own government; 1784 - University jurisdiction abolished; the rules of study establish German as the language of instruction

1837

Jan Evangelista Purkyně informs a scientific assembly in the Carolinum about his research into cells

1848

The University demands academic freedoms and the placement of the Czech language on an equal footing with instruction in German

1849/1850

The Act on the Organization of Universities gives greater powers to the academic senate and professorial staff; the study code introduces examina rigorosa and final state examinations (for the JUDr., MUDr., PhDr., and ThDr. titles)

1879

The outstanding physicist Ernst Mach, who worked in Prague for 28 years, becomes Rector of the Charles-Ferdinand University at a difficult time, amid negotiations about its division into German and Czech parts

1882

A decree issued by Emperor Franz Joseph I on 28 February divides the Charles-Ferdinand University into two independent institutions with Czech and German as their respective languages of instruction

1882

Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk is appointed extraordinary professor of philosophy by the Faculty of Arts of the Czech Charles-Ferdinand University

1911

Albert Einstein becomes professor of theoretical physics at the German Charles-Ferdinand University (until 1912)

1917

Bedřich Hrozný (later a professor at the Charles University Faculty of Arts) publishes his magnum opus The Language of the Hittites, thus laying the groundwork for Hittite Studies

1920

By an act of law stipulating the relations between the two Prague universities, the Czech counterpart is given the name “Charles University”; a Faculty of Science is established

1939

After the Nazi occupation of Bohemia and Moravia, the German University (Deutsche Karlsuniversität Prag) is incorporated into the Reich; following student demonstrations on 17 November, Charles University is closed together with other Czech higher education institutions

1945

The activities of Charles University are restored – branches of the Faculty of Medicine open in Plzeň (from 1958 the Charles University Faculty of Medicine) and in Hradec Králové (from 1959 the Charles University Faculty of Medicine); the German University is abolished

1946

Opening of the Faculty of Education (in 1959-1964 not a part of Charles University)

1947

Gerty Theresa Cori (born Radnitz) and Carl Cori, graduates of the Faculty of Medicine of the German University in Prague, receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of the process of the catalytic conversion of glycogen

1948

Student demonstration against the totalitarian regime (followed by mass expulsions of non-communist teachers and students from the University)

1950

The Higher Education Act abolishes academic autonomy and subjects the activities of higher education institutions to Communist Party control; the Theological Faculty is separated from Charles University (from 1950 to 1990 the seat of the independent faculty is in Litoměřice)

1952

Establishment of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics

1953

The Faculty of Medicine is divided into three separate faculties - General Medicine, Hygiene (Public Health), and Paediatrics (from 1990 under new names – the First, Second and Third Faculty of Medicine)

1959

The Institute of Physical Education and Sport is transferred under the control of the University (from 1966 “Faculty of Physical Education and Sport”)

1959

Jaroslav Heyrovský, professor at the Charles University Faculty of Science, is awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery and development of polarographic methods of analysis

1960

Institute of Adult Education and Journalism established (from 1965 “Faculty of Adult Education and Journalism”; from 1990 “Faculty of Social Sciences”)

1968

Jan Patočka appointed professor of philosophy at the Faculty of Arts

1968

The University takes part in the events of the Prague Spring; after 1969 there is a new wave of repressions of teachers and students who refuse to conform

1969

Establishment of Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové

1989

Student demonstrations to commemorate the events of 17 November 1939 bring about the fall of the regime

1990

The Higher Education Act restores universities’ autonomy and freedom of research and instruction

1991

Three theological faculties (Catholic, Protestant and Hussite) are incorporated into Charles University

2000

Establishment of the Faculty of Humanities

2000

Charles University comprises 17 faculties (3 located outside Prague):

Catholic Theological Faculty

Protestant Theological Faculty

Hussite Theological Faculty

Faculty of Law

First Faculty of Medicine

Second Faculty of Medicine

Third Faculty of Medicine

Faculty of Medicine in Plzeň

Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové

Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové

Faculty of Arts

Faculty of Science

Faculty of Mathematics and Physics

Faculty of Education

Faculty of Social Sciences

Faculty of Physical Education and Sport

Faculty of Humanities