THIRD FACULTY OF MEDICINE
OF CHARLES UNIVERSITY

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC


Contact:

Professor Stanislav Reinis
36 Young Street East
Waterloo, ON.
N2J 2L5
CANADA

PHONE: 1-519-883-1854
FAX: 1-519-883-1471
EMAIL: sreinis@watarts.uwaterloo.ca

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

What is the Third Faculty of Medicine?
Charles University was founded on April 7, 1348, by the Czech king and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles IV. At the end of the 14th century, the University had already achieved recognition around Europe. It was comprised of all the faculties that were recognized in the Middle Ages: the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Theology and Faculty of Medicine. The Faculty of Medicine flourished since that time and produced a number of illustrious scientists, the physiologist J. Prochaska in particular, and in the 19th century, Jan Evangelista Purkyne, known in world literature as Purkinje. Several important names were associated with Charles University - Albert Einstein, Hans Selye and many others.

In 1953, three Faculties of Medicine were established in place of the medical school founded more than six centuries ago. The prevailing part of the curriculum of the Third Faculty of Medicine takes place at the Faculty Hospital in Prague 10 - Kralovske Vinohrady. The Third Faculty of Medicine offers a comprehensive medical education in general medicine with a preventive orientation. The student may graduate after six year course of study and after passing the state examinations. The graduates are awarded the title of MUDr (Medicinae Universae Doctor, Doctor of All Medicine).

In the academic year 1991/1992, the Faculty began to offer courses to foreign students in English. The Faculty provides lectures, practical training and examinations in English. No knowledge of Czech is expected, but a course in Czech is offered, and by the third year of the study, foreign students are expected to master Czech in order to communicate with patients and the hospital staff.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE APPLICANTS

To qualify for admission to the Third Faculty of Medicine, students must have a General Certificate of Secondary Education, School Leaving Examination Certificate or equivalent such as A-level, baccalaureate, Abitur, Matura or a similar document. Graduates of a high school, gymnasium, lyceum or a Community College are considered for acceptance. Also, students with one or more years of university education are accepted.

Candidates applying to the Third Faculty of Medicine of the Charles University in Prague from outside of the Czech Republic submit their application to:

International Education Centre
36 Young Street East
Waterloo
Ontario, Canada
N2L 2L5

Applications will be considered on the basis of the enclosed Application Form with all supporting documents. All questions on the first and second page of the questionnaire must be answered including the complete legal surname and all given names. Make sure that the given names appear in the same order as they appear on any supporting document.

If you have a previous surname, then ensure that the name appears on the form so that the Centre may match the submitted documents with the application.The copies of legally certified diplomas and transcripts of all marks from secondary school, official transcripts of university records and a typed resume should be submitted together with the application. An application service fee of US$100 should be made payable by cheque or money order to the International Education Centre. If the admission examination is written in Prague, the application fee is US$ 30.

Applicants will be invited to a written test and to a personal interview with the Admission Committee nominated by the Third Faculty of Medicine. The examination will be written in Toronto or in Prague at an address and date which shall be announced to the applicants. The interviews will be held at the same day. The personal interview is expected to demonstrate that the applicant is mature enough to participate in the medical studies.

TUITION AND OTHER FEES

In the academic year 1997/1998, the tuition fee to the Third Faculty of Medicine is US$ 9,500. The student is expected to bring health insurance from his home country, or pay general Insurance for Foreigners in the Czech republic which amounts 1,200 Kc (US$ 48) per month. Textbooks, accommodation and meals are not included. The cost of living is inexpensive, and living expenses are estimated at US$ 300 per month. The students are expected to get vaccination against hepatitis B becaouse since the beginning of the first year, they will work with patients

OTHER INFORMATION

The accepted students usually register for the coming academic year in the second half of September. (In 1996, the sudents register on September 15 and lectures begin on or around October 1). The Fall Semester lasts till the beginning of January and is followed by an examination period and holidays ending around February 20. The Winter Semester lasts from February 20 till the end of May, and the examination period ends at the beginning of July.

There is a sizeable American - Canadian community in Prague composed mostly of young people. Some estimates go into tens of thousands of people. They have their own clubs, restaurants, one daily newspaper and several weekly and monthly journals. They are the favourite foreign group living in the Czech Republic.

The weather is similar to the weather in Southern Ontario or the northern United States, but the winter is shorter. There was very little snow in 1994 and in 1995.

IMPORTANT ADDRESSES

All applications should be sent to:
Professor Stanislav Reinis, M.D, Ph.D.,
International Education Centre,
36 Young Street East,
Waterloo, Ontario
N2J 2L5 Canada
Phone: 519/883-1854
Fax: 519/883-1471
e-mail: sreinis@watarts.uwaterloo.ca


The Calendar of the Third Faculty of Medicine and other important information is on the Internet:
http://watarts.uwaterloo.ca/~sreinis/lectures.html

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

This section contains a list of topics in Biology, Physics and Chemistry required for the multiple choice examination. In general, the knowledge expected is at the level of textbooks in Grade 13, or at the university introductory level. Examples of examination questions are available on request.

1. BIOLOGY

The recommended textbook is:

Curtis, H., Barnes,M.:
Biology, Fifth Edition,
World Publishers Inc.,
New York, 1989.
ISBN 0-87901 -394 - X

I. GENERAL BIOLOGY

1. Biological Sciences.

2. The Cell.

3. Multicellular organisms.

4. Vital functions of higher organisms.
a) Plants.

b) Animals and Humans.

5. Genetics

6. Origin and evolution of life.

7. Ecology

II. THE CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS (TAXONOMY)

III. BIOLOGY OF THE HUMAN SPECIES

2. PHYSICS

The recommended textbook is:

Sternheim, M.M., Kane, J.W.:
General Physics, 1991 or later
John Wiley, New York,
ISBN 0 - 471- 52278 - 3

The test consists of multiple choice questions with four choices of which one is correct. many questions are related to physical quantities and units. Knowledge of SI systems and units in all areas of physics is expected. The main thematic areas are:

1. Structure and Properties of Matter:

2. Mechanics:

3. Electricity:

4. Magnetism:

5. Wave motion:

6. Light and radiation:

3. CHEMISTRY

The recommended textbook is:

Hill, J.W., Feigl, D.M.:
Chemistry and Life, latest edition.
Macmillan Publishing Company, New York.
ISBN 0 - 02 - 354970 - X

Seese, W.S., Daub, G.H.:
Basic Chemistry.
Prentice-Hall Inc., Engle-wood Cliffs, N.J.
ISBN 0 - 471 - 52278 - 3

General and Inorganic Chemistry

1. Structure of the atom.
2. Types of chemical bonds. Electronegativity and oxidation number.
3. Terminology of inorganic and organic compounds.
4. Types of chemical reactions.
5. Chemical equations and their balancing. Stoichiometry.
6. Definition of oxidation and reduction. Oxidizing and reducing agents. Balancing oxidation - reduction equations.
7. Thermochemistry (heat of chemical reactions).
8. Chemical equilibrium and equilibrium constant. Le Chatelier's principle.
9. Rate of chemical reactions. Factors influencing the rate of a chemical reaction.
10. States of matter.
11. Solutions and solubility. Concentration values and related calculations.
12. Electrolytes and nonelectrolytes. Ionization. Arrhenius and Bronsted-Lowry definitions of acid and base.
13. Ionization of water. pH and pOH. Calculations of pH.
14. Hydrolysis of salts.
15. Electrolysis. Electrolytic cells.
16. Periodic table of elements. General characteristics of the groups.
17. The utilization of the periodic table for predicting oxidation numbers, properties, chemical formulas and types of bonds within the compounds.

Organic Chemistry

1. Classification of organic compounds. Isomers.
2. Saturated, unsaturated and aromatic hydrocarbons.
3. Organic halides.
4. Alcohols, phenols and ethers.
5. Aldehydes and ketones.
6. Carboxylic acids (mono - and polyfunctional).
7. Functional and substitutional derivatives of carboxylic acids.
8. Amines. Nitro compounds.
9. Important five- and six-membered heterocyclic compounds.
10. Important polymers.
11. Monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides.
12. Triglycerides. Fats and oils.
13. Amino acids. Peptides. Proteins.
14. Purine and pyrimidine bases. Nucleosides. Nucleotides. Nucleic acids.

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