Charles University

The Collegium Carolinum (Latin name of Charles University) is the oldest university in Central Europe, founded in 1348 by Charles IV. The author Franz Kafka enrolled at Charles University in 1901 for eight semesters of law school.

During the brief lifetime of democratic Czechoslovakia (1918- 38), academic life was liberalized. After the period of Nazi occupation, during which all universities were closed, normal University life began again in 1945. After the Velvet Revolution of 1989, the idea of strict planning according to state ideology was abolished and academic freedom and a high degree of autonomy from the state became the goals of the new era. Charles University has hosted international students from its beginnings until today.