Information for Employees

As of 2 September, the operation of the university follows a university traffic-light system.

MU faculties, institutes, and offices may declare a higher level of alert than the university as a whole. 

The current spring 2020 exam period will last until 30 September 2020. The autumn semester will start on 5 October 2020 and end 17 January 2021 (see the approved  2020/21 academic year schedule). 

Currently, in-person teaching and other study activities are limited to a maximum of 50 people. This measure is valid from 1 September to 17 January 2021. The limit of 50 people does not apply if at least a two-metre distance between the present people can be ensured.

Information regarding the prolonged exam period of the spring 2020 semester:

The Decision of the Rector of Masaryk University No. 4/2020 established special academic rules for the spring 2020 semester. It allows the use of virtual and remote teaching and examining tools. If distance teaching methods are unsuitable for a particular course, the programme guarantor, in agreement with the teacher, will decide on compensation in the form of block classes announced for the period from 16 May. For courses that can no longer be taught at all, students will be given an exceptional “S” evaluation. This means that this course is considered to be successfully completed (the students receive the appropriate number of credits). This mark does not count towards the student’s grade average and will be specifically described in the Diploma Supplement. 

The deadlines for submitting final theses are set at the individual faculties so that students have the opportunity to complete their studies in the spring 2020 semester. Additionally, the decision recommends faculties announce additional dates in September for the final state examinations so students can choose which date suits them best. Exceptions for certain faculties may apply, and therefore students should seek out information directly from their faculty. 

All forms of course completion are possible, and the MU Crisis Board recommends courses be completed in distance mode. Deans may further decide that state examinations (for bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees) or thesis defences can be carried out in distance mode.

The issue of distance examination is regulated by the guidelines contained in Methodological Guideline for Distance Examination and Course Completion, as well

Consultations and other communication with colleagues and students will be carried out at the maximum use by remote communication tools (telephone, e-mail, teleconferencing through MS Teams, etc.). 

It is recommended to make maximum use of electronic tools available at it.muni.cz. Further recommendations and instructions for teachers can be found at is.muni.cz/do/mu/samostudium. Various electronic databases are accessible from it.muni.cz/en/closed-libraries-wont-stop-you. 

Academic ceremonies can be attended by a maximum of 500 people at the same time. Facemasks are required if there are more than 100 people. 

It is recommended that no more than 100 people be present in canteens (this number may be adjusted in keeping with valid legislation). Canteens are closed to the public.

Ready-made meals must be ordered two days in advance (via WebKredit or MobilKredit), but when you come to canteens without food ordering, you can choose from at least five meals.

In canteens, social distancing must be practised, and facemasks worn. Please find more details here: https://www.skm.muni.cz/menza?en.

Decisions about restrictions on the presence of employees at their workplaces are now made by the heads of MU’s economic units.

Entering the Czech Republic

Foreigners from other EU countries:

• As of 15 June, there are updated rules for entering the Czech Republic. The Czech government has divided European countries into three categories based on the risk of infection. Foreigners from countries shown in green on the map may enter the Czech Republic without producing a negative test for COVID-19 or undergoing compulsory quarantine; foreigners from countries shown in orange or red must provide evidence of a negative test for coronavirus or go into quarantine for 14 days. 
  • The current map of European countries according to risk level
• The Ministry of Health evaluates the data once a week and updates the classification of countries based on the development of the epidemiological situation in each country. Please check this information regularly.
• For details on entering the country, see the website of the Ministry of the Interior. 

You can be tested for COVID-19 in the Czech Republic. For more details, please contact the Regional Public Health Department in Brno. See also current testing locations in Brno.

Foreigners from non-EU countries:

Entering the Czech Republic

• Foreigners from “green non-EU countries” can enter the Czech Republic without a negative test for COVID-19 or mandatory quarantine. Foreigners from these countries may enter the Czech Republic without any restrictions:
  • Andorra, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, Vatican City and the United Kingdom.
  • Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand and Tunisia.
  • This list is constantly updated; current information can be found here.

See also information for incoming exchange students (autumn 2020).

Visa information

For details on the issuing of visas and residence permits, please see the information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Travelling outside the Czech Republic

The MU Crisis Board recommends Masaryk University full-degree students from abroad complete their spring 2020 studies at universities abroad primarily in distance mode and travel abroad only in absolutely necessary cases, for example, if travelling back to a university is a fundamental condition for the successful completion of a study placement.

Masaryk University full-degree students going for placements abroad in autumn 2020: please find more information on the website of MU's Centre for International Cooperation

Czech Law allows for all MU collective bodies to operate remotely. If it is not necessary to have a face-to-face meeting, the MU Crisis Staff recommends using electronic tools to hold meetings. These tools must enable secret and public voting.

These restrictions do not apply to administrative or other proceedings (including disciplinary proceedings). Wherever possible, the MU Crisis Staff recommends holding distance meetings.

The coronavirus epidemic affects not only the physical but also the mental health of humans. If you need the help of a psychologist in the current crisis, you can use the online consultation offer.

Employees of Masaryk University can also make use of psychological counselling. At this moment, you can contact the psychologists Lubomir Smekal and Ludmila Piňosová (via e-mails lsmekal@gmail.com and lidpinos@gmail.com) or you can contact anyone from the team of the Department of Psychology and Psychosomatics of the Faculty of Medicine of MU. They are ready to consult via email or Skype.

You can also read this recommendation for the public written by Miroslav Světlák, Head of the Department of Psychology and Psychosomatics (Masaryk University) and or special website of the Department of Psychology of FSS MU. 

Further detailed information and measures are also issued by individual faculties of Masaryk University, the Centre for International Cooperation and the Teiresias Centre:

If you experience symptoms of emerging respiratory disease (fever above 38°C, cough, breathing problems), stay at home, limit contact with others, contact a doctor via phone or email or other established helplines and follow their instructions. If you do not have a doctor in the Czech Republic, do see the list of English-speaking doctors in Brno here. 

Helplines: 

• +420 724 810 106, +420 725 191 367 or +420 725 191 370: nonstop helpline of the National Institute of Public Health 
• 112: medical and rescue service (as well as fire and police service) 
• +420 777 44 86 86: Centre for International Cooperation, Masaryk University 

If you have trouble that operators of Czech helplines do not speak English, please contact the helpline of Centre of International Cooperation at Masaryk University.

Please find the details here.