Form of study: full-time
Duration of study: 3 years (6 semesters)
Language of instruction: Czech
Admission procedure: Successful participants of secondary school science competitions and secondary school professional activities are accepted without entrance exams. Other applicants take a written exam in biology. Foreigners are interviewed in Czech.
The Bachelor study programme Conservation of Natural Objects and Taxidermy is unique in the Czech Republic. It is designed to provide Bachelor university education in the field of conservation of natural objects (plants, insects) and taxidermy – that is, in the art of mounting animals (invertebrates and vertebrates – mammals, birds, fish, and amphibians), as well as in their presentation to professionals and the general public (creating exhibitions) and their subsequent management and maintenance. The programme also deals in detail with the biological, technical, economic, and legal aspects of this industry. For the most part, it focuses mainly on practical gaining of experience and improvement in conservation of natural objects and mounting methods. It aims to prepare graduates who will be able to hold the positions of curators of collections, professional taxidermists, organizers of exhibitions at the national and international level. They can also find employment at elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions with focus on natural science, where they can maintain historical collection materials.
The state final exam is taken before the committee. Students defend their bachelor's thesis and takes exams in two compulsory subjects (Animal Anatomy; Toxicology and Waste Management) and one optional subject (Preparation of Birds; Preparation of Mammals; Preparation of Fish, Reptiles and Amphibians; Preparation of Invertebrates, Plants and Fungi).
Graduates of the bachelor's degree programme Conservation of Natural Objects and Taxidermy will receive the academic degree Bc. and they can apply for some of the related fields of follow-up master's studies or go into practice, in particular:
- in the academic sphere and in other institutions with focus on science, research, development, and innovation in the field of mounting and conservation of natural objects;
- as administration and expert staff in the management of natural history collections;
- in expert positions in countries of the temperate, tropical, and subtropical zone in the fields of nature conservation with a focus on regulated fee-based game hunting, trapping of invertebrates, and collection of other natural products associated with the creation of stuffed animals;
- as designers of additional wooden parts and elements of more complex stuffed exhibits,
- staff of public benefit nature conservation and landscape protection organizations, or monument conservation,
- in the private or public sphere dealing with game management, trophy hunting, or mounting.
The quality of FLD graduates is also evidenced by published research on the unemployment rate of university graduates. For FLD graduates, the value has been very low for a long time; the latest figure is 1.6%.
You can find specific information about the subjects of this programme in the attached study plan.