Faculty of Mechanical Engineering CTU in Prague
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UnclaimedThe Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague, a leading Central European engineering school founded in 1864.
Last updated September 26, 2026
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Overview
The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering CTU in Prague (Fakulta strojní ČVUT) is one of the oldest and largest engineering faculties in Central Europe, forming part of the Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT), the region's oldest civilian technical university. Its origins trace to 1864, when mechanical engineering was established as a separate field of study at the Prague Polytechnic, a year now regarded as the faculty's founding date. The faculty is headquartered in Prague, with parts of its operations still located in the historic building on Karlovo náměstí, constructed between 1872 and 1874. The faculty provides university-level technical education and trains highly qualified specialists. It offers a structured study system including six- and eight-semester bachelor's programmes, four-semester follow-up master's programmes, and doctoral programmes. Bachelor's programmes in Mechanical Engineering cover fifteen profiles for the 2024/2025 academic year, ranging from 3D printing, biomechanics, energy engineering, informatics and automation, aircraft and space technology, management and economics in industry, mathematical and physical modelling, materials engineering, computational and experimental mechanics, robotics and mechatronics, manufacturing technology, building environment engineering, sustainable processing machines and technologies, to vehicles and drives of the 21st century. Follow-up master's programmes include Applied Sciences in Mechanical Engineering, Automation and Instrumentation Engineering, Transport and Handling Technology, and Energy and Process Engineering, among others. As of the 2021/2022 academic year, the faculty comprises 17 departments and 3 centres for specialised research. It is deeply involved in applied research and industry collaboration, with activities spanning robotics, additive manufacturing, adhesive development for medical applications, hydrogen technologies, cryogenics, nuclear power plant simulators, and automotive engineering. Student teams such as CTU Robotics and eForce Prague Formula compete internationally, and the faculty maintains strong partnerships with industrial firms including Bosch Powertrain and Škoda. The faculty also hosts public events and exhibitions, and its experts participate in national discussions on the future of manufacturing. The faculty is a state-owned public institution, part of ČVUT, and does not operate as a commercial company. It is funded through public sources and research grants, and it awards degrees including the engineer (inženýr) title, a tradition dating back to the 19th century. Its alumni and staff have contributed to Czech engineering and science, and the faculty continues to expand its research infrastructure, including the recent launch of a nuclear power plant simulator centre.
History
The history of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is intertwined with that of the Czech Technical University in Prague, the oldest civilian technical university in Central Europe. Instruction in mechanics of solid and fluid bodies and mechanical drawing began at the Czech Estates Engineering School in 1718. After the school was transformed into the Polytechnic Institute of the Kingdom of Bohemia in 1803, additional subjects were added. In the academic year 1863/1864, a new statute was approved at the Polytechnic Institute, leading to significant changes. The year 1864 is considered the founding year of the present Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, as a separate mechanical engineering department was created with its own head and revised curricula that included excursions and practical exercises. Among the first professors were Gustav Schmidt, Čeněk Hausmann, Jan Tille, and František Antonín Linhart Herget. In the mid-19th century, interest in technical studies grew, and the Prague Polytechnic was, after the Vienna institute, the most attended technical school in Europe. In 1869, the Polytechnic Institute was divided into two separate institutes, German and Czech. For the Czech institute, a new building was constructed between 1872 and 1874 on Karlovo náměstí, where part of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is still located today. The Polytechnic Institute was nationalised in 1875. Three years later, a system of two state examinations was introduced, and graduates were granted the right to use the title "engineer"; the institute was renamed the Imperial Royal Czech Technical University in Prague. The system of state examinations was practised from 1880 until 1950. In 1901, lectures in electrical engineering were introduced, and the school was granted the right to award the degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences. From 1904, rectors were addressed as "magnificence" during their term and were soon permitted to wear an honorary chain at academic ceremonies. The importance of teaching aids grew, and Josef Božek, a notable Czech designer and talented mechanic at the Prague Polytechnic, contributed to the development of collections and teaching aids. In the early 20th century, professors August Salaba and Jan Zvoníček made significant contributions to the school's history. In the academic year 1913/1914, the mechanical engineering department was divided into a machine construction section and an electrical engineering section. After World War I, further changes occurred. In 1920, the school was named the Czech Technical University in Prague and divided into separate colleges, creating the College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. After the establishment of the independent state, 22 professors worked in 26 separate institutes. After the closure of Czech universities in 1939, teaching was restored in 1945. In 1950, a law on universities was issued, followed by a new statute for ČVUT. Technical universities were divided into faculties and further into departments. Scientific aspirantures were introduced, and after successful dissertation defence, scientific degrees of Candidate of Sciences (CSc.) and Doctor of Sciences (DrSc.) were awarded. ČVUT had 8 faculties: civil engineering, architecture and building construction, mechanical, electrical, chemical, agricultural and forestry, special sciences, and economic sciences. Later, the chemical, agricultural, and economic sciences faculties were separated into independent universities, but new faculties were established at ČVUT – radio engineering, forestry, geodesy, and economic engineering. From 1960, ČVUT had four faculties: mechanical, civil, electrical, and technical and nuclear physics. The transformed Faculty of Mechanical Engineering was established in 1951 with 12 study fields: building, transport and lifting machines, automobiles and tractors, agricultural machines, piston machines, refrigeration technology, boilers, design, construction and operation of thermal and energy equipment, heating and ventilation, chemical and food machines, engineering technology, machining, machine tools and forming machines, precision mechanics and optics, and operational practice. Full-time study lasted 10 semesters – 8 semesters of basic study and 2 semesters of specialisation. Extraordinary forms of study were also introduced: evening, distance, and special external. By the late 1950s, the faculty had 18 departments and cabinets for military preparation and political economy. In the early 1980s, its name changed to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of ČVUT. Until 1998, there were 33 departments, which were transformed after 10 years into 15 institutes. In the academic year 2021/2022, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering consists of 17 departments and 3 centres for specialised research.
- 2021
In the academic year 2021/2022, the faculty consists of 17 departments and 3 centres for specialised research.
- 1998
Until this year, there were 33 departments, which were transformed into 15 institutes.
- 1980
The name changes to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of ČVUT.
- 1960
ČVUT has four faculties: mechanical, civil, electrical, and technical and nuclear physics.
- 1951
The transformed Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is established with 12 study fields.
- 1950
A law on universities is issued, followed by a new statute for ČVUT; faculties and departments are established.
- 1939
Czech universities are closed; teaching resumes in 1945.
- 1920
The school is named the Czech Technical University in Prague and divided into separate colleges, creating the College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering.
- 1913
The mechanical engineering department is divided into machine construction and electrical engineering sections.
- 1901
Lectures in electrical engineering are introduced, and the school is granted the right to award the degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences.
Products and positioning
A leading Central European public engineering faculty combining a long academic tradition with applied research and strong industry ties.
Bachelor's programme in Mechanical Engineering (Strojní inženýrství)
Six- and eight-semester bachelor's programme with 15 profiles for 2024/2025, including 3D printing, biomechanics, energy engineering, informatics and automation, aircraft and space technology, management and economics in industry, mathematical and physical modelling, materials engineering, computational and experimental mechanics, robotics and mechatronics, manufacturing technology, building environment engineering, sustainable processing machines and technologies, and vehicles and drives of the 21st century.
Follow-up master's programme in Applied Sciences in Mechanical Engineering
Two-year, four-semester programme with four specialisations: Applied Mechanics, Biomechanics, Mathematical Modelling in Engineering, and Mechatronics.
Follow-up master's programme in Automation and Instrumentation Engineering
Two-year, four-semester programme with two specialisations: Automation and Industrial Informatics, and Instrumentation Engineering.
Follow-up master's programme in Transport and Handling Technology
Two-year, four-semester programme with four specialisations: Motor Vehicles, Rail Vehicles, Internal Combustion Engines, and Transport Technology.
Follow-up master's programme in Energy and Process Engineering
Two-year, four-semester programme with two specialisations (details truncated in source).
Doctoral degree programmes
Doctoral study programmes are accredited at the faculty.
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