Study obligations

Study obligations

The study program is organized in both a full-time and combined form. The study obligations of each student and the timetable for their fulfilment are determined by the individual study plan. During the first six semesters of their study, the students complete prescribed courses and other academic responsibilities in the form of publishing, active participation in international conferences, and internships abroad. By the end of the eighth semester at the latest, they pass a state doctoral examination. The study is completed by defending the dissertation. Further details on the organization and content of the studies are governed by the Rules for the organization of PhD Studies at the Institute of International Studies FSV UK and by other relevant faculty regulations.

In matters of their studies, the students contact primarily their supervisor and, additionally the designated employee of the IMS Secretariat (iveta.honigerova@fsv.cuni.cz) or possibly the program's director  (michal.kubat@fsv.cuni.cz).

THE STRUCTURE OF STUDY REQUIREMENTS

For the International Area Studies PhD program, the following study requirements are prescribed to be fulfilled:

  • Theory and Practice of Academic Work
  • Methodology of Social Sciences
  • Methodology of Territorial Studies
  • Doctoral Seminar
  • Publishing
  • International Conferences
  • Foreign Language
  • Study Abroad/Internship
  • Regular Consultations 
  • IMS Doctoral Conference
  • State Doctoral Exam
  • Dissertation Defense 

The study requirements of each student and the timetable for their fulfilment are determined by the individual study plan (ISP - see the section below).

For detailed information about the study requirements see the Rules for the organization of PhD Studies.

INDIVIDUAL STUDY PLAN (ISP)

After enrolling in the program, students immediately contact their supervisor and prepare an Individual Study Plan (ISP) following the model ISP and submit it to SIS by the end of November of that academic year at the latest. The ISP is subsequently discussed and, where appropriate, approved at the January Subject Area Board meeting. The ISP is processed in an electronic form, which is available in SIS. It must contain the following study requirements: JTD001, JTD002, JTD004, JTD005, JTD006, JTD008, JTD008, JTD009, JTD010, JTD011, JTD012, JTD013, JTD014, IMS doctoral conference, small dissertation defence and dissertation defence, possibly other study requirement imposed by the Subject Area Board, program’s director or the supervisor (especially JTD020). The ISP explicitly specifies which exams (taken during previous education) are recognized as fulfilling the requirements of doctoral studies. Photocopies of relevant Certificates (e.g. report cards, records in a university index or study information) are submitted by the students to the Faculty's Student Services Office.

In the ISP, all study requirements are scheduled to meet the standard period of study, i.e. eight semesters. The schedule of study requirements is scheduled in SIS according to the principles established by these Rules, in such a way as to make clear in which semester the specific study requirements are to be fulfilled. Students follow the template ISP when filling out ISPs, possible exceptions shall be consulted with their supervisor and the program’s director.

Yearly Assessment of study and specification of ISP

Each academic year (a specific date will always be set by the program’s director), students complete a yearly study assessment in the SIS, in which they capture the course of study in the past academic year in detail and justify any shortcomings in the ISP. On this basis, the supervisors will assess the course of study and propose measures to improve the learning outcomes, including, if necessary, reducing the scholarship of the student concerned for a specified period. The evaluations and supervisors' proposals are then assessed by the Subject Area Board, which will accept appropriate decisions, including student assessments.

The Subject Area Board assesses students at its June meeting. In case of giving a grade of B, the relevant student is re-assessed at the following January meeting of the Subject Area Board. In the case of a completely unsatisfactory course of study, the Subject Area Board may give a grade of C and thus propose that the Dean of the Faculty terminates their studies for failing to fulfil their study requirements.