The application for study must include a dissertation project, a structured CV, and proof of knowledge of English and any other relevant languages.

The dissertation proposal should be no longer than 10 standard pages (18,000 characters including spaces; approx. 3,000 words), written in Czech or English, and must include the following sections:

• proposed dissertation topic;
• brief overview of the current academic debate on the topic, including its gaps;
• a detailed definition of the research problem and anticipated research questions or hypotheses;
• a proposal for the research procedure, including the methods considered and a work schedule;
• a standard list of literature cited in the project;
• a statement indicating whether the project has been consulted with the intended supervisor at IMS FSV UK.

Applicants may consult their topics in advance (in writing or, upon agreement, orally) with the Programme Director. The purpose of the consultation is primarily to assess the extent to which the dissertation topics considered by the applicants are in line with the professional focus of IMS FSV UK or its current research tasks.

The admission process consists of two rounds. In the first round, the admissions committee evaluates the quality of the project in terms of both content and form. In the second oral round, it then evaluates the applicants' ability to justify their chosen topic, clearly define it, and place it in a broader temporal, factual, and research context. In its evaluation, the admissions committee also takes into account any previous lecturing and publishing activities of the applicants. Part of the interview in the second round may be conducted in English. The second round always takes place in June of the relevant year according to the academic year schedule, and only applicants whose dissertation projects achieve a score of 16 or more out of a possible 30 points in the first round will be invited to participate.

Evaluation criteria:

Round 1

• Quality of the submitted project, its research relevance, and consistency with the research focus of IMS FSV UK (max. 30 points)

Round 2

• Originality of the chosen topic (max. 20 points)
• Ability to justify the topic and its place in current academic discourse (max. 30 points)
• Feasibility of the research project in terms of methodology, finances, and organization (max. 10 points)
• Previous research, lecturing, or publishing activities (max. 10 points)

The minimum score for admission is set by the dean, taking into account the number of applicants taking the entrance exam and the capacity of the faculty. Applicants enrolled in full-time study who do not reach the minimum score required for admission but do reach the minimum score required for admission to part-time study may be offered admission to this type of study.

Based on the applicant's request and the recommendation of the Programme Director, the dean may waive the entrance exam if the applicant is a member of a research team working on a project at IMS FSV UK and the applicant's dissertation research is part of this project.

You can submit your application here.

• The Area Studies doctoral programme is a unique study program that you will not find at any other university in the Czech Republic.
• The Area Studies doctoral programme provides a highly demanding multidisciplinary education, combining approaches from all major social science disciplines (political science, sociology, modern history, law, economics, etc.).
• The Area Studies doctoral programme has an international focus and offers a wide range of opportunities to study and work professionally around the world.
• The Area Studies doctoral programme is taught by leading experts, including regular visiting experts from abroad.
• The Area Studies doctoral programme is carried out at an institute characterized by a friendly and welcoming environment, an integral part of which are social, cultural, and sporting activities.
• The Area Studies doctoral programme offers unique territorial coverage, and its graduates become experts in territories whose knowledge is not common in the Czech Republic and is therefore in high demand on the labor market.
  Graduates of the Area Studies doctoral program have 100% employability at leading scientific, state, non-governmental, media, and other institutions and organizations, both at home and abroad (EU, NATO, OSCE, UN, etc.).