FAQ

The tuition fee for all our PhD programmes taught in English (both for the full-time and the combined form of study) is 500 EUR/academic year.

All students enrolled in a full-time PhD programme are entitled to a regular monthly stipend during the standard length of study (ie. during the first four years of their study). At the moment, this stipend amounts to CZK 10 500. After a state doctoral examination is passed, this stipend increases by CZK 2000. On the other hand, if a student does not fulfil study requirements properly, a stipend can be reduced by up to 50 %.

Yes, it is possible. However, you should be aware that a Master degree diploma must be submitted for enrollment in the study.

The difference between the full and combined form of study is programme specific but in general – except for Economics and Finance – differences are minimal. The important difference is that full-time students are entitled to a regular monthly stipend during the first four years of their study, whereas combined ones are not.

Area Studies

The study requirements are the same for full-time and combined students, the only difference is that full-time students are expected to participate more in research and teaching activities and to be occasionally present at the institute.  In the first two years of study there are regular classes, where students – included the combined ones -  have to be physically present. The classes take place either once a week or once in the fortnight.

Modern History

The study requirements are the same for full-time and combined students, the only difference is that the full-time students can be assigned some extra tasks at the institute in the maximum extent of several hours monthly.  In the first two years of study, there are regular classes, where students – including the combined ones -  have to be physically present. In the first three semesters students are required to physically attend classes every week, sometimes the classes are taught in blocks.

Public and Social Policy

The study requirements are the same for full-time and combined students. The only difference is that full-time students are more involved in research, teaching and other activities like writing reports on  theses, supervising theses etc. This is the reason why we recommend the full-time form of study to all applicants.

Sociology

When it comes to studying in a combined form, students fulfill all obligations in the same way as doctoral students in a full-time form. Upon agreement with the supervisor, it is possible to adjust the duties in terms of attendance at courses or teaching assistance to match the time availability of the doctoral student. All possible deadlines for handing in interim papers, passing the state exam, etc. are governed by the general rules of accreditation and do not require any specifically defined time that would be different from full-time study.

Media and Communication Studies

Full-time students are required to spend a semester at a foreign institutiton or at least accumulate one month in total by attending summer schools, workshops and conferences outisde the Czech Republice. Whereas only 14 days are required for students of the combined form of study.

Completing the reqyuired courses fot he doctoral programme is the same for both study forms. Lectures/seminars are usually held on Fridays. Doctoral Seminars I-IV and Methodological Seminar are generally held 1-2 times/month. Culture, Ideology, Power in Media and Communication Studies and Publishing Skills are held 2-3 times/month. For other courses, i.e Development of Media and Media Studies and Didactics of Media Studies, meetings are usually based on the arrangement with the teachers.

Political Science

Study requirements for full-time and combined students are the same. There are some mandatory seminars, which require a physical attendance of students – some take place once a week, some once in three weeks. If the content of the course allows it, combined students can be – after prior agreement -  enabled to participate on-line. This is possible, not guaranteed.

All doctoral students including combined ones are obliged to participate at least at one methodological school abroad (usually 1-2 weeks).

Each doctoral student also has to complete a three-month stay abroad. For combined students this stay can be divided to several shorter stays.

Economics and Finance

The study requirements for full-time and combined students are described in detail in the Handbook for Doctoral Students, which can be downloaded here https://ies.fsv.cuni.cz/en/node/301

International Relations

Except for minor deviations, combined doctoral students perform all duties to the same extent as full-time doctoral students. The compulsory doctoral seminars take the form of regular meetings, at least once every three weeks (the exact schedule to be determined by the programme supervisor). As with full-time students, two publications are expected of students in the combined form. Each PhD student must also complete a three-month stay abroad (for combined studies, this can be divided into several shorter stays). Other obligations (publications, conferences, grant activity) follow the general rules of accreditation and do not require any clearly defined time period. Discussions on these topics are expected to be part of regular seminars/consultations with the supervisor. A difference from the full-time form of study is the absence of an obligation to engage in administrative activities at IPS (state examinations, defenses, entrance examinations, graduation ceremonies).

Having a consent of a potential supervisor is not a condition of admission. However, it is strongly recommended that applicants consult their topics in advance either with an intended supervisor or with a guarantor of the study programme to see if their dissertation topic is in line with the respective department research focus.

You can look at the List of Supervisors https://is.cuni.cz/studium/eng/skolitel/index.php?KEY=Az1,  where you can find the titles of dissertation projects, each supervisor is/was supervising, and also supervisors´ email addresses so that you can contact them directly. You can also contact the respective PhD Student Services Officer, who will put you in touch with the responsible person at the particular department.  

If you obtained your Master´s degree abroad, it is necessary to have your Master´s education recognized in the Czech Republic. 

However, you need not submit any documents confirming your previous education before you know you were accepted. After the entrance examination, all the accepted applicants who obtained their Master´s degree abroad are contacted by us by e-mail and they are informed which documents have to be submitted and by when. 

In any case, the process of recognition has to be finished BEFORE the enrollment. No applicant can be enrolled without submitting the necessary documents.

We can arrange accommodation in a university dormitory for you. Students are typically housed in double-occupancy rooms with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities but there is also a limited number of single rooms. Accommodation is assigned by the Accommodation Office according to the principle „first-come, first-served“. Unfortunately, you cannot choose which dormitory you will be housed, but we can guarantee that all our accommodation facilities are well accessible by local transportation.

Please note that the accommodation contract is one of the mandatory attachments to the application for study visa in the Czech Republic. Therefore we recommend this type of accommodation especially for successful applicants from visa-seeking countries.

If accommodation in a dormitory is not what you are looking for, you are free to book an accommodation of your choice by yourself. Prague is a vibrant city with many accommodation options available.