Branch programme/details

International Economic and Political Studies (IEPS) is a post-graduate master´s study designed as a unique interdisciplinary program providing students with theoretical knowledge, critical thinking, and concrete analytical, presentation, and communication skills that allow its graduates to quickly find a job in a global labor market. Employers of IEPS graduates shall appreciate their ability to collect and analyze data using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Moreover, IEPS graduates are renowned for their evidence-based approaches and their ability to propose and apply such approaches in decision-making on various managerial levels in both national and international public institutions, businesses, and NGOs.

IEPS taught in English, is built on two pillars: international economics and international politics which at the same time are its specializations allowing the students – alongside fulfilling common compulsory courses – to specialize themselves in one of the disciplines. The program emphasizes courses that foster interdisciplinary critical thinking for social developments in the world and increase sensitivity to ethical challenges in decision-making and policy design in a contemporary environment. Students deal with the nature of economic and political agents, including the emergence of conflicts countered by cooperation. They are expected to master the principles of modern non-conventional economic and political thinking and be able to apply them in decision-making in social governance.

Description of application, evaluation and admission criteria:

In addition to the application form, every applicant needs to provide the following documents:

a) A copy of a diploma to show at least completed Bachelor studies or confirmation that ongoing Bachelor studies will be completed in the current academic year

b) Transcript of records and academic results from previous studies

c) Structured CV

d) Motivation letter

e) Document showing the level of English proficiency.

Ad a) Confirmation of studies may be substituted with a transcript of records, provided that these are from the same academic year as the application.

Ad d) The motivation letter should be in the form of an essay between 750 and 1,000 words explaining the reasons for studying the program IEPS at Charles University.

Ad e) Applicants should provide a certificate from one of the following standardized tests:

• IELTS Academic - the minimum required overall band score of 6.5, with band score 6.0 or above in all four components;
• TOEFL Internet-Based Test (iBT) & TOEFL iBT Home Edition - the minimum required overall score of 83, with a minimum scaled score in the four sections: reading 21, writing 22, listening 20, speaking 20;
• Cambridge ESOL FCE - minimum Cambridge English Scale Score of 180;
• Cambridge ESOL CAE and CPE receiving a certificate;
• Duolingo English Test (DET) - the minimum required overall score of 110, with the subscore of 95 or above in all four components.

A standardized English test is not required from applicants who:

• are native English speakers;
• have studied in English at the secondary school level for at least two years;
• have studied in English at the university level for at least one year;
• have been employed full-time for at least one year at a company where the language of communication was English at a position which required fluency in English.

When a score from an English-language test is not presented, the applicants should provide a certificate/official letter of their use of English during their prior studies or employment to support their claim. The certificate/official letter should contain contact information (an email address and a telephone number) to a person (a program director, high school counselor, or an employee supervisor) who has observed your ability to write and communicate in English and can confirm the scope of the use of the English language in the program or employment.

All documents which are not originally in Czech, Slovak or English must be officially translated into English.

The admissions committee will assess applicants on the basis of the submitted documents. Firstly, the documents proving English proficiency are examined for the level required for study. Only those applications that fulfill the requirements for English proficiency are assessed further by the admissions committee and given a ranking from 0 - 100 points. The following criteria will be evaluated: (i) academic background - quality of the institution from which the applicant received the previous university degree (0-30), (ii) academic performance - grades in previous studies (0-30), (iii) personal background - the assessment based on the CV, looking at the profile of the previous studies, special competencies, research experience, international mobility, cross-cultural experience, community service, etc. (0-20), (iv) motivation for study - assessment of the motivation letter (0-20). The point limit for accepting applicants is set by the Dean with respect to the number of applicants and the capacity of the programme.

Admission to Master's studies is conditioned by completed secondary education confirmed by a school-leaving certificate. Admission to Post-Bachelor studies (Master's programme) is likewise conditioned by completed education in any type of study programme.