Branch programme/details

This program provides knowledge in the present-day field of sociology and social anthropology, including both theory and research methods. There are three specialisations: Civil Society and Politics, Anthropology of Space and Mobility, Identities, Health and Bodies, or a double degree in Sociology of Contemporary Societies with the University of Florence. You can find employment in the education sector, state and public administration, the nonprofit sector, corporate organisations, or academia. 

The program features a strong core of sociology and social anthropological courses in three specializations. In all specializations, you can choose either to focus on quantitative or qualitative research methodology.  

• Civil Society and Politics - provides you with a deep understanding of how contemporary complex societies work. You will acquire the theoretical and practical skills in political sociology, anthropology of nationalism, and the non-profit sector. You will learn to analyze various aspects of public life. 

• Anthropology of Space and Mobility - brings in-depth knowledge of the globalized world, its dynamics, migratory movements, social mobility, and enables you to understand these phenomena and apply them in the field of urban planning, migratory politics, and analysing global developments. 

• Identities, Health and Bodies - develops the profound knowledge and practical skills required to conduct sociological and social anthropological research in the field of medical anthropology, health sociology, lifestyle studies, sociology of sport, and gender studies. 

The program also offers the option of a double-degree specialization in Sociology of Contemporary Societies with the second year spent at the University of Florence. Upon graduation, you will receive diplomas from both universities. The specialization focuses on social theory, anthropology of the European Union, global and European citizenship, urban life analysis, population society and family studies, and issues of emotions and social change

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 b) The transcripts from all years of the previous university study should be submitted.

Ad d) The motivation letter should include information about previous education, the title or topic of the bachelor thesis, information about previous experience in sociology or social anthropology, reasons for choosing this particular study program and expectations of what it should bring to the student's future life trajectory. In the motivation letter, students should address their specialization preferences, especially whether they are interested in the Double Degree in Sociology of Contemporary Societies specialization. The recommended length of the motivation letter is approximately 2 000 characters, including spaces.

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 a band score of 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 score of 20 in the four sections;

• Cambridge B2 First (former FCE) - minimum Cambridge English Scale Score of 175;

• Cambridge C1 Advanced (former CAE) or C2 Proficiency (former CPE) receiving a certificate;

• PTE Academic test - the minimum required score above 56;

• LanguageCert ESOL - Communicator with High Pass, Expert or Mastery;

• Duolingo English Test (DET) - the minimum required overall score of 120, with a subscore of 105 or above in all four components.

A standardized English test is not required from applicants who:

• 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 in a full degree program.

When a score from an English-language test is not presented, the applicants should provide a confirmation of their use of English during their prior studies to support their claim. The confirmation should contain the information that the study program was conducted in English as a language of study. A diploma supplement or transcript containing this information can also be accepted.

All documents that are not originally in Czech, Slovak, or English must be officially translated into English, Czech or Slovak language by a certified translator. A sworn translation is not required for the application itself. Only complete applications will be considered. Personal data will be used exclusively to organize the admission process and course enrollments.

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 the 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) quality of the previous education and study results (0-40), (ii) motivation for the study - committee assesses the quality of motivation letter, student´s knowledge about the programme, the objectives with which the student proceeds to study, the practice in the field of study (0-40), (iii) experience in the field of study based on completed courses in sociology or social anthropology (0-20). Results from the applicant's previous studies must be evidenced in a transcript of academic results from the final years of study. This transcript, confirmed by the academic department, faculty, or college, should be scanned and sent as an attachment with the online application. For every subject in the field of sociology or social anthropology that applicants have taken and passed in their previous studies, a bonus of 2 points will be added. However, it is not possible to reach more than a total of 20 points. The point limit for accepting applicants is set by the Dean with respect to the number of applicants and the capacity of the programme. 

The specialization Double Degree in Sociology of Contemporary Societies (DD specialization) is limited to five students. The place in the DD specialization will be offered to students according to their stated preferences and their score in the admission evaluation. The waiting list will be shortlisted from the rest of the accepted students with DD specialization preference. Students on the waiting list can register for any other specialization. Such a registration will not affect their chance to register for the DD specialization in the case that there is a place available. There are no limits in terms of the capacity of other specializations.

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.

You will gain knowledge of the major social problems facing present-day societies. With the understanding of both quantitative and qualitative sociological research methods, you will be able to competently conduct sociological and social anthropological research and cooperate effectively on both analytic and problem solving tasks, allowing you to build a career as researchers, experts, analysts or a project managers in the public sector, NGOs, and state or private companies. You can also pursue a fruitful academic career and PhD studies.