Branch programme/details

Students apply for a four-year term of full-time study.

An application is to be submitted online via student information system or on a paper application form to  Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Smetanovo nábř. 6, 110 01  Prague 1, Czech Republic by April 30, 2021 at the latest. 

The doctoral study programme of Sociology at the FSV UK prepares students for basic and applied research and teaching in the academia, in scientific and research institutes and in other institutions  requiring a high level of theoretical and methodological education in sociology or related disciplines.

The doctoral study programme of Sociology at the FSV UK is open: anybody with a Master’s (or equivalent) degree can apply.

The admission procedure takes the form of an interview (discussion). The goal of the discussion is to verify the applicant’s ability to comply with the requirements of the Sociology doctoral programme. The procedure is based on a written Dissertation Proposal, as specified below. Only applicants who pass the admission procedure successfully shall be admitted to study. It is recommended that the applicant consults his/her intended Dissertation Proposal with his/her prospective supervisor already in the preliminary phase, ie. before the submission of the Dissertation Proposal.  

The written Dissertation Proposal forms the basis of the Admission Interview and shall include:

 

- definition of the subject matter or research goal,

- summary of existing knowledge,

- goals and preliminary time schedule,

- methods of implementation,

- expected research outcomes,

- bibliography,

- English summary (300–400 words).

The Dissertation Proposal (2000–2500 words) shall be delivered together with the on-line or paper application as its attachment by April 30, 2020. An applicant who will not submit the Dissertation Proposal by the above stated deadline will not be invited to the oral examination.  

Furthermore, applicants shall submit a digital copy of their Master’s Thesis, a list of scholarly texts written or published, information on their existing experience in sociological research, and any other relevant information for assessing their study competence. These documents are part of the application and should be submitted by April 30, 2019 as its attachment together with the Dissertation Proposal. 

Admission Interview Scoring Criteria:

The Admission Interview consists of two parts: a discussion of the Dissertation Proposal and a discussion of the applicant’s academic orientation. Applicants may obtain up to 100 points for the Admission Interview. The point limit for accepting applicants is set by the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University, taking into account the number of applicants and the capacity of the faculty.

Discussion of Doctoral Dissertation Proposal

Applicants must prove their ability to defend their research problem in critical discussion with the admission committee, and in particular, they must demonstrate:

- ability to define research questions precisely and convincingly max. 15 points

- understanding of their relevance for broader areas of sociological knowledge max. 15 points

- good theoretical and methodological orientation in the research problem and its contexts max. 15 points

Applicants may obtain up to 15 points for their Proposal’s consistence with the main research areas at the Department. Applicants may obtain up to 60 points for this part of the Admission Interview.

Discussion of Applicant’s Academic Orientation

The Dissertation Proposal’s annex and a list of literature read within the field form the basis of the second part of the Admission Interview. The Committee shall evaluate the extent and profile of the applicant’s academic orientation, and his/her ability to explain in oral discussion the fundamentals and issues of items read as well as their relevance for research in the field. Applicants may obtain up to 15 points for this part of the Admission Interview.

The Committee shall further evaluate the applicant’s research, publication and teaching record. Applicants may obtain up to 25 points for this part of the Admission Interview.

Individual inter-institutional agreements prescribe the study obligations applying to the doctoral study programme implemented in collaboration with other academic institutes (in particular, the Institute of Sociology, Czech Academy of Sciences). However, equal requirements apply to the doctoral programme’s admission procedure.

Admission is contingent upon successful completion of a Master’s degree programme. Applicants shall submit the corresponding college degree (or a certificate of recognition of college education or a part thereof in the Czech Republic). 

The point limit for accepting applicants is set by the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University, taking into account the number of applicants and the capacity of the faculty.

See also General admission conditions.

Admission to Doctoral studies is conditioned by successful completion of a Master's study programme.

Verification method:	entrance exam
Confirmation date (of entrance exam) from:	07.06.2021	Until:	18.06.2021
Alternative date (of entrance exam):	28.06.2021	Until:	09.07.2021

Based on the request of the applicant for doctoral studies and the recommendation of the guarantor
of the doctoral study programme, the Dean may waive the entrance examination if the applicant is a
member of the reserach team of the ERC or ERC-CZ project.