Branch programme/details

The doctoral study program Media and Communication studies is designed for candidates who are deeply interested in following or related topics:

- Media Studies
- Journalism Studies
- Political Communication
- Social construction of reality
- Discourse studies
- Visual Journalism
- Sports Journalism
- Media History
- Strategic Communication, Marketing and PR
- Artificial Intelligence and Media, Big Data, Algorithms
- Cultural Studies
- Audience Studies
- Participatory Studies
 
The study program prepares students for independent academic work in the field of communication, media and marketing studies, with substantial knowledge of communication and media theories and methodologies.

The application is submitted either electronically via the Study Information System or by post to the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Smetanovo nábřeží 6, 110 01 Prague 1, no later than April 30, 2022.

The admission procedure verifies whether the candidate fulfils the requirements of a specialized study in the doctoral study program Media and Communication studies. The admission procedure consists out of two rounds. Round one takes the form of the evaluation of a written dissertation project, whose characteristics are described below. Only those candidates who pass round 1 will be invited for the oral examination (interview) in round 2. Only the applicant who successfully passes the entire two-stage admission procedure is admitted to the PhD studies.

Dissertation projects submitted for the admission procedure must relate to the field of communication and media research. The project preferably connects with research done at the Institute of Communication Studies and Journalism (ICSJ), but applicants may submit projects on other topics as well. 

In all cases, candidates are very strongly advised to consult with a potential supervisor in the preparatory phase and have their project proposal endorsed by this potential supervisor before submitting the project proposal. 

Research activities at ICSJ focus on the following areas, amongst others:

• Development of media, their position in society, and their relationship to other social institutions, from a historical perspective (preferably with a focus on the period 1918-1989) and from a contemporary perspective;

• The position and role of journalism, and the journalistic representation of social realities, including alternative forms of journalism (and media);

• The state and role of strategic communication and political communication/marketing;

• The discursive-ideological and mediated construction of social realities, such as the environment & nature, migration, nation and polis, home and everyday life, history and memory, and technology;

• Audience behaviours and audience interpretations of media content.

   

Dissertation project proposals need to have the following components:

• Name of the applicant

• Title in English and in Czech

• Abstract in English and in Czech

• Name of the academic ICSJ member who was consulted

• Objectives, main research question and secondary research questions

• Context of the proposal

• Theoretical framework

• Methodologies, methods and research design

• Time plan

• Relation to the research performed at ICSJ

• Reference list

The entry exam consists of two rounds:

First round consists of the evaluation of the submitted dissertation project by the admission board. The board will mark the dissertation project on a scale of 25, with 25 being the best mark. The board will also set the required threshold in points for the advance to the second round.

Only applicants whose project passes the threshold will be invited into second round. Those who do not pass the threshold will have their application rejected. The entrance oral examination takes place in the presence of the admission board. The interview examines the applicant's knowledge of communication and media theory and research methodology. The oral exam also consists of an in-depth discussion of the submitted dissertation project.

By April 30, 2022, the applicant must submit the dissertation project, together with a structured curriculum vitae and a list of literature that he/she has studied, as an attachment to an electronic or paper application. The minimum required length of the dissertation project (including the list of literature) is 10 pages. An applicant who does not submit a complete submission, within the given deadline, will have his/her application rejected.

More information about the dissertation project including priority topics of dissertations and the form for filling your dissertation project can be found on the website of the Institute of Communication Studies and Journalism.  

Criteria for evaluation of entrance examinations:

Round 1: Academic quality of the dissertation project at the level of research questions, theoretical framework, methodology, research design and their articulation; Feasibility and relevance of the project; Degree of its connection to the expertise present at, and research focus of the ICSJ; 

Round 2: Quality and completeness of responses at the interview in relation to the written dissertation project, and in relation to the knowledge of the field of communication and media studies and the relevant theoretical, methodological and empirical literature, as communicated during the interview.

Applicants will be evaluated according to:

Round 1:

1. Quality of the dissertation project (max. 25 points)

Round 2:

1. Points from first round (max. 25 points)

2. Quality of the presentation of, and discussion on the submitted dissertation project and list of literature (max. 15 points)

In the second round, the applicant may receive up to 15 points.

The applicant may receive up to 40 points in total.

The members of the committee evaluate the individual categories of evaluation; the point sum is then averaged for each category and added up to get the final score. The point of admission is set by the Dean, taking into account the total number of applicants seeking the entrance examination and the capacity of the institute and faculty.

See also the General and faculty requirements

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

The graduate of the doctoral program of Media and Communication Studies understands and can apply a wide range of analytical methods to study communication and media, including media production, media products, and content, audience, and users. They are experts that can contextualize communication and mediation processes, historically, socially, politically and culturally. They are also able to synthesize knowledge in the social sciences and humanities and to interpret current trends in communication and media development.

Doctoral graduates are prepared for academic careers in the Czech Republic and abroad, and for employment as communication and media analysts in applied research centres, study centres and departments. As social scientists, they can work in institutes of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic or other scientific workplaces. They can also act as analysts of communication processes in the political or commercial sphere.