Branch programme/details

The MA in Media and Area Studies (MARS)  is based on a constructive dialogue between Media Studies and Area Studies, and between the Institute of Communication Studies and Journalism and the Institute of International Studies. This groundedness in Prague, Czechia, Central Eastern Europe and the European Union enables for two particular spatial focal points, which provide the backbone of the MARS programme, namely Central and Eastern Europe and the European Union. This backbone is combined with and strengthened by two main components: A theoretical component, which consists out of a combination of post-colonial theory, media sociology, memory studies and political geography. Moreover, also a methodological component provides the required support. These two focal points and the theoretical and methodological components structure the MARS programme. At the same time, the programme aims to avoid an exclusive focus on Central Eastern Europe, and offers (mostly but not exclusively through the electives) knowledge about other European regions, or about Europe as a whole. A second extension relates to more transnational and transcultural approaches, moving away from the logics of nation-state homogeneity, with emphasis on internal conflict and exclusion.

More information about the programme is available at: https://marsmaster.fsv.cuni.cz/

Questions can be emailed to: admissions@fsv.cuni.cz

Description of verification and evaluation criteria:

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

a) Copy of a diploma to show completed Bachelor (or higher) 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

f) Optional: References or letters of recommendation

g) Optional: Writing sample - the best relevant academic text written by the student (essay, thesis, analysis, case study etc.)

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 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.

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 worked for at least one year at a company where the language of communication was English.

When a score from an English-language test is not presented, the applicants should provide a certificate of their use of English during their prior studies or employment to support their claim. The certificate should contain contact information (an email address and a telephone number) to a person (a programme director, or an employee supervisor) who 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 accurately translated into English. Only complete applications will be considered. Personal data will be used exclusively for organizing the course enrollments.

Evaluation criteria and procedure:

Applications that are complete, and that fulfil all requirements will be assessed by the admissions committee. The focus of the evaluation will be on the academic quality of previous activities, levels of acquired knowledge, skills and motivation. The committee will rank all considered applications on the basis of an allocated score on a scale of 0 to 100 points. This score is constituted as follows: (1) academic quality of previous activities and levels of acquired knowledge (including previous studies): 0-30 points; (2) skills (including English proficiency): 0-30 points; (3) motivation: 0-40 points. In order to be ranked at all, the score of each scoring component has to be more than 50% of the maximum score. 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.

MARS graduates will have achieved in-depth knowledge about the media and political ecology in Central Eastern Europe and the European Union. This will support their future employment in more senior/advisory positions in a variety of social fields and organizations, including state administrations, private sector (including media), public service institutions, and non-profit organizations.