Branch programme/details

Public and Social Policy Studies (PSP) is a two-year English-language Master’s degree programme, which aims to provide students with current knowledge of the policy-making process and cultivate their analytical skills. In addition to theoretical knowledge about the policy-making process, the programme offers deeper knowledge of concrete policy domains, such as social policy, health policy, educational policy, employment policy and others. Special attention in the programme is given to research methodology and policy analysis skills. The combination of knowledge of the policy process and methodology skills will lead to a unique set of competences, and prepare students for professional employment, further study or a career in research.

The programme is developed in accordance with almost twenty years of experience in teaching the Czech-language program in Public and Social Policy, as well as in offering a variety of English-language courses and conducting international research programs. The program incorporates a strong comparative dimension in its teaching of public policy. The theoretical grounds of the discipline are covered especially in courses Public Policy, Theoretical Approaches to the Policy Process, Public Administration, Public Economics, and Social Policy. Insight into different policy domains and public policy issues is offered through a variety of courses, such as Educational Policy, Health Policy and Civil Society in Central Europe. Methodological knowledge and skills will be developed as part of courses Policy Analysis, Introduction to Social Research Methodology, Introduction to Data Analysis, Text, Narrative & Discourse Analysis and Diploma Seminars I and II. During the programme, students will work both individually and in groups on concrete social and policy problems.

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

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 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 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 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) relevance of previous studies to the field of public and social policy (0-40), (ii) academic results during previous studies (0-20), (iii) motivation to study (0-20), and (iv) practical/professional experience (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.