Branch programme/details

The graduates of the Digital Social Science Program are equipped to handle data analytical tasks involving shifting and complex digital phenomena that evolve in online environments. Their training is interdisciplinary, including security, digital technologies, law and human values, which allows them to rapidly understand new digital issues and suggest highly effective solutions to challenges arising from large social and political changes. The structure of competencies makes the graduates ideal candidates for basic research as well as for policy making roles involving online environments and digital technologies.

The graduates will be able to analyze digital issues involving security and safety, digital technologies and law, and evolving human values in online environments. The graduates will possess a wide range of analytical skills based on training in quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including advanced machine learning techniques. The program will produce interdisciplinary experts capable of analyzing multifaceted digital issues based on rich and large datasets. It, thus, responds to recent shifts in the labor market that emphasize the need for data-oriented experts trained in multiple disciplines.

Admission procedure follows the Study and Examination Rules of the Charles University and the admission requirements published in the SIS.

The admission procedure is based on a PhD dissertation proposal. Applicants are required to send the proposal by July 31, 2024 (June 30,2024 for the early-bird term), to vit.stritecky@fsv.cuni.cz.

 The application must include a PhD dissertation proposal that defines the following:

- state of knowledge about the investigated problem
- data sources for its analysis
- proposal of a theoretical-methodological framework
- list of literature reflecting disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge of the investigated phenomenon
- preliminary plan of works in individual years of study

For more details see the program dedicated webpage.

Applicants for the doctoral program in the field of Digital Social Science may choose a dissertation topic from the following five areas – Security Science, Financial Technologies and Services, Digital Anthropology, Law and Data: Research and Policy, and Language Technologies.

For more details see the program dedicated webpage.

Furthermore, the application must include an internationally recognized certificate proving knowledge of the English language, which can be replaced by a completed bachelor's or master's degree in English.

The applicants are strongly advised to consult a potential supervisor regarding the research proposal prior to its submission. The main point of contact is vit.stritecky@fsv.cuni.cz.

The admission procedure is two-round. In the first round, the admissions committee evaluates the research proposal based on its academic value and its compatibility with the program and sets the required threshold in points for advancing to the second round. The evaluation of the project by the admission committee in the first round is based on the individual assessment of its members and is determined as an arithmetic average (max. 30 points). The threshold for the invitation to the second round is 15 points. Applicants who cross this threshold are invited to the second round, which takes the form of an interview. In the first round, a candidate can get up to 30 points. 

The aim of the interview is to assess the applicant's ability to explain:

- objectives of the research project
- theoretical and methodological framework of the proposed project
- feasibility of the research project, including its limits

The interview is also scored and the applicant can get up to 30 points. At this point, the admissions committee collectively decides to evaluate the applicant's responses to a fixed set of questions reflecting the objectives of the interview.

In the second round, the candidate can get up to 30 points. The applicant may receive up to 60 points in total.

The point threshold for accepting applicants is set by the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the UK, taking into account the number of applicants and the faculty's capacity.

See also the General and faculty requirements

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

The graduates of the Digital Social Science Program are equipped to handle data analytical tasks involving shifting and complex digital phenomena that evolve in online environments. Their training is interdisciplinary, including security, digital technologies, law and human values, which allows them to rapidly understand new digital issues and suggest highly effective solutions to challenges arising from large social and political changes. The structure of competencies makes the graduates ideal candidates for basic research as well as for policy making roles involving online environments and digital technologies.