BECES course structure
Interested in BECES? This post will tell you everything you need to know about the course structure of the program.
In this two-year Master’s program, you have obtain 120 ECTS credits. This means 60 credits per year and 30 per semester in average. BECES is a very flexible program: it is mostly up to you when you enrol in a particular course. There is also a wide range of elective and optional courses to choose from.
Course types
- Compulsory courses (96 ECTS in total): Compulsory core courses (60 ECTS credits) will introduce you to the qualitative and quantitative methods in the social sciences, as well as to academic writing and provide you with the analytical skills. They will give you a solid foundation for further studies in specialized elective courses. Compulsory courses for the specializations (24 ECTS credits) are specific for your chosen specialization. Language courses (12 ECTS credits) constitute an integral part of BECES. You are expected to master a language that will allow you to analyze and understand the development of your region of interest at a basic level at least. You can choose from a wide range of language courses. Some are offered specifically for BECES by your home institute, others by your faculty, and additional options may be available through other faculties at Charles University. If a particular language is not available within the university, you may also enroll in external courses.
- Elective courses (at least 12 ECTS credits in total): Elective courses cover a wide range of specific areas, allowing you to specialize in your field of interest. You can also earn credits for internships or volunteer work related to your field of study.
- Optional courses (up to 12 ECTS credits): Off-field optional courses can be taken at any department of Charles University. You may take a maximum of 12 ECTS credits of optional courses. These credits can also be used to follow elective courses or languages. There is no minimum number of credits to be taken in this category of courses (that is, all 120 credits can be gained by taking only compulsory and elective courses).
To sucessfully graduate, you have to write your MA thesis and pass a state exam. The state exam includes the thesis defense and academic debate on a selected topic (beyond the thesis focus) concerning Central Europe and the Balkans (for Balkan and Central European Studies) or concerning Russia and the post-Soviet Area (for Russian and Eurasian Studies).
Detailed course structure
Take a look at all the compulsory courses and a sample of elective courses the BECES program offers.
Compulsory courses
Compulsory core courses
- Academic Writing
- Introduction to Research Design
- Quantitative Methods in Social Sciences
- Area Studies: Theory and Methodology
- Comparative and Conceptual History
- MA Thesis Seminar I
- MA Thesis Seminar II
Compulsory courses for Balkan and Central European Studies
- Introduction to History, Politics and Society of East-Central and South Eastern Europe
- Political Systems of East Central European Countries
- Concepts and Interpretations of Central European History
- Concepts and Interpretations of Balkan History
Compulsory courses for Russian and Eurasian Studies
- Introduction to History, Politics and Society of Russia and Eastern Europe
- Concepts and Interpretations of Russian History
- Nationalism and Historiography in Central Eurasia
- Problems of the post-Soviet Space
Language courses (most frequently selected – a broader range is available)
- Czech as a Foreign Language I-IV
- Russian Language I-IV
- Polish Language I-IV
- Greek Language I-IV
Elective courses
You can see only a small sample of elective courses below. Please find the complete offer of more than 90 electives for this study program here.
- Postcommunist transition in East Central Europe
- Economic Transformations in the post-Soviet Area
- Internal and External Security Policy in the EU
- Ethnic Issues and Territories in Eastern, East Central and Southeastern Europe
- Human Rights in post-Soviet Space
- Society and Culture in Central Eurasia
- Theorizing Memory: Social and Cultural Remembering
- Russia after 1991
- Ukraine after 1991
- Migrations in the Balkans in the 20th and 21st Centuries
- Russian-Turkish Rivalry over the Balkan and Caucasus Areas
- Images and Stereotypes of the Balkans
- World War II: Public History and Memory
- Internship for BECES
Optional courses
The offer of optional courses is practically limitless, as you can choose from courses taught at your faculty or across the university. You may select any course offered at any department of the university, provided it is open to students from other fields beyond the one for which it was originally designed. Alternatively, you may choose to focus on your core field by selecting BECES electives or language courses, if the broader offer does not appeal to you.
Optional supplementary certificates
Alongside your degree, you’ll have the opportunity to earn supplementary certificates during your studies. Currently, we offer:
- Certificate in Digital Humanities: This certificate comprises four specialized courses and provides students with essential data literacy and digital competencies that are increasingly valued across disciplines in both academic research and professional practice. The courses cover core concepts and methodological approaches in Digital Humanities, data analysis using R, and the application of AI within the humanities and social sciences. You will acquire practical skills in data work—learning how to locate and process large datasets, analyze texts using machine learning tools, create visualisations, interpret statistical outputs, and apply AI methods to specific research questions.
- Certificate on Ukraine: This certificate demonstrates that you are competent in the analysis of Ukraine’s contemporary history and its contemporary foreign, domestic political and social developments, including a basic orientation in the language. The structure of studies is built around specific courses on Ukraine, Ukrainian language courses, and closer cooperation with partner institutions in Ukraine. You will have a fellowship at the research centre Ukraine in a Changing Europe, which will strengthen your research skills and experiences, and connect you with the cutting-edge academic research on the country-related matters.
