Area Studies

Explore the dynamics shaping today’s world through an internationally oriented PhD program focused on North America, Europe, and Eurasia. Combining perspectives from political science, international relations, sociology, economics, media studies, and law, the program provides rigorous multidisciplinary training, close collaboration with leading scholars, and access to global research networks. You will gain the skills and expertise for impactful careers in academia, public institutions, international organizations, and beyond.

Application deadlines

30 April 2027

The applications will open on 1 January 2027.

Important note for visa-seeking students: Please read about the visa process before applying. You are responsible for organizing your legal stay in Czechia and the visa process can be quite lengthy.

Program description

This PhD program focuses on various aspects of contemporary developments in North America, Europe, and Eurasia, as well as theoretical and methodological issues in area studies. It offers a multidisciplinary education combining approaches from major social sciences (political science, international relations, sociology, economics, media studies, law).

The program is internationally oriented and provides a wide range of opportunities for study and work worldwide. It is supported by top experts, including regularly returning foreign professors, and the Institute of International Relations Prague, a research organization of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which offers mentoring, consulting, and participation in internal research seminars.

You will be assigned to specific departments and research centres of the Institute of International Studies based on your dissertation topics, where you can engage in scientific, teaching, and other activities. You will acquire knowledge and skills for conducting top-tier, internationally competitive research.

For more information about the program, please click here.

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees: 0 EUR per year

Important information

Degree: PhD

Form: full-time or combined

Duration: 4 years

Language: English

Teaching: on campus

After graduation

You will be able to analyze social phenomena and processes of various types and present the results of your work on the basis of relevant theoretical foundations and using advanced scientific methods and analyzes in both independent and team work. Thus you will meet the prerequisites for job positions requiring independent thought and creative activity, conceptual work, structured and logical thinking, and a broad knowledge base. You can pursue careers as social scientists, university and secondary school teachers, analysts and specialists in state administration, international organizations, and the commercial sphere.

APPLY: FULL-TIME FORM APPLY: COMBINED FORM

Admission requirements

Dissertation project
The dissertation project has a maximum of 10 standard pages (18,000 characters including spaces, approx. 3,000 words) written in English and must contain the following parts: Proposed topic of the dissertation research Brief review of the current academic debate on the topic, including its gaps Detailed identification of the research problem and the preliminary research question, and hypotheses where applicable Proposed research design, including possible methods and the work schedule Standard list of references Information on whether the proposal has been consulted with a potential supervisor at IMS FSV UK Applicants may consult their topics in advance (in writing, or orally upon agreement) with the director of the doctoral study program (Professor Tomáš Weiss, tomas.weiss@fsv.cuni.cz). The purpose of the consultation is to assess, above all, to what extent the topics of the dissertations considered by candidates align with the research focus of IMS FSV UK, or with its current research tasks.: Structured CV
There is no specific template or length required, but the document must be in English.: Proof of knowledge of English or other languages
Proof of knowledge of English (an international certificate, a copy from a university registry, a certificate from a language course, etc.) or other languages relevant to the proposed dissertation research. Knowledge of English, at least at the B2 level, is an obligatory part of the applicant’s professional qualification.: Completed Master’s degree (to be submitted upon the enrolment at the latest)
Only candidates who have duly completed their university studies in a Master’s degree program may be accepted for doctoral studies in the Area Studies program. A certificate of completion of a Master’s degree does not have to be included in the application. It must be submitted upon enrollment at the latest. If you studied abroad, you will need to go through nostrification assessment (a process of recognizing the validity of your diploma).

Who to contact

Admissions Officer

Denisa Šmejkalová

denisa.smejkalova@fsv.cuni.cz

Program Coordinator

Andrea Smolíková

andrea.smolikova@fsv.cuni.cz

Program Director

Tomáš Weiss

tomas.weiss@fsv.cuni.cz

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Our buildings: Jinonice Campus

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