Public and Social Policy

This PhD program examines how public policies are designed, implemented, and evaluated in response to contemporary social issues. Through rigorous training in theory and research methods, students learn to analyze the relationships between social actors, institutions, interests, and public decision-making processes. The program prepares graduates for research and teaching careers as well as analytical and advisory positions in government, public administration, non-governmental organizations, and other policy-oriented institutions.

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 prepares you for both basic and applied research, university-level teaching, as well as other activities requiring a high level of theoretical and methodological education in public and social policy.

We aim to produce experts who are able to pursue research and analytical work with creativity. It will expand your theoretical and methodological knowledge and skills and deepen your ability to grasp scholarship and social reality with a critical mindset. You will be able to use these skills to identify and analyze important social issues in their proper context, the links between the behavior of social actors and their interests, values and strategies, and the shaping and implementation of public policy.

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 qualified to teach public and social policy at all levels as well as pursue pertinent research work. Relevant jobs are available in higher education at colleges all around the world (with some graduates already working at colleges abroad). Further options include qualified policy analysis and policy design in diverse fields (family, education, etc.) as analysts or advisors, and work in politics, public administration or the civil sector.

APPLY: FULL-TIME FORM APPLY: COMBINED FORM

Admission requirements

Dissertation research project
A research project must contain: the dissertation topic proposed detailed definition of the research problem and proposal goals envisaged research questions (hypotheses) discussion of relevant literature for purely theoretical projects, an appropriate application of theories, and good orientation in relevant literature, including journals for empirically oriented projects, research design and a set of methods considered, too project time schedule bibliography of sources cited in the proposal using a standard format (do not mistake for the list of literature read) the presupposed contribution of the thesis to the development of public and social policy as a field of study the information about the preliminary consultation with the considered supervisor The length of the research project should be approximately 10 pages (appendices excluded). In addition, the research project should include the lists of the literature read, published or elaborated papers, applicant’s participation in research projects, and his or her other relevant preconditions to study.: Structured CV
Structured CV in English.: 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 Public and Social Policy 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

Olga Angelovská

olga.angelovska@fsv.cuni.cz

Program Director

Arnošt Veselý

arnost.vesely@fsv.cuni.cz

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