Literatures in English

The doctoral degree programme in literatures in English provides advanced instruction in traditional areas of literary studies and in contextual, interdisciplinary, and transnational approaches to literature and culture. Students can specialize in one of the four major Anglophone areas – British and Irish literature, North American literature, Australian and New Zealand literature, or other literatures in English – or they can do a comparative study in two or more of these areas. The selected approaches may include national/transnational, ethnicity, gender, queer, postcolonial, regional, and other aspects shaping literary studies. The programme is designed to encourage students to expand their literary-critical focus while developing their teaching, networking, and professional skills.

The main objectives of the programme are: 1) to expand rigorous research and methodological skills in literary-critical and critical-theoretical work; 2) to obtain detailed knowledge of the critical scholarship in the selected area of Anglophone literatures in Czech and international contexts; and 3) to acquire personal experience with and professional growth within Czech and international academic environments.

The program is offered with the specialization Intermedia and Intercultural Communication, which provides students with methodological tools for studying literary works in intercultural and interdisciplinary contexts.

Practical training

The program does not require practical training in addition to the practice the students receive when participating in the activities of the department.

The program endeavours to reflect the latest developments in the field of Anglophone literary studies. This allows doctoral degree students to enter the job market not only in academia but also in journalism, media, diplomacy, various national and transnational NGOs, public service, and the commercial sector.

Deadline for submitting applications: January 1 - April 30

Deadline for submitting documents for the admission procedure: until 15 May

Documents for the admission procedure:

• signed CV;
• list of publishing activities (if any);
• doctoral thesis project;
• master thesis;
• motivational letter (2-5 pages, double-spaced), which should include the applicant’s motivation to become a doctoral student, as well as their previous study experience and their ambitions during and after the doctoral degree programme, i.e. why they want to study in the programme, how they want to use the acquired knowledge and the academic degree in the future, etc.;
• letter of recommendation (on the prescribed form).

Documents for the admission procedure must be inserted into the e-application (rubric “Documents”) by 15 May. Applicants are required to include their full name and application number on all attached documents.

The entrance examination takes the form of an oral discussion over the doctoral thesis project.

Notice: A poof of completion of a Master’s degree programme (officially certified copy of the diploma, in the case of education obtained abroad also the so-called recognition) shall be submitted by the accepted applicants upon enrolment in the studies. For the entrance examination, a proof of completion of a Master’s degree programme is not required.

Criteria for evaluation

• Pass/fail line: 60 points (out of 100, 50 points for the dissertation project).