Germanic Languages

The doctoral degree study programme in Germanic linguistics is designed as a culmination of the theoretical studies and practical training in order to enable the graduates to take part in individual research projects. General knowledge and skills in synchronic and diachronic linguistics acquired in the Master’s degree study programme are deepened and complemented with specialized disciplines with the main focus on the requirements of research work, including an appropriate format for presenting the results. The study is specialized and individualized to a high degree, with respect to the topics of the dissertation projects. At the same time, a general overview of methodological problems and methods in philology, their critical reflection and creative application, are developed as an integral part of the research-centred skills.

The Specialization Experimental and applied linguistics is focused on deepening knowledge and skills in the use of experimental methods and methods applying formal approaches to natural language (organized by several academic institutes with a linguistic focus: the Department of Czech Language, the Department of Linguistics and Baltic Languages, the Department of English and American Studies, the Department of Romance languages and literatures, the Department of German, Scandinavian and Netherland Studies). It is intended for those interested in linguistics, which emphasizes the observation of language data and its processing by mathematical methods and the theoretical problems associated with the application of formal methods to the natural language material. The aim of this specialization is to provide students with comprehensive skills and theoretical background in corpus linguistics and the use of statistical processing of linguistic data. The offered optional courses will enable the student to understand the different branches of applied linguistics.

The specialization Historical Languages of the Czech Lands is focused on a distinct field of expertise with a primarily historical orientation, it is oranized in cooperation of several deparments of the faculty (Department of Classical Studies, Department of Czech Language, Department of Czech Literature and Library Studies, Department of German, Scandinavian and Netherland Studies). The study is focused on Middle Ages with transitions to the early modern period, and is specified by the environment of the historical Czech lands of that period. Combining the topics, research traditions and methods of German, Bohemian and Latin historical filology allows the graduates to work competently with the historical texts of this provenance with regard to the multilingual cultural and social environment of this area. An important part of the study are the theoretical and practical skills of editorial philology, taking into account the specifics of the writing of the Czech lands.

Practical training

Practical training at external workplaces is not an obligatory part of the study plan. Active involvement of the students in teaching, researching, and organising tasks within the institute offers an opportunity to acquire further praxis-related skills in these areas.

Graduates of the doctoral degree study programme in Germanic languages are equipped with the general knowledge and skills required for independent philological work. They are able to reflect and analyse individual language phenomena in synchronic and diachronic perspectives based on their comprehensive knowledge of relevant research history and current trends. They are able to apply their acquired competence in creative ways to solve individual tasks. Beyond the comprehensive overview of the whole study field, the graduates have specialized proficiency in the topics of their thesis projects. Based on these skills, they are qualified to work in positions in linguistic research or in the humanities in a broader sense, which demands independent and critical thinking as well as a cultivated presentation of gathered knowledge, in universities and research institutes, in translating, etc.

Deadline for submitting applications: August 1 - November 30

Deadline for submitting documents for the admission procedure: December 15

Documents for the admission procedure:

• signed CV;
• list of publishing activities (if any);
• dissertation project.

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

Recommendation: Applicants are advised to contact a potential supervisor before submitting their application in order to consult the research focus and its possible guidance (an external supervisor is also possible).

If applying for full-time study, applicants are advised to choose the combined form of study as a second preference in addition to this preferred form in their application.

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: 75 points (out of 100).