Slavonic Literatures

The goal of the study is a more profound education in the traditional university programme which has been the foundation programme at Masaryk University from the beginning of the 1920s. Its character was formed in the framework of the Slavonic Seminar of that time by later world famous structuralists from the Prague Linguistic Circle, a member of which was also the initiator of the Praguer - Brno school of comparative literary criticism professor Frank Wollman, shortly before him Sergey Vilinsky and shortly later a famous linguist , literary scholar, phonologist, and a theoretician of verse Roman Jabobson, professor of the newly established study programme Russian Philology. The Slavonic literatures continued to be part of a wider concept of Slavonic philology and Slavonic studies as such in the framework of area approach on the comparative basis in European and world context on the methodological grounds created in the course of the 18th and 20th centuries with the methodological flexibility tending to the methods of the second half of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries (semiotics, hermeneutics, deconstructivism, cognitivist methods) transcending towards cultural conception of comparative literary studies and new concepts of world literature. The doctoral student focuses on the comparative Slavonic sphere due to the conception of his/(her dissertation and in this way he/she conceives the study scheme in which he/she selects - besides obligatory subjects - a set of specializations. After the successful completing of the study the doctoral study graduate is able to master - besides Czech - English and German (alternatively, one of the two languages can be subsituted by a Slavonic langauage different from the specialization and the native language of the doctoral student); he/she is able to orientate himself/herself in Slavonic literatures in a complex way and to compare the structure of various Slavonic literatures; to apply both the theoretical and historical tools and new methodologies in grasping the evolution of Slavonic literatures as part of world literary process. The interdiscplinary focus enables the doctoral study graduate to be successful in the existing EU institutions, in the communication between Slavonic countries - both the EU members and non-members, in public administration of all levels, in the institutions focusing on the development and administration of regions, especially on the Slavonic immigration to the Czech Republic, in the expert examination for European Czech national and governmental authorities, in the institutions of various international and non-profit and charitable organizations also outside the EU, in educational and scientific institutions, in the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; due to his/her language and general cultural competences he/she will be ablelto work in international and foreign scientific institutions, in mass media, mainly of literary and literary critical focus, in publishing houses, in the sphere of application of contemporary technologies supporting - above all - humanities, mainly philologies etc. The study programme provides a broad education in comparative literary criticism tending towards cultural studies and historiography of corresponding countries for the activity in various scholarly and educational and cultural institutions, in journalism and expert examination both in the public and private sectors, in consulting; the flexibility of the conception also enables the activity in professional politics.

Practical training

There is no obligatory practical training at external workplaces. Active involvement of the students in teaching, researching, and organising tasks within the institute offers an opportunity to acquire further praxis-related skills.

Further information

https://www.phil.muni.cz/pro-uchazece/doktorske-studium

The graduate of the doctoral programme Slavonic literatures will get a profound knowledge of the comparative and general literary critical problems, a perfect grasp of the development of at least one Slavonic literature in comparative span and cultural and historical context and deepen his/her knowledge of Slavonic languages corresponding to the studied Slavonic literature (literatures) and at least one world language (English/Geman). He will be able to apply the acquired cognition in special university institutions focused on humanities or in the institutes of the academy of sciences aimed at the research or educational activity in the sphere of general theory of literature and of literary history. He can also become a highly qualified editor or expert in culture, translation etc.; his/her general historical and cultural scope of knowledge can also enable him to occupy certain positions in diplomacy.

Deadline for submitting applications: 1 January - 30 April

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;
• motivation letter.

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 oral form and the committee examines:

• degree of readiness for scientific study;
• doctoral thesis project;
• an idea of the main directions of one’s own study of the given field;
• language skills.

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: 80 points (out of 100, max. 50 points for the doctoral thesis project).