Programme N0312A200014: Balkan, Eurasian and Central European Studies

Academic year 2022/2023

Balkan, Eurasian and Central European Studies (BECES) is a two-year English-language Master’s degree programme. It addresses the English speaking audience with a deep and versatile exploration of “the East”, understood as a territory composed of Central Europe, the Balkan peninsula, Russia and Eurasia in terms of the Post Soviet area, including the Caucasus and Central Asia. Primary attention is paid to modern history and politics, as well as to fundamental social, cultural and economic problems. It also offers students the chance to learn or improve their knowledge of the Czech languageor other offered languages.

The core courses provide an overview of crucial segments of the area from an analytical and multidisciplinary perspective, while the electives allow students to create their own specialisation. The aim of the programme is to help students write a Master’s thesis of sufficient quality. Through the university’s network of exchange programmes, talented students may also be offered the opportunity to make a brief research visit to another country in the area via Erasmus or other types of the academic exchange. By developing the student’s knowledge of the Czech milieu and language, the programme may also serve as an access-point to some of our Ph.D. programmes. The programme is deliberately structured to take an advantage of the multidisciplinary nature of the Faculty, and students will be encouraged to make connections between different fields of study, learning to combine a global perspective with attention to detail and local interests. It is an excellent stepping stone in developing an academic career, as well as a valuable source of analytical skills and practical background knowledge that can be applied in professional life. For detailed information see  BECES website.

Academic supervisor:  

Programme coordinator:  

Balkan, Eurasian and Central European Studies: course structure

   (Optional courses see article 5 para 4 of Consolidated University Code of Study and Examination of Charles University in Prague)

Final state exam

1. (JDIP01) Master's thesis defence

2. (JSZ394) Academic debate on a selected topic (beyond the thesis focus) with respect to Balkan and Central Europe

3. (JSZ395) Academic debate on a selected topic (beyond the thesis focus) with respect to Russia and Eurasia

(Students select topics relating either to 2 or 3)

Compulsory courses - common (J#0530)

Total number of ECTS: 60

Compulsory courses - specialism Balkan and Central Europe (J#0532)

Total number of ECTS: 24

Group J#0531 (Languages) ECTS: 12

Compulsory courses - specialism Russia and Eurasia (J#0533)

Total number of ECTS: 24

Group J#0531 (Languages) ECTS: 12

Language Courses (J#0531)

Minimum number of ECTS: 12

Electives (J#0534)

Minimum 12 ECTS, maximum (needed) 24 ECTS