Political Science

Program Description

POLITICAL SCIENCE

About the study programme 

The Philosophical Faculty of the University of Hradec Králové offers a PhD degree which may be pursued in combined form of study. The PhD programme is designed for students who have obtained a Master‘s Degree in Political Science and related study disciplines. 

 

Basic information about the field of study 

• Degree: PhD
• Form: Combined / part-time study
• Study programme: Political Science
• Study duration: 4 years
• Language: English
• Intake: September 2026*
• Application Deadline for AY 2026/2027: March 31, 2026
• Tuition fees: € 1500 per semester, i.e. € 3000 per academic year

 *February 2027 intake is possible only in specified cases (more details in Dean's decree No. 25/2025 below).

 

 A complete study plan can be found here.

 

What are Political Science studies about? 

Political Science PhD programme is about possessing the knowledge and skills to both conduct independent academic research and apply the acquired knowledge in practice. Besides scholarly focus on the regions of Africa and Latin America which has long constituted a major and unique part of the Department’s research profile, we offer the opportunity for innovative research in classical areas of political science such as comparative politics, political thought, or European Union. 

 

Graduates 

Besides deep understanding of the nature of politics in late modern society, our graduates grasp the normative, institutional, and empirical preconditions of democratic governance and the conditions of its legitimacy. This is important given the authoritarian and broadly undemocratic challenges that have emerged in various forms around the globe, including Europe, the Americas, and Africa. Equipped with knowledge of typical problematic cases and their institutional and normative context, PolSci graduates are able to analyse both chronic and acute problems affecting democratic societies, and propose solutions. They know how to communicate their findings within the domestic and international scientific community. Finally, the informal dissemination of the values of freedom, democracy, and openness throughout the broader society also deserves emphasis. 

Our graduates find employment in academia and other types of educational institutions, in the public sphere (including ministries with an agenda focused on the Latin American and African regions), or in political management and consultancy. They can engage with media and civil society as such (including political parties or NGOs). Also open are careers in diplomacy and various foreign or domestic organisations regularly seeking expert opinions, as well as with firms looking for expertise regarding the given regions. Finally, employment in the European Union institutions and bodies, as well as other public and private organisations that shape the functioning of the EU, is also expected.

 

Financial terms for studying in the English doctoral programmes

A privately paying PhD student pays € 3000 per academic year, which may be divided into a maximum of two instalments (the first instalment of at least € 1500 to be paid by the end of October, the secong instalment to be paid by the end of February at the latest). No scholarship is granted.

 

For more information contact the coordinator of PhD studies in Political Science:

doc. Mgr. Pavel Dufek, Ph.D.

Department of Political Science

pavel.dufek@uhk.cz

 

How to apply?

By filling in the application form with attachments. Obligatory attachments include:

• An verified copy of the master diploma (in exceptional cases on the date of study enrolment at the latest). *
• A structured CV.
• A copy of passport.
• At least 2 letters of recommendation from the university of graduation.
• A research project proposal at the extent of approx. 3 - 5 standard pages – the project must include the specification of the topic and objectives of the work, the theoretical frame, methods of elaboration and the list of related literature.
• A confirmation of language proficiency (certificates etc.). If the applicant completed prior education in the English language, no confirmation is required.
• Evidence of any publication activity.

* More information about the nostrification and recognition of certificates and diplomas can be requested at nostrifikace@uhk.cz or ff.internationaloffice@uhk.cz.

 

Deadline for application:

• March 31, 2026 for start in the Winter Term (September 2026) and for start in the Summer Term (February 2027)
• The latest deadline for sending completed attachments missing from the application form is 31 March 2026. If the application has formal deficiencies or the mandatory attachments are missing, the applicant will be asked to correct and complete it by a deadline set individually for that case. If the applicant fails to complete the attachments by the deadline, he/she will not be admitted to the admission process. The Dean may grant an exception to the deadline in justified cases only.

 

The application with the required attachments must be uploaded through the link above. In case of any questions, please, contact us at ff.internationaloffice@uhk.cz. 

Admission Requirements

The admission procedure consists of an interview. Along with other required attachments, applicants to the Political Science programme submit a written proposal for a dissertation research project (ca. 3 - 5 standard pages) which delineates the objectives of the dissertation, justification of their scientific and social relevance, and contextualisation in the existing body of research. It should also include an outline of the theoretical framework, preliminary structure of the thesis, research methods/techniques, and a list of relevant scholarly literature. The interview focuses on the research plan and its purpose, as well as on the applicant’s motivations and qualifications for doctoral study. A preliminary agreement with a prospective academic supervisor can be an advantage in this regard and is advised. 

The discussion before the Selection Committee may address the literature listed in the project proposal. 

The interview will be conducted in English; knowledge of another world language (especially Spanish, Portuguese and French) or but other regionally significant languages may be considered an advantage in case of applicants who want to focus in their research on Latin American or African Studies.  

The entrance examination is scored. An applicant passes the entrance examination if he/she obtains at least 60% of 100 points.

Inquiries about the study program itself should be addressed to Associated Professor Pavel Dufek, pavel.dufek@uhk.cz. 

You will be contacted at the very beginning of April 2026 by the International Office to set a date of the on-line interview. For further information about the admission procedure and the related administrative requirements please consult the Dean's Decree No. 25/2025. Alternatively, you may contact the International Office at ff.internationaloffice@uhk.cz. 

Minimum Success Rate

60 points

Maximum Success Rate

100 points

Accreditation

Valid until 02/15/2035

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