Polish Studies

The aim of the Polish Studies programme is to prepare academically qualified specialists in the field of Polish philology, with a significant overlap into related philological and area-oriented disciplines.

The programme combines linguistic, literary, and area studies aspects. Its linguistic component focuses on acquiring comprehensive language competence in Polish through an intensive language course (exit level according to the Common European Framework: B2 to B2+), followed by courses aimed at understanding the grammatical system of contemporary Polish, also in the context of other Slavic and Indo-European languages. The literary component is primarily oriented towards the history of Polish literature and its specific features. Both linguistic and literary courses emphasize a comparative Czech-Polish approach, which has a long tradition in Czech Polish studies. An important part of the programme is also an overview of Polish history, culture, and realia, as well as Czech-Polish relations.

The Polish Studies programme is offered as a major, a minor, and two specializations (Polish Cultural Studies and Polish for Professional and Business Practice). The major fully reflects the characteristics described above, while the minor is adapted in scope (content and credits) for students from other fields and faculties who wish to complement their main area of study with Polish studies. The core of both specializations consists of courses focused on practical Polish language study, normative grammar of contemporary Polish, the history of Polish literature, and Polish history, culture, and realia.

The Polish Cultural Studies specialization has a philological, cultural-historical, and area-oriented character. It emphasizes advanced study of Polish literature, including its context within European and world literature, as well as work with artistic texts and their translation. A significant component of this specialization includes courses on the specifics of Polish culture, Polish cultural heritage, and its potential in tourism.

The Polish for Professional and Business Practice specialization focuses primarily on acquiring practical skills that enable graduates to succeed in professional settings. In addition to practical skills, graduates are equipped with a solid theoretical foundation. Specialization combines the philological aspect of the programme with area and socio-economic perspectives. It includes extended instruction in business Polish, translation and interpreting exercises, and basics of non-philological disciplines (law, economics, geography, IT).

Practical training

For the specialization Polish for Professional and Business Practicei, a compulsory internship of at least 100 hours, carried out over a period of 15 working days, is required. Its aim is to acquire practical skills and competences for work in the fields of business, services, public administration, and cultural and social organizations with a focus on Poland and Central Europe. The internship placement must be approved in advance by the programme guarantor. The study plan anticipates the internship in the 5th semester, but students may complete it at another time. Upon submission of confirmation of completion, the student receives credit for the course PJN309 Professional Internship.

Students of the Polish Cultural Studies specialization complete their practical training in the form of a minimum five-day professional excursion, which applies theoretical and practical knowledge in the field. Students actively participate in preparing the excursion programme, consolidate their knowledge and expertise, and acquire skills that contribute to their personal development and employability. After completing the excursion (co-financed by the Centre for International Studies at MU), which is usually scheduled in the 3rd or 4th semester, the student receives credit for the course PJN209 Professional Excursion.

Further information

Web of Department of Slavonic Studies: http://slavistika.phil.muni.cz

Graduates of the Polish Studies programme are comprehensively educated specialists in philology and area studies. They possess theoretical and methodological knowledge in linguistics, literary studies, and related disciplines, and are well-versed in Polish culture, history, and Czech-Polish relations, as well as in key issues of the economic, political, and social development of contemporary Poland. They find employment in professions requiring language competence, strong communication skills, independent and critical thinking, broad general knowledge, and an in-depth understanding of the Polish environment. Graduates also have considerable professional adaptability, enabling them to respond flexibly to changing practical requirements. The knowledge and competences acquired predispose them to lifelong learning and continuous personal development.

Graduates of all study tracks can apply their education in teaching and research, tourism, journalism, editorial work, public administration, local government, lower and middle-level corporate management, translation of scholarly and artistic texts, interpreting, and expert consultancy. Graduates of the Polish Cultural Studies specialization, thanks to their knowledge of Polish literature, culture, and cultural heritage, can also work creatively in cultural institutions and organizations engaged in Czech-Polish relations. Graduates of the Polish for Professional and Business Practice specialization are particularly suited for positions in commercial and manufacturing companies that require knowledge and skills in economics, law, IT, and foreign languages, combined with a deeper understanding of the Polish area and its cultural-historical and socio-economic dimensions.

This programme is accredited in Czech and requires students to have a native-speaker or C1 knowledge of Czech or Slovak.

The criteria for admission for studies are the results of the Learning Potential Test (TSP). Applicants may also be admitted based on other criteria, see Admission without the Entrance Examination. The Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University disregards the results of SCIO National Comparative Examinations.

You can file your e-applications for studies from 1 November to 28 February.
The date and time of the examination will be stated in the electronic invitation for the examination, which will be uploaded to your e-application. The faculty will not be sending paper invitations. Applicants applying for the major study plan and minor study plan in a combined study must comply with the conditions for admission into both plans.

Learning Potential Test (TSP)

This test is only in Czech. For up-to-date information, click here

Field of Study Examination

For admission for studies of this degree programme, you do not need to take the Field of Study Examination.

Admission without the entrance examination

You may be exempt from the entrance examination based on secondary school results in four profile subjects: Czech or Slovak language, English, basics of social sciences and a choice of one more subject from the following: Chinese, history, French, music, information technology, Italian, Latin, maths, German, Russian, Spanish.

Secondary school results may be applied for an exemption from the entrance examination by those applicants whose average grade was 1.5 or higher in each of the four profile subjects. The total average result in all subjects is not taken into consideration. Secondary school seminars are also disregarded. The average grade of each profile subject is calculated based on the results of the last four years of study in the following way: the mid-year grade is calculated from the final year, whereas the final grades are calculated from the previous three years. It is also necessary that applicants have studied each of the profile subjects for at least two years during the last four years.
Enter your grades in your e-application. Then print the grades out and let your secondary school certify them with a stamp and a signature. Upload the scan of the certified grades into your e-application. You can also upload officially certified school reports or any other documents certifying your school results.
Please upload the officially certified documents directly to your e-application in the section Application for the Exemption from the Entrance Examination no later than 28 February.

Criteria for evaluation

Limit for TSP percentile for successfully passing the entrance examination: 30

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Minimum score and numbers of accepted applicants in past years

A graduate of the Bachelor’s degree programme in Polish Studies may (subject to admission requirements) continue in any follow-up Master’s programme. At the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University, it is possible to continue in the Master’s programme in Slavic Studies, which offers, among other options, a specialization in Polish Studies.