The aim of the Ph.D. study programme Aesthetics and Culture Studies is to prepare graduates for a career in the academic sphere or in commercial sphere, at positions where a high qualification is required with the specialization in the field of art and culture, journalism, politics, and education (theoretical approaches to translation, art, and digital humanities etc.). During their studies, students will get acquainted with theoretical approaches to modern aesthetics and semiotics of culture that reflect the situation of art from both synchronic and diachronic viewpoints. The Ph.D. study programme is organized within several sections corresponding to the scholarly orientation of members of the Department of Aesthetics (analytical aesthetics, history of aesthetics, semiotics, structuralism, philosophical approaches, experimental and empirical research etc.). Ph.D. students are required to participate in work of several of the sections, within which they work on their Ph.D. projects. Besides acquiring knowledge from the sphere of the contemporary study of culture, they also learn elementary techniques of research in humanities. Under the supervision of experts, students in higher courses of the Ph.D. study programme participate in teaching at the Department of Aesthetics, thus gaining elementary competences of a university teacher.

The obligatory parts of the doctoral programme consist of individual practical training at some institution or social establishment, a stay abroad for the term of at least one month, and a semestral teaching course under supervision. Longer teaching periods are not desirable in order to not overcharge doctoral students.

The graduate is ready to work at a wide range of cultural, social or Art-institutions, at boards of cultural or artistic journals, as a teacher or lecturer. In all mentioned places, they can apply acquired deeper knowledge about art or culture in contexts but also practical skills in identifying, describing, analyzing and proposing how to solve problems in art or everyday practice at institutions promoting social interaction with art and culture.

Terms of Admission

1. Submission of an electronic application in the Masaryk University Information System.
2. Submission of one letter of recommendation.
3. Submission of a copy of the applicants Master's Thesis (in English). If this is not available, an English-language summary of the thesis must be provided together with a minimum twenty-page sample of the applicant's academic or scholarly writing in English.
4. Submission of a doctoral research project (about 3000 words in English) by October 31st (for the expected enrollment in the Spring semester) or April 30th (for the expected enrollment in the Autumn semester).
5. Submission of a statement of motivation to pursue a doctoral degree in Aesthetics and Culture Studies at Masaryk University (in English).
6. The admission procedure has two rounds. Based on the quality of the project, its compliance with the research profile of the department, and the availability of a suitable supervisor, projects can be shortlisted for the second round. The second round consists of a presentation of the project in front of the admission committee, followed by discussion and defense of the project. Based on this interview and the availability of a potential supervisor, the admission committee decides about recommending or not the admission.

Application Deadlines:

1 January - 30 April for the enrollment in the Fall semester
1 June - 30 September  for the enrollment in the Spring semester

Documents set out above in the Terms of Admission are required to be provided in digital form and attached to the online application by April 30th or September 30th.

Contact:

admission@phil.muni.cz

Tuition fees: € 2,500/academic year (degree programme taught in English).

Students who require a visa and who are denied one will be refunded 90 % of the school-fee only if they send us confirmation that their visa was denied. The money will be returned by bank transfer only.