Slavonic Studies

Aims of the study / general information The commitment of a study program Slavonic Studies is preparing the university-qualified specialists in the field of Slavic philology (that means Polish, Ukrainian of South Slavonic philology) with a strong multi-disciplinary accent. Study is in its linguistic part focused on gaining comprehensive language competence in the chosen profile Slavic language (gaining level B2-C1 according to Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), on knowing current state and history of Slavic languages, in both the perspective of general and comparative linguistics. In the literary part the study is aimed at discovering the newest development phases of Slavic literatures, their specifics and genealogy system and questions of literary theory and comparative literature. Significant part of the study is deepening of knowledge of history and culture of Slavic countries in Central-Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and their relations, as well as cultural and political relations and contacts of Czech environment with Polish, Ukrainian and South Slavic environment (Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Hercegovina). The follow-up master's degree program Slavonic studies is realized in form of major and minor study of three specializations (South Slavonic and Balkan Studies, Polish Studies and Ukrainian Studies).

Slavonic Studies (major ) is multi-disciplinary area study with equal linguistic, literary and cultural-historic part, suitable for those applicants that want to gain wide-oriented Slavic area knowledge and be able to analyze and regale past and current problems of Slavic world in the European context. In practical languages, this study follows on the level of language gained in major of bachelor’s degree South Slavonic and Balkan Studies, Ukrainian Studies and Polish Studies.

Slavonic Studies (minor) has similar characteristics to major study, but in the means of credits and content is more adjusted to collegians of different programs or faculties (students of history, ethnology, political science, journalism, geography and others), that have their major field of study, but plan to focus on Slavic world in some way as well. It does not include compulsory part of practical language training, this is fully optional.

Specialization (South Slavonic and Balkan Studies, Polish Studies, Ukrainian Studies) offer in a form of common basics (more or less identical with major study), similarly multi-disciplinary and widely area-based Slavonic study with accent on philological part, enabling student of an individual specialization of philological bachelor’s programs to enrich their knowledge of individual Slavic languages (Polish, Ukrainian or South Slavic language – Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian, Slovenian and Serbian), as well as literature, culture, history and current state of countries, where this language is spoken. In line with tradition on Brno’s Slavonic studies the study is designed as a wide area study set in European context.

Study of Russian language is not part of the program Slavistics, as based on its position among Slavic studies it is being studied separately in program Russian Studies. It is possible for a student of Slavistics to choose optional courses of language or other from the offer of Russian Studies.

“The Slavic World: A fascinating closeness and diversity”

Practical training

This program offers its collegians to spend at least one semester abroad, either in the country of their specialization or at the universities with traditional Slavic education in different countries. Students can gain credits for practical training too (course Practical Training), mainly in organizations and institutions with those our department has a long-term cooperation. There is also a possibility to work as a lector of Czech language in partner local government offices of South Moravian Region, and on other positions. It is also possible to start working as an intern at embassies of Czech Republic in countries of specialization or in Czech centers that have been established in some of these countries. Providers of internships (and partially employers) are often non-profit organizations dealing with refugee issues, human rights or environment, as well as agencies dealing with tourist industry or business relations in countries that this study program focuses on, and translation agencies. As most of the studied countries are member or associated countries of EU, there is a growing importance of bilateral cooperation of companies dealing with investments and import and export from the countries of South-Eastern Europe, Poland and Ukraine.

Further information

Depatment of Slavonic Studies: http://slavistika.phil.muni.cz

Graduates of the study program Slavistics are specialists with complex education in fields of philology and area studies, that can apply for professions that require language competence (according to specialization), good presentation skills, independent and critical thinking and knowledge of wider area context. Graduates will be widely professionally adaptive, that will enable them to dynamically react to changing requirements of the praxis. Gained knowledge and competence predispose them to lifelong learning and continuous personal development.

Graduates of this program will apply their education in pedagogic and scientific work, creative work in cultural and education institutions, in travel industry, journalism, specialized work in editor's offices, at the level of lower and middle-level management, in translations of commercial, specialized and artistic texts, interpretation and expert work.

Graduates can find employment in national and supranational organizations and structures operating in countries of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and fulfilling different tasks where he or she will be able to offer solid orientation in difficult inter-ethnic and inter-cultural relations and contribute to effective solution of many local problems. Graduate can work as an expert in UN Peacekeeping Missions and other similar missions and organizations. Graduate from Slavistics should be ready to affect Czech public opinion via media, in terms of relevant picture of the situations in individual areas, eventually work in the field of diplomatic service, to which praxis of master's students on the embassies in the studied countries will contribute.

Deadline for submitting applications: January 1 - April 30

SLAVONIC STUDIES (major study plan)

Who the programme is intended for: The programme is intended for graduates of Bachelor’s studies in various Slavonic fields/programmes, or history, ethnology, political science, and other related fields/programmes who want to gain a broadly focused Slavonic overlap and be able to analyze and trace past and current problems of the Slavonic world against the background of the European context. However, knowledge of one of the following languages is required: Polish, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Croatian, or Slovenian at the B1 level.

Subject matter of the entrance examination: oral examination and motivation letter Upload the motivation letter into your electronic applications (rubric “Documents”) by 1 June. Applicants are required to include their full name and application number on the motivation letter.

Waiver of the entrance examination: The entrance examination is waived for those Bachelor’s degree graduates who have achieved an overall grade of A, B, or C in the Bachelor’s state examination in any Slavonic field at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University or other universities. Applicants can ask for a waiver for the entrance examination via the e-application form, section "Application for waiver of the entrance examination".

SLAVONIC STUDIES (minor study plan)

Who the programme is intended for: The Slavonic Studies minor is adapted to Bachelor’s degree graduates of especially non-Slavic disciplines (students of history, ethnology, political science, journalism, geography, and other applicants), who have their major field of study within which they plan to focus on the Slavonic world. It does not contain a compulsory component of practical language teaching, it is completely optional.

Subject matter of the entrance examination: oral examination and motivation letter. Upload the motivation letter into your electronic applications (rubric “Documents”) by 1 June. Applicants are required to include their full name and application number on the motivation letter.

Pass/fail line of the entrance examination: 50 points (out of 100). Motivation 50 points, orientation towards history, culture, and literature 25 points, interview about read literature 25 points. Waiver of the entrance examination: The entrance examination is waived for those Bachelor’s degree graduates who have achieved an overall mark of A, B, or C in the Bachelor’s state examination in any Slavonic field at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University or other universities. The entrance examination is also waived for students of non-Slavic disciplines (students of history, ethnology, political science, journalism, geography, and other applicants from related fields) who have achieved an overall mark of A, B, or C in their Bachelor’s degree programmes. Applicants can ask for a waiver for the entrance examination via the e-application form, section "Application for waiver of the entrance examination".

SOUTH-SLAVONIC AND BALKAN STUDIES (single-subject study plan with specialization)

Who the specialization is intended for: The specialization is intended for graduates of the same or related Bachelor’s degree programme (the similarity of the fields will be assessed based on the application).

Subject matter of the entrance examination: oral examination and motivation letter. Upload the motivation letter into your electronic applications (rubric “Documents”) by 1 June. Applicants are required to include their full name and application number on the motivation letter.

Pass/fail line of the entrance examination: 50 points (out of 100). Language skills 40 points, philological knowledge 20 points, knowledge of literature, history, and culture 40 points.

Waiver of the entrance examination: The entrance examination is waived for those Bachelor’s degree graduates who have achieved an overall grade of A, B, or C in the Bachelor’s state examination in any field/programme of South Slavonic and Balkan Studies, Balkan Studies, Bulgarian Language and Literature, Serbian Language and Literature, Croatian Language and Literature, and Slovenian Language and Literature at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University. Applicants can ask for a waiver for the entrance examination via the e-application form, section "Application for waiver of the entrance examination".

POLISH STUDIES (single-subject study plan with specialization)

Who the specialization is intended for: The specialization is intended for graduates of the same or related Bachelor’s degree programme (the similarity of the fields will be assessed based on the application).

Subject matter of the entrance examination: oral examination and motivation letter. Upload the motivation letter into your electronic applications (rubric “Documents”) by 1 June. Applicants are required to include their full name and application number on the motivation letter.

Pass/fail line of the entrance examination: 50 points (out of 100). Language skills 40 points, philological knowledge 20 points, knowledge of literature, history, and culture 40 points.

Waiver of the entrance examination: The entrance examination is waived for those Bachelor’s degree graduates who have achieved an overall grade of A, B, or C in the Bachelor’s state examination in Polish Language and Literature at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University and Polish with an orientation towards Commercial Practice, Services, and Travel at FA MU and Polish Studies. Applicants can ask for a waiver for the entrance examination via the e-application form, section "Application for waiver of the entrance examination".

UKRAINIAN STUDIES (single-subject study plan with specialization)

Who the specialization is intended for: The programme is intended for all graduates of Bachelor’s studies.

Subject matter of the entrance examination: oral examination and motivation letter. Upload the motivation letter into your electronic applications (rubric “Documents”) by 1 June. Applicants are required to include their full name and application number on the motivation letter.

Pass/fail line of the entrance examination: 50 points (out of 100). Language skills 40 points, philological knowledge 20 points, knowledge of literature, history, and culture 40 points.

Waiver of the entrance examination: The entrance examination is waived for those Bachelor’s degree graduates who have achieved an overall grade of A, B, or C in the Bachelor’s state examination in Ukrainian Language and Literature and Ukrainian Studies at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University. Applicants can ask for a waiver for the entrance examination via the e-application form, section "Application for waiver of the entrance examination".

Website Department of Slavonic Studies.

General information on the course of the admission procedure to the follow-up Master’s degree programmes at FA MU can be found here. Documents for the current admission procedure are kept in Materials for Applicants.

Criteria for evaluation

Pass/fail line of the entrance examination: 50 points (out of 100); 50 points motivation, 25 points interview about literature, 25 points historical, cultural and literary framework.

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Minimum score and numbers of accepted applicants in past years

Graduate from the master's program Slavistics can be accepted to existing accredited PhD. programs Paleoslavic and Slavic Languages, Theory and History of Slavic Literatures, Literature Comparatistics, Philological Area Studies or newly accredited PhD. programs Slavic Languages, Slavic Literatures, Literature Comparatistics and Philological Area Studies.