Ph.D. in Social Psychology and Psychology of Work
Prague, Czech Republic
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
31 Mar 2025*
EARLIEST START DATE
Oct 2025
TUITION FEES
CZK 25,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Applications can only be submitted between December and March 31. The application must be submitted only electronically via the Charles University information system: https://is.cuni.cz/studium/eng/prijimacky/index.php?do=obory&fakulta=11210&fst=&druh=D&stupr=&obor1=&iscedkod=&jazyk=ENG
** The application fee is paid separately. The exact amount of the application fee for the current academic year can be found here: https://www.ff.cuni.cz/home/applicants/phd-programmes/application-and-admission/#fee
Introduction
We are delighted with your interest in studying at the Faculty of Arts.
On this page, you will find all the available information about the study programme.
If you are really interested in studying, please read the information below before sending us a question. Don't forget to click through all the headlines below as well. Here you will find not only detailed information on the admission requirements but also the curriculum and much more.
The language of instruction is English.
For all information about the study programme and admission procedure conditions see THIS PAGE.
Applications can only be submitted:
- between December 1 and March 31
- electronically using the form provided HERE
Description of the admission process:
- Contact a dissertation consultant (you can find a list of consultants according to your chosen study programme HERE) and send him/her your dissertation proposal for review.
- Submit your application for study via THE ONLINE FORM
- Applications can only be submitted from December 1 until March 31!
- In late April/early May, you will receive an Invitation to the entrance examination via the same system in which you applied.
- At a specified time in May or June, you will take an entrance exam. The entrance exam is oral and mainly takes place in person in Prague. If you are not able to take the exam in person, you can ask for a remote form of exam taken via videoconference (the deadline for a request is usually March 31).
- The maximum number of points you can score on the exam is 60. If you have a total of 30 points or more, you have a chance to be admitted – but you need to be within the expected admission number for the programme.
- In May or July, the admission procedure is evaluated, and the information about its result is sent to all applicants.
- Candidates who are successful in the admission procedure are subject to NOSTRIFICATION. This means that they must provide evidence of their previous Master's degree according to the conditions listed HERE.
- Those who have properly documented their previous education and language skills may attend the enrolment in the study, which usualy takes place from August to September.
Admissions
Curriculum
The curriculum is divided into three areas: (A) obligations associated with assessment of work for the dissertation; (B) basic study obligations; and (C) academic research or pedagogical activities. Specific study obligations (assessment of study) for all three areas are in boldface type. If not stipulated otherwise, they are organized in the form of credit.
A.DISSERTATION
PhD seminar (AXPPDOS01–04, from the 5th year and above AXPPDOS04 with repeated registration)
The student is required to participate in the PhD seminars for the duration of their studies.
In the event of an internship abroad, the student is excused from participation in seminars, but is required to make a presentation.
Term:The obligation PhD seminar will be automatically registered for students in each year of studies.
Content of PhD seminars in relation to assessing progress on the dissertation project:
- a) Oral presentation of initial information relating to the dissertation (research, identifying the key issues to an empirical investigation for the dissertation).
Term: 1st year
- b) Oral presentation of research design for the dissertation
Term: 1st or 2nd year
- c) Written work presenting the interim results of empirical investigation (or a part thereof) and their methodological context
Term: 2nd or 3rd year
- d) Oral presentation of a comprehensive part of the dissertation, which corresponds in form to an academic article (problem, starting points, selected results, discussion, conclusion).
Term: 4th year
Additional activity:
Preparation of a presentation for an international conference followed by a discussion and comments – at least once during studies, according to the needs of the PhD student;
Preparation for the dissertation defence:
A PhD seminar will be organized for the final presentation of the entire dissertation, a comprehensive presentation of the dissertation project in relation to the theoretical and methodological research results, and a detailed discussion of these results.
Term: typically in the 4th year or in the year of studies immediately before submitting the dissertation
Additional obligations associated with assessment of work on the dissertation project relate to activities for the subject-area theoretical and methodological seminar or Philosophy
Subject-area theoretical and methodological seminar (STMS) or Philosophy
The written work for the STMS is based on the topics of the STMS and focuses on the methodological issues of the dissertation project in a scope of approximately 10 standard pages.
The written work for the Philosophy exam, the written work on a philosophical topic relates to the dissertation project.
Term: in the 1st or 2nd year of studies
B.BASIC STUDY OBLIGATIONS
Common foundation for PhD studies at the Faculty of Arts
1) Foreign language
English (AXJAZ0001), German (AXJAZ0005), French (AXJAZ0002)
Term: 1st to 2nd year of studies
2) The PhD student selects the subject-area theoretical and methodological seminar (2a) or Philosophy (2b) after consulting with their supervisor with respect to the dissertation project, its focus, and the nature of preparations.
2a) Subject-area theoretical and methodological seminar (AXPPTMS02)
This is a set of lectures organized in blocks given by leading domestic or foreign experts in methodology (psychologists, sociologists, physicians, etc.) focusing on current general issues of methodology or on the presentation of research results and their methodological approach, processing and presentation of results; followed by a discussion of the lecturers and PhD students (workshop) relating to the PhD students’ own projects.
In order to get credit for the STMS, the student submits a written work of at least 10 standard pages on the methodological issues relating to their dissertation project (this is one of the obligations for assessing progress on the dissertation).
Term: 1st to 2nd year of studies
2b) Philosophy (AXOBEC002)
A philosophy exam based on a written work on a philosophical topic relating to the dissertation project according to the instructions of the lecturers from the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies.
Term: 1st to 2nd year of studies
3) Theoretical and methodological seminar II (AXPPTMS03)
Theoretical and methodological seminar II involves practical application of the acquired knowledge from the STMS. Its aim is to verify whether the PhD student has mastered the application level of the methodological context of research in the field of psychology, close to the topic of the dissertation. The task of the PhD student is to briefly assess in writing the seminar work, especially methodology, psychometry or the theory of psychodiagnostics of bachelor’s or master’s degree students (minimum of five seminar papers) and to prepare reviews of the bachelor’s theses of psychology students (minimum of five bachelor’s theses). PhD students consult the evaluation of seminar and bachelor’s theses with their supervisors who provide them with feedback on preparations and the final evaluation. Participation of the PhD student in the defence of the assessed bachelor’s theses and their active involvement in the defence is required.
Term: credit can be obtained after continuous fulfilment of the requirements, typically 4th year of studies
Subject-area programme of study – general part
1) Profile course
- a) Social psychology for PhD studies (AXPPSPE04)
- b) Psychology of work and organization for PhD studies (AXPPSPE03)
The course follows the basic profile orientation of PhD studies, and the PhD student selects its subject-area focus in accordance with their dissertation project a) or b).
Exam: committee exam (two members from among the internal academic staff or external collaborators of the Psychology Department)
Term: 2nd year of studies
- 1) Psychology based on evidence in the area of (AXPPSPE… + various codes according to the topics)
Social psychology (AXPPSPE05)
Forensic psychology (AXPPSPE06)
Developmental psychology (AXPPSPE07)
Personality psychology (AXPPSPE08)
Psychology or work and organization (AXPPSPE09)
Based on the topic of the dissertation project and following agreement with the supervisor, the PhD student chooses one of the specified areas and will focus their attention on this in relation to fulfilment of this key subject-area study obligation. The aim is verifying the PhD student’s knowledge of the latest approaches and research in the chosen field.
Exam: committee (chair and at least two members from among the internal academic staff or external collaborators of the Psychology Department):
written part – written work prepared in advance in the range of 15 standard pages presenting new results of research and approaches in the selected area and their critical analysis
oral part – analysis and discussion of written work
Term: 3rd year of studies
Subject-area programme of study – individual part
Individual study obligations (AXPPSPE… + various codes according to the topics)
The supervisor may determine other obligations according to the nature of the topic of the dissertation, and in connection with the focus of previous studies and the PhD student’s experience, one of the following options may be selected:
- – Theoretical and methodological foundations of social psychology (AXPPSPE11)
- – Theoretical and methodological foundations of forensic psychology (AXPPSPE12)
- – Theoretical and methodological foundations of developmental psychology (AXPPSPE13)
- – Theoretical and methodological foundations of personality psychology (AXPPSPE14)
- – Theoretical and methodological foundations of the psychology work and organization (AXPPSPE15)
Exam: verifies knowledge in the selected areas
Term: 1st year of studies
C. ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
The PhD student completes during their studies at least six academic activities. The specifications of the academic activities are always provided in the annual assessment in the commentary as a part of the subjects Academic Activities I, II until all activities are completed. Fulfilment of academic activities is not a requirement for registering for the state PhD exam.
Academic activities are directed to research and pedagogical activities of a various nature:
- a) Active participation in Czech or international conferences (active participation in at least two),
- b) Active participation in a foreign conference (usually participation in one; a poster is sufficient),
- c) Publication in a peer-reviewed (according to the list of peer-reviewed journals of the Government Council) or impact journal or a contribution in peer-reviewed proceedings (registered in WoS, Scopus, ERIH, etc.) or a chapter in a collective monograph (at least one publication in the form of a review or research study),
- d) Article in a foreign peer-reviewed journal,
- e) Grant project (at least in the phase of its acceptance for assessment by the grant agency),
- f) Preparation and implementation of or contribution to academic instruction (leading seminars, electives and optional courses, instruction for ERASMUS+ students),
- g) Preparation of materials for test questions for admission exams, contribution to the organization of admission exams,
- h) Academic activity in the Cabinet of Diagnostic Aids of the Psychology Department (at least for a period of one year),
- i) Counselling activities in the Psychological Counselling Centre of Charles University at the Psychology Department (at least for a period of one year),
- j) Editorial activities for the journal Psychologie pro praxi,
- k) Research support for the activities of the laboratories PLESS or LABELS.
Students may combine the academic activities in various ways according to their focus. However, the six required activities must include the following:
- An article in a peer-reviewed or impact journal relating to the topic of the dissertation project (an article in an impact journal is preferred; contribution of at least 60%),
- Participation in an international conference (conference in the Czech Republic or Slovakia with international participation),
- Pedagogical activity (contribution to leading seminars, one-semester optional courses).
These three activities are mandatory and may be placed in both of the subjects – i.e. Academic Activities I and II.
Academic activities I (AXPPOAK01)
Term: typically in the 2nd year of studies, credit
Academic activities II (AXPPOAK02)
Term: typically in the 4th year of studies or prior to submitting dissertation, credit
Internship abroad (AXPPOAK09)
Students are required to take an internship abroad (or several) during their studies, typically for a minimum of one month. The year of fulfilment is not specified. For serious reasons (childcare, etc.), an internship abroad can be replaced, based on a request approved by the dean, by other academic activities with an international dimension – preferably active participation in a foreign conference.
State PhD examination (ASDZK0001)
The state PhD examination (SDZK) is taken after fulfilling the individual obligations, except for the internship abroad and Academic Activities I and II.
The PhD student must submit the following for the SDZK: a portfolio containing (a) a written work of around eight standard pages presenting their dissertation with emphasis on current results and a discussion of these results; (b) one article accepted in a peer-reviewed journal or a contribution accepted for an international conference relating to the dissertation topic; (c) a written work for the exam on the subject of Psychology based on evidence.
The SDZK is an academic discussion on the submitted portfolio that should demonstrate the comprehensive theoretical and methodological knowledge of the PhD student relating to the dissertation project and a critical assessment of the current state of knowledge.
The SDZK is a committee exam consisting of two parts:
a) The PhD student acquaints the committee with the submitted portfolio, puts the knowledge presented here into context, and demonstrates the specific significance for implementing the dissertation project (this part takes approximately 20 minutes).
b) A discussion with the committee members and the PhD student follows along with supplementary questions by the committee members.
The state PhD exam is evaluated as a whole, and the student receives a mark of either pass or fail. The SDZK is a requirement for the dissertation defence. The student’s PhD studies are completed with the successful defence of the dissertation.
Term: 3rd year of studies
dissertation defence (AX0007305)
A requirement to register for the dissertation defence is fulfilment of all obligations stipulated in the ISP.
Standard period of study: 4 years
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING THE INDIVIDUAL STUDY PLAN
The Research Office creates the basic version of the ISP in SIS and enters for each PhD student all of the obligations that are clearly intended for all students of the subject area (i.e. with a unique code provided in the general plan). Once this basic ISP is created, the student, in agreement with their supervisor, must complete the following in SIS:
- The foreign language, selected from the offer of languages associated in SIS with the specific plan
- The individual study obligations, according to the specifications in the above plan. These obligations may be entered either by selecting an existing subject or (if the subject does not yet exist in SIS) by entering the “subject description”, which describes in words the obligation while associating it with a certain subject in SIS at a later time.
- The year of fulfilment for all obligations for which the above-mentioned subject-area curriculum determines the time span
Scholarships and Funding
For information on governmental scholarships, please visit the website of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (https://www.msmt.cz/eu-and-international-affairs/scholarships). Further, you may consult the following website: https://www.studyin.cz/plan-your-studies/scholarships.
Other Ph.D. scholarships can be found at: https://www.cuni.cz/UKEN-72.html and http://www.cuni.cz/UKEN-68.html
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the doctoral study program in Social Psychology and Psychology of Work are experts in the latest and scientifically supported procedures with a critical view of their content and especially their methodological contexts. They have demonstrated a profound knowledge of both the field and the methodology of their major topic of interest, which was the topic of their dissertation project. They have a grounding in the current issues of psychology as well as the ability to identify methods of investigation and to use research results for practical applications. Using the acquired knowledge and research experience, they are prepared for independent creative work in basic and applied research requiring the most demanding qualifications that contribute to the development of a given area of psychology.