Table of Contents
You should consider learning history if you are fascinated by our past and want to learn how it will shape our future. History is a multifaceted discipline in which your cultural knowledge and moral comprehension of the world in which we live can improve. In particular, if you are very interested in studying specifically about modern history and cultural development of a territory consisting of Central Europe, the Balkan Peninsula, and the Post-Soviet area, then taking a BECES Master’s degree presented by Charles University, Czech, would be opportunities that change your life.
Charles University was founded in 1348, making it one of the oldest universities in the world. Yet, it is also renowned as a modern, dynamic, cosmopolitan, and prestigious institution of higher education. It is the largest and most renowned Czech university and is also the best-rated Czech university according to international rankings.
Currently, there are nearly 25,000 students taking Master’s degrees at Charles University. On top of that, some of them already understand the impressive outputs they can get after taking their BECES Master’s degree. And, if you want to know the specifics of those outputs too, then keep reading the following guide to the end. Here, you will learn how this program works and the method of application in detail.
BECES Master’s Degree Program Overview
Balkan, Eurasian, and Central European Studies (BECES) is an interdisciplinary two-year Master’s Degree that focuses on the modern history and current developments of a territory composed of Central Europe, the Balkan Peninsula, and the Post-Soviet area, including the Caucasus and Central Asia. BECES Master’s degree is all about a critical and interdisciplinary approach to analyzing the challenging political and social environment of the “East”.
The program focuses on the unique and challenging political and social environment of the region. Students can focus on either a single country or alternatively, approach the whole region from a thematic angle, be it history, culture, political development, or environmental issues.
In order to enhance their curriculum, students choose from two specializations:
- Balkan and Central European Studies integrates the analysis of political, societal, economic and cultural developments in the Balkans and Central Europe, and seeks to place the interaction of these influences in a policy-relevant context.
- Russian and Eurasian Studies is designed to respond to the growing strategic importance of Russia and the former Soviet Union. The study of Russian and post-Soviet politics is supplemented by a wide range of options on other regions of the former Soviet Union and broad thematic issues such as corruption and governance, ethnopolitical conflict, nationalism, and security.
Program Benefits
Why should you study the Balkan, Eurasian, and Central European Studies (BECES) program? Here are the key aspects of the program that will help you understand better about it:
- The interdisciplinary program will teach you how to grasp regional problems in their context.
- You will have large flexibility to adapt the curriculum to your specific needs and interests.
- The two specializations of the BECES Master’s degree will allow you to create a territorial and thematic focus and expertise that increases your value on the labor market in the future.
- An internship related to the track as well as own research for the master thesis will ensure that you will be able to use your knowledge and skills in both academic and practical context.
- You can take advantage of a wide range of student mobility opportunities.
- You will become a member of a cohesive body of students from around the world.
- After completion of BECES, you can become a highly-skilled employee in the civil service or diplomacy, in NGOs or international institutions as well as in private companies or mass media.
Furthermore, as a student of BECES, you will:
- learn about approaches and methods from different disciplines including social and political studies and international relations;
- study issues that are related to East-Central Europe, the Balkans, and the Post-Soviet Area;
- learn several foreign languages (Czech, Russian, Polish, etc.);
- enhance your employability by developing your professional and academic skills.
Eligibility Requirements
First and foremost, BECES Master’s degree welcomes highly-motivated applicants with a consistently strong past academic track record. Also, a pre-condition for being accepted is the completion of higher education studies.
How to Earn a BECES Master’s Degree
Applications for the BECES Master’s Degree can be made online. You can apply here. In addition to the application, the following must be provided:
- Copy of a diploma to show completed Bachelor (or higher) studies or confirmation that ongoing Bachelor studies will be completed in the current academic year,
- Transcript of records and academic results from previous studies,
- Structured CV including extra-curricular activities,
- Motivation letter,
- Document showing the level of English proficiency,
- Two letters of recommendation (at least one academic)
Ad 5) You should provide a certificate from one of the following standardized tests:
- IELTS Academic – the minimum required overall band score of 6.5, with band score 6.0 or above in all four components;
- TOEFL Internet-Based Test (IBT) – the minimum required overall score of 83, with a minimum scaled score in the four sections: reading 19, writing 24, listening 20, speaking 20;
- Cambridge ESOL FCE – minimum Cambridge English Scale Score of 180;
- Cambridge ESOL CAE and CPE receiving a certificate.
However, you are free from submitting the score of any English tests if you:
- are native English speakers;
- have studied in English at the secondary school level for at least two years;
- studied in English at the university level for at least one year;
- have worked for at least one year at a company where the language of communication was English;
- passed Level II of the CFA exams in English.
When a score from an English-language test is not presented, you should provide a certificate of your use of English during your prior studies or employment to support your claim. The certificate should contain contact information (an email address and a telephone number) to a person (a program director, or an employee supervisor) who can confirm the scope of the use of the English language in the program or employment.
Also, note that all documents which are not originally in Czech, Slovak, or English must be officially translated into English.
Selection Process
Then, the admissions committee will assess applicants on the basis of the documents submitted and give them a ranking from 0-100 points. They will evaluate the following criteria:
- Academic background (0-40),
- Motivation (0-40),
- Extracurricular activities (0-20)
Next, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University sets the point limit for accepting applicants. The point limit is the same for all specializations. There are no limits in terms of the capacity of a particular specialization. An eligible pre-condition is the completion of a Bachelor’s degree education.
Closing Date
The application deadline is April 30th, 2021. If you are a student from visa-seeking countries, you have to apply for the early-bird term on February 28th, 2021.
Contact Details
If you have further questions regarding the BECES Master’s degree from Charles University, you can take advantage of one of the following hotlines to satisfy your curiosity.
English Language Program Coordinator
Emailing the English Language Program Coordinator is the preferred and most effective method of communication. The program coordinator is here to provide a response or an update email to your queries. It should be your first point of contact for any query related to the operation of your program or your participation in your program.
Klára Žaloudková
Institute of International Studies
Faculty of Social Sciences
Charles University
Pekařská 10
158 00 Praha 5
Czech Republic
Email: beces.ims@fsv.cuni.cz
BECES Program Director
Program Directors should be your first point of contact for any query related to the academic content of your program (curriculum, student mobility, thesis, state exam, etc.).
doc. PhDr. Tomáš Nigrin, Ph.D.
Institute of International Studies
Faculty of Social Sciences
Charles University
Pekařská 10
158 00 Praha 5
Czech Republic
Email: nigrin@fsv.cuni.cz
International Office of the Faculty
In particular, the International Office should be your first point of contact for any query related to the general administrative procedures such as enrollment to studies, interruption of studies, financial procedures, recognition of previous education, etc.
Faculty of Social Sciences
International Office (216)
Smetanovo nábř. 6
110 00 Praha 1
Czech Republic
Email: admissions@fsv.cuni.cz / degreeprograms@fsv.cuni.cz
Tel: +420 222 112 254 / +420 222 112 287 / +420 222 112 284
BECES Master’s Degree Official Webpage
Visit the official webpage of the BECES Master’s degree available on the website of the Institute of International Studies of Charles University here.
