Charles University: Where you can get a degree in Václav Havel

Source: Expats.cz / www. expats.cz / By Katrina Modra /

Prague continues to improve its position in the annual QS Best Student Cities ranking, climbing 13 places in 2018; it is also regularly named as one of the most budget-friendly cities for students and the best international study destination for, among other things, its world-class culture and thriving nightlife.

Carolinum
Pictured here the Carolinum, the oldest building of Charles University

Study at one of the world’s oldest universities
Though the Czech capital boasts several universities ranked among the world’s best, its leading institution Charles University, established in the 14th century by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, remains an attractive location for international study, particularly its Faculty of Social Sciences (FSV UK) which boasts sixteen degree programs taught in the English language.
Launching in 1990, the Faculty has become a regional center of teaching and research in economics, sociology, political science, international relations, area studies, media studies, and journalism, a natural fit for a country that resides at the epicenter of modern history.

A variety of degrees including one named for late president
The Faculty of Social Sciences program reflects that political past, offering Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degree programs in all fields of social sciences in a variety of subjects including Balkan, Eurasian and Central European Studies and a Václav Havel Masters Program, a nod to the late dissident president, which links the fields of European politics, contemporary history and culture, economy, international relations and policymaking. (For a full list of degrees offered by FSV UK see here).

Sixteen degree programs with English-language instruction
Currently, the Faculty has around 4,000 full-time students. Approximately 300 of them are enrolled in one of its English-language degree programs.
Ketevan Shushanashvili, a student of the European Politics and Society Program from Georgia, says: “I had the privilege to study one semester of the Vaclav Havel Joint Master Degree: European Politics and Society. The rich historical culture of Prague – and the strong commitment of academic personnel made my experience unforgettable.”
A new program Society, Communications and Media studies matters now more than ever, with its unique combination of sociology and media studies creating ideal prerequisites for a successful career in the field of research, the media sphere, and many practical management professions.

Young, vibrant exchange program for internationals
FSV UK has one of the highest international mobility participation rates of all the faculties of Charles University. Each year it welcomes around 500 exchange students from all over the world.
Lim Selynn Yan Ting from Singapore is one of them. A student of International Security Studies Program, she says:
“The faculty has a good mix of international students, with almost every continent represented. Such a diverse environment is certainly needed given the nature of the program. Also, there exists a relatively informal relationship between the students and the professors, so it is easy to just approach the professors if we have any questions.”

Multiple career paths for students
A degree from FSV UK prepares students for professional careers in the private sector, public administration, national governments, EU institutions, the media, or academic research.
The faculty’s location across several campuses in the heart of Prague and its strong international vibe, fuelled by a rich student life complete with trips, activities, parties, and sports, has proven a huge draw even for those initially uncertain about getting a degree in a foreign country.
Henry Dominguez Silva, a student of the Public and Social Policy Program from Colombia, says: “Finding a reason to study in another country has not been easy. However, Charles University has proven that I made the right decision.”
For FSV UK alumni that decision can be a vital one, marking an ongoing commitment to the protection of knowledge, cultivation of free thought, and support of the creative spirit in human society that is the Faculty’s mission.