FSS Directive No. 6/2024
Minimum language competence and subjects
taught in English
(effective from September 1, 2024)
Pursuant to Section 28(1) of Act No. 111/1998 Coll. on Higher Education and on
Amendments and Additions to Other Acts (Act on Higher Education), I issue this Directive:
Article 1
Subject of regulation
The subject of the regulation is:
1. a description of the organisation of the minimum language competence courses at the
Faculty of Social Studies of Masaryk University (hereinafter referred to as "FSS MU")
and the definition of the minimum language competences of students at individual
levels and forms of study;
2. description of the conditions for the development of teaching in English at the FSS MU
and definition of the obligations of students in Bachelor's and Master's degree
programmes in terms of deepening their language competences.
A) Minimum language competence
Article 2
Language Centre Faculty of Social Studies Division
1. The Language Centre Faculty of Social Studies Division (hereinafter referred to as "LC")
is responsible for the organization, administration, and supervision of language
preparation at FFS.
2. The LC provides language training for all students at the FSS MU. The LC provides
professional and academic foreign language teaching in English, German, French,
Spanish and Russian.
3. The offer of courses of minimum language competence at the FSS MU is adapted in
content to the areas of education provided here. It also reflects the minimum language
competence requirements defined in this Directive and is designed to enable them to
be met.
4. In organising studies in the area of minimum language competence, the LC is guided
by the principles of the Study and Examination Regulations of MU and the internal
regulations of the FSS.
Article 3
Level of minimum linguistic competence
A prerequisite for taking the state final examination is the demonstration of a minimum
level of linguistic competence. The exact conditions for its fulfilment are regulated by the
LC for each level and form of study. Any additional language requirement in Bachelor's
and Master's programmes is set out in the control and registration template of the study
plan.
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3.1. Bachelor's studies conducted in the Czech language
1. The condition for the admission to the state final examination of students of
bachelor's studies conducted in the Czech language is the demonstration of the
specified minimum language competence in one of the following languages: English,
German, French, Spanish or Russian.
2. For Bachelor's studies, the minimum competence in any of the above-mentioned
languages is set at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference
for Languages (hereinafter referred to as "CEFR").
3.2. Continuing Master's studies in Czech and English
Students of full-time and combined Master's studies must prove the minimum language
competence according to the following rules in order to be eligible for the state final
examination:
a) For full-time Czech-language master's studies, the minimum level of
competence is set at the C1 CEFR level in one of the following languages:
English, German, French, Spanish or Russian.
b) For the follow-up Master's degree in the combined form, the minimum
level of competence shall be B2 CEFR in English.
c) For the follow-up Master's degree in English, the minimum level of
competence shall be C1 CEFR in English.
Article 5
Recognition of the minimum language competence
On 31 May of each calendar year, the LC publishes the conditions for recognition for each
form and level of study in addition to the data referred to in Article 4 of the Study and
Examination Regulations of MU:
a) Certificates of language examinations;
b) language examinations from the FSS, e.g. previous or concurrent studies;
c) language examinations from another MU faculty;
d) language examinations at another higher education institution in the Czech Republic or
abroad.
Recognition of examinations and certificates is only through the IS MU. The student
submits an application entitled "Minimum Language Competence (Recognition)" and
uploads the required documents to the folder. The guarantor will then assess the
application and determine the grade.
B) Courses taught in English
Article 6
Obligation on departments to offer regular professional courses in English
1. Departments are obliged to offer regular professional courses in English, thereby
contribute to the development of disciplinary competences in the professional
language. This includes, in particular, the offering of courses by foreign lecturers,
guest lecturers, etc.
2. Departments in their programmes strive to offer courses at each level of study in
such a number and thematic breadth as to satisfy student demand.
Article 7
Obligations of students in full-time programmes conducted in the Czech
language
1. Students in the Bachelor's degree programme are obliged to take at least two
professional courses in English as part of their single-subject curriculum or
major/minor study plan in the study programme in which they are enrolled. In the
case of a minor study plan, there is no obligation to take professional courses in
English, unless the conditions of the study plan define otherwise in the control and
registration template. In the case of interfaculty studies, the guidelines apply only
to study plans that the student is studying at FSS MU.
2. Students in the follow-up Master's programme are required to take at least one
course in English as part of their single-subject study plan or study plan with a
specialisation in the study programme in which they are enrolled.
3. Students select courses to fulfill the obligation in the category of compulsory and
compulsory elective courses in the offer of control and registration templates of the
given study programme. In the event that students choose an English course
outside the list of compulsory and compulsory elective courses of a given curriculum
as part of their studies, this course is considered an elective course and is therefore
not fulfilling the obligation under Articles 7.1 and 7.2.
4. Recognition of the obligation between different levels of study is not possible.
5. Completion of English courses as part of study abroad mobility offered by the
Department may also be a fulfillment of the obligation under Articles 7.1. and 7.2.
Article 8
Transitional provisions
1. Article 3.2 c) of this Directive shall apply exclusively to FSS students studying in
Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes starting in the autumn semester of the
academic year 2025/2026 and thereafter.
2. Students who are enrolled in study plans for closing out are required to complete
one course in English as part of each study plan for closing out.
Article 9
Final provisions
1. I entrust the interpretation of the individual provisions of this Directive and their
continuous updating to the Vice-Dean for Studies.
2. This Directive shall enter into force on the date of its publication.
3. This Directive shall take effect on September 1, 2024.
4. This Directive repeals the FSS Directive 3/2019 on English language courses and
the FSS Directive 4/2019 Language Preparation at the FSS.
In Brno, June 20, 2024
Stanislav Balík
Dean
Czech version is legally binding.