Study plan

Completion of the study involves the successful passing of the state final examination and the defence of the dissertation. The state final examination consists of an oral examination, which is held no later than in the 7th or 8th semester of study, and the defence consists of the defence of the dissertation. The defence and the examination are public and take place before a committee whose members are experts in the given specialisation. The topics that are covered by the oral exam are based around five academic theses, which the PhD student has submitted to their supervisor for approval in advance (these are sent to the rest of the commission members by the commission chairperson no later than a week prior to the state exam). At the state exam, the ability of reasoning in terms of literary theory is tested, as well as the PhD student’s argumentation skills in regards to two theses chosen by the commission themselves (theses are chosen by the commission members in the PhD student’s absence). The exam takes the form of a discussion.

Topics of specialization for the state doctoral exam:
specialization Medieval Studies:
- texto-critical approaches to Medieval manuscripts;
- main features of Medieval literatures.

In the introduction to the defense, the supervisor shall introduce the candidate; the candidate shall then introduce the present to the main theses of their work, and the thesis reports are presented. In the discussion that follows, the PhD student shall respond to the opinions of both the supervisor and the reviewers, as well as to the commission members’ questions.

Pivotal part of students’ responsibilities on the PhD studies in Czech Literature is the preparation and work on the student’s dissertation thesis, which is defined as a coherent academic study based on the student’s authentic research.
The student’s required activities are laid out in the individual study plan. They comprise the compulsory courses, as well as student’s own creative work and the presentation whereof – in the course of the studies, active participation in at least two academic conferences and publication of one study in an academic journal, is required. Other academic activities at the department may take the form of teaching, editing work, cooperation in organizing conferences, for instance, etc.
Another part of the studies is a study stay at a foreign university or another research institution abroad, which can be chosen by the student in relation to their dissertation topic, and the possibilities for consultation with foreign experts in the field, or study of relevant academic literature. The stay abroad should have the total duration of three months (it can be scheduled in smaller intervals of time and realized with different institutions, if needed).
The compulsory courses of the PhD study can be separated into four types:
Courses directly related to the regular completion of the study – Research and Study I, II, and III (CLDS_a09, a10, a11), Doctoral Dissertation Thesis (CLDS_a02), Doctoral Thesis (CLDS_a01), and Doctoral Exam (CLDS_a03).
The next type of compulsory subjects is focused on the student’s academic preparation – Writing Seminar I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII (CLDS_a17-24), Conference Presentation I and II (CLDS_a04, CLDS_a05), Essay in Professional Periodicals (CLDS_a07), Review in Professional Periodicals (CLDS_a08) and Internships Abroad I (CLDS_a13).
Part of the field of Medieval Studie are also the specialty subjects of Textual Criticism I and II (LMD_001, LMD_002).
The required course package also comprises the courses of the faculty basis – Philosophy for PhD students I (PHDZ1), as well as foreign languages according to the student’s choice (CJV_D_A, CJV_D_F, CJV_D_N, CJV_D_R), or the subject Foreign Language – publication and presentation in a foreign language (CLDS_a40).
Moreover, PhD students are required to acquire 60 credits from the category of the so-called compulsory-optional courses – Old Czech (CJDSM001), Czech Medieval Literature (CLDS_a33), Medieval Latin (LMD_003), Latin Medieval Literature (LMD_004), Medieval German (NJDS_001), German Medieval Literature (NJDS_002).
It is possible to acquire the remaining number of credits from other optional course packages following a consult with the supervisor.

Chosen dissertation topics:
Tomáš Štítný and the Vernacularisation of Religious Thinking.
Chosen writings by Jan Hus in Czech and Latin.
Chosen Chapters from Vagantes’ Poetry – in Czech, German, Latin, Makaronic.
Tkadleček and Ackermann aus Böhmen – the Medieval dispute.
Prokopské legends in Czech and Latin.