Literary Philology

Graduates will be equipped for careers in academic and research institutions, both in primary and applied research. However, their education and skills will also enable them to pursue careers beyond this framework, particularly in organizations and institutions focused on education or the intersection of literature, literary studies, and other fields. Additionally, they may find opportunities in organizations engaged in producing, publishing, and presenting literature, covering a broad spectrum of national literatures and their scholarly interpretation.

Given the specific topics and areas in which students are trained, it is clear that their career prospects can have both a domestic and a significantly international dimension.

The research topics addressed by doctoral students reflect the scientific research strategy of the philological disciplines at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, and fall into the following areas:

Literature of a specific language/language group

Literary studies of a specific language/language group

Comparative literature

Literature and literary studies from an interdisciplinary and intermedial perspective

Literary-area studies

Upon successful completion of the programme, the graduate is able to:

• be well-versed in key past and present theoretical approaches, concepts, and strategies at an international level;
• design and conduct both primary and applied research in their field;
• draft grant applications and collaborate on grant-funded projects;
• present the results of their research at national and international research forums;
• successfully apply for employment, postdoctoral positions, or grant opportunities in their field of specialization as well as in related disciplines;
• professionally mentor students in their research area as well as in broader academic contexts;
• navigate the field of research ethics.

Doctoral program graduates can primarily apply their qualifications in academic and university institutions, where they can engage in research within both primary and applied fields and/or in educational activities.

In the broader context of academia, graduates may hold positions related to the practical organizational, educational, outreach, conceptual, or financial aspects of scientific work. However, the academic skills they acquire should also provide ample opportunities beyond the academic environment in roles involving the acquisition, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and potentially the practical application and dissemination of information.

The dissertation addresses a specialized research problem corresponding to the type of study. The student must demonstrate the ability to conduct independent scientific work, which includes formulating a hypothesis, creating an outline and timeline, identifying and analyzing relevant academic literature based on the thematic focus of their research, collecting research material using appropriate methods, and describing, analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating the collected material - all within the appropriate context of the field's current development.

The dissertation must be submitted in the required length and meet the expected content, linguistic, and formal standards in accordance with dissertation requirements. The work is assessed based on reviews from the supervisor and two independent reviewers. The typical dissertation length is between 240,000 and 400,000 characters, excluding appendices and bibliography, depending on the research topic and focus.