European Studies and Policies

Overview

The aim of the education of students of the PhD programme in European Studies and Policies is to develop and deepen their knowledge and skills in applying theoretical and methodological approaches to the topics of European integration, contemporary developments in international relations, research on political behaviour, issues of equality, justice and inclusion, institutional settings, multilevel governance, behavioural interventions as well as the formulation, application and comparison of national sectoral policies.  

Graduates of the PhD programme in European Studies and Policies are oriented in a variety of theoretical approaches and concepts related to political, economic, social and legal processes within Europe and the global world. On the basis of the acquired knowledge and skills, they are able to analyse and evaluate processes, systems and problems in the domestic and international political arena and to carry out a comparative analysis of these processes. 

The basic characteristic of a graduate of the PhD programme in European Studies and Policies is the ability to analyse and apply theoretical and empirical knowledge in the field of interdisciplinary research on European integration and governance processes and his/her readiness to work in different sectors of public administration and politics, in the field of European and international institutions, as well as in the field of sectoral policies, in the media, in civil society and in academic research. 

The graduate has the ability to think critically and analytically, taking into account social, scientific and ethical aspects in his/her studies and research. The interdisciplinary nature of the study programme enables graduates to work in fields related to politics, international relations, European studies, media and public policy. The individual courses of study within the programme enable students to deepen their knowledge in areas related in particular to:  

a) knowledge, critical evaluation and application of classical and contemporary social science theories, 

b) the quantitative and qualitative framework of scientific research, policy analysis and analysis of state interventions in public policy, which consists in the application of specific quantitative and qualitative research methods (statistics, advanced qualitative methodology) to actual social situations, in the evaluation of results and in the proposal of alternative ways of solving problems;

c) European and international policies, which focus on the cycle of specific policy-making, from setting, legislation, application, evaluation to re-evaluation and possible readjustment based on new knowledge, models and analyses;   

(d) national policies, which focus on analysis, comparison, intervention, modelling and prediction of decision-making, behaviour and evaluation in a specific sectoral policy.

Graduates are proficient in professional terminology in Slovak as well as in English, at least at the C1 level and above, thanks to the teaching of core subjects in English. 

On the basis of completing complementary methodology courses focused on advanced qualitative research methods and advanced quantitative methods, graduates will be able to effectively prepare and implement their research project. Workshops focused on practical strengthening of specific research methods, led by experts with international experience, will help them to link the theoretical parts of their dissertation with practical application to specific policies or situations. Graduates will be able to work independently with academic texts, respond to the existing state of national or international research, work with different types of empirical data and prepare academic texts, research articles and policy-oriented analytical reports and background papers. In doing so, they adhere to standards of academic ethics.

Due to the different types of pedagogical methods used, the preparation of assignments (presentations, project preparation, research projects, critical essays, etc.), the programme also allows students to gain practice in soft skills, i.e. how to formulate arguments and justifications for their arguments, how to critically and contextually evaluate processes and events in the domestic and European political arena, and how to present them at national and international conferences. 

The graduate is able to work individually and collaboratively in a team, including an international one, has the ability to think critically and creatively, to reflect on his/her own positions with respect for value pluralism, while preserving the basic principles of dialogue within a democratic community.