The two-year distance Master's study program in Oral History and Contemporary History is intended for students interested in contemporary European history, interviewing methodologies, and interpretative methods. Its main aim is to train students to conduct research through creating and analyzing interviews, and developing fieldwork projects to address those historical and contemporary issues that require interdisciplinary investigation.
The MA program in Oral History and Contemporary History is centered on the connection between individual and collective aspects of contemporary history and historical events. The studies focus on the relationship between man and society, and on individual agency in past and present. Oral history, the ideal tool for researching these topics, maps "everyday histories" and memories of the past with a focus on individual aspects of living and experiencing history. The goal of the program is to familiarize its students with oral history methodology and other methods of historical research. Furthermore, it aims to teach its students important knowledge of contemporary historical contexts which frame individual human stories and perspectives.
The program is focused on the study of history and its methodologies; it is also meant to provide its students with overarching knowledge of Czech, Czechoslovak, and world history. The program offers an overview of various methodological approaches – beside the oral history tradition - which it compares and reflects critically. These include, among others: archival research; statistical research (e.g. information of demographic/economic nature, public opinion polls); pop culture research (e.g. films, radio broadcast recordings; etc.); research of media and literature; etc. The program also provides an interdisciplinary view of history from the perspectives of political theory and international relations; political philosophy; economic and social history; or cultural history; and others.
The Master's program is divided into two sections: the first covers contemporary (Czech and international) history and events, the second is methodological and focuses on various interviewing techniques through which we can study contemporary history. It binds together two general approaches of studying history, the macro and micro approaches, and enables a thorough understanding of recent events in history.
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Application Deadline |
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Tuition Fee: |
2000€ / year |
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Lenght of Study |
2 years (max. 5) |
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Form of Study |
Distance |
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Application Form |
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Applications for the 2023/2024 academic year will remain closed.
Submit a motivation letter, structured CV (curriculum vitae) and an academic paper in English before the application deadline.
The paper should be no less than 15 pages in length and prove your knowledge, skills and talent for study in the program for which you are applying. The paper can be your defended bachelor’s thesis or its summary, an article published in an academic journal, or any new essay that you choose to represent you and your academic knowledge.
Please note that all the required documents must be attached as files in your online application (My applications → Attachments/Progress → Upload an attachment to my application – Attachment type → Upload file).
Submit a proof of your previous education (i.e. BA diploma). If you graduated outside the Czech Republic, then you must submit an officially recognised/nostrified document validating your foreign education. More information on the process of recognition and nostrification can be found here.
An admission exam is not required.
Please note: The recognition/nostrification process can take a long time (1-3 months) and its successful completion is a necessary component of the formal admission into the program. You will receive an official acceptance letter from the university only after your foreign degree diploma has been recognised/nostrified in the Czech Republic. When planning your enrolment and studies, keep in mind that you should submit all the relevant documents sufficiently in advance.
Deadline for applicants to submit their previous education certificate is September 30. Applicants who are unable to get their foreign diploma recognised/nostrified untill the end of September are allowed to submit a copy of their BA diploma no later than October 22. This is the extended and final deadline for enrolment in the relevant academic year. Please, keep in mind that the academic year already starts in the beginning October.
If you need to apply for a student visa in order to study in Prague, please, make effort to complete all of the required steps of the admission process on time.
Graduates of the MA program in Oral History and Contemporary History can use their knowledge and experience in a wide spectrum of professional fields which rely on understanding and taking part in interpersonal communication, especially within the context of Czech, Czechoslovak, and world history. The graduates are able to find employment in academia as researchers in the fields of oral history, contemporary history, qualitative research, memory studies, and similar disciplines. Thanks to their acquired skills and knowledge, they are fully competent to fulfill the roles of archivists, museologists, lecturers, methodologists, or coordinators in a variety of environments, profit and non-profit alike.
Owing to the emphasis put on the qualitative interview method and critical analysis of its results, the program graduates are able to take advantage of the qualities this method requires and find employment as interviewers, spokespersons, journalists, and moderators. They can also use their research experience in job positions such as analyst, project manager, administrator, etc., in both domestic and international institutions. Their knowledge of ethically and legally correct form of communication can be used in a wide range of settings, for example in positions of management, human resources, public relations, or in the armed forces.
Mandatory courses and amount of credits are available via the link provided.
Oral History and Contemporary History is a 2-year study program in a distance form of study. It means you will usually have obligatory classes on Friday afternoons - the rest of your schedule is up to you to decide and depends on which other courses you choose.
The studies are taught in two general blocs which are made up of relevant courses taught by the department. The first bloc consists mainly of courses on history and historical events; it is supposed to give you sufficient background and context necessary. The second bloc teaches you about methodologies, theories, and techniques that will help you realize your own research - together with the historical knowledge from the first bloc. You can find more information on course structure and details regarding the program organization on the website of the Oral History and Contemporary History department.
For all information regarding the admission process, please, contact the Student Administration Office at .
For specific queries intended directly for the Department of Oral History and Contemporary History, please contact:
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Pátkova 2137/5, 182 00 Praha 8 |
Charles University
Faculty of Humanities
Pátkova 2137/5
182 00 Praha 8 - Libeň
Czech Republic
