Doctoral study programme
RegionAL
economics
A doctoral study is the highest level of university education. Its
graduates receive an internationally recognized Ph.D. title. Without
a doubt, it is a competitive advantage in the labour market
nowadays. Doctoral studies offer plenty of unique opportunities
such as collaboration with experts and academics, research and
publishing, matching study with practice, internships at foreign
universities, or the opportunity to participate in teaching.
And that's what the new REGIONAL ECONOMICS doctoral
programme presented in this booklet is about.
https://regional.econ.muni.cz/en
1
Welcome to ECON MUNI
Dear applicants,
I am pleased to announce the opening of a new doctoral programme Regional Economics, which
enriches the range of postgraduate programmes at the Faculty of Economics and Administration,
Masaryk University. Our faculty has been striving for quality education and first-class economic
research in the long term, through which we follow the ideas of the first rector of the MU, economist
Karel Engliš. An essential part of achieving this goal is a doctoral
programme open to talented and motivated candidates from
among graduates of economic master programmes.
Postgraduate studies are a long-term priority and a prestigious
matter for our faculty. We offer its students excellent conditions
for their studies and research, good material background,
modern and inspiring spaces, and, last but not least, a helpful
and friendly approach of experienced academics. We will be
pleased to welcome you among us.
prof. Ing. Antonín Slaný, CSc.
dean
Dear colleagues,
Are you considering doctoral studies? The newly established doctoral study programme Regional
Economics is a unique research-oriented programme, which was prepared by several experts. The
programme aims to develop the analytical and research skills of PhD
students so that they can independently solve problems of regional
economics and become recognized experts working at analytical,
research and management positions not only in Czech but also
European organizations. By graduating from the doctoral studies,
you will get an advantage in the labour market, which today requires
skilled professionals with a creative and critical way of thinking. We
have not only prepared new courses, but we have also built
a doctoral laboratory for our students to give them comfortable
conditions for their study and research. You can learn more about
the programme on the following pages.
doc. Ing. Vladimír Žítek, Ph.D.
programme guarantor
HTTPS://REGIONAL.ECON.MUNI.CZ/EN
2
basic information
The Regional Economics postgraduate programme is a new research-oriented programme
that will start in the spring semester of 2020. Thanks to its thematic focus, it is a unique Ph.D.
programme open for graduates in master's economics programmes across all universities.
Programme title Regionální ekonomie / Regional Economics
Guarantee department Department of Regional Economics and Administration
Guarantor doc. Ing. Vladimír Žítek, Ph.D.
Type of study doctoral
Standard length of
studies
4 years
Awarded title Ph.D.
Mode full-time, combined
Language of
instruction
Czech, English
Start of study autumn and spring semester
E-mail phd-reek@econ.muni.cz
Web page https://regional.econ.muni.cz/en
3
Faculty of economics and
administration
The Faculty of Economics and Administration, Masaryk University (ECON MUNI) is
a recognized educational institution that offers a diverse range of economics study
programmes at bachelor, master and doctoral levels. We also put a strong emphasis on
research activities.
ECON MUNI was founded in 1990 as the first post-revolution
faculty of Masaryk University. Lessons began the following year,
and three years later, we welcomed the first graduates. To this
day, there are more than 12 thousand graduates. The faculty
initially operated in makeshift conditions in the Zelný trh square
and Antonínská street. Since 1998 it has had its own modern
building in the attractive district of Pisárky, located near the city
centre.
ECON MUNI provides a high-quality university education, to
which a wide range of study programmes and individual
courses is adapted. Students have the opportunity to
participate in internships abroad and choose from a vast
network of partner universities around the world. Our
graduates are in great demand on the labour market, are
successful in the private and public spheres, and are also
employed abroad. Research activities and the dissemination
of new knowledge are also crucial for us. The faculty has several research institutes, we are engaged
in a number of research projects and we are active in publishing.
We wish students feel well at our faculty, therefore we devote much effort to building a pleasant
environment. All our classrooms are modernized and equipped with the necessary technology.
Students have a unique library with a rich collection of printed books and an extensive range of
electronic databases of scientific and scientific publications for their disposal. Study boxes, study
spaces, relaxation zones and a bistro are available for added comfort. In the neighbourhood of the
faculty, there are student dormitories and a canteen.
4
Regional economics
Regional economics is a relatively young science, and its boom indicates that in the research
and practical policy spheres, there is a growing awareness of the importance of regions for
economic performance. The origin of this discipline dates back to the 1950s. All economic
phenomena take place in some geographical space. The unique conditions of each region
shape its competitiveness and affect economic growth and development.
Regional economics focuses on the economic dimension of regions or the regional
dimension of economic processes and phenomena.
Regional economics is a part of economics that deals with the spatial distribution of economic
activities and spatial inequalities in the level of economic development. It is a science that studies
economic behaviour in space. Regional economics focuses on problems that are specific to cities,
rural areas, regions or otherwise defined space.
Regional economists ask themselves a lot of questions. And as science goes, the more questions
are answered, the more new questions appear. The main issues that regional economics is trying to
find answers for include:
 How do businesses and people make decisions when considering their location?
 Why do some regions thrive and others do not?
 What impact does regional planning have on the development potential of a region?
 How is economic growth generated and distributed?
 What is the role of social and professional networks in a region?
 How does the spatial dimension affect the costs and benefits of projects and companies?
5
DSP regional economics
Doctoral study programme Regional Economics is provided by the Department of Regional
Economics and Administration ECON MUNI. We have lacked a PhD. programme focused
exclusively on regional economics for a long time, so we are glad that now the time has come
to open it.
Become the first student and the first graduate!
The Department of Regional Economics and Administration was founded in 1995, and since that
time, it has guaranteed bachelor and master degree programmes specialised in regional
development. The strength of our graduates is the ability to reflect the territorial specificity of
economic development into their thinking and decision-making. In the spring semester of 2020, we
are going to open the programme at the doctoral level. This new programme grooms students to
become real experts in regional economics. It prepares them for work not only in academia but
wherever analytical skills, independent critical thinking and creativity are needed. The Regional
Economics programme could also be created thanks to the EU support implemented through the
OP RDE project “Creation of research oriented postgraduate study programme Regional
Economics”.
The preparation of the programme was difficult and relatively
long. We wanted to create a quality program, so we involved
several real experts in this process. Firstly, we should mention
prof. Manfred M. Fischer, who works at the
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien. Prof. Fischer is the world's
leading expert in regional sciences, with dozens of articles
published in the most prestigious scientific journals and many
books he wrote or edited. In addition to his professional skills, we also appreciate his enthusiastic
and steady interest in developing regional science studies. Prof. Elena Žárska and prof. Jozef Tvrdoň
from the University of Economics in Bratislava and prof. Oto Hudec from the Technical University of
Košice were significantly engaged in the establishment of this programme too. Additionally, we have
consulted it with experts from practice, who may be potential employers of our graduates.
You can read more about the study and its courses
on the following pages. Here we would like to
mention other facilities for our Ph.D. students.
Together with the study programme we have also
built a laboratory that offers modern premises with
ICT equipment for study and research activities of
Ph.D. students of Regional Economics. Students can
also use the unique library equipped with valuable
books and journals which was donated to our programme by prof. Fischer.
6
Occupational profile of
a graduate
The requirements for the qualification of workers are continually growing. Economic
development is based on new knowledge and creative ideas, and professionals who are able
to move the knowledge frontier are demanded in the labour market. Doctoral programmes
now produce experts who are increasingly applying their skills outside the academic sphere.
Doctoral study programme Regional Economics teaches students to deeply understand theories of
regional economics and regional development, use research methods and independently conduct
research activities, participate in research projects, cooperate with experts across various
disciplines, or comment on the economic regional policy measures and critically evaluate them.
Graduates of the Regional Economics doctoral programme can find employment in the following
positions:
 researcher in institutes of basic and applied research in the Czech Republic and abroad;
 academic at the university;
 manager, analyst or expert team leader in regional advisory and consulting agencies and
companies;
 manager of regional and national public authorities;
 executive in international institutions, including European Union institutions and foreign
branches of Czech organizations;
 manager in private companies in positions where analytical skills and a broad regional economic
knowledge are needed; and
 founder and expert of think-tanks and advisors and expert of political subjects and public
administration in the field of regional issues.
7
Course of the studies
The doctoral study has a highly individual character. Throughout their studies, students must
continuously educate themselves in the field of their specialization, i.e. the topic of their
dissertation. Additionally, they have to complete some courses that provide the fundamental
basis for their own research. The study also includes the publication of professional texts
and participation in an internship abroad.
Dissertation thesis
The dissertation thesis is the final work of the doctoral study, and after its successful defence, the
graduates obtain a Ph.D. degree. The dissertation intertwines throughout the whole study, and it is
no exaggeration to say that everything in the doctoral study revolves around it. This work should
bring new and original knowledge in the field of regional economics and is the result of several years
of research conducted by the student.
Courses
Teaching takes place mainly during the initial phase of the study and includes both courses joint for
all study programmes and specific courses of the given study programme. The courses taught in our
programme are Regional Economics,
Innovation and Regional Development, and
Regional Research Seminar. A more detailed
structure of doctoral courses is stated on the
following pages.
Publishing
We expect students to publish the results of
their research, particularly in the form of articles
in scientific journals and articles in conference
proceedings. The publication activity should
correspond with the topic of the dissertation and is an integral part of the conditions for the successful
completion of studies.
Participation in teaching
Being a Ph.D. student also means participating in the teaching activities of the guarantee
department. During their studies, Ph.D. students try to teach someone and try what it's like to be
a teacher. Doctoral students usually lead seminars in bachelor and master study programmes,
correct seminar works, assist in examinations, or prepare reader’s reports for final theses.
Internship
During his / her studies, each Ph.D. student has to go on an internship at a foreign institution for at
least one month. The internship can be completed at a foreign university or research institute, but
also at various institutions at the transnational level. The internship can be replaced by participation
8
in an international creative project with results
published or presented abroad or by another form
of direct involvement in international cooperation.
State doctoral examination
The state doctoral examination is held at the end of
the 4th
semester. Its essence is the defence of the
essay of the dissertation thesis, and its passing
proves readiness for independent research
activities.
Dissertation thesis defence
The dissertation thesis defence consists of so-called little and big defence. The little defence is an
internal defence of the created dissertation, and its outcome is mainly recommendations on how to
improve the dissertation. The big defence is the final defence and represents the end of the entire
Ph.D. studies.
Scholarship
Full-time students of the Czech programme are entitled to regular monthly scholarships. Our
scholarship system is designed to be motivational. The usual scholarship is higher than the standard
in the Czech Republic. In addition, the scholarship can be increased based on good results or
reduced if the student fails to fulfil his / her duties. Further scholarships can be obtained as part of
specific research projects or from the faculty scholarship programmes. Details on scholarships are
available on our website.
9
curriculum
Doctoral study is based on a credit system, and students have to gain a certain number of
credits to complete their studies successfully. Credits can be obtained both for passing
exams from required, obligatory-optional and optional courses and for the progress in the
processing of the dissertation thesis.
During the PhD. studies, it is necessary to obtain at least 240 credits and at the same time 20 credits
in each semester. The study is flexible, and students can decide in which semester to enrol in
individual courses. Most of the required courses completed by exam are enrolled in the first year,
and in the following years, they intensively deal with the dissertation. Required courses completed
by exam have full-time instruction, ie, primarily lectures connected with discussion. Teaching takes
place in blocks of four to eight hours, which makes it more accessible to students in the combined
form of study. For some courses, PhD. students choose their credit value. The structure of courses
in the Regional Economics programme is shown in the following table.
Course
Type of
completion
Number of
credits
Required courses
Regional Economics examination 12
Innovation and Regional Development examination 8
Regional Research Seminar credit 8
Methodology 1 examination 6
Econometrics examination 12
Study of literature (2 times during studies) credit 2 x 6
English for academic and specific purposes competence,
variant A
credit 0
English for academic and specific purposes competence,
variant B
credit 6
Foreign Internship credit max. 25
Research workshop credit 10
Preparation of the Dissertation (repeatedly during studies) credit max. 30 (120-160
per studies)
Obligatory-optional courses
The student chooses from required courses of other study
programmes.
examination min. 10
Optional courses
Teaching Assistance (repeatedly during studies) credit
max. 8 / semester
max. 25 / studies
Internship credit max. 25
10
application
admission procedure
The admission procedure is open twice a year, usually in May (to start studying in the autumn
semester) and November (to start studying in the spring semester). The exact dates are stated
on our website.
If you decide to study our unique Ph.D. programme Regional Economics, first choose a dissertation
topic. The offered topics of the dissertation theses and their supervisors can be found on the
programme website. We also encourage those interested in contacting their potential supervisors in
advance to consult possible cooperation and discuss their mutual expectations. If you still hesitate,
you can also ask the programme guarantor for advice.
The application is submitted in an electronic form, and its integral part is a professional essay in the
range of 8 to 12 pages on the selected topic of the dissertation. Through it, the candidates
demonstrate their interest in the topic and appropriate knowledge. This dissertation project has to
contain a basic summary of the current state of art (quality literature review), specification of the
goals of the future dissertation and a proposal of the intended methods of solution.
The entrance exam is oral and consists of three parts:
 specialised examinations to verify expert knowledge of regional economics (weight 20%),
 panel discussion on the submitted essay and dissertation topic (weight 70%); and
 English language examination (weight 10%).
11
MUNI world
Masaryk University was founded in 1919 and was named in honour of the fighter for the
establishment of Czechoslovakia and then newly elected president T. G. Masaryk. Today it is
the second-largest university in the Czech Republic, and its position is given not only by the
number of students but mainly by the quality of teaching and top research. Our motto is:
“Overcoming the good with the better”.
Masaryk University consists of nine faculties and many
other workplaces. You can distinguish it immediately
thanks to its characteristic “M” letter. The MUNI buildings
are located all over the city of Brno. The fastest-growing
area is the University Campus in Brno-Bohunice, with the
up-to-date equipment for medical and biological
disciplines. Three faculties and the Central European
Institute of Technology, CEITEC, are settled there. The entire MUNI, however, boasts
a representative environment, whether it is a renovated historic building or newly built premises.
MUNI is a pioneer in the field of computerization of studies and functioning of
the university. Upon joining Masaryk University, all students at the same time
gain access to its renowned Information System, where all matters related to
study are addressed. The information system serves as a tool for complex
study agenda, e-learning and communication within the university for both
students and employees and graduates. Computerization increases the
flexibility of study as students can easily enrol in courses across the university.
And as a Ph.D. student, you will learn even more about the possibilities of our
electronic applications!
MUNI is not only a collection of lecture halls, classrooms, research laboratories and academic
workplaces; MUNI also significantly affects social and cultural life. Surely you have heard about
a unique Czech project, University Cinema Scala, which MUNI was involved in restoring. It is
currently the most visited arthouse cinema in the Czech Republic.The cinema serves not only for
film screenings but also for educational activities, conferences
and seminars and academic ceremonies at Masaryk
University. MUNI also operates the Mendel Museum, which
follows the legacy of the founder of genetics G. J. Mendel. In
addition to visiting long-term exhibitions, you can also attend
many events popularizing science or various academic
festivities there.
12
Life in Brno
Brno is the largest student city in the Czech Republic, and one fifth of its inhabitants are
university students. Thanks to them, Brno offers life in the fast lane; everyone can find
something for her/himself - architecture, museums, theatres, concerts, sports events, cafes,
bars, wine bars and pubs. Furthermore, cutting-edge science and emerging science districts
shape the current spirit of Brno. Everything is close and public transport operates non-stop.
Brno is a functionalist city, which has inspired Masaryk
University to design its logo. The most famous functionalist
building is Villa Tugendhat. However, there are also many
other buildings, such as the exhibition grounds, the
extremely narrow Avion Hotel and functionalist cafes. Brno
is also famous for its villas, which were built here in the
past by important manufacturers and other notables. Many
of these gems are located in the Brno-Pisárky district in
the immediate vicinity of ECON MUNI. Other sights include
at least the
Petrov Cathedral and Špilberk Castle surrounded by
green parks. Visitors also enjoy the mysterious
historical underground. As a student, you will surely
want to go to Brno Dam, where you can take
a steamboat to the Veveří Castle, go cycling or walk. Of
course, we must not forget the long list of renowned
cafes, wine bars, bars or pubs. For example, check out
www.gotobrno.cz.
If you are not a resident, you will first need to find a place to live during your studies. There are many
options. Our Accommodation and Catering Services offer accommodation in eleven dormitory
buildings in different parts of Brno. Right next to ECON MUNI, there is the so-called “Vinařky”
dormitory, so you will need only three minutes to get to the faculty. Besides, there is a wide offer of
renting private apartments or rooms alone in Brno.
You can use a dense network of trams, trolleybuses and
buses to move through Brno. The ECON MUNI building
is a five-minute walk from the Lipová stop. All you have
to do is buy a student pre-paid ticket, and your travelling
is solved. The vehicle fleet of the Brno Public Transport
Authority is continuously undergoing modernization so
that you travel by new and more environment-friendly
means. Some of the vehicles have their own names. Legendary are the night bus starts. Buses come
together every hour at Brno's main railway station and from there leave for all of the city quarters.
Enjoy nightlife in Brno!!
Doctoral study programme
Regional economics
Information booklet Website
Where we are Contacts us
Faculty of Economics and Administration
Masaryk University
Lipová 41a
602 00 Brno
Czech Republic
https://regional.econ.muni.cz/EN
October 2019