Social Policy and Social Work

This application is only for the semester Spring 2025 (beginning February 2025).

• Outline of the proposed dissertation project
• Curriculum Vitae / Resume
• Consent of the future supervisor
• Copy of master's degree certificate or proof of current studies
• List of publications and papers (if available)
• Proof of English - minimum B2 level (optional; compulsory only for those who cannot participate personally in the entrance exam)

Important information

The maximum possible score for the entrance examination is 100 points. A minimum of 60 points is required to pass the entrance examination.

Criteria for assessing applicants:

• Research project as a basis for the preparation of the dissertation - max. 60 points
• Professional knowledge in the given research area - max. 20 points
• Language skills (English in both written and verbal form) - max. 10 points
• Previous research experience - max. 10 points

The aim of the programme is to prepare professionals focused on the exploration of social and public policy issues, social work and human resources development programmes.

The subject of the research are social and public policy, social problems, difficult life situations, interventions social work and the implementation of specific interventions and the evaluation of their effectiveness.

Programme graduates are able to achieve this goal through their research activities, evaluation of existing or development of new measures and their implementation in practice. They can do this at international, national, regional and local levels.

Programme graduates are prepared for further research careers in national and international academic institutions, as well as for employment in public administration, social policy, social work and social service organisations.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• to design (independently and in a team) and execute research in a national and international environment
• to design and implement a strategy/measure/programme to address social problems and support coping with difficult life situations
• to write and publish original research papers in good quality journals
• to comprehensibly communicate professional topics and research results to the professional and general public in a world language
• independently teach courses at bachelor's and master's level in social policy and social work or related fields in a world language

The primary areas of employment for graduates are international and national research and academia, public administration, social policy, social work and social services organisations.

In these organizations, they become researchers, creators of policies, programmes, and educators. They become authors of strategies for solving social problems or supporting the coping with difficult life situations at all levels of functioning (national, regional and local), as advisors and experts of political actors, state administration or non-governmental (even transnational) organizations.

Research and pedagogical knowledge and skills are developed through hands-on activities.

Research competences: the students carry out their own research projects. They search for research questions and hypotheses, design research studies, collect and analyse data, write publications, gain experience in the publication process and make their expertise available to the general public.

Pedagogical competences: the students are involved in all types of pedagogical activities. They communicate with students, are administratively involved in the running of courses, assess students' course assignments, teach seminars and lectures, supervise and review bachelor theses.

The development of research and pedagogical competences takes place under the supervision of a supervisor, more experienced researchers/pedagogues and through cooperation with foreign experts.

A dissertation is a work in which the student demonstrates the ability to carry out independent research. The dissertation consists of original results published or accepted for publication. It includes a comprehensive solution to a professional problem. It may take the form of an empirical or theoretical study.

The typical length of a dissertation is 150,000 to 216,000 characters including spaces (including a list of sources, footnotes and all other formal requirements of the dissertation). The dissertation must adhere unreservedly to the ethical rules of research.

The dissertation takes the following format: a) a collection of research studies, b) a monograph. In the case of a collection of research studies, the dissertation consists of at least three studies, which are linked by a theoretical introduction and a general discussion. In the case of a monograph, the dissertation consists of a comprehensive research project with original results (empirical or theoretical). The publication standard of the dissertation follows the standards of the APA Publication Manual. In the case of published research studies, the publication standard of the journals in which the studies have been published.