Comparative Constitutional Law

The program is focused on comparative constitutional law. Within this broader area, the main focus lies on the problems of constitutional systems in the context of changes in the form of government, state establishment and state regime in a comparative perspective (topics such as the introduction of constitutional courts, constitutional aspects of the dealing with the past, judiciary self-government, key issues of the application of fundamental rights in individual states, comparison of the nature and functions of public authorities, etc.).

The program is an interdisciplinary one. It is therefore intended for graduates of a master's degree program in law or other social sciences (mainly political science, international relations, European studies). The program will be open to applicants from around the world. This opens the possibility of studying constitutional issues at the doctoral level for applicants who would otherwise be prevented by the language barrier from doing so (at MU Law Faculty). The accreditation of the program thus meets the requirements of the labor market in the field of science and research, where the need for an interdisciplinary approach to legal problems is increasingly emphasized.

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

• orientate themselves in the field of comparative constitutional law, relevant literature and case law and are able to further elaborate and interpret them;
• evaluate current trends in comparative constitutional law, especially in the area of their thesis;
• compile and systemize the data obtained, to write an academic text based on those data, to interpret the results achieved, to present their knowledge and to defend them on an appropriate forum;
• review new findings and ideas bearing in mind long-term social impact of their application
• develop, evaluate and create theories, conceptualizations and methods in the field of interdisciplinary study of law
• compare specific research methods of analyzing law and understand how to use them

In the Czech context, the program is an unique one, mainly because of its focus on comparative constitutional law and on the development of professional academic competences in English. Graduates of the program can work primarily as academic or scientific staff (post-docs) at universities – not only in the Czech Republic, but also in comparable positions abroad.

The program also provides its graduates with competencies usable outside the academic sphere in positions requiring insight into constitutional law issues with a comparative overlap (analytical departments of courts, governmental and other public authorities, international law offices, EU institutions and the Council of Europe).

Practical training is not a part of the course of study.

The content and formal requirements concerning theses in the current doctoral degree programs are regulated by the regulation of the Doctoral Council of 27 June 2014. The text of this regulation is available on the faculty web site.

After the accreditation and the appointment of the faculty council for the newly prepared doctoral program, the newly appointed Doctoral council will adopt its own regulation based on the above cited document.