Master jointly with CERGE-EI

The Joint Masters in Economics (JME) is uniquely designed for academically motivated students with a Bachelor's degree who would like to obtain a PhD in Economics and pursue careers in the global academic sector or international organizations.

The two-year program for Czech-speaking students is taught mainly in English and is run jointly by CERGE-EI and the Institute of Economics Studies (IES) at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University, Prague. It combines Master-level courses at IES with PhD-level courses at CERGE-EI, such that by completing the program a student:

• obtains the Master's degree in Economics from IES
• completes the 1st year of PhD coursework, takes General exams at CERGE-EI, and may proceed to the 2nd year of the PhD program at CERGE-EI

JME students are enrolled in the two-year Master's program “Economic Theory” at IES. They have an opportunity to take 1^st-year PhD courses at CERGE-EI instead of corresponding courses at IES and receive credit for them. For example, JME students can take the PhD course "Microeconomics I" at CERGE-EI which would be recognized as passing the equivalent Master-level Microeconomics course at IES.

Benefits

• High-quality and challenging PhD-level Economics courses.
• All courses are taught in English. In addition, the Academic Skills Center at CERGE-EI helps JME student develop Economics-specific language and academic skills.
• The program has no tuition fee.
• Fellowships are available to cover living expenses.
• Upon graduation, JME students earn a Master's Degree in Economic Theory at IES and complete the 1st year of the CERGE-EI PhD program.
• The program facilitates a smooth transition to the PhD program at CERGE-EI.
• Option to revert to the Economic Theory Master's program at IES at no cost, in case of not passing either the PhD-level courses or the General exams at CERGE-EI.
• Simplified admission procedure for Bachelor's degree holders from IES.

Fellowships

CERGE-EI offers a limited number of fellowships to exceptionally  well-qualified JME applicants. Fellowship holders receive a monthly stipend of 8500-11500 CZK to cover their living expenses while studying for the JME.

The application deadline for the fellowship is February 1, 2013. In early February, fellowship applicants are notified as to whether they are offered a fellowship. Successful fellowship applicants are contacted during February to assist them in the application process to the JME program. Please note that receiving the stipend is conditional on being admitted to the JME program.

Applicants who intend to apply for the JME program and wish to be considered for the fellowship should submit  the following materials by e-mail to the CERGE-EI Recruitment Manager: recruitment@cerge-ei.cz. All paper documents should be scanned and e-mailed as attachments.

1. Application supplement indicating that you wish to enroll in the Joint Masters in Economics. Please fill in the application supplement, print it out, and sign it.
2. A completed solution to the assignment in Math, Economics, and English which will be sent to you by e-mail at 12:00 CET on February 2, 2013. You will have 48 hours to send us the completed assignment.

Assignment samples can be downloaded here: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Math. Click here for journal articles we expect our students to be able to understand and analyze with reasonable proficiency upon entering the JME program.

1. Curriculum vitae.
2. Statement of motivation: 1000-2000 word statement in English explaining your academic background, your interests and career goals, and how the JME program will help you meet your objectives. Please see the Statement of Motivation Guidelines.
3. A notary-verified copy of your Bachelor’s degree diploma. If you expect to receive your diploma after the JME application deadline, please submit an official confirmation from your university  that there are no obstacles to your graduation and that you are expected to graduate, e.g., by the end of June of this year (specifying when the diploma will be issued).
4. A notary-verified copy of your Bachelor’s degree transcript. If you graduate after the JME application deadline, submit your current academic transcript.
5. Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your academic background, e-mailed to us directly by your recommenders. If you submit your materials in paper format (see instructions below), the letters have to be provided in sealed envelopes with the recommender’s signature written across the seal (forms available here). You need not submit the recommendation letters again as part of your JME application package.
6. Other relevant documents that may increase your chances of being admitted to the program (such as additional study records, certificates, etc.).
7. TOEFL (or other certified English language exam) and GRE (or other proficiency test) scores.

Please submit all materials listed above in English or accompanied by an official English translation.

If you alternatively wish to submit your materials in paper format, please post them to the following address so that they reach us by February 1, 2013:

CERGE-EI
MA/PhD Study Affairs Office
P.O.. Box 882, Politických vězňů 7
111 21 Prague 1, Czech Republic

Practical Information

Accommodation

JME students may apply for accommodation in the Charles University dormitories. Prices depend on the dorm and number of people sharing the room.

Living Expenses

Prague is a moderate city in terms of living expenses. It is much less expensive than Western European cities such as London or Paris or larger former Soviet cities such as Moscow. Prices are, however, higher than in Eastern European cities such as Kiev or Central Asian cities such as Tashkent. Of course, how much you spend on living essentials also depends on your personal standards, and Prague offers a wide range of spending options.

Exchange rate of Czech Crowns (CZK) as of September 2012:

Public transport in Prague is said to be one of the best systems in Europe. The metro, trams and buses cover the majority of the city center and suburbs. A monthly pass costs around 550 CZK (260 CZK for students up to 26 years of age). More details here.

 Visa

Students who require a visa to study in the Czech Republic will obtain all the visa documents from IES.