Students from the Institute of Economic Studies (IES FSV)

“The Visiting Master's Scheme offers a unique opportunity to get familiar with the academic environment even before a career path is decided. Unlike most master’s programs, the Visiting Master's Scheme consists of PhD level courses which enable to study the most recent economic theory. Overall, it is a great experience especially if one seriously considers obtaining a high quality PhD degree.”

Michal Šoltés, 2016 graduate of IES, participant in Visiting Master's Scheme in 2014/2015, starting 2nd year of PhD program at CERGE-EI from September 2016

CERGE-EI runs a special Visiting Master’s scheme (formerly known as the Joint Masters in Economics) jointly with the Institute of Economic Studies (IES) of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Prague. Students enrolled in Master's program at IES "Ekonomie a Finance", or "Master in Economics and Finance" may apply to visit CERGE-EI.

Benefits for Visiting Master's with IES

• High-quality, challenging PhD-level Economics courses at CERGE-EI.
• All courses are taught in English. Academic Skills Center helps students develop Economics-specific language and academic skills.
• No tuition fee associated with visiting CERGE-EI.
• Fellowships are available for the best students to cover living expenses.
• Option to complete the PhD in Economics program at CERGE-EI later on.

The scheme combines Master’s level courses at IES with PhD-level courses at CERGE-EI and is designed for strong and highly motivated students. As a result, IES Master’s students visiting CERGE-EI:

• obtain their Master's degree in Economics from IES
• complete the 1st year of PhD coursework at CERGE-EI including General exams, and may proceed to the 2nd year of the CERGE-EI PhD program if they wish

Visiting Master’s take the 1st-year PhD courses at CERGE-EI as equivalents of IES courses and receive credits. For example, CERGE-EI’s PhD course “Macroeconomics I" would be recognized as equivalent to IES’s Masters-level course “Advanced Macroeconomics.”

How Does It Work?

Below is an outline of courses and exams that most Visiting Master’s students follow, particularly those who later intend to continue with the PhD program at CERGE-EI.

1st year: Take the CERGE-EI core sequence (3 semesters from early September to mid-July).
End of 1st year: Take CERGE-EI Core General exams.
2nd year: Take the remaining courses at IES necessary to earn your Master’s degree. Spend one semester on an Erasmus exchange abroad (optional). Write your Master’s thesis, supervised at IES, or at CERGE-EI, or jointly.
End of 2nd year: Pass State exams at IES. Defend your Master’s thesis. Transfer to the second year of the PhD program at CERGE-EI.

First Year - PhD Core Courses at CERGE-EI

CERGE-EI PhD in Economics Program runs in a three-semester system: Fall, Spring, and Summer. In the 1st year, students follow a common curriculum designed to provide a strong foundation in the following areas:

• Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics
• Statistics & Econometrics
• Writing for Economics

Course Recognition for Visiting Master’s from Institute of Economic Studies, Charles University

Equivalent Courses

CERGE-EI	IES FSV UK	Credits
Microeconomics I	JEM003 Advanced Microeconomics	6
	JEM113 Mathematical Methods	6
Macroeconomics I	JEM004 Advanced Macroeconomics	9
Statistics	JEM005 Advanced Econometrics	6
Microeconomics II	JEM013 Game Theory	6
	JEM131 Antitrust Economics	5
Macroeconomics II	JEM111 International Macroeconomics	6
Econometrics I	JEM019 Advanced Mathematical Statistics	6
	JEM007 Applied Microeconomics	6
Microeconomics III	JEM113 Microeconomics of Banking	6
Macroeconomics III	JEM173 Topics in Macroeconomics	6
Econometrics II	JEM116 Applied Econometrics	6
Academic Writing I	Elective	6

Visiting Master’s students from IES may earn up to 80 credits.

In order to receive credits for CERGE-EI PhD courses, IES students should contact the Master's Program Director (prof. Ing. Michal Mejstřík CSc.) with the list of courses they wish to have recognized as equivalents. Arrange the meeting by the end of each examination period at IES (end of January for Winter Semester, beginning of September for Summer Semester) at the latest.

Students who do not pass a CERGE-EI course may opt into the IES equivalent course(s).

Students who fulfil the criteria for the IES course –  i.e., registered for the course and fulfilled the course requirements – may try to pass the course in the same semester. If not, they may enroll for the course in the following year.

The CERGE-EI 1st year curriculum also includes the Academic Writing I course, and IES Visiting Master’s students have the option of enrolling in this course as well; it will be recognized as an elective by IES. If you do not take the Academic Writing I course as part of your Visiting Master’s stay and later decide to continue in the CERGE-EI PhD program, your individual study plan will specify a minimum Academic Writing curriculum (based on the decision of the Academic Skills Center).

CERGE-EI PhD Program General Examinations

Visiting Master’s students are required to take final exams at the end of each semester as well as General exams at the end of the academic year. Although passing the General exams is not required to obtain a Master's degree from IES, it is required for continued study in the PhD program at CERGE-EI. One make-up (i.e., re-take) is allowed for each exam. See the CERGE-EI PhD program outline for more details.

Second Year - Elective Courses

Students take courses at IES in order to fulfill the requirements of their Master’s degree.  

Tuition and Financial Support

There is no tuition fee for students participating in the Visiting Master’s scheme at CERGE-EI. However, students are expected to cover their living expenses.

CERGE-EI offers a limited number of fellowships to exceptionally well-qualified Visiting Master’s applicants. Fellowship holders receive a monthly stipend of 10,500 - 12,000 CZK to cover their living expenses while visiting CERGE-EI.

The Fellowship may be granted based upon a student’s academic performance during the first semester of the visit.

Transferring to the CERGE-EI PhD Program

Students who wish to continue in the CERGE-EI PhD program are required to go through the regular CERGE-EI application procedure, typically during the second year of their Master’s studies.

The application deadline for the CERGE-EI PhD program is 30 April.

Visiting Master’s students who complete all three core sequences (Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Statistics & Econometrics) and pass all three Core General exams are admitted directly to the 2nd year of the CERGE-EI PhD program. Those Visiting Master’s students who complete one or two sequences (for example, only Microeconomics) may be admitted to the PhD program on an individual study plan.