Have you just finished your high school and want to think carefuly about what college to go to? We offer you an opportunity to take a gap year. You will have a chance to
- Study in English and live in Prague
- Take a few classes and experience university environment
- Travel and visit the most beautiful European cities such as Vienna, Budapest, or Berlin
- Volunteer and help out the community
A gap year at the CEVRO Institute provides students with the opportunity to experience a new culture, meet exciting students from across the globe, and learn amongst world-class professors and lecturers.
Studying at the CEVRO Institute will allow you to:
- Engage within small classes and interact directly with professors and fellow students
- Learn from policy experts including former ambassadors, government ministers, and renowned authors who have decades of experience in their respective fields
- Immerse yourself in a new culture and forge relationships that will last a lifetime
Deadlines to Apply
The deadline to apply for the fall term is May 27th.
The deadline to apply for the spring term is December 1st.
Courses
You can sign up for up to 5 undergraduate courses per semester covering a wide range of topics and disciplines such as political science, international relations, history and economic policy. Class sizes are small, with most class having between 10 and 20 students.
Living in Prague
Prague is a city where tradition meets modernity. Filled with Baroque and Art Nouveau buildings, towering spires, and historic squares, Prague has been masterfully preserved over the centuries and remains a quintessential European city. However, Prague has also evolved into a hub of 21st century innovation in recent years, with its many shopping streets providing passersby with a range of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Visit Prague Castle to see how the Kings of Bohemia lived and spend some time in Old Town Square, often considered the gold standard of traditional European squares. There is so much to do and see in Prague and the CEVRO Institute is located right in the heart of the city, providing easy access to all of Prague’s major sights and attractions.
Potential to Travel
Prague truly is the heart of Europe. A train or bus ride of just a few hours will transport you to other historic cities such as Vienna, Budapest, and Berlin. At the CEVRO Institute, opportunities abound to travel and experience the range of cultures that exist throughout Europe.
Eligibility
The entry requirements for gap year students are not tough. Send us a letter of motivation in which you explain why would you like to come to CEVRO Institite as gap year student.
The academic year is divided into 3 trimesters: fall term, spring term and summer term. The fall term lasts approximately from the end of September to mid-February. The spring term lasts roughly from mid-February to mid-June. The summer term lasts from mid-June to the end September. Each semester has a lecture period (first 12 weeks) in which students attend lectures (The lecture period of the fall term hence ends before the Christmas break.) The spring and fall terms have also a 6-week-long exam period for which there are no more lectures as students will be preparing for the exams and working on their papers. (Lectures in the summer term are not delivered in a weekly regime and the term does not have an extra exam period.)
Academic Calendar for 2022-23
Term I
September 26 – December 21, 2022 (lecture period)
January 2, 2023 – February 12, 2023 (exam period)
Term II
February 13 – May 6, 2023 (lecture period)
May 7 – June 18, 2023 (exam period)
Term III
June 19 – September 17, 2023 (lecture + exam period)
The courses taught in English—listed below—are designed both for international students (including Erasmus students) and CEVRO Institute students. The courses cover a wide range of topics and disciplines such as political science, international relations, history or applied economics. After completion, students are awarded easily transferable European credits (For more on ECTS see below). International students are advised to sign up for about 3-5 courses in each semester.
Courses for the fall semester 2021/2022
The below courses will be opened provided that a sufficient number of students sign up for them. For this reason applicants are recommended to announce alternative courses in the application form.
NOTE: Erasmus and Study Abroad students are allowed to study courses from our BA Program Economics, Business, Politics.
Students with appropriate prerequisites are allowed to study elective courses from our MA Program Philosophy, Politics, Economics.
Economics (ECTS 9)
The aim of the course is to teach students to think economically. Students will learn the basic concepts of microeconomics and macroeconomics. Upon successful completion of this course, they will be able to explain and apply basic economic theories.
Corporate Finance (ECTS 9)
This course is focused on corporate finance. It deals with methods and processes related to financial decision-making and management of various types of enterprises (small, medium and large enterprises). It also delas with the company’s financial objectives, interpretation of financial results of companies, costs, understanding investment decisions and long-term financing, risk in financial decisions and dividend policy.
Economic and Political Problems of Globalization (ECTS 9)
The course deals with the economic and political dilemmas of globalization and their manifestations in different areas of life. Upen succesfull completion of the course, students will be able to identify long-term trends in the development of society and to use basic knowledge of economics to understand these trends.
Alternative Currencies and Decentralized Monetary Systems (ECTS 6)
This course is focused on the new and old phenomena of alternative currencies and their role in an economy. Students will learn the history and theory of alternative currencies, will understand the functions that money perform and they will know the newest trends in usage of cryptocurrencies, local currencies, virtual currencies, scrips, commodity money, gift economy, voucher-money, moneyless systems and other alternatives. It is also anticipated that the course will take account of new developments in this rapidly evolving field. At the conclusion of this course, students will be well-versed in both the potentials and the challenges of the most important alternatives to the current monetary system.
Christian-Jewish Roots of European Civilization (ECTS 6)
The course deals with formative texts of Jewish and Christian tradition, the Bible and the texts it inspired. It starts with the question of a canon („a holy book“) and its function for the identity of a community. It deals with the historical circumstances of both what the Bible narrates about and how it itself emerged. Introducing the concepts of the Old and New Testament and the texts of emerging Church and Synagogue, the role of the discourse fixed in the Bible shall be elucidated.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to understand how the Bible in its originally extra-European, Ancient Near-Eastern Hebrew and later Hellenistic Christian setting has become substrate and framework of Euro-American thinking, culture and politics.
Asia in International Relations (ECTS 6)
The aim of the course is to inform students about developments in South, Southeast, Northeast and Central Asia, and key issues of domestic development in selected countries and their foreign policy, including regional cooperation and tensions in the region. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to analyze specifics of various regions of Asia and summarize the current problems of Asia in the context of international relations; identify and analyze determinants influencing the position of selected countries of Asia in international relations; assess interests of key players (US, Russia, China, EU) in Asia, and explain the causes of security issues and conflicts in the region (such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, impacts of the Arab Spring, Sunni-Shia disputes in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, US-Iran relations, India, China and Japan in international relations, conflict in South China sea etc.).
Objectivism and Cinema (ECTS 6)
Introduction to the works of Ayn Rand, the definitions and outline of Objectivism, as well as its contemporary interpretations and significance. The seminar will also explore applications of her philosophy to religion, foreign affairs, current events – and any areas of student interest.
Critical reading of Rand’s works, individual evaluation of her ideas, as well as of her critics’ and opponents’ multi-disciplinary philosophical arguments. The course is based on her non-fiction essays (primarily from ‘Virtue of Selfishness’) but recommended literature and material includes her fiction as well as documentaries and movies based on her novels. The course aims at pursuing critical reading skills, as well as fostering presentation and self-expression skills in students through individual assignments as well as through discussions. The evaluation takes that into consideration.
Entrepreneurship and Modern Business-Making (ECTS 9)
In this course, students will learn the process of how to create an innovation-based new venture. As a framework for this, students will develop the essential parts of a business model in which they will strategize, discuss, test, receive feedback and pivot their business models as appropriate with the objective to design a workable and fundable business. To achieve this aim, students will work in teams to launch companies, working through issues of market analysis, technology viability assessment, competitive positioning, team-building, product life-cycle planning, marketing strategy, sales channel analysis, and a strong emphasis on the entrepreneur as a salesperson. This hands-on course teaches a rigorous framework as well as provides a valuable experience to students so that they, upon completion, can be more successful in starting a new venture.
Economic Policies (ECTS 7)
The course systematically analyzes the reasons and consequences of public policies. It deals with the economic arguments for state interventions in the market processes. Upon successful completion, students will be able to analyze a wide range of state interventions in the economy, including their unintended consequences. Above all, it will be about ability understand the difference between market and bureaucratic management; identify the motivation structure of actors in cases of individual public policies; understand the problem of intended consequences in specific cases and identify them; identify the influences of interest groups on the shape of public policies and institutional changes; understand the dynamics of processes within the public sector.
Global Economy Studies (ECTS 7)
The aim of the course is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the interconnectedness of the world economic order and explain the process of shaping the world economy of today. Students will also learn how to compare key economic factors of global economy. In addition to a systemic approach, students will also be introduced to a comparative method of comparative economics. Based on a combination of knowledge about key historical contexts and together with knowledge of current economic events, students will learn to analyze current and future trends in the world economy.
Introduction to Financial Markets (ECTS 7)
The course systematically introduces students to financial markets. The basic types of assets that are traded on the financial markets will be presented; students will get acquainted with the proces of their price formations. Upon successful completion, students will be able to understand the importance, functions and structure of the financial market; apply basic valuation methods to the most well-known types of financial assets; understand the principle of operation of commercial and central banks; identify symptoms of financial crises.
Courses for the spring semester 2021/2022
Please note that the range of courses may be subject to change. Definite list of courses will be announced in fall.
Business Economics (ECTS 9)
The aim of the course is to systematically introduce the theory of the firm, and institutional and political context of its functioning. It deals with the justification of the existence of firms, their internal structure and external regulation, both in terms of interdisciplinary approach of economics and law.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to understand the functioning of companies in a broader context.
Money and Banking (ECTS 9)
The objective of the course is to achieve student’s acquaintance with the nature and functions of money in the modern banking system. Financial architecture associated with existence of central banks will be described and analyzed and students will be explained in detail macroeconomic challanges of various monetary regimes and regulatory schemes.
Conflict Regions in the Current World (ECTS 6)
What are the origins, present and future of conflicts around the globe? Can we predict new conflicts? Can the West prevail in the war on terror? What are the main insurgencies and how to fight them? Former Yugoslavia, Former USSR, Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Northern Africa, Islamic Immigration to Europe, Central Africa, Southern Asia and the War on terror in general…
Lectured by former head of Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan and long-year correspondent from the Balkans.
Civil Society and the Public Sphere in the EU (ECTS 6)
The main objective of the course is to acquaint students with the similarities and differences of contemporary European civil societies and to examine the role of cultural, social and political factors in the processes of European public sphere formation within the process of European integration. In the first part stress will be laid on the description and interpretation of presently existing varieties of European civil societies. The course will help the students to understand the main historical roots of European plurality, i.e. the political, economic and cultural processes that engendered this plurality. In the second part the pivotal theoretical concepts of civil society and public sphere will be discussed and applied to a transnational (European) level. The role of civil societies´ plurality in relation to the quest for a European civil society and European public sphere will be explored and examined.
Business Cycle Theories (ECTS 6)
The aim of this course is to present and compare different theories of the business cycle. Students will know Kondratiev waves, endogenous and exogenous theories, Keynesian theory, Austrian theory, Real business cycle theory, Political business cycle, Marxist theory, Financial instability hypothesis, Yield curve theory, Schumpeterian innovation cycle, Georgist theory and other relevant explanations of the boom and bust cycle. Each lesson explains the history and theoretical foundation of the theories and discusses possible reactions. Business cycles have severe consequences and yet economists do not agree about the causes. By studying their theories students will be able to critically evaluate the appropriateness of different explanations.
Asia in International Relations (ECTS 6)
The aim of the course is to inform students about developments in South, Southeast, Northeast and Central Asia, and key issues of domestic development in selected countries and their foreign policy, including regional cooperation and tensions in the region. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to analyze specifics of various regions of Asia and summarize the current problems of Asia in the context of international relations; identify and analyze determinants influencing the position of selected countries of Asia in international relations; assess interests of key players (US, Russia, China, EU) in Asia, and explain the causes of security issues and conflicts in the region (such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, impacts of the Arab Spring, Sunni-Shia disputes in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, US-Iran relations, India, China and Japan in international relations, conflict in South China sea etc.).
Geopolitics and Diplomacy in Practice (ECTS 6)
The aim of the course is to point at many myths of international politics, show strengths and limits of diplomacy in the real world and also analyse interstate relations and the importance of history and geography for international relations to show functionality of international organizations such as NATO, the EU, and regional groupings such as the Visegrad Four, as well as to argue that there is no real diplomacy which is not backed by power of economy and military.
The course will be based on the concrete experience of the Czech Republic and its long term relations with direct neighbours as well as bigger regional and world powers. Crosscutting issues such as energy security, economic diplomacy, support of human rights and democracy or military to military and intelligence cooperation will be closely examined. The course will be attended by several guest speakers, practitioners who have been dealing with issues of foreign relations, defence and security in several positions and from various points of view during their careers.
Modern Party Politics (ECTS 6)
The aim of the course is to provide students with knowledge about new types of political parties that have emerged in Europe since 1970s and which do not perfectly fit the traditional Lipset and Rokkan’s scheme of cleavages and parties that result from them. The new parties, some of which can be treated as „niche parties“ are discussed from the perspective of their new policies, organization, membership and position in respective party systems.
Ayn Rand´s Philosophy of Capitalism (ECTS 6)
Ayn Rand´s Reading Seminar (ECTS 6)
The reading seminar gathers three times during the semester and it requires the reading of one Ayn Rand’s novels, ‚The Fountainhead‘ or ‚Atlas Shrugged‘. Student performance is evaluated based on discussions.
Course objectives: Immersive reading and discussion of the protagonists and the antagonists of the philosophical novel. Failure to read results in failing the course.
Contact
Study Abroad / Gap Year / Erasmus
International Office
Jiří Š. Cieslar | tel.: +420 774 427 403 |
| International students | EUR 1600 (for one term) |