Overview
The doctoral program focuses on studying the socio-geographic transformation of society, its conditions, developmental tendencies, and spatial structure – with implications for societal organization and an emphasis on qualitative changes and connections to the natural environment (environmental perspective). Research is conducted at various spatial scales. Research topics fall within broader thematic areas such as population and settlement development, regional socio-economic development and policy, social and cultural climate, and landscape.
Start of studies in the winter semester (October)
Opening of applications and publication of the dissertation topics: 15. 2. 2026
Application by: 30. 4. 2026
Detailed information about the study programme
Offer of dissertation topics:
- City structure through the lens of community ecology: urban form, population, and environment
- Contemporary urban processes changing social environment of European cities
- Everyday Life and Mobility in Urban Space from a Gender Perspective
- Integration Through Work? Multidimensional Integration Radar, Employment Trajectories and Life Strategies of Migrants in Czechia
- Regional and sectoral dynamics of (foreign) investments in strategic industries
- Technological leadership and its differentiation in European regional innovation systems.
- Transformation of coal regions: the spatial impacts of policies, actors, and institutions in the transition towards new development paths
- Urban growth, migration, and the environment in the context of the Global South
Profile of the graduate
The graduate is well-prepared for creative scientific work, both as a member of a team and individually. S/he is able to analyze individual components of a socioeconomic environment and to assess in all-embracing way the development of its spatial differentiation, as well as interactions between social (socioeconomic and sociocultural systems) and natural environment, also via applying GIS. The graduate is capable to design mutually interconnected set of measures to support regional development at all regional-geographic levels. S/he can make use of her/his knowledge in academic, research, governmental and business spheres. More specifically, s/he can be successfully involved in a public administration, consultancy, project activities, e.g. in regional development areas, urban and population mobility issues – in Czechia and the EU.
Application submission
The application is submitted electronically through the Charles University study information system. The completed application must be submitted electronically in the study information system no later than on 30. 4. 2026 for study programmes starting in the winter semester (October) and no later than on 15. 12. 2025 for study programmes starting in the summer semester (April).
The admission fee is 100 EUR and it is paid for each submitted application.
Required application appendice is the agreement of a supervisor in the format of the following form available here. We recommend reaching out to the supervisor as soon as possible (ideally before 31. 3. 2026 for study programmes starting in the winter semester and before 30. 11. 2025 for study programmes starting in the summer semester), so the application could be send out in time in case the agreement is granted.
Entrance exam
The regular date of entrance exam for all doctoral programmes starting in the winter semester (October) is in June 2026 (to be specified), an alternative date is in June 2026 (to be specified).
The regular date of entrance exam for all doctoral programmes starting in the summer semester (April) is 4. – 5. 2. 2026, an alternative date is 11. – 12. 2. 2026.
The request for an alternative day is submitted and approved via the electronic information system.
The form of the entrance exam is an oral interview, which mainly concerns the issues of the planned dissertation and the candidate’s knowledge within the field of expertise of the given study programme.
Find more information in:
- Conditions of the admission procedure for doctoral study programmes at the Faculty of Science, Charles University, for study programmes starting in the winter semester (October)
or - Conditions of the admission procedure for doctoral study programmes at the Faculty of Science, Charles University, for study programmes starting in the summer semester (April).
Important links
Applicants with specific needs
If you have a physical handicap, you can apply for a modification of the entrance exam. For more information read the Conditions of the admission procedure for doctoral study programmes.
Departments involved in this programme
Department of Social Geography and Regional Development
Guarantor of the study programme
prof. RNDr. Dušan Drbohlav, CSc.
dusan.drbohlav@natur.cuni.cz
Do you have a question?
Complete information about the admission procedure can be found on the website for applicants. For questions, please contact the admissions contact persons.
