International Economic and Political Studies | Charles University Prague

International Economic and Political Studies (IEPS) is an interdisciplinary Master´s programme open to three interacting tracks: economics/finance, politics/international relations and philosophy. It aims towards an in-depth understanding of social phenomena by developing skills useful for analysis and management in a wide range of careers.

How does the programme provide content to ensure students achieve an understanding of a reasonably diverse set of perspectives on understanding economies?

The programme focuses on world social problems in the context of behaviour of economic and political agents where institutions can both enhance and impede their efficiency. It stresses a critical understanding of the aims of economic agents, businesses and governments, the institutional build-up, as well the ethical challenges in decision-making and policy design in an environment marked by cultural diversity, economic inequality, and differing political interests. Students are expected to master the principles of modern non-conventional economic and political thinking and be able to apply them in the decision-making in social governance at the levels of supra-national institutions, states, regional governments, corporations, firms, political parties and citizens.

How does the programme ensure students understand the interaction between economic and ecological systems?

Environmental aspects of economic and political decision-making, including the treatment of externalities in public goods, are delved into in the first year in mandatory courses of Philosophy, Public Finance, Public Policy and Methodology of Economics. Students will further deepen their knowledge in elective courses like Environmental Economics, Development Economics, Institutional Economics, Current Debates and Governing Global Economy.

How does the programme ensure students understand how to critically explore real-world evidence, both qualitative and quantitative?

Theoretical instruction is illustrated on real-world evidence, referring to both comparative qualitative characteristics and quantitative empirical methods that all students must master. Individual and team essay-writing, discussions, term research papers, projects and reports are a standard for coursework practically in all of the 120 courses offered in the IEPS programme. In the “Current Debates” course, the students vote for the selection of some real problem and simulate its decision-making at local and global levels, which is opposed by competing teams.

What pedagogical approaches does the programme use to ensure that students examine the historical context, assumptions and values in all economic thinking?

Learning about the historical, economic, political, social, ethical and institutional contexts of the studied social problems is achieved by two mandatory and six elective courses in philosophy, two courses of economic history, comparative economics and a multitude of other courses that a student must select from each of the four modules specialized mainly in applied studies (microeconomics, applied economics, political science and global studies/humanities).

How does the department ensure that the teaching culture and capacity to deliver economic pluralism are continually improving?

The staff of the IEPS includes instructors from economics, political science, public policies, global studies, sociology and law who compete in their teaching styles. This variety provides a pluralist and interdisciplinary atmosphere open to cross-sectional discussions. At the end of each semester, the students assess the performance of instructors, which serves the Board of IEPS to update our curriculum so that we can reflect the quality and demands of students. Our students come from four continents so that the cohorts are highly international (50% non-EU).

Other information:

Admission requirements include English language skills on at least IELTS band 61 proved by a standardised test and an evidence of having completed studies at a B.A. level. In addition to the Erasmus+ student mobility programmes, IEPS students can participate in a double-degree programme offered in cooperation with the University of Bayreuth, Germany, earning a second degree: Master's in Philosophy and Economics from Bayreuth.