Auxiliary Historical Sciences

This Bachelor’s degree programme prepares qualified professionals for work with various types of historical sources. The objective of the study programme is to gain detailed knowledge in particular fields of study within the group of auxiliary historical sciences (with an emphasis on diplomatics, palaeography, codicology, chronology, and sphragistics) in the context of historical sciences. Students learn basic methods of auxiliary historical sciences and become familiar with their role as a means for interpreting historical sources. They gain general knowledge of other auxiliary historical sciences (heraldry, genealogy, epigraphy, numismatics, metrology, filigranology, phaleristics, vexillology). Students gain a thorough knowledge of early Czech and general history (medieval and early modern times) and also of legal history, historical archaeology, and art history. They will be able to apply the knowledge of particular disciplines mainly in compiling textual and visual historical sources.

Practical training

The study programme includes obligatory practical trainings. Students may choose individual practical training in selected memory institutions.

Further information

https://archivnictvi.phil.muni.cz/pro-uchazece/bakalarske-studium

Graduates of the study programme Auxiliary Historical Sciences have the knowledge and skills applicable in basic activities in archives, museums, galleries, and libraries, and in research institutions, especially in compiling historical collections. However, graduates from the Bachelor’s degree programme are expected to continue in the Master’s degree programme in Auxiliary Historical Sciences.

This programme is taught in Czech.

The criteria for admission for studies are the results of the oral Field of Study Examination. Applicants may also be admitted based on other criteria, see Admission without the Entrance Examination. The Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University disregards the results of SCIO National Comparative Examinations.

You can file your e-applications for studies from 1 November to 28 February.
Field of Study Examinations will be held from 22 April to 27 April.
The date and time of the examination will be stated in the electronic invitation for the examination, which will be uploaded to your e-application. The faculty will not be sending paper invitations. Applicants applying for the major study plan and minor study plan in a combined study must comply with the conditions for admission into both plans.

Learning Potential Test (TSP)

For admission for studies in this degree programme, you do not need to take the TSP.

Field of Study Examination

This examination is only in Czech. It is intended to check the applicants’ knowledge of the given field of study. It is done in the form of an online oral interview lasting up to 30 minutes.

Basic description of the Field of Study Examination:
In the first part of the oral examination, applicants must answer 10 questions about history to the extent of a secondary school curriculum. The second part of the examination is a motivational interview comprised of two motivation questions. The motivational part of the exam will take into account the candidate's previous activities that demonstrate his/her interest in the field, e.g. reading field-specific literature, study visit to a selected archive, participation in the Scriptorium Brunense summer school of Auxiliary Historical Sciences, etc.

Admission without the entrance examination

You may be exempt from the entrance examination based on at least one of the following criteria:

1. submission of officially certified confirmations of your participation in the nationwide round of Students’ Professional Activities (SOČ) in the field of history and the History Olympiad;
2. secondary school results from profile subjects of Czech (Slovak) language, history, Latin or German language, basics of social sciences.

Secondary school results may be applied for an exemption from the entrance examination by those applicants whose average grade was 1.5 or higher in each of the four profile subjects. The total average result in all subjects is not taken into consideration. Secondary school seminars are also disregarded. The average grade of each profile subject is calculated based on the results of the last four years of study in the following way: the mid-year grade is calculated from the final year, whereas the final grades are calculated from the previous three years. It is also necessary that applicants have studied each of the profile subjects for at least two years during the last four years.
Enter your grades in your e-application. Then print the grades out and let your secondary school certify them with a stamp and a signature. Upload the scan of the certified grades into your e-application. You can also upload officially certified school reports or any other documents certifying your school results.
Please upload the officially certified documents directly to your e-application in the section Application for the Exemption from the Entrance Examination no later than 28 February.

Criteria for evaluation

• Total number of points in the Field of Study Examination: 100
• Limit for successfully passing the Field of Study Examination: 50

Recommended literature

• Popelka, Miroslav. Dějepis 1 pro gymnázia a střední školy - Pravěk a starověk. Praha : SPN, 2001.
• Čornej, Petr. Dějepis 2 pro gymnázia a střední školy - Středověk a raný novověk. Praha : SPN, 2001.
• Hlavačka, Milan. Dějepis 3 pro gymnázia a střední školy - Novověk. Praha : SPN, 2001.
• Kuklík, Jan. Dějepis 4 pro gymnázia a střední školy - Nejnovější dějiny. Praha : SPN, 2002.

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Minimum score and numbers of accepted applicants in past years

After completing the Bachelor’s degree programme, it is possible to continue further studies in the Master’s degree programme in Auxiliary Historical Sciences or related historical disciplines (after satisfying the admission requirements).