PhD study
The Institute for Forecasting CSPS SAS, as an external educational institution, has an agreement on cooperation in carrying out doctoral programmes with two leading Slovak universities:
- with the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences of Comenius University in Bratislava in the study programme European Studies and Politics,
- with the Faculty of National Economy, University of Economics in Bratislava in the study program Economics.
We want to encourage all those who have the desire and ambition to explore relevant societal issues in depth to consider applying to these PhD programmes. Both programmes are available in English.
We offer:
- A quality programme with a focus on both content and the development of methodological skills,
- topics at the forefront of European research with implications for public policy making and policy change,
- the opportunity to work on international or national research projects,
- strong support from the wider scientific community at both institutions in the research process and the development of scientific and academic skills, including publishing in peer-reviewed journals,
- an attractive monthly stipend of €1,025.50 (net) (increases to €1,194 (net) after dissertation examination) and other means to carry out research, including financial support for methodological courses of international quality,
- in case of excellent results, support in post-doctoral programmes of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, or the offer of a position in a stable scientific institution.
If you are interested in pursuing a PhD, please contact the supervisor via email. Information about the application procedure and dates of admission interviews for doctoral studies can be found on the FSEV UK website
The following dissertation topics are available for the academic year 2025/2026 in the programme European Studies and Policies:
Energy / Mobility Poverty and Green Transition (RNDr. Dušana Dokupilová, PhD.)
Slovakia is a country that is severely affected by both mobility and energy poverty - we are one of the most vulnerable countries in the European Union. This is manifested both by the poor social situation of the population and by the poor environment, which is polluted by households that cannot financially afford more ecological behaviour (for heating or mobility). At the same time, as a country, we are committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which is also supported by financial subsidies. The study explores the link between solutions to social and environmental problems, e.g. whether green transition can/should/have to address also energy and transport poverty. It aims to identify strategies to mitigate poverty while pursuing environmental sustainability, focusing on socio-economic impacts and policy measures.
Climate Neutrality 2050 and Social Costs: An Analysis of Trends and Scenarios for Building Synergies Between Environmental and Social Policies (Mgr. Richard Filčák, MSc. PhD.)
The European Union—and subsequently Slovakia—has committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and has adopted the so-called Green Deal to follow this trajectory. This ambitious goal is accompanied by criticism from various political spectrums, while there is an ongoing debate about whether the transformation can be implemented quickly enough to prevent irreversible climate change. However, the path to achieving climate neutrality brings significant social costs. Slovakia already feels the pressure of this transformation—especially in terms of jobs, energy prices, living costs, and transportation. At the same time, the country stands on the threshold of implementing ETS2 emission caps for transport and buildings, which adds further pressure on its economic and social stability. To effectively address the social risks associated with the climate transformation, it is essential to analyze current trends and scenarios to understand how radical emission reductions will affect social costs. How can an integrated approach be ensured—one that connects social and environmental policies to support the long-term sustainability of the transition to climate neutrality? And how can the creation of integrated frameworks be promoted so that environmental measures are closely linked with social policies aimed at supporting the most vulnerable segments of the population in the context of regional disparities and demographic trends?
Migration Politics and Policies: Determinants of Change, Actors and Dynamics (Mgr., MA Lucia Mýtna Kureková, PhD.)
Migration has been a critical component of the European societies, and it is likely to dominate policy and political agendas in the coming years. Central European governments have thus far taken a conservative stance towards immigration from non-European countries, and have shown relatively poor integration efforts. However, the numbers of incoming migrants in these countries continue to rise dynamically, also due to the Russian aggression in Ukraine which initiated massive refugee flows towards Central European countries. This is likely to pose pressures on enhanced integration, and might shape public opinion about migration.
This dissertation will analyse political context and migration policy-making in Central Europe, focusing both in immigration as well as integration policies. It will track changes in migration and integration policies from past to present, and, using mixed research methods, it will analyse determinants, actors and dynamics of change in immigrant admission and/or integration policies. It might also evaluate whether migration policies are effective in changing immigrant flows and their characteristics (composition). Research will primarily focus on Slovakia, but could be extended in a comparative design to other countries in Central Europe or in the European Union, or to various immigrant groups.
Local Responses to Emigration and Diaspora Engagement (Mgr., MA Lucia Mýtna Kureková, PhD.)
Emigration is profoundly changing the socio-economic, political, and cultural landscape of countries and localities which have faced high levels of citizen outflows. The possible negative impact on labour supply and the intensifying quest for talent has in recent years led many national governments in Europe and globally to engage in systematic efforts to incentivize return migration and uphold diaspora engagement. For the local governments, emigration effects might be felt even more intensively and touch a broad range of local policy domains, including the budget resources, provision of services, the labour market, and even local politics. In light of apparent skill and labour shortages across Slovakia, engagement with its citizens working abroad might present a viable option to deal with local challenges and support local development. While existing research has started analyzing national-level responses to emigration, local responses have not been systematically mapped and sufficiently understood. This dissertation will gather evidence about local level motivations, responses, approaches and strategies to engaging with citizens working abroad. It will seek to understand under what conditions and with what tools local governments or other local actors (NGOs, firms) in emigration-prone municipalities in Slovakia reach out to its citizens temporarily or permanently (working) abroad. This research will rely on qualitative methods, using surveys, interviews, focus groups and other appropriate methodologies.
Social and Economic Integration of People with Disabilities (Mgr., MA Lucia Mýtna Kureková, PhD.)
The number of people with health disabilities (PwD), including mental health issues, has been steadily rising, and the situation is increasingly affecting people of different ages, social strata or education levels. Past research has shown that Slovakia lags behind integration of PwD into labour market. The existing model of PwD integration is anchored in a relatively exclusive principle based on sheltered employment rather than integration into open labour market, which seems to reflect broader welfare system and its characteristics, characterised by a failure to engage with and support marginalized groups. However, in recent years, several policy changes took place which might avail opportunities for different model of PwD integration, one closer to the open LM integration and with a greater involvement of companies. These include a reform of support measures in the primary education system towards greater inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream education, implementation of dual education with stronger emphasis on workplace training, and the growth of social economy and social enterprises. These institutional developments are taking place at the back of increasing skill and labour shortages and shrinking labour force, potentially incentivizing employers to work with workforce more distant from the labour market. Public awareness and sensitisation about the issues of disabilities has also risen.
This dissertation will map social and economic integration of people with health disabilities in Slovakia, and contextualize the existing public, private and NGO approaches towards PwD engagement within academic research about the existing socio-economic model and its underlying institutional characteristics. It will systematically map barriers of employers in engaging with people with disabilities contextualized in Slovak labour market regulation and welfare policies. It will identify useful mechanisms, approaches and tools for PwD integration, based on examples of engaged actors in Slovakia and models of PwD integration in other countries and contexts.
Adaptation Strategies to Changing Skills Demand (Mgr., MA Lucia Mýtna Kureková, PhD.)
Digital and green transition together with demographic change bring about multidimensional, interconnected and complex social and economic challenges. These challenges are particularly pressing in Slovakia which belongs to countries with the highest risk of automation and digitisation, as well as a fast aging labour force. These transition processes have already impacted the organisation and functioning of national and local labour markets, which have been experiencing skill shortages and concurrent pressures to adapt to changing labour market demands. Rapid adaptation in terms of skills and knowledge is one specific aspect to which individuals, firms and governments at different levels need to respond.
This dissertation will map and analyze skill adaptation approaches and strategies in response to digital, green and demographic transitions by some or all relevant actors (individuals, firms and governments). The student will preferably learn and apply mixed methods research design, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, focusing on (but not limited to) Slovakia.
Diversification of Family Behavior and Family Policy in Slovakia (doc. RNDr. Branislav Šprocha, PhD.)
Family behaviour in Slovakia has undergone several dynamic and, in many aspects, historically unique transformational changes in the last three decades. The almost unified model of transitions to adulthood and its specific setting of individual transitions in new social, cultural, economic and political conditions have not found application. We are witnessing a significant diversification of family and reproductive behaviour. In addition to changes in the intensity and timing of marriage, motherhood and parenthood, they are reflected in the more frequent occurrence of some forms of couple coexistence and reproductive models that were specific to Slovak society until recently (e.g. childlessness, single childhood, late fertility, extramarital fertility). However, the question is how society and public policies in Slovakia reflect these shifts. The dissertation aims to indicate the main changes in family behaviour in Slovakia with a focus on its diversification in the context of their social perception and to reflect on the setting and character of selected family policy instruments. Since Slovakia is not the only European country in which such a dynamic transformation of family and reproductive behaviour occurs, an equally important goal will also be to identify potential efforts for such reflection in the public policies of selected post-communist states.