MA Gender Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University

Hello, my name is Jella and I am from Germany! Coming from a European Studies background, I moved to Prague to study Gender Studies at Charles University in autumn 2024. When I was looking for Master’s programs in this field, what captivated me most about Charles University were the fascinating titles of the courses, and having completed two semesters of courses by now, I can say that the titles did not promise too much! 

I have learned so much in the past year and my perspective on the world, its power dynamics and inequalities has greatly improved as a result of my studies. What makes Gender Studies at Charles University unique for me is also the wide range of courses that students can choose from. I like how the program does not prescribe all the courses that students have to take, but allows for self-determination and adaptation to students‘ personal interests.  

There is a wide variety of elective courses each semester and so far, it has never been difficult to find a course that has sparked my curiosity – be it ‘Gender in Migration Studies’, ‘Geographies of Sexualities’ or courses related to art and film: the course catalogue offers something interesting for everyone. 

At the beginning of my studies, I was worried that not having studied Gender Studies at Bachelor’s level might become an obstacle, and I think this might also be a concern for other prospective applicants. Therefore, I would like to emphasize that no one of my fellow students has studied Gender Studies at Bachelor’s level and we all come from different degree programs, such as Law, Cultural Studies or Political Science. And this is not an obstacle at all, but the way everyone brings in their academic background during the debates in class is very enriching! 

Furthermore, I would recommend this program for international applicants, because the study environment is very close and relational – both among students and between students and teachers. Our group of Gender Studies students almost feels like a group of friends and I cherish a lot our long talks in front of the faculty building after classes or the walks to our beloved coffee machine during breaks. Particularly when studying in a foreign country, such support is essential, and it takes a lot of pressure off when you know that you can turn to both your fellow students and your teachers if you have concerns.

Susanne Jella Zwingler, MA GS