Faculty of Arts of Comenius University > Application and Admissions > Bachelor Degree Studies > Information on the studies and requirements for the entrance examination at the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University, in the academic year 2024/2025 > Slovak Language and Culture

Slovak Language and Culture

Field of Study: philology, majoring in translation and interpreting

Slovak Language and Culture in combination with a foreign language study and majoring in translation and interpreting is a study programme which aims to prepare qualified translators and interpreters mainly from a foreign language into the target mother tongue, which corresponds to the current trends in the interpreting and translation occupations, which, in addition to knowledge of a foreign language, emphasise professional mastery of the mother tongue, its literature and intercultural realities.

It is implemented as a three-year Bachelor’s degree study programme. Graduates of the Bachelor’s degree study may continue on to study for a Master’s degree. The implementation of the study programme is provided by the Department of Slovak Language and Theory of Communication and the Department of Slovak Literature and Literary Studies. The study of Slovak language and literature in this study programme is equivalent in scope and content to the study of a foreign language and/or the study of Slovak language and literature in other programmes implemented by Department of Slovak Language and Department of Slovak Literature and Literary Science.

The content of this study programme is divided into language and literature:

1. The content of the linguistic part of the study consists of subjects focused on the structure, regularities, methods and conditions of the functioning of the Slovak language in its present form and its historical development, on the relations of Slovak to Slavic and non-Slavic languages (Slovak grammar, orthoepy and orthography, lexicology of the Slovak language, sociolinguistics and research of dialects, cultural history of written Slovak, one (selected) Slavic language (students have a choice of the following languages –Bulgarian, Croatian, Polish, Russian, Slovene, Serbian)).

2. The content of the literary part of the study consists of subjects aimed at acquiring knowledge of the history of Slovak literature and translation from its beginnings to the end of the 19th century, at acquiring literary-theoretical knowledge, knowledge of the contextual connections of Slovak literature with world and Czech literature and culture, and knowledge of the interpretation of a literary text (the theory of literature, the history of Slovak literature in translation from the 9th – 18th century, the history of Slovak literature and translation in the 19th century).

These fundamental disciplines are complemented by a set of practically oriented compulsory electives and elective courses, which students choose according to their own interest (extension of practical courses on basic linguistic disciplines (grammar, lexicology), text-based seminars on the history of Slovak literature, and seminars focused on the interpretation of literary texts and creative writing).

The programme also includes courses in translatology, international world and European institutions and the EU institutional system, as well as special seminars on working with translation software and corpora, on editing and editorial practice, and on acquiring knowledge of political geography. 

The study is completed by the state final examination – defence of the Bachelor’s thesis.

 

BASIC STUDY PREREQUISITES AND REQUIREMENTS

An applicant is expected to have at least a B2 level of Slovak, the ability to perceive language and literature as part of a broader cultural, social and historical context, a general cultural outlook, and the ability to think critically and independently. The recommended profile subjects from secondary school which are a good basis for studying in this study programme are Slovak language and literature, art and culture/aesthetics/art history, social studies/civic studies and history.

 

GRADUATES’ EMPLOYMENT

Graduates of the Bachelor’s degree study can either continue in the Master’s degree study, or they can work as translators and interpreters in the tourism sector or in cultural and social institutions, where sophisticated linguistic expression is required. After obtaining a full university education in this field, the graduate can work as a translator and interpreter in various fields (in administrative and legal, diplomatic or journalistic and literary fields), as an editor in publishing houses and editorial offices of newspapers and magazines, as a scholarly researcher in the field of comparative linguistics and literary science, or as a speaker and assistant in agencies of various types, in corporate environments, in state and public administration. Outstanding graduates may apply for doctoral study.

 

ENTRANCE EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants will be admitted to the Slovak Language and Culture (in combination) study programme on the basis of a general aptitude test in the framework of the National Comparative Exam, which is provided by www.scio.cz, s. r. o. Applicants for the English Language and Culture and Slovak Language and Culture study programmes, for the German Language and Culture and Slovak Language and Culture study programmes, and for the Slovak Language and Culture and Spanish Language and Culture study programmes who have taken part in the Slovak Language and Literature Olympiad competitions at national level and came 1st, 2nd or 3rd do not have to take the general aptitude test of the National Comparative Exam.