Science at FSV UK: Studying at Oxford, working in a prestigious organization

Matěj Bajgar from the Institute of Economic Studies FSV UK has always been interested in how society works. Although he was most drawn to history in grammar school, he ultimately decided to study economics. After earning his bachelor’s degree at IES, he pursued his master’s and doctoral studies at Oxford University. He then worked as an economist at a prestigious international institution before returning to the Czech Republic to rejoin the academic environment. He is now involved in several projects at IES and intends to continue his scientific career.

Thanks to his doctoral studies, he ended up spending seven years in England, which shaped him not only professionally but also personally. “As a lover of history – and especially medieval architecture – I have the strongest memories of the city and its medieval colleges. Dinners in seven-century-old stone halls, Sunday sung services at New College (similarly “new” to Prague’s New Town), walks in the cloisters and writing my thesis in the library with a crypt built before William the Conqueror arrived in England,” he recalls.

However, after completing his doctoral studies, Bajgar decided to leave academia for a while. As a PhD student, he often felt lonely and the pressure of independent academic research did not do him any good. However, he was always attracted to working in an international organization, where he would have the opportunity to improve economic policies in the world.

Read the full interview with Matěj Bajgar on the FSV UK science website, in which he mentions the differences of studying at Oxford University or his current research focus.