The third-cycle Doctoral Study Program in Human Sciences, with the subfields Linguistic Sciences and Modern and Postmodern World Literature, offered by the Faculty of Foreign Languages, is designed to cultivate a new generation of independent and innovative researchers capable of contributing substantively to scientific, pedagogical, and cultural advancement in the areas of language studies, translation, intercultural communication and contemporary didactics.
The program’s central scientific objective is the promotion and development of original research within philological and interdisciplinary domains, encouraging the adoption of innovative theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of language, discourse practices, pedagogical models, cultural phenomena, and the dynamics of social and communicative interaction in the digital era.
The research mission of the program is to establish an academic environment grounded in the principles of quality, ethics, and research impact, equipping doctoral candidates with advanced methodological, analytical and digital competencies. The program aims to foster a researcher profile that is critical, internationally engaged and capable of integrating research findings into university teaching practices, linguistic and cultural policy-making and broader processes associated with the development of the knowledge society.
The program is implemented in full compliance with Law No. 80/2015 “On Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Republic of Albania,” the Regulation of the University of Tirana, and the guidelines of the Albanian Quality Assurance Agency in Higher Education (ASCAL). It contributes directly to the realization of the National Strategy for Higher Education and Scientific Research 2023-2030 and aligns with the institutional objectives of the University of Tirana regarding research capacity building, program internationalization, and the promotion of academic excellence. Concurrently, the program is conceived in accordance with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ESG 2015), ensuring transparency, academic autonomy, regular external evaluation, and the active involvement of doctoral candidates in quality assurance processes.
Academic Senate Decision No. 9, dated 26.04.2021, which approved the activation of the program, enabled the reorganization of the third-cycle study program in Human Sciences, with the subfields Linguistic Sciences and Modern and Postmodern World Literature. The process was concluded with Order No. 153, dated 24.03.2022, issued by the Ministry of Education and Sports, which formally classified the scientific degree of “Doctor” in Human Sciences with the respective subfields, placing the program at Level 8 of the Albanian Qualifications Framework.
This reorganization positions the doctoral candidate at the center of the program as a researcher in formation, providing opportunities for substantive engagement in research projects, academic publishing, and scientific collaboration – activities that enhance not only the quality of the doctoral degree, but also the institutional and national research ecosystem.
The program is supported by a contemporary research infrastructure, including scientific laboratories, specialized institutional libraries, and access to major electronic academic resources such as JSTOR, COBISS++, and U-Library, alongside extensive opportunities for collaboration with European partner universities, public and private institutions, and various professional
entities. These resources and partnerships position the Faculty of Foreign Languages as a prominent academic and research center within the field of the human sciences.
