Doctoral studies

It is a 5-member organ in which at least one-third of the members are not members of the academic community of the faculty (participating faculties), at least one person is not a member of the academic community of Charles University and at least two-thirds of the members are habilitated. The branch council approves the ISP of individual students, proposes supervisors and consultants, proposes the composition of examination boards for entrance and state final examinations and decides on the annual ISP evaluation (A - fulfils the plan, B - does not fulfil some parts of the plan, C - does not fulfil the plan), to which the doctoral scholarship is linked for full-time students. In the event that the subject board finds that the student is not fulfilling the individual study plan, a decision of the dean is issued to terminate the studies.

Deadline for delivery of documents for the admission procedure: December 15, 2021.

Documents for the admission procedure:

• signed CV;
• list of publications;
• dissertation project.

All documents are to be inserted to the e-application ("Documents section"), deadline December 15, 2021. Applicants are requested to include their full name and application number in all attached documents.

The entrance exam will be an interview on the dissertation project. During the interview, the applicant shall present their master’s thesis to the committee.

Notice that proof of completion of the master's study (officially certified copy of the diploma, in the case of education, obtained abroad also the so-called nostrification) shall be submitted by the accepted applicants when enrolling in the study. It is not required to prove the completion of a master's degree at the interview.

Criteria for evaluation:

Success limit: 40 points (max. 100 points).

Preparing of the dissertation takes place throughout the studies and makes up at least 60% of the workload. Defending the dissertation proposal must be completed no later than during the fourth semester. Publishing consists of at least two articles in peer-reviewed, preferably foreign journals and makes up 10% of the workload. A preparation of an initial study which would precede the dissertation is welcomed.

Doctoral students can take part in teaching (participating in course instruction) at the department – they can teach courses, participate in supervising bachelor's theses, etc; this can amount to a maximum of 60 hours per studies (up to 10% of the workload).

The student of full-time doctoral study must go to internship abroad – at least one month long, ideally one semester. The doctoral student must actively take part in conferences and other specialized seminars and workshops. It is necessary to prove active participation for at least three home and one international conference.

Actual Checking My Studies in IS MUNI.

The course of doctoral studies can be supplemented by practice, which has the character of consultations and gaining experience in the environment of scientific research institutions. The development of knowledge and skills takes place both within study stays abroad, and at home, on the premises of cooperating institutions.

The state doctoral examination consists of an oral examination and the defense of a doctoral thesis. The purpose of the oral exam is to demonstrate the doctoral student's ability to orientate himself in historical contexts, ask questions and answer current social challenges.

The oral part of the state doctoral examination is based on the dialogue of the doctoral student with the examination commission. During the oral exam, the doctoral student will answer the questions that will emphasize the methodology of modern historical work, the possibilities of modern historical thinking, the perspective of knowledge and the importance of historical sciences for society.

In the doctoral thesis, the student presents the results of research that he/she came to during his/her studies. The doctoral thesis must contain the results of the doctoral student's original research, including already published output or output accepted for publication. The work must demonstrate the ability and readiness for independent activity in the field of research or development or for autonomous theoretical and creative activity.

The thesis must be submitted for defense in the Czech or Slovak language, it is also permissible to submit the doctoral thesis in one of the world languages (English, German, Russian, French) in agreement with the supervisor and after discussion by the scientific board. The text of the dissertation must be at an excellent level in terms of grammar and style.

Defended dissertations since 2016 and dissertation theses started in autumn semester 2021/2022.

Since 2022, Monumenta Germaniae Historica offers a one month-long scholarship for doctoral students of programmes in the fields of history at the Masaryk’s University. The scholarship can be used for study in the Munich libraries and archives.

Granting of the scholarship is conditioned by a cover letter which should contain an annotation of the doctoral project. The request has to be accompanied by a structured CV which should include a list of publications, all should be in German, English is allowed as well.

Deadline: 1 March 2022

Contact: prof. PhDr. Martin Wihoda (wihoda@phil.muni.cz)