Requirements for doctoral studies

A key part of the study is the preparation of the doctoral dissertation, which accompanies the doctoral candidate throughout their studies. The topic of the dissertation must be well-considered before you press the “submit” button on the study application, as the dissertation proposal is one of the required attachments to the application. You can either choose a topic from those offered by supervisors or propose your own topic. The supervisor must be employed at one of the departments of the Faculty of Informatics and Statistics.

Once you choose a supervisor, it’s time for a discussion where you will consult on the research proposal. Based on this discussion, the final topic for the dissertation will be selected. Therefore, we recommend contacting the supervisor well in advance of submitting the application, at least six months ahead. If you are unsure about the topic, discuss the options with the program coordinator.

The list of supervisors and topics for the academic year 2024/25 can be found here FIS PhD Dissertation topics 2024_2025.

The preparation of the doctoral dissertation involves various stages during which the doctoral candidate presents their progress. The timing of these stages is determined by the study regulations.

Initially, the doctoral candidate and the supervisor prepare the framework of the thesis (topic, structure, methodologies), based on the dissertation proposal submitted during the admission process. In the second semester of the study, the doctoral candidate defends the written draft of the dissertation project, including initial findings, at least at the level of a literature review. The third stage is the doctoral state examination, where the doctoral candidate must present a thesis of 20-30 pages and successfully defend their results. The fourth stage involves a small defense, or defense of the first version of the dissertation, which comprehensively tests the student’s ability to independently and systematically address the specialized topic. The doctoral study concludes with the defense of the dissertation, during which the doctoral candidate presents their goals and the original contributions of their work. Through the final defense, the candidate also demonstrates their ability and readiness for independent research, development, or theoretical work in the field.

Doctoral students have the opportunity to participate in both short-term and long-term study and research stays. Short-term options include seminars or conferences. Long-term options include study or research stays at foreign higher education institutions. The duration of these stays must be between two and six months. One advantage compared to undergraduate or master’s stays is that the selected university does not have to be a partner institution of the University of Economics in Prague. It depends solely on the agreement between the student and the chosen institution where the student will undertake their research stay. In both cases, students are eligible to apply for financial support.

More information about Short-Term Mobilities.

More information about Long-Term Mobilities.

More information about other Scholarship Programmes

At Czech universities, doctoral study in full-time form is supported by a scholarship consisting of a eligible and non-eligible component. The current amount of the eligible component is initially 8,000 CZK per month. Additionally, students have the opportunity to increase this amount based on their activity and involvement at the department and faculty. The scholarship is paid monthly for the duration of the studies, but for a maximum of 4 years.  The eligible component of the scholarship increases by 1,000 CZK per month after successfully passing the state doctoral examination. The scholarship is tax-free.

Students in full-time doctoral programs who decide to participate in foreign stays can also qualify for the scholarship. The amount of financial support depends on the country of destination. Moreover, within the Erasmus+ program, doctoral candidates receive a monthly supplement of 15,000 CZK, excluding stays in Slovakia (up to 6 months). Details regarding stays, including methods of financial support, can be found on the Department of International Relations’ website.

Upon request, doctoral students may also have expenses related to active participation in conferences reimbursed.

State health insurance covers doctoral students even after reaching 26 years of age.

During the standard duration of doctoral studies, you have the opportunity to apply for an exceptional scholarship to support your dissertation research. The scholarship is available to full-time doctoral students at the Faculty of Informatics and Statistics in the amount of up to 10,000 CZK per month. The main goal of the scholarship is to motivate students to complete their doctoral studies and enable them to focus intensively on resolving dissertation research questions.

The programme itself lasts 6 months, with a mid-programme and post-programme follow-up. Applications for the scholarship can be submitted to the dean’s office of the Faculty of Informatics and Statistics by September 30, 2024, 12:00 PM.

The application includes a description of activities the applicant intends to undertake within the project. These activities are accompanied by a schedule divided into two stages. The expected length of the application description is 4 – 5 standard pages.

For further details about the scholarship conditions, please contact the coordinators of the doctoral study programs.

Under the title ” Day of FIS PhD Students”, a scientific seminar is held every year, where individual PhD students have the opportunity to present their research to the academic community of the faculty and the wider public. A proceedings of the papers presented at the seminar is published annually.
The Doctoral Students’ Day scientific seminar took place on 31 January 2024.
Every doctoral student is obliged to attend the Day of FIS PhD students by the end of the 6th semester of his/her doctoral studies and present the results of his/her scientific work. However, contributions from PhD students who have presented their paper at an earlier seminar are also welcome, especially if they have made significant progress in their work.