Doctor of Sciences (PhD)

10 (SQF), 8 (EQF), third cycle

3 years, 180 ECTS

Admission to the first year of study shall be granted to the candidates who have completed:

a) a master’s (second cycle) study programme;

b) an undergraduate academic study programme adopted before 11 June 2004 (pre-reform study programme);

c) a specialisation study programme after having graduated from a study programme adopted before 11 June 2004 (pre-reform study programme), provided that a candidate has completed all the study obligations relevant for further study prior to enrolment. Study obligations in the amount from 30 ECTS to 60 ECTS credit points are determined by the competent Faculty Commission, based on the individual application, taking into account the field of previous study. Additional examinations must be completed prior to entry into the programme or during the previous study;

d) a unified master’s study programme, if the study programme carried 300 ECTS credit points and lasted 5 years;

e) a comparable education abroad and have been, in the process of recognition of their qualification and in accordance with Assessment and Recognition of Education Act, legally granted the right to continue their studies in the study programme.

In case of enrolment limitation the candidates are selected according to:

1. average grade on all the previous exams (50 %) and
2. grade reached on the exam (interview) before an expert Commission (50 %). Exam can be supplemented up to the extent of 30 % by scientific and research achievements supplied in the candidates’ applications.

Along with the application candidates shall also enclose:

1) short research proposal for the doctoral study and

2) basic personal data of the candidate.

The research proposal (7,000-15,000 characters with spaces, bibliography is not part of the sum of characters) must be structured in sets and includes:

1) title page with the name and surname of the candidate, the proposed title of the research topic in the dissertation (if possible at this stage), and the name and surname and academic title of the most suitable mentor in doctoral studies (if possible at this stage),

2) indication and short description of the research topic (definition) (definition of the theoretical starting points of the research, definition of the research question (problem) and research objectives),

3) intended methods of work,

4) expected results and original contribution to science and

5) indication of basic literature and sources.

Basic information about the candidate must contain:

1) short curriculum vitae (up to 2,500 characters with spaces, possibly in indents and

2) bibliography of the candidate (if any).

Expert Commission reviews the candidate’s application. The Commission invites the candidate to an interview before enrolment, where the most suitable mentor for the intended field of research is determined. The interview is also an opportunity to reshape the research field in order to provide appropriate mentoring. If the candidate’s research plans are incompatible with the research contents of the Department of History of the Faculty, the candidate is advised not to enrol. It is necessary to obtain the consent of the expert Commission and the mentor prior to enrolment.

Number of enrolment places

Enrolment in a higher year of study (according to the criteria for transferring between study programmes and conditions for accelerated advancement)

Transferring between study programmes is possible according to the Higher Education Act, Criteria for transferring between study programmes and other regulations of this field.

Transfer between study programmes is the enrolment in the higher year of the study programme, in case of leaving the studies in the first (initial) study programme and continuation of studies in another study programme of the same degree. The transition takes into account the comparability of the study programmes and the completed study obligations of the candidate in the initial study programme. The transition between study programmes is also enrolment of the graduate in the higher year study programme of the same degree.

Transfer is possible between study programmes:

• which on completion of studies ensure the acquisition of comparable competencies, and
• between which it is possible, under the recognition criteria, to recognise at least half of study requirements under the ECTS system from the first study programme relating to compulsory subjects of the second study programme.

Transferring between study programmes is granted to candidates, if the following conditions have been met:

• the candidate fulfils the requirements for admission to the study programme,
• the Senate of the Faculty or the competent Faculty Commission estimates that the candidate can be recognized for at least half of the ECTS points obligations from the previous study programme, which relate to the compulsory subjects of the study programme to which the candidate is transferring;
• the completion of the initial study programme which the candidate is transferring from ensures the acquisition of comparable competencies as those envisaged by the study programme.

Enrolment is also open to candidates of a comparable study programme abroad who have been, in the process of recognition of their previous studies (in accordance with Assessment and Recognition of Education Act), legally granted the right to continue their studies in the study programme.

Applications for transferring between study programmes are considered by the relevant Commission. In accordance with the Criteria for transferring between study programmes, the Commission takes into account the comparability between study programmes and study obligations the candidate has completed in the previous study programme that can be recognized in this study programme. The candidate may also be required to complete differential exams as defined by the relevant Faculty Commission.

In case of enrolment limitation, the candidates are selected according to average grade obtained during the study programme they are transferring from. Candidates can apply for recognition of passed examinations during previous education based on the submission of the subject curriculum. The Senate of the Faculty or the competent Faculty Commission makes the decision on the recognition of examinations on the proposal of the department.

Enrolment places

The aim of the PhD programme is to offer professional, scientific and methodological support to PhD students in their individually defined studies and research work.

General competences:

• Competence to manage the most complex scientific research projects;
• ability to implement innovative knowledge; research will contribute to the advancement of scientific excellence in the discipline at regional, national and European level and will contribute to the creation of a knowledge-based society and the transfer of knowledge to the economy;
• developing generic and transferable skills (competence in teamwork and inter-institutional cooperation, leadership functions, time and career management, and management of material and human resources);
• ability to reflect ethically and knowledge of intellectual property principles;
• autonomy in their research and scientific work and effectiveness in team research work.

Subject-specific competences:

• the ability to develop individual historical concepts and methodologies;
• the ability to present scientific results in the form of monographs, publications in national and international scientific periodicals and projects;
• the ability to transfer the results of research work to society, especially in the context of research and cultural institutions, and in the field of intercultural dialogue, cultural heritage and cultural tourism;
• the ability to independently evaluate and judge the results and to make an independent contribution
• to the development of science in the individual fields of historiography;
• the ability to implement the results for the implementation of the knowledge society.

Doctoral students are trained for independent research work and, depending on their specialisation, also in applied fields. The study programme opens up opportunities for doctoral students to work in scientific, university and cultural institutions; it also encourages the creative transfer of knowledge into practice.

Possible careers for PhD students:

• Employees in scientific and higher education institutions;
• Employees in research institutions and institutes;
• Project managers;
• Employees in government, public, private and non-governmental institutions and organisations;
• Employees in the media and public relations services;
• Employees in industry.