Survival guide for PhD candidates at UCT Prague
Survival guide
Hi, welcome to your PhD!
The beginning of doctoral studies can be a bit overwhelming – that's why we, in cooperation with the PhD Office, have prepared a Survival Guide: 15 important points to help you get oriented and not forget the most essential things. Every PhD candidate's experience is a little different – but this overview will give you a good start and show you what to watch out for from the beginning. PhD candidates are expected to be relatively independent, and for that reason, the very first point of this survival guide is:
RIGHT AFTER YOU START
1. Go through the key information on phd.vscht.cz hub: the DSP Rules, regulations, FAQs, the FB group, the intranet, dormitories and the campus doctor’s office, all in one place.
2. Enrolment. Enrol in your studies and repeat this every year (at some faculties it happens automatically). Studying at the CAS? Come to the enrolment together with your supervisor.
3. Go through the Adaptation Plan with your supervisor and discuss your work plan, working hours and trips abroad regularly. Right at the start, find out which training you need before you enter the laboratory – above all the introductory OHS and fire protection training – you can complete these during the PhD Orientation Week. Together with your supervisor, select any other required training (e.g. electrical, first aid or pressure cylinders) via OKbase if you are an employee. If you are not an employee, arrange your training with the OHS officer at your department. Overview of the trainings for PhD candidates can be found on this page.
FIRST WEEKS TO FIRST YEAR
Feeling overwhelmed? That is normal. The first semester is a lot for absolutely everyone, and doubts about whether a PhD is right for you are part of it – it is not a failure, and things gradually fall into place. And you do not have to go through it alone: as a doctoral candidate you can also use the services of the UCT Prague Counselling and Career Centre (PKC) – coaching, psychological support, mentoring and other PKC events.
4. Study requirements + ISP: programme courses, an English-language conference, 2 colloquia, international experience, publication output and the defence. Plan in your ISP what you will complete and when. Note: the ISP must be filled in in SIS within 30 days of enrolment at the latest.
5. Learn how E-doktorand works and write your report for the annual evaluation. E-doktorand assigns points – make sure you understand how it works. Note: it closes between academic years (typically in July). Create/check your ORCID, use the correct affiliation in your publications and verify that results are transferred correctly from OBD to E-doktorand.
6. Agree on your teaching duties: teaching, supervising theses, helping students – this takes time, so plan for it. At the same time, bear in mind that teaching is not compulsory.
7. Master the everyday routine: Emil, Phone directory (fill in your contact details), UCT Prague maps, OKbase (employees), reporting night-time operation of instruments, graphics (posters, logos, templates).
8. Look into IGA projects: IGA (VIGA/PIGA/SIGA) = money + project experience. Prepare before Christmas; the deadline is in January (VIGA, PIGA)/in autumn (SIGA).
THROUGHOUT YOUR STUDIES
9. When you don’t know, ask! Your supervisor, colleagues, the dean’s offices (FCHT/FTOP/FPBT/FCHI), the head of department, the Doctoral Degree Board, vice-deans, Tutors, PKC, the Department of International Relations or ERD. No question is a stupid question – communication is the key.
10. Explore the other options: trips abroad and their funding, dormitories, courses (Data Stewardship, Effective Scientific Writing, transferable skills, PhD_Post.doc/UNIQORN), PKC mentoring, Tutor, student clubs, Zkumavka, sport and recreation (aktivni.vscht.cz), or tutoring.
11. Scholarships: everything is summarised here. You need to apply for the doctoral scholarship in SIS at the beginning of each academic year.
12. Got a problem? Start with your supervisor, the head of department or the Doctoral Degree Board. Further help: PKC counselling (psychological, social-legal, career), Tutors, Safe Talk (ombudsperson), the Ethics Committee and representatives in the academic senates, the PhD Office, the Department of Languages (English), the Computer Centre, the Dormitory Council, OBD → E. Jeníčková, SIS/E-doktorand guides. Not sure who to ask? Write to ERD.
WHEN THE TIME COMES
13. A change during your studies: contact your supervisor, the Doctoral Degree Board or the dean’s office. If you interrupt your studies or change the form of study, always check the impact on your scholarship, guaranteed income and health insurance.
14. Dissertation: read the Rules for submitting and publishing dissertations.
15. Done with everything? Information on graduation ceremonies and job opportunities.
Wishing you all best,
The Electronic PhD Guide team