On this page, we aim to answer the most frequent questions of applicants interested in doctoral studies. There is also a separate section of Frequently Asked Questions for doctoral candidates who are already enrolled.
Abbreviations used:
· DSP = doctoral study programme (plural possible)
· ISP = individual study plan
· SIS = Study Information System
Application deadlines are published on the relevant page of this website. For information about the possibility of submitting an application outside the announced deadlines, please contact the faculty dean’s office.
Yes. The application is submitted to a DSP, but admission is also conditional on a specific dissertation topic. This topic must be announced and approved in advance by the prospective supervisor. However, modification of the title and topic later during the doctoral studies is possible (request must be approved by the Scientific Board of the programme).
First, a new application to a DSP must be created in the electronic information system. Then, the required attachments must be uploaded to this application, and the following documents must be delivered to the dean’s office of the relevant faculty:
· a form from the electronic information system signed by your future supervisor,
· a medical fitness assessment (form available in the electronic information system),
· a CV,
· documents proving achieved education and previous professional experience,
· a list of publications,
· a list of other professional outputs,
· for a double degree programme additionally:
o confirmation of English proficiency at least at level B2,
o a motivation letter in English.
Both bachelor’s and master’s studies are entered into the application. For the master’s programme, it is necessary to state the expected year of completion.
If you do not yet have publications or professional experience, it is sufficient to state this briefly (e.g. “no publication activity / professional experience”). At the same time, you may include other relevant activities, such as participation in a Student Scientific Conference (SVK) at UCT Prague or elsewhere, student projects, professional internships, workshops, courses, or summer schools.
If the supervisor holds an academic position at UCT Prague, they may act as supervisor provided, they hold at least the academic title of associate professor (docent). If they are not an associate professor but hold a Ph.D., they must be approved for the given topic by the Scientific Board of the relevant faculty.
If the supervisor is employed only at the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS) or, for example, in industry, two situations may arise:
The institution has concluded a “Partial Agreement on Mutual Cooperation in the Implementation of Doctoral Study Programmes” with the given study programme. In this case, the supervisor may act as a supervisor under the same title conditions as described above.
The institution has not concluded such a “Partial Agreement on Mutual Cooperation in the Implementation of Doctoral Study Programmes” with the given study programme. In this case, the supervisor from that institution may act only as a specialist supervisor, and the doctoral candidate must formally have a supervisor assigned from the relevant department at UCT Prague.
As part of the interview, a short presentation of the applicant and the planned dissertation topic is usually required. Questions typically focus on motivation for study, continuity with the master’s thesis, previous experience (e.g. professional activities or stays abroad), and ideas about publishing, conference participation, and involvement in teaching. In case the interview is not conducted in English, it often includes a short discussion in English. The exact format of the interview may vary between departments.
A complete description of study obligations, including a model doctoral study pathway, can be found here.
Fundamental study obligations include fulfilment of the ISP, international experience, research and publication activity, and submission of an Annual Evaluation at the end of each year. The Annual Evaluation is submitted to the supervisor via the E-doktorand system in the SIS, where the latest submission deadline is also stated.
Doctoral studies in a DSP are formally completed by a public defence of the dissertation. The conditions for admission to the defence and the process for submitting the application for defence are described for each faculty here.
Teaching during doctoral studies is voluntary by law and therefore is not subject to Annual Evaluation/scoring in the SIS. An exception applies to consultations or supervision of final theses, for which are awarded points. More information can be found on the Pedagogy webpage.
Yes, international experience is mandatory. The minimum duration of mobility is 30 days. This period does not have to be continuous and can be completed by a combination of multiple international conferences or fulfilled through a series of shorter professional stays, whose durations are cumulative. This study obligation may also be fulfilled by direct participation in an international project or work within an international research group, provided the results are published in an international journal or presented to the professional community abroad in another way. All international stays must be recorded in the SIS under the Internships Records module.
There are many options! Start by visiting the Active People and Associations at UCT Prague page, which brings together all non-study activities you can join at our university. This includes participation in advisory bodies of the student section of the Academic Senate, as well as various cultural and artistic associations. In case you miss an association related to your interest, you can submit a registration and start your association via aktivni.vscht.cz!
You will have student status throughout your studies, but you can extend your ISIC card only for the duration of full-time study (usually 4 years from the start of studies). At the same time, many discounts and benefits are capped at the age of 26 — this must be verified with each discount provider individually. Typically, for example, transport discounts can be used during doctoral studies, but only up to the age of 26. However, some discounts are available to students regardless of age.
As of 1 January 2018, an amendment to Act No. 48/1997 Coll. states that if you are studying in your first doctoral programme in full-time form, health insurance is paid for doctoral candidates by the state — but only if you do not have an employment contract. If you do have an employment contract, health insurance is paid through that employment.
If you are over 26, you are obliged to notify your health insurance company that the state pays your insurance due to doctoral studies. UCT Prague should report this on your behalf, but it is advisable to verify this with your faculty dean’s office or directly with your health insurance company.
If you terminate your employment at UCT Prague (or elsewhere) and do not have another one, you must notify your health insurance company. The insurance will then (provided the conditions in the first paragraph are met) again be paid by the state.
By the way, most health insurance companies now offer their insured persons electronic access to their records (similar to online banking), where you can check what data and payments the insurance company currently records for you.
Social insurance is not mandatory; you do not have to pay it (though voluntary payment is possible), nor do you have to report anything. Social insurance will be paid if you have an employment contract.
Yes, during doctoral studies you retain student status and can therefore continue to live in student dormitories at a discounted rate.
All doctoral candidates in full-time study at UCT Prague must receive, as a minimum, income corresponding to 1.2 times the minimum wage. In 2025, this amounts to CZK 24,960 per month net income. This income may consist entirely of salary, entirely of a stipend, or any combination of the two.
Stipends from the Internal Grant Agency of UCT Prague (IGA) are not included in this income, as they are additional income above the guaranteed amount.
More details, including specifics for doctoral candidates starting before/after 1 September 2025, can be found on the Finance page.
In addition to the guaranteed doctoral income, it is possible to apply for various grants, especially IGA grants.
It is also possible to actively participate in grants not directly related to the topic of your dissertation, or to engage in teaching activities. These activities should be consulted with your supervisor to ensure they do not limit your ability to complete the PhD within the standard study period.
Income from these activities is not included in the guaranteed doctoral income. More details can be found on the Finance page.
The working time of a doctoral candidate is set at 40 hours per week, with leave referred to as “vacation” amounting to 30 days. Working hours can be adjusted by agreement with the supervisor. If the doctoral candidate also has an employment contract for work on the dissertation, the scope of this contract is counted towards the above-mentioned working time.
