Essential Information about Doctoral Studies in English

The aim of the doctoral studies is to prepare graduates for scientific work, which they can apply especially in an academic environment, scientific institutions such as the Academy of Sciences or in research and development departments of commercial companies.

Admission to study

To be eligible for admission to doctoral studies, applicants must hold a master's degree in the same discipline or a related field to which they apply. Admission to the programme is at the discretion of the Dean of the Faculty on the basis of the results of the entrance examination procedure. Experience in the chosen field is not a condition of admission, and there are no age restrictions. Students in their final year of master's studies may also apply, their admission is conditional on graduating. Citizens of the Czech Republic, foreigners and people without citizenship, who are legal residents in the Czech Republic, may study in the doctoral programme. Applicants who are admitted into a doctoral study programme become FEE doctoral students. 

Before submitting the formal application, please contact your potential supervisor and select a dissertation topic. You can find the list of supervisors and their topics here. Please note that you need to reach an agreement with your supervisor beforehand as they have the right to veto your admission. Here is a list of the doctoral study programmes at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. 

Specific information about the admissions procedure and aplication submission can be found here: Admission procedure for Doctoral Study.

Doctoral students studying at CTU are, for the duration of their studies, classified as regular tertiary students, with all associated rights and responsibilities; unless their studies are interrupted. 

General information about Doctoral Studies at FEE

Forms of Study

A Ph.D. programme at FEE is carried out in either full-time or part-time form of study. Full-time study at FEE CTU generally takes 4 years, while the part-time form of study generally takes 5 years. Another difference between the two study forms is that only in the full-time study has the doctoral student a right to receive a monthly scholarship. Transfer between the full-time and part-time forms, or vice-versa, is possible on the basis of a recommendation by the supervisor and a written request submitted by the doctoral student to the Dean of the Faculty. It is also possible, with the agreement of the supervisor and the appropriate Branch Board, to complete the study programme in a shorter time. There is also the option to interrupt your studies; you must again submit a written request to be approved by the vice-dean. In both full-time and part-time forms of study, doctoral students must submit their doctoral thesis within 6 years after  the commencement of their studies (7 years for students who started their studies prior to September 1, 2021).

Supervisor

A supervisor is a professor, associate professor, or a distinguished scholar who leads you in your Ph.D. studies and serves as your advisor and colaborator as well as the closest contact at the faculty. The role of a supervisor is crucial in doctoral studies. Before submitting an application, it is necessary for the prospective doctoral student to consult their study plans with their chosen supervisor and obtain their approval. The supervisor is then appointed by the Dean. You can find the list of supervisors and their topics here.

Individual Study Plan

Student's Ph.D. studies follow the individual study plan (ISP) which is created by the student in collaboration with their supervisor. The ISP designates the time allocated to study, specialised and scientific activities with plans for the development of the doctoral thesis, study at other locations/institutions (which may be outside the Czech Republic), designated minimum teaching duties, dates of examinations for courses taken, and other responsibilities. More information about the ISP may be found here.

Rules for Doctoral Studies / Stages of studies

Rules for doctoral studies according to the 2022 DSC, non-credit system:

Study Block

During the first year of study, each doctoral student shall take at least one course.

During the first stage of the study, the so-called study block, students supplement their professional knowledge by studying at least two professional courses prescribed by their individual study plan and engage in scientific, publication and presentation activities. At the end of the study block, students must meet the following requirements:

  • complete all compulsory professional subjects (included in the ISP) by passing examinations,
  • at least one scientific article, of which the doctoral student is the main author and which relates to the topic of the dissertation, accepted for publication,
  • pass an English language examination or submit a recognised certificate demonstrating adequate knowledge of the English language,
  • successfully defend a scientific study ("professional debate")

Next Stages of the Ph.D. Study

After a successful completion of the study block, it is possible to apply for the State Doctoral Exam, in which the student should demonstrate their specialised theoretical knowledge, methods of scientific work, and the ability to acquire new scientific knowledge and to apply it creatively. This examination is conducted by the Board of Examiners for Comprehensive Doctoral Examination (Komise pro státní doktorskou zkoušku) .

Successful completion of the State Doctoral Exam is a pre-requisite for the submission and defence of the doctoral thesis. This thesis is a result of the solution to a specific scientific task; it proves the capability of a doctoral student to independently create their own work and must include original achievements of scientific work published by the author of the dissertation or results accepted for publication. The doctoral thesis must contain original new findings. The presentation and defence of the work is conducted by the Board for the Defence of a Doctoral Thesis (Komise pro obhajobu dizertační práce), and is open to the public. A single re-submission is allowed in the case of an unsuccessful final examination or an unsuccessful presentation and defence of the doctoral thesis. Based on the regular completion of study in a Ph.D. programme, the degree of "Doctor" (abbreviated to "Ph.D.") is obtained from The Czech Technical University in Prague.

Students who started their studies after 1.11.2021 must submit their dissertation within 6 years. Those who started before 1.11.2021 within 7 years, see SEC Article 36, paragraph 6 of 23 April 2022.

The first stage of Ph.D. studies may differ based on the year of your submission. Later stages of the Ph.D. studies at FEE are the same for both DSC versions. Below you can see the summaries of the first stage of study based on the DSC veriosn which governs the study. If you are newly accepted to a Ph.D. study programme at FEE, you will study according to the newer, non-credit system!

Rules for doctoral studies according to the 2018 DSC, credit system:

During the first year of study, each doctoral student must gain at least 8 credits.

During the first stage of the study, the so-called study block, students supplement their professional knowledge by studying four to six professional subjects prescribed by their individual study plan and engage in scientific, publishing and presentation activities. At the end of this stage, which is two years in the full-time form and three years in the part-time form, students must have:

  • completed all compulsory professional courses by passing examinations,
  • attained at least 27 credits (with credits counting only for compulsory courses; credits are also awarded for teaching, research and publication activities). A minimum of 3 credits must be achieved for scientific, research and publication activities,
  • passing an English language examination or having a recognised certificate demonstrating adequate knowledge of the English language,
  • the preparation and successful defence of a professional study.

No later than the time of application for the state doctoral examinations (SDE) according to Article 6(4) of the SDE, the student shall have completed a total of 30 credits, of which at least 6 credits for publication.

Students who started their studies before the DSC 2022 Regulations (23.2.2022) came into force may apply to the Dean for a transfer to study under the DSC 2022 Regulations.

Doctoral studies can be prematurely ended by the student, on the basis of a written application. In the case of long-term neglect of responsibilities, the studies can be ended by a decision of the Dean or the Director of the institute.

Tuition Fees for Foreign Students

Tuition fees are paid by foreign doctoral students studying in English both in full-time and part-time forms. By changing the Statute of the Czech Technical University, the tuition fee for doctoral studies in English was reduced to CZK 500/semester (approx. EUR 20/semester). Ph.D. students studying in Czech do not pay any fee. Any foreign candidate applying for admission to an accredited study programme in the Czech language must prove they have sufficient knowledge of the language to be able to study:

  1. by submitting a document proving a secondary school-leaving or state examination in the Czech language, or
  2. by passing the Czech language exam at the Department of Languages

Financial Support for Studies

The average net income of doctoral students with supervisors from CTU FEE (in the range of 20 - 80 percentile) during the standard period of full-time doctoral studies is 22 - 45 thousand CZK/month (approx. EUR 900 - 1800), which corresponds to a gross income of 27 - 59 thousand CZK/month (approx. EUR 1100 - 2400). The corresponding amounts calculated only for the group of doctoral students who have both scholarship and grant project income are: net income 35 - 52 thousand CZK/month (approx. EUR 1400 - 2100), the corresponding gross income 44 - 67 thousand CZK/month (approx. EUR 1800 - 2700) /valid as of 21.6.2023/. The income is composed of a tax-free state scholarship supplemented by funds from the internal Student Grant Competition and usually income from employment at the FEE - work on scientific projects. For exceptional results of creative work (e.g. articles in good impacted journals) or pedagogical activities, the dean usually awards a one-off special-purpose scholarship, which forms the motivational component of the income. Under these conditions, PhD students can devote full time to scientific work.

Accommodation

Full-time doctoral students studying at CTU and living outside of Prague may be provided accommodation in a university dormitory and are entitled to dine in student cafeterias.

Further information

Doctoral studies at CTU in Prague are pursuant to Doctoral Study Code (DSC), in accordance with the Act No.111/1998 Coll., Study and Examination Code for Students of the Czech Technical University in Prague (SEC), Rules of Doctoral Study at the CTU in Prague, Admission Procedures - Statute of the CTU (Article 6) and Study Conditions for Foreigners - CTU Statute (Article 9).

For more information about doctoral studies, please contact the Office for Science and Research (Mgr. Nikola Malečková, phone: 22435 2827 or Ing. Kamila Gregorová, phone: 22435 2230) or the relevant academic department.

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, CTU in Prague
Office for Science and Research
Technická 2
160 00 Prague 6
Czech Republic

Responsible person: RNDr. Patrik Mottl, Ph.D.