Doctoral degree programmes at MU:
Basic Principles of Doctoral Studies
Managed in Cooperation with the Application
Sphere
1. Doctoral studies managed in cooperation with the application sphere is a possible way
of carrying out an already accredited doctoral degree programme in cooperation with
entities outside the academia. To successfully complete the studies, the student must
fulfill all the obligations described in the MU Study and Examination Regulations.
2. The Student is enrolled full-time (preferred form of studies) in the accredited doctoral
degree programme while also being in an employment relationship with the application
sphere Partner at the same time. The Student is entitled to the same scholarship and
further support as other full-time students do. The student is also allowed to study in
the combined form of studies. The application sphere Partner is not required to provide
funds to the faculty the Student studies at, or to sponsor the Student by providing a
scholarship.
3. The study is subject to the approval of the doctoral board – announcement of the
research focus of the dissertation, admission process, and course of study and its
completion. The research focus of the dissertation is set with regard to the needs of the
application sphere Partner and reflects the potential the research has to be put in
practice. Those who apply to this form of doctoral studies either comes from the
environment of the application sphere Partner, or a future application sphere Partner
contacts the faculty with a research focus in mind and the faculty in turn recommends
and helps recruit applicants to doctoral studies for this research focus. Another
possibility is for a student to be accepted to a specific research topic that is already
being researched by the faculty and the application sphere Partner in a joint project.
Once the student is admitted and enrolled, a contract is concluded between the faculty,
the student, and the application sphere partner.
4. The student’s supervisor is usually an internal supervisor. The consultant is usually an
expert with work experience in an employment relationship with the partner from the
application sphere. The obligations of all are determined by the contract between the
faculty, the application sphere partner, and the student, or by internal regulations of the
faculty.
5. The supervisor and the consult are expected to cooperate closely; the supervisor
discusses all relevant steps (ISP approval, student requests, etc.) with the consultant
who then provides their feedback. In case any of the parties is dissatisfied with the
cooperation on the level student-supervisor-consultant, they inform the doctoral board
of the given degree programme. The consultant is usually a member of all the
committees necessary for successfully completing the studies, including the state
doctoral examination and dissertation defence.
6. A contract is concluded between the faculty, the application sphere partner, and the
student, which defines their rights and obligations. The rights and obligations regarding
the research results (copyright) are defined in the license agreement between the
student, the faculty, and the application sphere partner. Copyrights and any other
eventual research are contractually addressed in cooperation with the MU Technology
Transfer Office.