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FORMAL REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION OF DOCTORAL STUDIES
Version: Released and applicable since 1st August 2019 (last update: December 2020)
PhD programme: Physical geography (Fyzická geografie)
Guarantor/Doctoral Board head contact: Daniel Nývlt; daniel.nyvlt@sci.muni.cz
General outline:
• Semesters 1–4 (first 2 years of study) - students work on their research project + fulfil other requirements (theoretical courses, teaching assistance)
• Semesters 5–6 (third year of study) - students work on their research project (incl. publications, presentations at conferences, etc.) + present Baselines of
the PhD thesis and prepare for the state doctoral exam (SDE)
• Semesters 7–8 – (fourth year of study) - main focus on research (finishing doctoral project and thesis, publications, presentations at conferences, etc.) +
submission of PhD thesis for defence
General requirements for all students in the programme (please see detailed requirements for the Individual Study Plan in the detailed table below):
Mandatory courses: checked by Dean’s Office
ZD011–ZD018 Ph.D. thesis
/ Příprava dizertační práce
each semester 15 ECTS (120 ECTS during the standard time)
ZD161, ZD162, ZD163
ZD171, ZD172, ZD173
Geographical seminar / Oborový
seminář z FG
enrol course ZD161, ZD162, ZD163 (3 times) in spring semesters and course ZD171, ZD172, ZD173 (3times)
in spring semesters (12 ECTS)
ZD001–ZD004 Teaching Assistance
/ Pomoc při výuce
maximum 150 hours total for all studies during the first 4 semesters – ZD001–ZD004 (12 ECTS)
ZD024 and ZD025 Lecture (ZD024) and poster
(ZD025) in the foreign language
/ Přednáška (ZD024) a poster
(ZD025) na mezinárodní
konferenci v anglickém jazyce
minimum once ZD024 (5 ECTS) and once ZD025 (3 ECTS)
ZD026 Placement Abroad
/ Zahraniční pracovní pobyt
Minimum 2 months stay, or 2 years collaboration on international project; min. once during studies
(12 ECTS), requirement given by law
Instructions for recognition of Placement Abroad:
https://www.sci.muni.cz/en/students/go-abroad/recognition-of-stay-abroad
(the recognition is done via IS application Internship and Stays, by creating record of the stay and
request for recognition; the course is then registered by Dean’s Office)
Theoretical courses and all other requirements: checked by the Guarantor
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• Theoretical courses: minimum 5 courses in semesters 1–4 (36 ECTS)
• Publication of 3 scientific papers – min. 1 first-author IF-journal paper (ZD021), 1 first-author SCOPUS-journal paper (ZD022), 1 co-authored reviewed paper
(ZD023) (30 ECTS)
• ZD010FG Baselines of PhD thesis / Teze dizertační práce – defended before the end of Semester 6 (10 ECTS)
(*)Requirements fortheoretical SDE:
Theoretical preparation for SDE (after semester 5). A studentat the SDE demonstrates that he/she has mastered an in deep knowledge of Physical Geography, including appropriate
techniques and skills. The aim is to examine both the level of knowledge and the ability to actively solve the specific scientific problem, including their complex understanding and
application of corresponding analytical methods and synthesis. The defence of the Baselines of the Ph.D. thesis by an independent reviewer is a part of the state doctoral examination.
The oral exam includesquestions from the three testing areas:
- GeneralPhysicalGeography(components, processes,phenomena,holisticunderstandingofthe Physical-geographicalsphere)
- Methodsof Physical-geographic research (dataacquisitionand evaluation,methodsof theirprocessing)
- Specific discipline from whichthe Ph.D. thesisispresented (methods, general knowledge, regionalaspects, perspectives, scenarios, impacts)
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Elements of the
ISP
Milestones and their
check
Enrolment to studies
(Before semester 1)
End of Semester 1 End of Semester 4 End of Semester 6
(Theoretical State
Doctoral Exam, SDE *)
End of Semester 8
(Preparation for PhD
defence)
(A) research and
development
activities (70 %
of workload)
1. Research,
dissertation
project, literature
search of the actual
state of the topic,
planning and the
scientific activities
itself (~55%)
Define framework
topic of your PhD
project with your
supervisor for
enrolment
CHECK: Dean’s office
[enrolment] ZD011–
ZD018 (15
ECTS each semester)
CHECK: Dean’s office
Submit detailed
“research project”
for your PhD work
to the Doctoral
Board. Max. 4
pages containing
Background,
Research
hypothesis and
objectives,
Approachmethods,
Timeline
of foreseen
activities, Expected
publications.
CHECK: Doctoral
Board [Submitted
project]
No formal check
needed
Prepare “Baselines of
the PhD thesis”
ZD010FG (Max. 20
pages) with literature
review (text may later
be used as
Introduction-Summary
to final PhD thesis),
state of the PhD
project, results and
planned publications.
“Baselines” are
reviewed by an
independent reviewer
(possibly one of the
final PhD thesis
reviewer).
CHECK: Doctoral Board
[ZD010, SDE
assessment]
Submit PhD thesis
according to
instructions of
Doctoral Board,
format according to
SCI MUNI
requirements
CHECK: Doctoral
Board, Dean’s office
2. Publications
(thesis should be
based on 3 papers
demonstrating
quality and
independence of
the student (~12%)
No formal check
needed
No formal check
needed
No formal check
needed
No formal check
needed
Publications of the
student may be
included in “Baselines”
for SDE (if relevant)
Three papers minimum
criteria:
One student’s firstauthor
paper
published in IF-journal
[ZD021]; one student’s
first-author paper
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published in Scopusjournal
[ZD022]; one
co-authored reviewed
paper [ZD023]. All
papers at least in the
state “accepted”.
CHECK: Guarantor
[ZD021–ZD023;
Thesis]
3. Presentation of No formal check No formal check No formal check No formal check At minimum one oral
results on scientific needed needed needed needed presentation in English
seminars, at international
symposia, List of presentations conference and at
conferences etc., may be included in least one poster
including “Baselines” for SDE (if presentation at
preparation of talks relevant) international
and/or poster
presentations
conference
CHECK: Doctoral Board
(~3%) [ZD024, ZD025]
(B) Specialized 4. Theoretical Enroll ZD150 No formal check Successfully pass 5 Have all other Not relevant anymore,
courses and courses, Enroll 2 of the 6 needed theoretical courses. requirements fulfilled all requirements
theoretical preparation to the Physical- CHECK: Dean’s (see this column) and fulfilled before
preparation state doctoral geographical study office [IS.MUNI] submit the application
(20%) exam – SDE (15%) areas (ZD151–ZD to SDE (Doctoral Board
156) organizes SDE further)
Identify student’s
knowledge gaps and
what should be
learned in 2 optional
courses for the first
four semesters.
Consider courses at
MU or outside.
CHECK: Student,
Supervisor
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5. Doctoral
seminars (5%)
Enroll ZD161
(obligatory seminar)
Enroll ZD171
(obligatory
presentation
seminar)
CHECK: Student
No formal check
needed
No formal check
needed
Get credits for ZD161,
ZD162, ZD163
(obligatory seminar for
3 spring semesters)
and ZD171, ZD172,
ZD173 (obligatory
presentation seminar
for 3 spring semesters)
CHECK: Seminar
teacher [ZD161,
ZD162, ZD163, ZD171,
ZD172, ZD173]
Not relevant anymore,
all requirements
fulfilled before
(C) International
experience and
competitiveness
(5%)
6. Further
improving of
English
competences
(attending courses,
seminars,
conferences,
writing
publications, all in
English).
No formal check
needed
No formal check
needed
No formal check
needed
No formal check
needed
At minimum one oral
presentation in English
at international
conference and at
least one poster
presentation at
international
conference
CHECK: Dean’s office
[ZD024, ZD025]
7. Stay or
internship abroad -
mandatory
participation in
international
cooperation (5%)
No formal check
needed
No formal check
needed
No formal check
needed
No formal check
needed
Minimum 2-months
foreign stay, or 2years
collaboration on
international project
[ZD026]
CHECK: Dean’s office
[ZD026]
(D) Pedagogical
competences
8. Teaching
assistance -
classrooms,
exercises, advising
undergrad students
and comparable.
Development of
pedagogical
experiences [ZD001–
ZD004] – max. 150
hours through the
first 4 semesters
CHECK: Student
No formal check
needed
Completed 4
semesters of
“Development of
pedagogical
experiences”
Not relevant anymore,
all requirements
fulfilled before
Not relevant anymore,
all requirements
fulfilled before
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CHECK: Dean’s
office [ZD001–
ZD004]
(E) Other
transferrable
skills.
9. Career
development preparation
and
management of
projects, scientific
writing,
communication,
other soft-skills.
No formal check
needed
No formal check
needed
No formal check
needed
No formal check
needed
No formal check
needed
Mandatory course
ZD150 Fundamentals of scientific work and preparation of scientific publications in Physical Geography
Recommended theoretical courses
ZD151 Geosphere (geomorphology and geology)
ZD152 Atmosphere (meteorology and climatology)
ZD153 Hydrosphere (hydrology, limnology and glaciology)
ZD154 Pedosphere (pedology, pedogeography)
ZD155 Biosphere (biogeography, (landscape) ecology)
ZD156 Development of natural systems (paleogeography, paleoclimatology, paleoecology)
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