Study plan

State doctoral exam is generally taken in the 3rd or 4th year of study, it is oral, has commissional character and contains topics of subjects of field specialization, i.e. substantive criminal law, procedural criminal law, criminology and criminalistics. Regarding the exam, student proves his (her) profound theoretical knowledge in the field as well as orientation in current practice of courts and development of doctrinal opinions. Part of state doctoral exam is also discussion on theses of dissertation. State doctoral exam takes place in front of permanent commission for state doctoral exam that is represented by internal and external experts from this field as well as field of wider scientific basis.
Defense of dissertation thesis takes place in front of commission for defense of dissertation thesis that comprises of major internal and external professionals. Defense of dissertation thesis consists of opening performance in which a doctoral student introduces object, hypotheses and results of his (her) work, then it contains his (her) reactions to questions and comments of opponents and discussion with members of commission. Comments on dissertation are usually taken also by opponents, if they are present, and supervisor of doctoral student. Afterwards, the commission evaluates quality of dissertation thesis and performance of defending student in their context and it decides on result of defense by secret vote.

Structure of subjects was chosen in order to achieve aims and outputs of study as well as possible. Subjects are divided into three groups:
1. Mandatory individualized activities (they are evaluated by supervisor, eventually by the Study Board on the proposal of supervisor) – totally 180 ECTS.
- fulfilment of individual study plan I-VIII – dissertation (140 ECTS): content of subject will be always specified in individual study plan of student for relevant semester in cooperation with supervisor and it will arise from principles stated by the Study Board. It will contain e.g. elaboration of project of dissertation thesis, determination of methodology, literature research, study of literature, presentation of condition of elaboration of dissertation topic at doctoral seminar, creation of particular chapters of dissertation thesis, presentation of concrete conclusions at conferences or in form of publication outputs, submitting of dissertation concept for comments etc. At the end, it will result in submission of dissertation thesis. Part of individual study plan will be also so-called milestones, i.e. fulfilments necessary for further advance in the study.
- specialized publication (mandatorily at least 20 ECTS) – student will have possibility to choose difficulty of publication output from three categories (A=15 ECTS, B=10 ECTS, C=5 ECTS). Each category is defined by the Study Board. There has to be at least one output from category A or B during the study.
- presentation at the conference (2 ECTS),
- development of pedagogical skills I-VI (12 ECTS) – subjects including pedagogical activity of doctoral student that contain teaching and other assistant pedagogical activities (creation of study materials or exam questions, correction of written works etc.),
- internationalization (6 ECTS) – it consists of foreign internship (in complex length of 30 calendar days) or participation in the international project or in other form of direct participation in international cooperation. Conditions will be set by the Study Board. Content of subject will be specified in individual study plan of student.
2. Field of specialization = subjects of criminal law and its wider scientific basis that arise from requirements and specifics of field (it is evaluated by supervisor) – totally 48 ECTS.
- Substantive Criminal Law I – VI (18 ECTS)
- Procedural Criminal Law I – VI (18 ECTS)
- Criminology I – VI (6 ECTS)
- Criminalistics I – VI (6 ECTS)
These subjects are conceived as mandatory. They are intended to profound theoretical basis of criminal law and relevant non-legal scientific disciplines as well as to provide methodological basis specific for science of criminal law, what is necessary for both writing of dissertation thesis and for passing the state doctoral exam.
3. Common basis (it is organized by faculty, evaluated by supervisor) – 12 ECTS
a) Mandatory subjects
- foreign language I + II (4 ECTS)
- second foreign language (2 ECTS) – ability to read specialized texts
b) Mandatorily-optional subjects
Methodological subjects are conceived as mandatorily-optional. Student chooses at least three subjects according to his (her) needs, as well as scope and intended methodology of his (her) dissertation thesis in cooperation with his supervisor.
There are also other subjects offered. These are focused on development of pedagogical and presentation skills, principles of publication or grant and project preparation, eventually courses taught by foreign lectors.
Doctoral study is subject to ECTS credit system and it is necessary to obtain 240 ECTS for its successful passing. Credit system is applied according to the rules set by Masaryk University.

Topic of dissertation thesis is proposed by applicants themselves. Debate on topic and project of dissertation thesis is part of admission exam. In case of admission of the applicant to study, the topic of dissertation is included in his (her) individual study plan and it is authorized by the Study Board. At least at the end of the 2nd semester, concrete aim and title of dissertation thesis have to be specified within the scope of its topic.