Specialist for Clinical Embryology and Assisted Reproduction Technology

The five-year master's degree program aims to systematically prepare highly qualified specialists in the field of assisted reproduction. In accordance with current legislation, graduates of the program obtain professional qualifications to practice a regulated profession as a specialist in laboratory methods with a focus on employment in reproductive medicine clinics. The program provides comprehensive theoretical education in the biological and medical foundations of human reproduction, supplemented by extensive, long-term structured practical training in laboratory conditions corresponding to the real operation of reproductive medicine centers.

The curriculum places strong emphasis on a thorough understanding of the biological basis of human reproduction, early embryonic development, cell and molecular biology, genetics, and reproductive physiology, as well as on the acquisition of modern laboratory techniques used in clinical embryology. Students progressively develop professional competencies in the manipulation of human gametes and embryos, the assessment of their quality and developmental potential, and the interpretation of laboratory and genetic test results within the context of diagnostic and therapeutic care for infertile couples. A significant component of the programme is also devoted to the ethical, legal, and safety aspects of working with human reproductive material.

A key feature of the programme is its strong professional orientation and the high proportion of compulsory practical training conducted in modern, well-equipped laboratories. Students acquire core biomedical knowledge equivalent in scope and depth to that provided in general medical education, particularly in the fields of human biology, physiology, and developmental processes. In addition, they develop advanced and specialized expertise in human embryology, andrology, and reproductive medicine. This integrated approach is reinforced by extensive hands-on laboratory training, ensuring the effective integration of fundamental biomedical principles with highly specialized clinical laboratory practice in assisted reproduction.

Graduates are prepared to perform professional activities independently in clinical embryology laboratories without the need for long-term additional training, which is otherwise common for graduates of general biology-focused study programs.

The program responds to the long-term shortage of systematically trained embryologists in clinical practice, which is evident both in the Czech Republic and abroad. In this scope and concept, it represents a unique model of undergraduate training in embryology and assisted reproduction within the European Union, enabling graduates to make a smooth transition to clinical practice.

Upon successful completion of the programme, the graduate is able to:

• know and apply theoretical and practical knowledge of biophysics, biology, biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, genetics, immunology, histology and embryology in normal and pathological conditions of human germ cells and embryos;
• know the latest scientific knowledge in the field of genetics and human reproduction, and understand their application in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the treatment of infertility;
• practical implementation of laboratory tasks of assisted reproduction in work with eggs, sperm and embryos, including their cryopreservation;
• practical implementation of cytological and specialized biochemical examination of ejaculate, functional tests of sperm, spermiogram examination, preparation of sperm for use in assisted reproduction;
• know the possible risks associated with micromanipulation of gametes and embryos in in vitro conditions and be able to apply procedures to eliminate them;
• understand the chemical and biochemical nature of culture media and the function of embryology laboratory instrumentation. Assess the functionality of instruments and the quality of consumable matrix, identify abnormal conditions, provide remediaton;
• know the ethical and legal aspects of providing health services in the field of reproductive medicine and be able to ensure the quality setting of laboratory processes and quality control.

Graduates of the Master’s degree programme Embryologist obtain the professional qualification required to practise the regulated profession of a specialist in laboratory methods specialist in laboratory methods and in the preparation of medicinal products in accordance with the applicable legislation of the Czech Republic (Decree No. 39/2005 Coll., recognition authority: Ministry of Health). They are primarily employed in assisted reproduction centres, where they participate in specialized laboratory procedures involving work with human reproductive cells and embryos, including their assessment, culture, and cryopreservation, within the scope corresponding to their acquired qualification.

The programme provides a solid professional foundation for further career development in the field of clinical embryology. Graduates meet the requirements for entry into specialised professional training in accordance with Decree No. 55/2011 Coll., which is contingent upon the length of professional practice and additional education and may be completed by passing a certification examination.

The programme is designed in accordance with international professional standards in clinical embryology and provides a knowledge and skills base that meets the expectations placed on specialists in assisted reproduction in the international context.

The acquired knowledge, professional competencies, and practical experience enable graduates to pursue careers not only in assisted reproduction centres but also in related areas of reproductive medicine and reproductive technologies, in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries, in the development and production of laboratory technologies and materials, in professional consultancy and educational activities, and in the regulation and quality management of healthcare services. The programme also provides a foundation for an academic career in research on reproduction and embryonic development through continuation in doctoral studies in the Czech Republic or abroad.

• Profession of Specialist in Laboratory Methods and in the Preparation of Medicinal Products

Practical training constitutes an integral and essential part of the study programme. It is provided in a total minimum extent of 1,300 hours in accordance with Decree No. 39/2005 Coll., which sets the minimum requirements for study programmes leading to professional qualification for non-physician healthcare professions.

Practical training is systematically integrated into the curriculum and is divided into professional laboratory practice and professional preclinical practice. Their scope, content, and organization correspond to the objectives of the study programme and the progressive development of students’ professional competencies.

Professional laboratory practice takes place at external institutions of various professional orientations. Students become familiar with the fundamental principles of laboratory operation, work organization, quality management systems, safety regulations, and selected laboratory methods. Recognition of this practice is subject to confirmation by the head of the hosting institution and completion of the prescribed number of hours.

Professional preclinical practice represents the core component of practical training and is conducted primarily in the specialized teaching and training laboratory at the university campus. It focuses on the systematic training of procedures used in assisted reproduction, the development of manual skills, the acquisition of proper working habits, and the application of theoretical knowledge in a controlled and safe environment under expert supervision. This practice includes the completion of specifically defined professional tasks and competencies listed in a required activity record (logbook), which students maintain throughout the training and which serves as the basis for assessment of learning outcomes.

Completion of practical training is contingent upon fulfilling the prescribed number of hours in each type of practice and demonstrating the required professional skills and competencies in accordance with the internal regulations of the study programme. The specific scope, organization, and content of practical training are determined by the practice guarantor.

The Master’s thesis constitutes an integral part of the study programme. Its successful submission and defense before an examination committee are prerequisites for admission to the state final examination. The Master’s thesis may be written in Czech or English. It may take the form of an original experimental study, a data-based analytical study, or an original systematic treatment of a professional topic.

The aim of the thesis is to demonstrate the student’s ability to work independently and critically with academic literature, to analyse and synthesize relevant concepts and theories, to formulate a research question or professional problem, to select an appropriate methodological approach, and to critically interpret the obtained results.

The defense includes a professional presentation of the thesis followed by a discussion before the committee, during which the student demonstrates the ability to clearly present the achieved results, engage in professional argumentation, respond to comments, and justify both the chosen approach and the conclusions of the thesis.

The scope of the thesis, formal requirements, recommended structure, and other detailed requirements for its preparation and submission are specified in the current Guidelines for the Preparation of Master’s Theses issued by the department and published on the faculty website. These guidelines are binding for students.

Graduates of this five-year Master’s degree programme may, upon meeting the admission requirements, continue their studies in a doctoral programme in the fields of biomedical, biological, or medical sciences, both in the Czech Republic and abroad. Such doctoral studies may focus on basic or applied research, particularly in the areas of human reproduction, developmental biology, cell and molecular biology, genetics, or related disciplines.