Doctoral Studies at UP in a Nutshell
Welcome to Palacký University!
You are reading a text that will guide you through the basic information about doctoral studies at Palacký University Olomouc. Doctoral studies represent the highest level of university education, focusing on the development of scientific and research knowledge, skills, and competencies of students within a specific study programme in a given academic field. Palacký University offers dozens of doctoral study programmes, each with its own characteristics and requirements, which you can learn more about on the websites of the individual faculties, in their internal regulations, or in the documents related to each study programme.
This section outlines the framework of doctoral studies, which differ from the lower levels of study you have already completed. You will learn about what you can find in the university information system and the electronic study administration, about the services available to students, about the opportunities offered by various university units, and about events organized for you at the university.
We believe that your doctoral studies will become an enriching part of both your professional and personal life, that you will complete them successfully, and that they will serve as a gateway to your future career.
Doctoral studies in a nutshell
- You study according to an individual study plan. You create this plan at the beginning of your studies in consultation with your supervisor. In each following year, you can revise and refine it.
- The doctoral study programme is overseen and evaluated by the subject-area board. The student’s working arrangements (e.g., days of presence at the department, teaching duties) are determined based on an agreement with their supervisor.
- Doctoral studies are formally completed in accordance with the Higher Education Act (after submitting your dissertation, you will proceed to its defence; doctoral candidates who began their studies before the 2025/2026 academic year complete their studies under the original conditions). Upon successfully completing your doctoral studies, you will be awarded the academic title “Doctor”, abbreviated as Ph.D., which is written after your name.
Start!
In a way, a doctorate begins already with the preparation for the admission procedure, during which you present your research project. By the time you start your doctoral studies, the direction of your research is already defined. After enrolling, you will meet with your supervisor and create an Individual Study Plan (ISP). Supervisors guide your studies and advise you on both academic and teaching activities, so discuss everything with them and do not hesitate to ask questions.
Each faculty has a study officer responsible for doctoral studies; you should contact this person if you have questions about your studies or need clarification regarding technical or regulatory requirements (e.g., the Higher Education Act or the Study and Examination Code of Palacký University). You will learn the specific details related to your programme during enrolment, from the documents for your study programme, and from your supervisors.
A Closer Look at the Individual Study Plan
The ISP sets out the timeline and content of your study activities, their format, and the methods used to assess your academic progress. It focuses on your research work, the solution of a research problem, or a specific goal of creative or artistic activity. It also includes any study periods or placements at other institutions, including those abroad. Typically, the ISP includes the courses you plan to complete in the given academic year, any international trips you intend to undertake, the articles you expect to write, and the conferences you plan to attend. Over time, you then add further items to the ISP, such as grants and awards you have received. The ISP is updated throughout your studies; any changes must first be approved by your supervisor and subsequently by the chair of the subject-area board.
Research Time
It is time for the research itself, which varies significantly depending on your study programme. This may involve laboratory research, data collection, or archival work.
Research is closely linked to publishing activity, which is one of the fundamental aspects of doctoral study. You may publish the results of your dissertation research, but also outputs from other projects you become involved in during your studies, or even results from your Master’s thesis. Another way to share your research with the wider academic community - beyond writing for scholarly journals and books - is by taking part in national and international conferences. These also offer an excellent opportunity to establish collaborations with other researchers in your field and to receive feedback on the results you present.
What a Doctoral Programme Involves
Publishing Activity
The types of publications and their credit value differ across disciplines, and an overview of credit allocation is always provided in the official doctoral‑study documents of the relevant faculty or specific study programme. There are several basic categories, including articles in scholarly journals, chapters in academic books, monographs, and others. You do not have to publish your findings only in written form; you may also choose to present them orally at the conferences mentioned above.
International Mobility
As doctoral candidates, you can choose from a wide range of study, work, or research placements available at institutions abroad. The necessary information can be found on the website of the International Cooperation Office or on your faculty’s webpages. In all doctoral programmes, a study or research placement is one of the requirements of the degree. It is credited within your studies, and you may receive financial support for it either from your faculty or from the Palacký University Endowment Fund.
Pedagogical Activities
During your doctoral studies, you will also engage in teaching activities to the extent required by your programme. This may include preparing and delivering lectures or leading seminars, and - depending on the study programme - also supervising or examining final theses. Working with students provides an excellent foundation for a future academic career.
Writing a Doctoral Thesis and Its Defence
When writing your doctoral thesis, follow the requirements set out in the UP Study and Examination Code (Studijní a zkušební řád UP). Additional requirements arise from the accreditation of your study programme and, where applicable, other internal UP regulations. Several courses you will encounter during your studies are also focused on the doctoral thesis. After submitting your thesis, you will proceed to its defence. The State Final Examination and its procedure are likewise governed by the internal regulation Study and Examination Code of UP and by further internal rules of the individual faculties. We recommend studying these documents carefully.
Successful Completion of Studies
In accordance with the Higher Education Act, students who begin their doctoral studies in the 2025/2026 academic year or later complete their studies with a State Final Examination consisting of the defence of their doctoral thesis. For doctoral candidates who began their studies earlier, the obligation to sit the State Doctoral Examination and to defend the doctoral thesis remains in place. Faculties continue to schedule dates for the State Doctoral Examination and the State Final Examination for current students in line with their individual study plans.
After successfully defending your doctoral thesis and passing the State Doctoral Examination, only the pleasant final step of your studies awaits you – the ceremonial graduation. All information regarding the graduation ceremony will be provided by your study officers.
Successful UP graduates (from bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programmes) may stay in touch with their alma mater and make use of alumni benefits offered through the Alumni programme.
Doctoral SPace
The university brand Doctoral SPace brings together activities designed for students enrolled in doctoral study programmes. It represents a symbolic space that provides a wide range of services – from counselling and community events to the delivery of exclusive know‑how through advanced educational activities and conferences.
On the website doctoralspace.upol.cz, you will find useful information relating to doctoral studies, research and development, educational opportunities, and student life at UP.
Useful Tips
Standard and Maximum Period of Study
The standard length of a doctoral study programme is determined by the programme’s accreditation and is four years. The maximum length of doctoral studies is the standard period of study — four years according to the specific accreditation — extended by three additional years. Neither the standard nor the maximum period of study includes any time during which the studies were interrupted.
Interruption and Extension of Studies
At the written request of the student, the dean may, with the supervisor’s consent, interrupt the studies for serious health-related or other important reasons. The total period of interruption must not exceed three years (with the exception of interruptions due to recognised parenthood). The student submits their request, including the supervisor’s statement, to the dean through the doctoral studies officer.
At the student’s request, the dean may, with the consent of the supervisor and the chair of the subject-area board, extend the studies after the standard period of study has elapsed. The studies may be extended for one semester or for a full academic year within a single request. The student again submits their request, including the supervisor’s statement, to the dean through the doctoral studies officer. If the doctoral student does not fulfil all requirements for successful completion within the standard period of study or does not submit a request for an extension, their studies may be terminated.
Recognised Period of Parenthood
The Higher Education Act grants additional rights to student parents, specifically to female students on maternity or parental leave and to male students on parental leave. Student parents are entitled to interrupt their studies for the duration of the recognised period of parenthood, even for the entire recognised period. The interruption of studies related to the recognised period of parenthood is not counted toward the total permitted length of study interruption.
They are also entitled to an extension of deadlines for fulfilling study requirements by the length of time that their maternity leave would otherwise last, but only if they do not interrupt their studies during this period.
For these rights to be granted, students must apply for them and support their application with the relevant documentation.
The period of parenthood can be recognised no earlier than on the date the application is submitted; it cannot be granted retroactively. The recognised period of parenthood may begin at the earliest eight weeks before the expected date of birth and ends no later than when the child reaches the age of three.
Long‑term Illness
If a student is suffering from a long‑term illness, the appropriate course of action depends on the nature of the condition. If the illness prevents them from fully meeting the obligations of a full‑time doctoral programme, it is possible, for example, to transfer to part‑time study. If even this level of flexibility does not allow the student to fulfil the requirements of the study programme, they may interrupt their studies (see above) until they are able to resume their obligations. If the student knows that even interrupting their studies will not resolve the situation, the only remaining option is to terminate their studies prematurely.
Doctoral Scholarship and Doctoral Income
For newly enrolled doctoral students, a change to the Higher Education Act (effective from 1 March 2025) introduces, from the 2025/2026 academic year onwards, the so‑called doctoral income, which may consist of:
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doctoral scholarship;
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salary or wage for creative work related to the development of the doctoral thesis;
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a combination of a doctoral scholarship and a salary/wage for creative work related to the development of the doctoral thesis.
The amount of doctoral income corresponds to 1.2 times the minimum monthly wage (details are set out in the Higher Education Act), and students are entitled to it if they meet all of the following conditions:
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they are enrolled in a full‑time doctoral study programme, regardless of the language of instruction,
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they are studying within the standard length of study,
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they are undertaking their first doctoral degree, and
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they apply for it.
Based on an evaluation of how the obligations arising from the individual study plan are being fulfilled, the doctoral income or scholarship may be reduced or withdrawn.
Agreements to perform work (DPP) and agreements to complete a job (DPČ) are not included in the doctoral income.
Students in the second and higher years of full‑time study in the 2025/2026 academic year are entitled to a doctoral scholarship during the standard length of study. However, note that the period of any previously unsuccessfully completed doctoral studies is deducted from the standard length of study when determining eligibility for the scholarship (these data are collected through the Unified Student Records).
An application is required for both the doctoral income and the doctoral scholarship. Until the electronic application form is launched, please follow the instructions provided by your faculty’s doctoral studies office.
Internal Standards and Recommendations
Doctoral studies are governed by the university’s core regulations and internal standards, most notably the Study and Examination Code of UP, the Scholarship and Bursary Code, and the Ethical Code, as well as by internal standards that set out, for example, the requirements for working with research data, the procedure for assigning a dissertation topic, or the Principles of Good Research Practice and Creative Activity at Palacký University Olomouc. It is important to familiarise yourself with these documents to ensure a smooth progression through your studies.
Forms and Applications
As part of the ongoing digitalisation of university administration, many forms, regulations, and guidelines are now available online (for example, online confirmation of study).
IT Systems and Resources
UP Portal
The UP Portal is the gateway to all the university’s key applications. In the UP Portal, students will find most of what they need throughout their studies, whether it is access to the study agenda (IS/STAG), searching for people, ordering meals in the refectory, or links to web interfaces for reading university email. You will also find, for example, a link to download the current version of the Microsoft Office suite (free for UP students) and access to applications such as Moodle, Erasmus+, and the accommodation system.
IS STAG
The Information System of the Study Agenda (IS/STAG) is the platform used for the electronic administration and record‑keeping of your doctoral studies.
Functions of IS/STAG from a doctoral student’s perspective:
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course registration, which helps you create your individual study plan,
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exam registration,
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entering bank account details and monitoring scholarship payments,
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viewing and searching information (your timetable, information about courses, study programmes, teachers, departments),
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entering dissertation details,
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submitting coursework,
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teaching quality evaluation,
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ECTS mobility.
Publication Activity Records - OBD
The Personal Bibliographic Database (OBD) is used for entering and recording all publication activity of employees and students of Palacký University Olomouc. On the UP Wiki you will find the OBD manual, which provides detailed instructions for entering individual types of outputs. If anything is unclear, please contact your department’s academic secretary or the faculty OBD administrator.
Through the OBD portal, doctoral students also submit Internal Grant Agency (IGA) project applications in accordance with the announced deadlines.
Portal of Electronic Information Resources
Electronic information resources (EIZ) provide access to information for science, research, and teaching. The portal ezdroje.upol.cz primarily offers licensed resources, i.e. those for which Palacký University has concluded a licence agreement with the provider. Current students and university employees can use them free of charge thanks to the university’s subscriptions. The e‑resources portal also includes essential introductory information on publishing and bibliometrics (the Web of Science and Scopus tools) as well as on citation practices.
Identification Card
After enrolling in their studies, students may apply for the issuance of a student ID card (either an ISIC card or the standard UP student card). All information regarding the types of identification cards, their uses and the procedure for obtaining them is available on the website of the UP Computing Centre.
If a doctoral student is also employed by UP, they may request the issuance of a non‑chip employee card in order to access staff benefits. This card is not issued automatically – those interested need to contact the UP Computing Centre, located in the Zbrojnice building at Biskupské náměstí 1. The printed non‑chip employee card can then be used to access staff benefits within the university as well as discounts offered by external partners. A student who is also a UP employee may therefore hold two cards: the student card, which remains valid for use in canteens, libraries and for building access, and the non‑chip employee card, which is used for staff benefits and partner discounts.