The admission procedure is initiated by a completely and correctly filled application and by a payment of the admission fee. Both things must be done by 30th April 2025. Conditions for admission The applicants must finish their master studies and provide a confirmation of such no later than on 30th September 2025. The applicants who take the final state exam in the autumn term and the applicants who are still waiting for recognition of their foreigner diploma on 30th September 2025 will provide the confirmation by 22nd October 2025. The applicants with a diploma from Czech universities will provide an authenticated copy of their diploma or an original confirmation of completion of a master study programme. This is not required from applicants who have completed their studies at Charles University. The applicants from universities abroad must provide proof of their education. In order to be admitted to full-time study form, the applicant must obtain the minimum number of points required for passing the entrance examination as well as the minimum number of points required for admission. The minimum number of points required for admission to the specific study programmes will be determined by the dean based on the results of the entrance examination, with the predicted number of accepted applicants and the financial and organisational possibilities of the faculty being taken into consideration. In order to be admitted to part-time (‚combined‘) study form, the applicant must obtain the minimum number of points required for passing the entrance examination, which is the same as the minimum number of points required for admission. The minimum number of points required for passing the entrance examination for full-time as well as part-time study form is set to 50 points. Application for a doctoral study programme and the admission fee The application is submitted electronically via the module Admission of the Study Information System of Charles University (SIS). The application needs to be submitted electronically by 30th April 2025 (no hard copy is sent by mail). The email and password used to submit the application remain the same throughout the admission procedure. If a student is interested in multiple study programmes, separate applications must be submitted for each programme. The applicant chooses a specific dissertation topic and a supervisor in their application from the list of possible topics detailed in the application for admission to study form. The application cannot be sent out without choosing or stating a dissertation topic. The application form with an updated list of dissertation topics will be made available to the applicants on the 7th of March 2025 at the latest. The overview of the available topics will likewise be available web pages of doctoral programmes. Required application appendices The agreement of a supervisor in the format of the following form available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U8Sc9ySNUb0VIYozGYUCzk3CctDIlk1S/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109498643506512936390&rtpof=true&sd=true. We recommend reaching out to the supervisor as soon as possible (ideally before the 31st of March), so the application could be send out in time in case the agreement is granted. An annotation of the planned dissertation project in the format of the following form available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cOk-UOgXGwsjA8ln2Kb-ICOGvtfYgZcS/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109498643506512936390&rtpof=true&sd=trueThe annotation of the planned dissertation project should be discussed with the predicted supervisor. Any possible requirements regarding structure and other necessities are detailed in the description of the individual study programmes listed below. This appendix is not required for the following study programmes: Physical Chemistry, Macromolecular Chemistry, Modelling of Chemical Properties on Nano- and Biostructures, Developmental and Cell Biology (Note: the annotation of the planned dissertation project is not binding in case of admission of the candidate and may change based on the specifications of the specific department or workplace) Curriculum vitae A transcript of completed master’s study courses for the current study or an addendum to the completed master’s diploma A motivation letter – required only for the following doctoral programmes: Demography, Didactics of Geography, General Geography, Regional and Political Geography, Social Geography and Regional Development. Two letters of recommendation – only required for the Bioinformatics and computational biology doctoral study programme (from university teachers and employers who can comment on applicant’s recent professional accomplishments and qualifications for pursuing a doctoral degree in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology). Optional application appendix List of published and unpublished works of the applicant (or expert assessments of this work) and other documents that warrant a consideration (e.g. evidence of completion of specialised courses, language certificates etc.) Submit an application The admission fee is 100 EUR and it is paid for each submitted application. It must be paid by 30th April, 2025. Payment by credit card You can pay the fee by credit card in SIS in the details of the submitted application. Payment from a from czech bank account Account name: Univerzita Karlova Account number: 34956-92145 7021/0100 Variable symbol: 988018 Specific symbol: the ID number generated by the information system after the application is submitted. In “Message for the recipient”, list the name of the applicant. Payment from a foreign bank account When paying from a foreign bank account (except SEPA), all bank charges must be paid. Use a bank transfer with the OUR fee payment type. IBAN: CZ25 0100 0349 5609 2145 7021 SWIFT (BIC): KOMBCZPPXXX In “Message for the recipient”, list the name of the applicant. Account name: Univerzita Karlova Bank: Komerční banka, a.s. Bank address: Praha 1, Na Příkopě 33 čp. 969, 114 07, P.O. BOX 839 If an application does not meet all the requirements or if the application fee has not been paid, the faculty will ask the student to rectify the matter and will grant him/her adequattime to do so. If the matter is not resolved within the allowed time, the admission process will be suspended. The application fee is not refundable. Entrance examination Regular date: 9th – 20th June 2025Alternative date: 23th – 27th June 2025 The invitation for the entrance exam is only sent in electronically through the SIS no later than 30 days before the date of the exam. If the faculty sends an invitation for an alternative date of the entrance exam, this deadline may be shortened accordingly. Entrance exam on an alternative date may be permitted by the dean to candidates who submit a written request within three days after the regular exam date. Only serious reasons are grounds for granting an alternative date, particularly health reasons. The request must be sufficiently justified in writing and the circumstances stated in the request must be documented. A second alternative date is not permitted. The request is submitted and approved via the SIS. An applicant may, for reasons of a physical handicap, including specific learning disorders, request adaptation of the entrance exam. The request must state specific adaptation requirements for the entrance exam, and it must be accompanied by a medical report or a statement from a competent professional facility. Decisions on requests are made by the vice dean. If necessary, the dean may request additional documentation. Medical handicap requests made later (e.g. during appeal) cannot be taken into account. The request is submitted and approved via the SIS and it is necessary to submit it usually after the application is accepted by the faculty, and no later than on the 5th of May 2025. Description and assessment of the entrance examination The entrance exam is one round and consists of one or more parts. A more detailed description is listed for the individual study programmes. An applicant may, for relevant reasons for which they will provide evidence, especially medical reasons or for the reason of studying abroad, request a permission to undergo the entrance examination using informational technology. The request is submitted and approved via the SIS and it is necessary to submit them usually after the application is accepted by the faculty, and no later than on the 5th of May 2025. The examination is graded with a maximum of 100 points and consists of an interview with the applicant about their chosen dissertation topic. The quality of the dissertation project, its feasibility (also in regards to the form of the study) and the quality of the presentation (as specified in the entrance examination description of the individual study programmes) are all part of the assessment. The applicant must demonstrate scientific expertise and capability of independent scientific work. Additionally, their ability to communicate in the English language (or in Czech language in case of Czech doctoral study programme) is likewise assessed. A change of study form in the application Based on the assessment of the examination committee, the faculty can offer the applicant to pursue a different form of doctoral study programme than the one they applied for via the university’s electronic student information system. The faculty is to set up a period of a minimum of seven days for the candidate to consider this option. Should the applicant accept this offer, the faculty will alter the form of study in the application and the dean will issue a decision regarding acceptance to an altered form of study. If the applicant does not accept this offer or fails to comment on this offer in the time given, the dean will issue a decision in regard to the form of study originally stated in the application (see article 7a of The Code of Admissions Procedure for Applicants of Charles University.) Access to own file After receiving the dean’s decision on the result of the admissions proceeding, the candidate is entitled to access his file. The organizational and administrative conditions for perusal are established by a dean’s measure. Fee for studying in a foreign language A student of a study programme in English is obliged to pay the fee for study in a foreign language set out in Annex 2 of the Statutes of Charles University. Further information is available from the Student Affairs Division Contact Further information is available at web page Admissions to doctoral studies. Overview of doctoral study programmes All the study programmes are both full-time and part-time study, the standard length of study is 4 years, the languages of instruction are Czech and English Study programmes without specialization Information about the entrance exam The interview will deal mainly with the dissertation plane and candidate’s knowledge in the given field of study. Extra requirements are listed for each study programme. Analytical Chemistry 1) A brief verification of knowledge of analytical chemistry to the extent related to master's study. 2) Reading and translation to verify ability to work with professional literature written in English. 3) A brief discussion on planned dissertation work. Inorganic Chemistry To facilitate the course of the interviews, the candidate prepares a short summary of their past studies and professional work. The candidate presents this summary briefly (approx. 5 minutes). The candidate also provides a list and copies of published articles, academic awards and other documents that may add extra information. The committee has the right to have the exam in a written form – for example in a form of a test to prove the candidate’s knowledge in inorganic chemistry (at the level of master studies). The committee’s decision is based on a complex evaluation of professional and language skills of the candidate, his overall motivation and dispositions for independent scientific work. Biochemistry The interview is divided into two parts that are aimed at testing both scientific and language skills of the candidate: 1) short introduction and discussion of the candidate’s dissertation plan 2) proving knowledge of biochemistry at the master level. Didactics of Chemistry The interview will take into account both expertise in the subject matter and language skills. Physical Chemistry The applicant prepares a roughly 3-minute presentation (no more than 5 minutes) in which they tell the committee about the results of their master thesis, potentially with an abstract of their publication. There is no access to a projector. Macromolecular Chemistry The applicant prepares a roughly 3-minute presentation (no more than 5 minutes) in which they tell the committee about the results of their master thesis, potentially with an abstract of their publication. There is no access to a projector. Modelling of Chemical Properties of Nano- and Biostructures The entrance examination is conducted predominantly in the English language and consists of three parts: 1) Past scientific work of the candidate (who prepares a 3-5-minute presentation) 2) Candidate’s motivation and their plan of doctoral research 3) Examination of skills necessary for computer modelling (esp. physical chemistry and chemical physics) Organic Chemistry Written preparation takes one hour. After that, the candidates are invited to an oral exam. It consists of two parts: 1) Short introduction of a planned doctoral project 2) Test of knowledge of organic chemistry (based on the book Organic Chemistry by John McMurry). Anthropology and Human Genetics Bioinformatics and computational biology The entrance exam is conducted in front of an examination committee consisting of members from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics and the Faculty of Science. It is held predominantly in the English language and consists of two parts. In the first part of the examination, the applicant will introduce themselves and their dissertation project in the form of a presentation (prepared slides) that does not exceed 10 minutes. In the second part, the committee will ask the applicant three questions. One question will focus on the project itself, and the other two questions will test the knowledge of the field related to the proposed project's topic and the applicant's field of study. During the examination, the applicant is expected to demonstrate scientific expertise and capability of independent scientific work. Additionally, the committee will assess their ability to communicate in English and Czech language. A maximum of 25 points can be awarder for the first part of the examination, and a maximum of 25 points for each question asked in the second part. The applicant can therefore be awarded a maximum of 100 points in the examination. In order to successfully pass the examination, the applicant must obtain at least 50 points from both of the sections combined. Botany In the outline of the planned dissertation project, the applicant will detail its scientific contribution, realisation plan, funding possibilities, and links to the existing research of current research teams. The project is usually 1 to 3 pages long. For the entrance exam, the applicant prepares a presentation in which the dissertation topic will be outlined in approximately ten minutes . The committee, apart from general scientific abilities of the applicant, assesses mainly this presentation, the importance and relevance of the topic, its relation to the pre-existing research in the field and the overall clarity of the presentation. Ecology Experimental Plant Biology The applicant must be capable of critical biological thinking, be able to formulate relevant questions and hypotheses, and critically evaluate results. At the same time, the candidate must demonstrate high motivation for scientific work, sufficient orientation in the field and knowledge of English. The entrance examination consists of two parts: 1) First, the candidate will present (without technical support) his/her research activities to date, including key outputs and placing the work in a broader context. The candidate will give an outline presentation of the pre-selected dissertation topic, including information on research funding opportunities (5-10 min. in total). 2) In the second follow-up part of the entrance examination, there will be a discussion of the topics presented and the committee will ask the candidate several questions to assess the candidate's broader orientation in the field of plant biology. Animal Physiology The entrance examination will be conducted predominantly in the English language and will consists of 3 parts: 1) A summary of the applicant's previous practical experience and previous scientific work. 2) A short presentation of the planned dissertation project. 3) An examination of the candidate's knowledge in relation to the planned dissertation topic and his/her broader orientation in the field of animal physiology. Immunology The entrance exam is conducted predominantly in the English language in the form of a presentation and a discussion of questions asked by the examination committee. The applicant prepares a presentation on their dissertation topic proposal which will last approximately 10 minutes. The committee will mainly assess this presentation, the relevance of the topic, its relation to the pre-existing research in the field, the scientific contribution, and the ability of the applicant to think critically about the questions which will mainly be related to their proposed topic. Microbiology Molecular and Cellular Biology, Genetics and Virology (biomedicine study programme) The admission interview includes a brief (max. 5 minutes) presentation. During this presentation, the applicant discusses their future doctoral project or at least the general ideas about their doctoral activities and specialization. The applicant may also talk about their master studies or other professional experience. The presentation is done without a PowerPoint or other material prepared in advance. The committee then asks follow-up questions. In addition to the preliminary title, the project annotation should contain a brief description of the overall theme of the project, the planned methodological approaches and its expected SCIENTIFIC contribution. Parasitology The committee assesses: 1. Quality and presentation of the doctoral project – the candidate may attach a summary to their application as an optional supplement or they can bring it to the interview (hypothesis, the time plan and methodology). Both the presentation and the reaction to committee’s questions are assessed. 2. Previous scientific work – previous activities, especially (but not exclusively) those that are related to the doctoral project; publications and grant activities are prioritized 3. Knowledge and orientation of the candidate in the field with special regards to the project – the candidate must prove knowledge of the current affairs in the field and especially in the research related to the project, the candidate must show ability to evaluate scientific hypotheses, the committee may also pay attention to previous study results. Developmental and Cell Biology (biomedicine study programme) The entrance exam consists of multiple parts in form of a presentation, interview, and discussion based on the questions given by the examination committee. The applicants present their results from their master studies. The whole entrance exam takes place in one day. The list of possible topics and supervisors offered for the academic year 2026/2026 will likewise be available on the website of the Department of Cell Biology (https://www.natur.cuni.cz/biology/cell-biology/study/study-ph-d/developmental-and-cell-biology) after 1st March 2025. We recommend that the candidates contact the supervisors in advance to discuss available projects and their requirements. Theoretical and Evolutionary Biology The applicant will first introduce their previous research and professional activities, their course of study, their academic results to this date and their CV (including participation in projects or conferences). Next, they will introduce their proposed dissertation project, which should already have a specific structure and plan, including proposed methodology. The examination committee assesses both the quality of the doctoral research proposal, as well as their answers to the committee’s questions regarding the planned project. The committee likewise evaluates the scientific knowledge of the applicant in the field of theoretical and evolutionary biology in relation to the presented dissertation proposal. The committee may likewise assess their knowledge of the English language. Zoology Philosophy and History of Science Environmental Science The candidates will briefly present his/her previous education and achievements. This will be followed by a brief introduction of the dissertation topic and an interview on this topic, including more general questions on environmental sciences. Applied Geology To facilitate and accelerate the admissions process for doctoral study, it is desirable that the candidate prepares a short summary of their previous professional activities and possibly presents their master thesis, publications, research results or abstracts from conferences they have attended. In the second part of the interview the candidate presents the scientific aim of their doctoral project. The committee assesses the candidate's motivation, current study and research results, along with the quality and feasibility of the project. Geology At the doctoral study admissions interview, the candidate should have their master thesis, a list of publications or abstracts from conferences they participated in and any academic awards they have received. To facilitate and accelerate the admissions process, the candidate prepares a roughly 5- to 10-minute presentation with the following: - a summary of their previous professional activity (master thesis) - motivation and for pursuing doctoral studies - the basic research involved in the doctoral project The committee assesses the overall motivation of the candidate, language skills, previous research activities as well as the quality and possible realization of the suggested project. Demography The candidates prepare a written presentation (max 5,000 characters) and an approximately 10-minute oral presentation on the following: a) summary of previous scientific activities b) brief presentation of the doctoral project The committee assesses the candidate’s overall motivation, their language abilities, previous scientific results, quality and feasibility of the doctoral project. Didactics of Geography The candidates prepare a written presentation (max 5,000 characters) and an approximately 10-minute oral presentation on the following: a) summary of previous scientific activities b) brief presentation of the doctoral project The committee assesses the candidate’s overall motivation, their language abilities, previous scientific results, quality and feasibility of the doctoral project. Physical Geography and Geoecology The candidates prepare a written presentation (max 5,000 characters) and an approximately 10-minute oral presentation on the following: a) summary of previous scientific activities b) brief presentation of the doctoral project The committee assesses the candidate’s overall motivation, their language abilities, previous scientific results, quality and feasibility of the doctoral project. Geoinformatics, Cartography and Remote Sensing The candidates prepare a written presentation (max 5,000 characters) and an approximately 10-minute oral presentation on the following: a) summary of previous scientific activities b) brief presentation of the doctoral project The committee assesses the candidate’s overall motivation, their language abilities, previous scientific results, quality and feasibility of the doctoral project. General Geography The candidates prepare a written presentation (max 5,000 characters) and an approximately 10-minute oral presentation on the following: a) summary of previous scientific activities b) brief presentation of the doctoral project The committee assesses the candidate’s overall motivation, their language abilities, previous scientific results, quality and feasibility of the doctoral project. Regional and Political Geography The candidates prepare a written presentation (max 5,000 characters) and an approximately 10-minute oral presentation on the following: a) summary of previous scientific activities b) brief presentation of the doctoral project The committee assesses the candidate’s overall motivation, their language abilities, previous scientific results, quality and feasibility of the doctoral project. Social Geography and Regional Development The candidates prepare a written presentation (max 5,000 characters) and an approximately 10-minute oral presentation on the following: a) summary of previous scientific activities b) brief presentation of the doctoral project The committee assesses the candidate’s overall motivation, their language abilities, previous scientific results, quality and feasibility of the doctoral project.
