In order to register for the state doctoral examination, it is required to fulfill the study obligations (courses) according to the student's individual plan and to submit an electronic version of the Theoretical and Methodological Dissertation.
The State Doctoral Examination takes the form of a discussion over the Theoretical-Methodological Debate. The doctoral candidate will present the thematic focus, the research problem, the theoretical-methodological background and the state of the dissertation (max. 15 minutes). The members of the examining committee verify in particular the complexity of the presented problem of the thesis topic, the doctoral candidate's ability to actively solve the problem, the approach and the chosen methods of the proposed solution. During the discussion on the topic of the thesis, the members of the examination committee evaluate the student's answers in terms of the level of knowledge in one of the fields of study (geographic information systems, cartography or remote sensing) that is closest to the topic of the thesis. The student is expected to have detailed and up-to-date, i.e. expert, knowledge in this area and the ability to interpret it in a broader context, including overlaps with the other two fields of study.
The aim of the dissertation defence is to demonstrate the ability to defend the results of the dissertation in a broader professional forum and to demonstrate the ability of scientific debate in the discussion. In order to apply for the dissertation defence, it is required to pass the State Doctoral Examination and fulfil all the obligations prescribed in the ISP (study abroad, publication criteria, etc.). The doctoral student submits his/her dissertation and signs up for the dissertation defence so that the defence can take place within the standard study period.