Application process
The next admission round is open from 01.12.2023 until 29.02.2024.
Successful applicants will be enrolled in the study from the autumn semester 2024.
The following Ph.D. topics are offered:
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Research topics at the Department of Biology or FNUSA-ICRC:
Role of soluble cytokine receptors in control of inflammation (Jan Frič, PhD)
Mechanisms of primary cilia formation (Lukáš Čajánek, PhD)
Novel mechanisms of skeletogenesis (Michaela Bosáková, PhD)
Study of episomes as a possible tool for long-term transfection of mammalian cells (Prof. Slabý)
The role of non-productive RNA splicing in gene expression (Prof. Freiberger)
The role of Escherichia coli in human infections and in malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract (prof. Šmajs)
Cell and Tissue Morphology
Research topics at the Department of Anatomy or Department of Histology and Embryology:
Study the role of choroid plexus in Alzheimer’s disease (Zamani, PhD)
Application step by step
1. Select one of the offered dissertation topics
Select one of the offered dissertation topics according to your interest and previous experiences and contact the supervisor for more details.
2. Submit the application (the applications deadline is 29 February 2024)
After you have contacted the supervisor, you can apply.
Applications are submitted online here. You will need to chose the programme Biomedical Sciences and specialization (depending on which laboratory or supervisor you would like to go to) and create a new application. If in doubt, please contact the PhD program coordinator on the e-mail address monika.stankova@med.muni.cz.
Once the application is completed, an admission fee must be paid. The current fee is 600 CZK.
The following attachments are mandatory parts of the application - upload them to the e-application form. The documents must be submitted in PDF format, in the English language.
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Curriculum Vitae
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Letter of interest / Motivation letter - (on a specified form which can be downloaded in e-application or here)
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Copies of diplomas (BSc., MSc.) and diploma supplements/transcripts of records (if you have not finished your Master education yet, you can submit just the relevant transcripts of records)
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References - we require two references, one of them must be from the Master thesis supervisor/advisor.
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English language certificate – optional, not compulsory
3. Round 1 of admission process: Application review
Round 1 of the admission process is based on your application and background information. Only complete applications will be accepted and reviewed. The threshold to pass Round 1 is 40 (out of 50) points.
Should you be selected for the Round 2, you will be sent information about the date and place of the admission interview.
The application review will be done soon after e-application deadline.
4. Round 2 of admission process: Interview (with a committee)
For candidates living abroad, personal attendance is not necessary - you can opt for participation in form of a Skype conference. The interview (in English) will cover the following topics:
- the field of study and summary of your Master thesis
- dissertation thesis topic
- career plans
- motivation to do research and why at Masaryk University
- other related activites
All interviewed candidates are evaluated and receive points. The total points for the Interview are 50. In order to successfully pass, it is necessary to get at least 85 points - this means in total from both rounds. However, passing this threshold does not guarantee admittance - as the number of positions is limited, only candidates with the highest number of points will get the position.
The Interviews with successful applicants will be done by March 2024.
5. Final review
After the interviews, all candidates are evaluated by admission committee, composed of members of interview committees, supervisors, head of the PhD programme and representatives of the Faculty.
Successful candidates will need to prove the completion of Master degree.
6. Success = Enrollment to study
Czech and Slovak candidates receive the enrollment invitation soon after interviews (within a couple of weeks) and should follow the instructions (the enrollment takes place at specified dates at the beginning of the first semester of study). Enrollment of international students is solved individually, as it is subject to a Certificate of the Recognition of International Education in the Czech Republic and in many cases also Visa application.
The studies generally commence with the start of semesters. The courses in autumn semester start in mid-September. The courses in Spring semester start in February or March.