News on the reform of doctoral studies












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            * Briefly about changes in doctoral studies
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            Dear Doctoral Candidates,
            As you are likely aware, an amendment to Act No. 111/1998 Coll., on Higher Education Act, 
            on 1 March 2025, impacting the organisation of doctoral studies at all Czech universities.

            clarity, we would like to briefly summarise the main changes and how they will affect you 
            students at Charles University.





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            * Replacement of doctoral scholarship with doctoral study income
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            Starting from the 2025/2026 academic year, all doctoral students at Charles University wil
            doctoral study income.


            For the newly enrolled students (from 1 October 2025), the guaranteed amount will be 1.2 t
            wage.
            For the current students, the minimum doctoral study income will be set at CZK 17,500 from

            year 2025/2026. From 2026/2027 onwards, alignment with the level for newly enrolled studen

            The doctoral study income may consist of:

            • a doctoral scholarship;
            • a salary or a wage for creative activities directly related to the preparation of the di
            • a combination of the two above (doctoral scholarship and salary or wage for creative act

              to the preparation of the dissertation).

            The new amount of doctoral study income will not result in increased study obligations.

            The only new requirement introduced by the legislation is the obligation to formally apply
            scholarship. This application must be submitted to the relevant faculty at the start of ea
            year for which the scholarship is to be granted. You will be informed about the correct pr

            faculty.

            For students in the combined form of study, there will be no changes; the doctoral study i

            the full-time form.




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            * Completion of Doctoral Studies – State Doctoral Examination

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            The state doctoral examination was abolished for all students enrolled after the effective
            the amendment. For newly admitted students, this requirement will be replaced by a colloqu

            dissertation topic, the nature of which will be specified in the Code of Study and Examina
            University. This marks a shift away from subject-based examinations in favour of academic 
            dissertation content and plans towards finalisation and defence.


            For current students, the obligation to take the state doctoral examination remains. Facul
            continue to schedule state doctoral examination dates for current students in accordance w

            individual study plans.




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            * Additional Changes Affecting Your Studies

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            1.Transfer Between Study Programmes: Please note that the transfer between study programme

              to doctoral studies.
            2.Change in Appeal Period: For submitting appeals (e.g., against termination, interruption
              disciplinary offences), the original 30-day period has been reduced to a 15-day period.

            3.Public Access to Final Theses: The university may postpone the public access to bachelor
              doctoral, and rigorous theses or parts thereof for the duration of the obstacle to acces
              longer than five years (previously three years). The specific duration is at the discret

              relevant faculty.

            In summary, there are relatively few real changes to your studies, and many are, in fact, 

            have any questions or uncertainties, please do not hesitate to contact the relevant depart
            faculty [ URL "https://phd.cuni.cz/PHDEN-51.html"] .
            Comprehensive information on the structure of doctoral studies, available support, and fur

            opportunities can be found on the Charles University Doctoral Studies website [ URL "https
            PHDEN-1.html"] and your faculty’s website.