Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology

Characteristics of the study programme

The study programe is using the principles of evidence-based medicine to asses the impact of various factors (physical, chemical, environmental, biological) on the human health at the individual as well as the population level in order to identify possible approaches for prevention. The programe integrates knowledge and approaches originating from the fields of toxicology, molecular biology, imunology including clinically-oriented disciplines. The programe represents a theoretical basis for preventive disciplines in medicine, e.g. public health, epidemiology and biostatistics.

Admission procedure requirements specific to the study programme

The conditions and course of the admission procedure for the part-time forms of study are the same as the conditions for the full-time form. 

We recommend to contact your potential supervisor in advance and consult the suitable form of preparation for the interview. Each study programme has its own specifics, so the supervisor can help you to prepare for the specialized entrance examination (the interview).

Topics of dissertation thesis

The candidate chooses the preliminary topic individually and contacts a potential supervisor; you can also consult the topics listed below; the choice is not limited to these topics only; candidates are also encouraged to propose their own topic. They consult with the potential supervisor on the chosen topic and agree on its more precise specification. In case of any ambiguity, we recommend that you also contact the chairman of the SAB. If necessary, he/she can recommend that he/she consult the topic with another specialist according to the focus of the intended project.

If the candidate does not know which topic/supervisor to choose, they will contact the chairman of the SAB, with whom they will consult on a suitable topic and a potential supervisor.

This choice is preliminary, the admissions board may, after consultation with the candidate, nominate another supervisor.

Dissertation topics offered

Supervisors of the study programme

Each supervisor must be approved by the SAB. The criteria for admitting new supervisors are determined by the SAB. If the proposed supervisor has not yet been approved by the SAB, this must be done no later than the enrollment of the applicant in the programme (provided that the applicant is accepted). You can find a list of supervisors approved by the SAB here. After clicking, the supervisor's workplace and contact information will be displayed.

Study requirements

Study obligations for full-time and part-time forms of study are the same. 

• Courses: completion of at least two courses listed below:

a) recommended course "Basic epidemiology and methodology"

b) recommended course for students from non-health specialization “Fundamentals of Medical Sciences for Non-Medical Students”

c) courses from other doctoral study programmes in biomedicine, or, if agreed with the supervisor, other courses from different faculties

• English language examination
• The Dean's Provisions no. 2/2024 states that all students should attend the faculty Scientific conference in the 4th year (and also again in the 6th and 8th if the student extends their studies).
• SDE 
• Mastering of the principles of the scientific work, so that the graduate is able to work independently and to publish in international journals with reviewed procedures indexed in WOS, with impact factor.

Presentation of the results of the research work at at least one student national or international conference or similar event.

​Requirements for internships

A stay abroad at a relevant professional institution, not shorter than one month. If the placement abroad is not possible, the student needs to directly participate in international cooperation, e.g. in an international creative project with results published or presented abroad, etc.

Listed courses

Basic epidemiology and methodology (CPGS008)

Requirements for the SDE​

• completion of at least two courses
• English language examination
• a review of the literature on the research topic in the form of a research paper
• at least one original paper presenting own data, published in a journal with IF

Knowledge of questions from the thematic areas prepared by the SAB. A review of the literature on the given research issue in the form of research. The examination is oral.

The time between the application for an SDE and the actual date of the examination is usually three to four months.

Literature review (research) – basic information

A literature review is not a summary of the dissertation. It is a text that aims to create a critical overview of current knowledge on a specialized topic. It is a common part of the science-oriented literature and usually precedes the conception of research project proposals and also the selection of an appropriate methodology. Its basic goal is to provide the reader with an up-to-date overview of current literature on the topic and provides information enabling to evaluate the legitimacy of the proposed future research.

However, the literature review is not only a set of disorganized or fragmented professional information. A good literature review is characterized by:

1. logical flow of ideas, i.e., the individual paragraphs should follow each other logically
2. relevant bibliographic references in a consistent and appropriate format
3. correct use of technical terminology
4. an unbiased and comprehensive overview of current research on the issue
5. synthesis of the information provided.

The synthesis of the presented information is the most difficult part of the literature review and assumes that the author is well-versed in the given issue. Synthesis provides a new interpretation of old knowledge or combines new knowledge with the old ones. It can outline intellectual development in a given field, suggest directions in which new research could go – it should become the basis for the scientific hypothesis of the author's work. The literature review should result in a clear and concise definition of the hypothesis (assuming what the author wants to prove) and the objectives of the work (how the author proves or rejects the hypothesis).

Therefore, the conclusion of the text should contain the proposed hypothesis (briefly) and the objectives of the solution.

The range is 15 to 20 standard A4 pages.

Formal definition

1. Title page – see sample
2. Font – Times New Roman 12
3. Line spacing 1–1,5
4. Pages are numbered
5. Literature: number, references uniformly including citations in the text – if there is one author – Author 1., 1989, if there are two authors, both and year are given, for three or more authors, the author is J. et al., year

The prepared literature review must be submitted in electronic form (by e-mail in docx format) together with the application and other documentation to the Department for Ph.D. Studies. It is not necessary to print it. The printed version (after proofreading by the chairman of the SAB) will be brought by the student to the SDE.  

The literature review does not have to be bound. SAB accepts free (numbered) A4 sheets. Printing can be double-sided.

Examination topics for the SDE

Publication activity requirements

Thorough preparation and implementation of a research project, the results of which are presented and defended in a dissertation. Active participation on scientific conferences and congresses including SSC (according to the instructions and recommendation of the supervisor). Submission of at least two original scientific papers accepted for publication or already published in journals with a defined impact factor according to WOS, the cumulative value of which exceeds 1,5. The student is the first author of at least one of these publications and the impact factor of the journal of this work exceeds 1,0. 

Defence requirements

• Completion of the SDE.
• At least two publications in impacted journals (once publication with first authorship, once co-author in any place).
• The SAB requires 3 copies of the summary of the dissertation and 3 copies of the dissertation.

Dissertation defence

The dissertation should be objective and comprehensive, demonstrating the scientific results processed by the doctorand. The dissertation should prove that the student has gained both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to work independently in the chosen field and that he/she can formulate and solve scientific problems and results in the context of international science.

Profile of a graduate of the study programme

The graduate will achieve education in the field of preventive medicine. On the principles of evidence – based medicine the graduate will be able to assess the importance of various factors impacting on health of both an individual and the whole population and determine the possibilities and ways of prevention of health disorders.

Information about graduate employment 

Researchers in academia, educational institutions and the commercial sector. Doctors in management positions in healthcare institutions.