Essential information about the State Doctoral Examination (SDE)/PhD thesis pre-defence
The SDE/PhD thesis pre-defence request is submitted by the student after they fulfill the requirements of the subject area board outlined in their individual study plan. The requirements for the SDE/PhD thesis pre-defence may differ based on the subject area board, please consult the website of your respective programme. However, they usually include the following:
- proof of attendance in prescribed courses (of which one can, as a rule, be completed abroad);
- passing the English language examination;
- co-authorship of a publication (or first-author publication) with an impact factor;
- providing a survey of literature, if required by the SAB. This means a text that describes and critically evaluates present knowledge in the studied field of science. The literature search enables the student to formulate a scientific hypothesis and the questions to confirm (or reject) it. The text also includes the proposal of a hypothesis as well as the aims of the research. The extent of the survey is up to 15 or 20 pages.
SABs Biomedical Informatics, Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology and Kinesiology and Rehabilitation also require the submission of a critical overview of relevant literature. This overview should not be bound, merely printed on loose sheets. This is a text that describes and critically evaluates current knowledge in the area of science under study. The literature review allows the student to formulate a scientific hypothesis and questions to confirm (reject) it. The text also includes a proposal of the hypothesis and the objectives of the solution. The scope of the review is up to 15 to 20 pages, for specific information please visit the SAB website.
The student must submit all materials at least three month before the SDE, or in accordance with the SAB's deadline. The student is notified by the Department for PhD Study of the date of his/her SDE only after submitting all required documentation.
If, for serious reasons, the student is unable to attend the SDE at the scheduled time and is excused from this date by the dean, a replacement date is set for the student, which is usually the nearest date that follows this date. If the student is unable to attend SDE due to serious health or other reasons, it is necessary to follow these instructions: Excusing yourself from the term for the state doctoral examination/defence.
Information about the SDE - for students enrolled before the AY 2025/2026
- A student who is enrolled in a doctoral study programme accredited in the English language must take a SDE in the English language. SDE in Czech or another foreign language is not a matter of course; in such a case, the student must submit a duly substantiated request (with the opinion of the supervisor), which will be assessed by the subject area board (SAB). Holding a SDE in a foreign language is possible only in exceptional and justified cases.
- The Chairman and members of the examining board for the SDE following the discussion at the SAB. The number of the members present must not be less than three. As a rule, the supervisor and/or advisor are members of the Examination Board (but must not be appointed as its Chairman). At least one of the members of the board is not member of the academic community of the faculty that the student is enrolled at.
- A record is compiled on the course of the examination and its result, which shall be signed by the Chairman and all present members of the Examination Board. Immediately after the closed session of the examination board, the Chairman shall notify the student of the result of the examination and enters the result in the student’s University Study Report. The record of the examination is sent by the Chairman to the respective department of the faculty’s Dean Office.
- The SDE can only be repeated once.
Information about the PhD thesis pre-defence
- The PhD thesis pre-defence is specified in Dean's Provision No. 18/2025
- The PhD thesis pre-defence can be repeated once
- The student may sit the PhD thesis pre-defence only after they fulfil the study requirements specified in their Individual Study Plan and the requirements set by the SAB
- The student has to sit the PhD thesis pre-defence in the 3rd year of study at the latest, unless the subject area board of the given doctoral study program determines otherwise
- The evaluation of the debate is based on the professional level of the presentation of the topic of the dissertation, the student's ability to defend the chosen research approach, argue factually and respond to questions from the committee members
- The debate may also include an evaluation of professional knowledge within the thematic scope of the given study program, if so determined by the subject area board of the respective doctoral study program
