I want to be a Ph.D.

A doctorate is the highest level of academic education that can be studied. This brings a number of opportunities for personal growth, the expansion of research-driven approaches to the study of specific areas and, last but not least, also active involvement in the life of the university. The traditional teacher-student relationship no longer applies, Ph.D. students become professional partners of their supervisors and at the same time they get the opportunity to use their knowledge and skills also within the teaching.

A Ph.D. is not for everyone…or is it?

What brought you to this page? Is it a desire to move on, to expand your education, to explore the secrets of research-driven approaches, or are you just thinking about new life challenges? Just being here means you’re interested in a Ph.D. as a possible option. Is it really as demanding as people claim it to be? What can this degree give you? And why should you care?

Yes, a Ph.D. is challenging. However. But it is challenging in a very different way than you might think. Its difficulty does not lie in the study of subjects, as was the case in yout bachelor’s or master’s studies. The most important thing that awaits you in your doctoral studies is a change in thinking and approach to solving problems. During your doctoral studies, you will devote most of your time to the development of your own creative thinking and complex reasoning, which will help you discover knowledge in specific areas that you will choose before the very beginning of your studies.

Even before you start your Ph.D. studies, you need to choose the area you want to focus on as part of your disertation thesis. This is the phase that we recommend you to think through to the last detail, so that you don’t have to change your focus during your studies because it didn’t suit you well. In cooperation with your supervisor, you then research the chosen area in depth, apply all research-driven approaches to solving problems in this area and generally try to achieve the best possible scientific and research results with the aim of enriching not only the world of science, but ideally to benefit for all mankind. This entire process will help you change your mindset that you will use not only in academia or research, but also in practice. You will be able to examine things in context and use research methods to solve them in the real world, so a doctorate will be useful for you even if you do not plan to stay at university and want to go back to the business. Especially top positions in national or multinational corporations realy appraise Ph.D. alumni.

How will we support you during your Ph.D. studies?

You already know that getting a Ph.D. isn’t easy, but anyone who wants to make a real difference can do it. That is why we try not only to create an inspiring environment, but above all to provide you with sufficient background for growth and support for your research. We strive to provide above-standard support for all areas related to doctoral studies, not only administratively, methodologically or procedurally, but also financially. For example, you will be eligible for a scholarship based on transparent rules with focus on a personal performance assessment or obtain additional funds for your research within the Internal Grant Competition. You can also present the results of your own research at regular PHfriDays seminars or at the annual FMSCICOM PhD student conference. You will also get your own workspace in the most modern part of the campus and you will be able to use other equipment, whether it is professional software (for example, a full version of SPSS for statistical data analysis with the AMOS add-on for structural equation modeling) or the use of our own EtLab neuromarketing laboratory.

A mandatory part of the Ph.D. studies is a abroad study stay. You will get a unique opportunity to travel abroad, where you will be able to establish new contacts, follow current trends in research and acquire new knowledge and skills. And since this part of the study is compulsory, you will of course also receive above-standard financial support from us.

Full-time study? Combined? Czech? English?

You can study the Ph.D. at the Faculty of Management in a full-time or combined form of study. The full-time form allows for more intensive involvement in the life of the faculty, so you will be expected to, for example, teach, be a thesis’ supervisor, and you will become, to a certain extent, a full-fledged part of the faculty. The combined form is then suitable for those who are currently working and looking for personal and professional growth precisely through the acquisition of new knowledge, skills and scientific approaches that will be of real benefit to them in their profession. In addition, you can also study the doctoral study program in Czech or English, thanks to which you will also be able to grow in terms of language skills.

What classes and study obligations await you?

Ph.D. students need to fulfil other obligations in accordance with the Study and Examination Regulations of the Prague University of Economics and Business and the Individual Study Plan including the Ph.D. Student Standard.

How to pass the admissions?

Going through the admissions process from application to admission itself requires a slightly different approach than a bachelor’s or master’s degree, as does the entire Ph.D. studies. Of course, it will be important to go through the details of this year’s admission requirements, to make it a bit easier for you, we have summarized these into 6 simple steps.