1. PhD Study
  2. Study PhD with us!

Study PhD with us!

Current students will find information about the programme's study requirements, Dissertation and State final exams here.

 

PhD Programme Philosophy with the Centre for Ethics as Study in Human Value

 

Study programme: Philosophy
Language of instruction: English
Mode of study: full-time (Pardubice University Campus), part-time
Length of funded full-time study: 4 years (from academic year 2024/2025 on)
Stipend: 11,250 CZK (approx. 450 EUR) per month (no tuition fees) + special PhD scholarship available for applicants to the ERC CZ project Self-righteousness, see here.
Academic title: Ph.D.
Programme guarantor: Doc. Ondřej Beran, Ph.D.

 

!!! Special subsidy for applicants from Ukraine, please contact ondrej.krasa@upce.cz !!! 

 Info Webinar: (TBD) No registration required. Zoom link here.
 Deadline for application: July 31st, 2024 (start date: October 1st, 2024); September 30 (start date: February 1st, 2025). How to apply?

 

Why study with us?

Centre for Ethics as Study in Human Value, an international research team affiliated with the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, invites graduates in philosophy and neighbouring disciplines to apply for an internationally open PhD scholarship.

Study in the PhD programme focuses primarily on the student's individual work on the topic that the student has chosen for his or her research, in consultation with his or her supervisor. The study follows an individual study plan that outlines the research project of the thesis, its envisaged elaboration and the particular study requirements. In its conception, the programme is based on the intensive cooperation between students and their supervisors. The study also aims at encouraging and promoting the student’s own research activities (publications, conferences, grant applications). PhD students participate in the academic activities of the department and can take part in teaching.

To its PhD students, Centre for Ethics offers an inspiring environment of a friendly community of researchers and doctoral students, a regular PhD seminar, and the opportunity to engage in the philosophical life of the Centre, including participation in research events such as conferences, workshops and seminars. The students can use a well-furnished PhD room and a common room, as well as the Centre’s library and study. Full-time PhD students receive a monthly stipend and have funding opportunities for travel.

The research profile of the Centre offers a wide range of areas for PhD projects to be supervised. Alongside the study of general ethical and political problems, the Centre favours a ground-up approach to timely topics, such as attitudes towards marginalised groups and topics including populism, nationalism, religious conflict, and climate change. The Centre has also working links with partner institutions including King’s College London, University of Melbourne, University of Uppsala, Åbo Akademi, University of Genoa and University of Lausanne. (More information about the Centre here.)

The Centre for Ethics PhD students study in the general program Philosophy run by the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. The CE PhD study is coordinated by: doc. Niklas Forsberg and doc. Ondřej Beran. Faculty administrative coordinator: ing. Iveta Němcová (iveta.nemcova@upce.cz).

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What are the study fees and stipends?

Fees and Costs

Full-time,resident students admitted to the PhD programme pay no tuition fees and receive a monthly stipend (currently 11,250 CZK) to defray living expenses.

The students of the program pay NO tuition fees, but there are two minor administrative fees to count with:

  • Admission Fee for applicants: 2000 CZK (approx. 80 EUR) – one-time non-refundable fee to be paid when applying for studies
  • Administrative fee: 1000 CZK (approx. 40 EUR) – to be paid once each year at the beginning of the academic year

On top of that, minor fees can apply to:

  • MA Diploma translation and certification 
  • MA Diploma nostrification: 600 CZK (approx. 24 EUR) when applied for at our Faculty
  • VISA/residency permit (depending on the country of origin; in general for most non-EU citizens)

Czech Republic is a country with relatively low living costs, we nevertheless advise you to check the following to estimate your monthly expenses:

For more details see here.

Stipends and Scholarships

All our PhD students can apply for the following stipends (see here for more detailed information and links):

  • Scholarships to cover travels to conferences and study stays
  • generous Department Internal grants to support research activities, international mobility and preparation of publications
  • generous Department Publication Bonus for publications produced during your studies and credited to our University
  • Stipends for study assistants at the Department

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What are the admission requirements?

1) Applicants will ordinarily have a Master’s degree in philosophy. In exceptional cases the admission committee can accept Master’s level graduation in another discipline but only if the relevance can be shown. Applicants are required to attach certified documents concerning their university education, including an academic transcript, to the application form. In cases where an applicant is due to graduate after the deadline for submitting applications, these documents must be submitted by the commencement date at the latest. All required documents which are not originally in Czech, Slovak or English must be translated into one of these languages and the translation must also be certified.

2) All applicants must have excellent knowledge of spoken and written academic English. The admission interview will be conducted in English.

3) The applicants should submit a Research Proposal (1500-2000 words) outlining their future doctoral dissertation. It should formulate a clear research problem, and proposed methodology, as well as the basic sources and bibliography relevant to the topic. (The bibliography is not included in the word count.) It is advisable that the applicants explain their prior acquaintance with the subject. They can also attach the list of their own publication or presentation activities. It is highly recommended that applicants contact a prospective supervisor beforehand and consult the proposal with them; there must be a supervisor for the project who is both well-positioned by their expertise in the area of the proposal, and available to supervise it.

The examining committee will evaluate these documents and invite selected applicants for a video interview. It is not possible to accept the applicant if there is no available supervisor for the proposed project of study. The examining committee will decide on the outcome of the admission exam by vote and will decide on the ranking of the applicants. The total number of students who will be accepted to the doctoral study programme on the basis of their achieved ranking may vary for each academic year depending upon program circumstances and upon the numbers of applicants who are deemed to have achieved the required standard.

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How to apply?

Documents and information to be submitted with the application form:

1. Certified copy of Master’s diploma (scanned copy is sufficient for e-application).
2. Academic transcript.
3. Names and contact details of two academic referees.
4. Name of the preferred supervisor.
5. Research Proposal.
6. (Optional) A list of publications and presentations.

You submit these documents jointly as one pdf attachment with the electronic application form (here). The application fee of 2000,- CZK (approx. 80 EUR) is payable by card or bank transfer, see instructions in the last step of electronic application. This is a one-time, non-refundable administrative fee.

Timeline
Deadline for application: July 31st, 2024; September 30, 2024
Interviews (approx.): mi- August 2024; mid-October 2024
Decision: by the end of August 2024; October 2024
Enrolement: typically a few days before the start of study
Start of study: September 23rd 2024; February 1st 2025 (please note that you might need to arrive earlier if you will be accommodated in the University dormitories)

After you are accepted to study

1. Please check your study visa requirements as soon as possible. For applicants from non-EU countries, these might be a condition of enrolement in study. Minor fees apply. Contact the international office to get assistance (see contacts below).

2. Before you start your study, you will be invited to get formally enroled into study by the study administrator ing. Němcová (see contacts below). In order to be enroled, you need to present the following documents concerning your Master diploma:

  • Certified copy of your Master diploma and Diploma supplement. If the documents are not originally in Czech, Slovak or English, they must be translated into one of these languages and the translation must also be certified.
  • If you are not a graduate from Czech, Slovak, Polish, Hungarian or Slovenian university, you will need to have your foreign education verified (so-called nostrification). If you don't have it and want our Faculty to do the verification for the sake of your enrolment with us, there is a fee of 600 CZK. To apply for that, you will need the certified translation and copy of your MA diploma and Diploma supplement and the "Certificate of accreditation" confirming that the foreign university has the right to give university education. Please contact the ing. Němcová to get assistance (see contacts below).

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Contacts for Inquiries

Centre for Ethics

Faculty administrator for PhD studies: ing. Iveta Němcová

  • inquiries related to study administration, application forms, enrolment and necessary documents, diploma nostrification, etc.

University International Department

  • officer for international students and employees: Ing. Libuše Cermanová
  • inquiries related to visas, nostrifications, health insurance, moving to the Czech Republic

Department assistant for international students: Mgr. Diana Kalášková

  • assistence with arriving to Pardubice, getting around the campus, arranging accomodation, etc.