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Information for applicants for doctoral studies

> Information for applicants for doctoral studies
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What do we offer
Seriously keen on science, therefore, resulting in high-quality education at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice (UPJŠ) ranked among the best three in the country. Founded in 1963, the Faculty of Science, has educated over 6 000 graduates of both, joint and single degree studies. Currently, over 350 Bachelor’s, Masters’s, and Doctoral students graduate each year in disciplines that impact lives today and will shape our future. We are open to provide this opportunity also to international students who enjoy also the compactness of Košice being a historical European city dominated by young people, culture, and sport.

Faculty profile
UPJŠ is a research-based university generating its highest level of scientific knowledge by a vibrant community of young researchers in collaboration with their supervisors. Faculty of Science is the strongest contributor to the research outputs of the university. Our ambition is to provide specialized and highly trained researchers for fundamental scientific research and its application in Biology, Chemistry, Ecology, Geographic Information Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, and Science Education. The Faculty is organized in 6 scientific institutes that comprise departments.

Research Focus
The research in Biology and Ecology focuses on biodiversity of plants and animals, biotechnology of medicinal plants, prevention, and cancer therapy, and plant genetics; in Geography on geospatial modelling of solar energy in urban space, soil erosion, demogeography, population migration and application of remote sensing from satellites and drones; in Chemistry on synthesis and properties of new compounds as biologically active species and new materials with biological activity, hydrogen storage, development of batteries; in Computer Science on fuzzy techniques, artificial intelligence, and machine learning; in Mathematics on graph theory, algebraic structures, differential equations, topology and big data analysis; in Physics on development of new magnetic materials, theoretical and experimental research of low-dimensional magnetism and quantum liquids at ultra-low temperatures, nuclear collision studies, photo-dynamic effect, astrophysics, and biophysics; in Science Education on active learning methods, inquiry skills development and formative assessment.

Graduates of master’s studies at UPJŠ, as well as graduates of other universities from Slovakia or abroad, can apply for doctoral studies.
Successful graduates of doctoral studies are awarded the title “Philosophiae doctor” (PhD.).

Study programmes Topics for PhD. study
APPLICATION DEADLINE
FOR DOCTORAL STUDIES
UNTIL MAY 31, 2024
Other important deadlines

Open for applications: from MAY 1, 2024
Admissions: from June 17, 2024 to June 28, 2024
Publication of results: until JULY 10, 2024

Odporúčame použiť výhradne elektronickú prihlášku.

E-APPLICATION Manual for E-Application

Benefits of electronic application

  • lower fee
  • simplification of registration
  • ensure the correct completion of the application form
  • communication, e.g. to complete documents for the admission procedure, is done electronically
  • you will be able to monitor the status of the admission procedure (e.g. receipt of certified documents by post, results of the admission procedure)

We recommend to use only the electronic application form. All the necessary documents of the application form will be provided by the applicant as soon as they are available. The existing application form can only be used if the applicant has limited access to electronic communication.

Address for sending the application form in paper form:
Faculty of Science
P. J. Šafárik University in Košice
Šrobárova 2
041 54 Košice

The application form includes:

  1. a certified copy of the diploma, or a certificate of graduation if the student does not have a diploma yet
  2. curriculum vitae with a list of published and unpublished works, if applicable
  3. confirmation of professional experience after graduation (if any)
  4. a transcript of the results of the second level of study (MSc.)
  5. framework project on the topic of the dissertation / Template for the framework project on the topic of the dissertation

The doctoral study is financially supported by providing funding (stipend) for students. Each year the University allocates a certain number of Ph.D. positions for each doctoral study program. These positions are eligible for funding of ca. 12,000 EUR annually per student. More doctoral students than this number of funded positions can be admitted only as self-payers. Such a study is subject to a tuition fee of 5,000 EUR per academic year (2,500 EUR per semester) and no state funding is applicable. The study is taught in Slovak or English with no impact on tuition fees at the Faculty of Science.

We also welcome students within mobility exchange schemes such as Erasmus+, Ceepus, SAIA, Cotutelle, and others following the conditions of the schemes and the candidates should contact the International Relations and Scientific Research Office before sending an application.

All applicants to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.) program at the Faculty of Science must meet the admissions requirements for entry. We welcome graduates of a master’s level university degree in particular field of interest related to the doctoral programme.

Personal contact with a potential supervisor is advisable to consult the focus of the thesis. A specific topic can be negotiated but it is subject to the focus of the current research project at the particular Institute.

The focus of the thesis can be modified during the study to more accurately reflect the content of the thesis.

All qualified applicants will be invited for the admission committee hearing (late June).

The applicants can ask for a online call instead (e.g. MS Teams, Zoom). During the approximately 30-minute meeting, the applicant introduces himself/herself (education, experience, results) and presents his/her preliminary research plan based on the abstract of the Ph.D. theme published in the admission call and his/her current knowledge of the research problem. It is also important to explain the motivation for doctoral study at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University. The applicant’s basic knowledge in the field of the doctoral project is also examined during the interview.

Our selection criteria:
  1. Personal skills, knowledge, motivation, and ability to work on the topic. (40%)
  2. Study results and other activities such as participation in science fairs, scientific competitions, publications, conferences. (40%)
  3. The Institute priorities such as ongoing and planned projects, number of Ph.D. students of the selected supervisor, etc. (20%)

The University has over 1,700 accommodation places in its facilities and 300 places in the leased accommodation facilities of external contractual partners. The allocation of places to the candidates is transparently regulated by the House and the Accommodation Rules, according to which the entire accommodation capacity was divided among university students regardless of the study programme and the Faculty they are studying at. The Accommodation was allocated to all the applicants with severe disabilities, as well as to all the applicants – students of the third level of education. The cost of university accommodation varies between 60-90 EUR per month. Accommodation in private apartments in Košice varies from 150-250 EUR per month.

Košice is the second-largest city in Slovakia with almost 240,000 inhabitants and thousands commuting every day for work, study or leisure. The City has always been a natural centre of business, culture, and education. The business routes leading from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean have been crossing here ever since the Middle Ages. Numerous rich archaeological sites are preserved in the surroundings of the city proving the settlement of the region since the Stone Age. “Villa Cassa” gradually transformed into a city thanks to its favorable location, royal privileges, immigrants, and flourishing crafts.

Today, Košice is the city of the young generation with over 20,000 students. Many of them find jobs in IT business which is the fastest growing industry in the region providing jobs for over 11,000 employees. The rich history and promising future attract thousands of visitors coming to the city every year utilizing major railway, road, and air connections. The Košice International Airport handles over 500,000 passengers annually. The city is within 3 – 4 hours drive by bus or car from other international airports in Budapest or Krakow with many European and worldwide connections.

Research profile

Do you have any questions?

We will gladly help you!
Contact us:

dana.gecelovska@upjs.sk

+421552342123

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