PhD Study Programs

For PhD students who had started their studies in or after the 2016/2017 academic year the study program is divided into 2 phases: the study period (2 years) and the research and thesis submission (2 years). By the end of the 2nd period, the student must submit and successfully defend her/his thesis.

At the end of 1st part – the study period – the student is obliged to take a complex comprehensive exam. The student can only enter the 2nd part of the study program upon the successful completion of the complex exam. In case of failure at the complex exam, in accordance with the Hungarian national law on higher education, the student is entitled to apply for the examination again in the same semester of the failed attempt.

In case the second attempt results in failure, the study period of the student terminate, and her/his scholarship holder status ceases.

Upon the successful completion of the complex exam, the student enters the second phase of the study program. During the second phase, the student must conduct her/his research activity and complete and submit her/his thesis for defense.

The defence of the thesis is the final stage of the doctoral process; after the candidate has successfully defended her/his thesis, a certificate of the completion of the doctoral process is issued stating that she/he had successfully completed all the requirements of the doctoral title. Please note that this certificate itself is not equal with the doctoral title – the PhD title awarded by the Doctoral and Habilitation Committee of the University.

Application procedure – matching the research topic

One of the required documents from phD applicants, is the preliminary support letter, which states your topic of research and the approval of your future supervisor, who will mentor you when studying at our Faculty.

Applicants should contact the potential supervisor(s) directly, thus applicants are not automatically assigned to professors! The way to contact a potential supervisor is to check the announced topics on www.doktori.hu and match your research interest to one of the announced topics and finally, contact the professor of the selected topic to get his/her approval. If the professor gives you a positive reply, you are supported to apply for the current doctoral topic and you have made a contact with a prospective supervisor. It does not enable you to become a registered PhD student without a successful entrance examination and fulfilling the formal requirements.

Should there be no available topics announced on the previously mentioned website, we ask that you contact the Doctoral Schools directly via email. Your message should contain your achievements thus far, including your CV, diploma, transcripts and even your research plan, in order for us to be able to match your interest to one of our available professors. It is advised that you send the email directly to both the Head of the Doctoral School and the academic coordinators alike.