1. Doctoral dissertation

• Studying in a doctoral study programme enables a doctoral student to acquire the skills and experience necessary for independent professional activity through the preparation of a dissertation. Assistance and supervision are provided within the framework of the study obligation 'dissertation preparation' and the study subject 'doctoral seminar'. The dissertation must contain original and published results or results accepted for publication. The expected length of the dissertation is approximately 200, but no more than 350 standard pages of text, excluding appendices.

  a.

  Dissertation preparation The study obligation "dissertation preparation" provides a space for cooperation between the supervisor and the doctoral student in the preparation of the dissertation and allows for the control of the doctoral student's performance. In the individual study plan, this obligation is imposed on full-time and combined students for each year of study; it is always completed with credit. However, the doctoral student is obliged to submit a thesis to the supervisor for approval during the second, but no later than the third year of study, for the thesis to be defended in the comprehensive examination. - The thesis of approximately 50 standard pages usually contains the following: characterization of the topic, the motivation for its choice; the current state of the problem addressed in the light of a thorough bibliographic search; a statement of the objectives and a definition of the expected contribution of the dissertation in relation to the topic under study; a description of the methodology used; an annotated outline of the dissertation with an indication of the expected scope of the chapters; a list of sources and literature used; a schedule of further progress.

  b.

  The course of study "Doctoral Seminar" provides a space for doctoral students to present and discuss dissertation topics, sources, methodology, outline and progress of their work. It introduces students to issues of scholarship and teaching in the field of theology. Allows doctoral students to share experiences of study trips, internships and conferences, discussion of new literature or other academic events, etc. It ensures regular contact between students and faculty and encourages them to work effectively on their dissertations. It is held at least once a semester. In the individual study plan, full-time and combined students are obliged to do this for each year of study ( except for the period of the foreign internship); it is always completed with a credit, the presentation is evaluated, the ability to argue, its soundness.

2. Study obligations

• Studying in the doctoral program enables the doctoral student to supplement and deepen his/her knowledge in the field of Catholic theology in general and in the chosen specialization in particular. This is done within the framework of the study subjects "theological seminary", "theological specialization" and "foreign language". In the individual study plan, the doctoral student may also be required to complete other study requirements to supplement and expand his/her knowledge in the field of Catholic theology.

  a.	Theological Seminar The course of study "Theological Seminar" provides doctoral students with a space for a deepening study of Catholic theology, especially through reading texts by the great authors of the Christian tradition and the ensuing discussion. It allows one to go beyond the limits of one's own specialization and to reflect on the central themes of the Christian faith. It is usually held once a year in the form of a retreat of several days. In the individual study plan, full-time and combined students are obliged to do this for each year of study (except for the period of the foreign internship); it is always completed with credit, and the ability to argue and its soundness are assessed.
  b.	Theological Specialization The course of study "Theological Specialization" provides a space for in-depth study of key issues in the chosen sub-disciplinary specialization, especially through the reading of specialized literature and subsequent colloquia with a supervisor or consultant. In the individual study plan, this obligation may be imposed on full-time and combined students, even repeatedly; it is always completed by credit, and the ability to argue and its soundness is assessed. The obligation can be included in the student's individual study plan as part of the annual update, thereby responding to the actual current course of study.
  c.	Foreign language The study subject "Foreign Language" tests the PhD student's active knowledge of one world language at least at C1 level - the ability to present the results of his/her work in one of the world languages, both in writing and orally. The student can prove the required knowledge with a recognised certificate. As a standard, students can choose between English, German, Italian and French. In the Individual Curriculum (Individual Study Plan), full-time and combined students are usually required to do this for the fourth year of their studies; it is always completed with credit.

3. Professional activities

• Studying in a doctoral programme enables a doctoral student to acquire the skills necessary to engage in scientific activities through other professional activities. This is done within the framework of study obligations, 'foreign practice', 'scientific practice', 'academic practice'.

  a.	Foreign professional internship The study abroad internship requirement provides an opportunity for the doctoral student to gain experience with the contemporary state of the field of Catholic theology abroad. A foreign internship of a minimum of one month is a regular course requirement. In justified cases, the Doctoral Board may, at the doctoral student's request, divide the internship into several shorter research stays (e.g. in libraries, etc.). In the individual study plan, this obligation is imposed on full-time and combined students, as a rule, for the fourth year of study; it is completed with a credit. (For students of the combined form of study, in justified cases, the departmental board may, on the basis of the doctoral student's application, determine individual obligations by which the internship may be replaced by other activities related to the internationalisation of scientific activity (e.g. professional translation, participation in an international conference, publications abroad, etc.).
  b.	Scientific Practice (Complementary Scientific Activities) The study obligation "scientific practice" provides the doctoral student with the opportunity to gain experience in various forms of scientific activity and to demonstrate the ability to actively engage in it. In the individual study plan, this obligation is normally imposed on full-time and combined students for the fourth year of study; it is completed by credit. In doing so, the doctoral student is obliged to fulfil at least once each of the following obligations: publication of a review in a peer-reviewed journal; publication of an article in a peer-reviewed journal or a chapter in a peer-reviewed monograph or a paper in a peer-reviewed journal; submission of a grant project; active participation in a conference with international participation.
  c.	Academic practice The study obligation 'academic practice' provides an opportunity for the doctoral student to gain experience of different forms of academic activity in a broader sense and to demonstrate the ability to engage actively in it. In the individual study plan, this obligation may be imposed on full-time students, even repeatedly; it is always completed with credit on a pass-fail basis. The obligation can be included in the student's individual study plan as part of the annual update, thereby responding to the actual current course of study. The term "academic practice" refers, for example, to participation in the teaching of a course of study of an accredited study programme or a CŽV/U3V course; participation in the organisation of teaching and scientific work and foreign cooperation; participation in the implementation of the third role of the faculty. All of these activities are carried out with the guarantee and supervision of a faculty member and are not in the nature of simple auxiliary work.

  Studijní plán ke stažení výše na příslušném odkaze

4. Comprehensive Examination

Students are reminded of the principle of the canonical-legal basis for the Faculty's activities (Article 1, paragraph 5 of the Statute of the Faculty of Theology of Charles University), according to which it is necessary to attain the academic degree of "Licentiate of Theology" before obtaining the academic degree of "Doctor of Theology". The latter is the law No. 111/1998 Coll., on Higher Education, obtained by passing the rigorous examination.

The comprehensive examination is identical in content and scope to the state rigorosum examination in the field of study corresponding to the Master's degree programme in Catholic Theology that the Faculty offers: if a candidate who is also enrolled in the doctoral programme in Catholic theology has passed the oral part of the State rigorosum examination, this shall be recognised as the oral part of the comprehensive examination of his/her doctoral studies; if a candidate who is also enrolled in the doctoral programme in Catholic theology has defended a rigorosum thesis in the form of a thesis approved by the supervisor, this shall be recognised as the defence of the written thesis submitted as part of the comprehensive examination of his/her doctoral studies.

• During the second, but no later than the third year of study, the doctoral student takes a comprehensive examination, which has two parts: an oral examination and a defence of the submitted written thesis.

• The oral examination consists of two sub-disciplinary specialisations chosen by the student. One of them is chosen to correspond directly to the sub-disciplinary specialization of his/her doctoral studies and at the same time to the title and basic outline of the written thesis.

• The thematic areas for the oral examination are approved by the disciplinary council and are identical to the thematic areas for the rigorous examination in Catholic Theology.

• The written thesis is approximately 50 standard pages in length; the student submits a thesis for defence.

• The application to Comprehensive examination

• The choice of specialization

• Other compulsory attachments to the application form:

  • Brief curriculum vitae accompanied by a list of publications and other scientific activities

  • A written thesis in three hard copies, at least one of which is bound in hardcover, and no more than two of which are ring-bound,

  • Declaration of readiness for the Comprehensive Examination