Doctoral Study Programmes

Internal Regulations of VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava
Study and Examination Rules for doctoral study programmes at VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava were registered by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports pursuant to the Article 36, Subsection 2 of Act No.111/1998 on Higher Education Institutions and on the amendment and supplement to some other Acts (The Higher Education Act) under reference number 17 805/2007-30 on 13 July 2007.

 …………………………….. 
Ing. V. Vinš, CSc.
Director of the Section for Higher Education Institutions

 

---

Study and Examining Regulations
for Study in Doctoral Syllabus
VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava

1. Doctoral study programmes (hereinafter “studies”) are provided pursuant to the Article 47 Act No. 111/1998 on Higher Education Institutions and on the amendment and supplement to some other Acts (the Higher Education Act), as subsequently amended, (hereinafter ”Act”).
2. Doctoral study programmes are aimed at scientific research and independent creative activity in the field of research, development and technology. Studies are therefore aimed at gaining deeper knowledge of the theoretical rudiments of the whole branch of study and further on detailed study of the outstanding findings in the chosen specialization, which are then resumed in the dissertation. The studies are oriented towards preparation for an independent creative scientific work within the chosen branch and standard level of knowledge is proved during the State Doctoral Examination. Ability to attain original scientific findings and develop them further is proved by the defence of the completed dissertation.
3. VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava (hereinafter “VŠB-TUO”) is authorized to provide accredited doctoral study programmes. The list of these study programmes is posted on the official notice board of VŠB-TUO, with information on the faculty that provides the programmes.
4. The doctoral study programmes may also be provided in co-operation with other university institutions (faculties) or other scientific workplaces under contracts.
5. Studies within the framework of doctoral study programmes are subject to individual curricula under the guidance of a tutor.
6. VŠB-TUO awards its graduates of doctoral study programmes the academic degree of “Doktor” (i.e. “Doctor”), abbreviated as “Ph.D.”, used after the name.

1. Each doctoral study programme is managed by the Specialist Board, which has at least five members. The Specialist Board, consisting of distinguished members of the academic staff and scientists from VŠB-TUO, other universities, or scientific, research and development workplaces, as well as other specialists outside the university is appointed by the Dean after authorisation by the Scientific Board of the faculty.
2. For those branches of studies that are provided by several faculties the common Specialist Board is appointed by the Deans of all faculties involved, after authorisation by their Scientific Boards.
3. The Chair of the Specialist Board is chosen from its members on the basis of their voting and appointed by the Dean.
4. The Specialist Board primarily:
   1. proposes the constitution of the admission board,
   2. proposes candidates for tutors to the Dean, who introduces them to the Scientific Boards for approval,
   3. initiates, discusses and coordinates characterisation of individual subjects of study (hereinafter “subjects”), seminars, further students’ learning activities and scientific work within the doctoral study programmes,
   4. approves individual curricula for students and their possible adjustments,
   5. expresses their opinion on topics of dissertations and their possible changes,
   6. responds to the students’ applications for changes of the form or branch of study, etc.,
   7. proposes the Chairman and the members of the Examining Board for the State Doctoral Examination, its date and place to the Dean of the faculty,
   8. proposes opponents, the Chairman and the members of Board for the Defence of the Dissertation (hereinafter “the board for the defence”), its date and place to the Dean,
   9. evaluates regularly, at least once a year, the quality of realizing the studies and submits the evaluation to the Dean,
   10. performs also other activities to maintain a high level of studies and initiates proposals for possible changes in the doctoral study programmes.
5. Meetings of the Specialist Board are called by its Chair when necessary, at least twice a year. The programme follows the rules of procedure of the Specialist Board set by the Dean. The Dean receives a copy of the minutes. Another copy is sent to the office keeping the administrative and curriculum agenda at the faculty (hereinafter “administrative office”).

1. On the proposal of the Specialist Board the Dean appoints each student a tutor for the whole course of studies. The tutor guarantees the student’s quality of scientific activities and supervises his/her study activities, as well as dissertation. Records on the registration of tutors and their students are kept by the administrative office.
2. Any professor or associate professor of the corresponding faculty or of VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, or an outstanding specialist in the given field can be appointed as a tutor. Such person must be the holder of the Ph.D. academic degree, respectively of any of the following academic degrees: Dr., CSc., DrSc., DSc., Doc., or Prof.
3. One tutor can lead only five students at maximum. A higher number of students supervised by one tutor may be allowed by the Dean, on the proposal of the Specialist Board.
4. A tutor makes proposals for the research topics which deal with scientific issues. Together with the student the tutor draws up an individual curriculum, supervises the student as to the organizational and scientific matters, checks that the student performs his/her duties and submits an annual evaluation of the student’s achievements to the Specialist Board. The tutor also supervises the progress of a student´s dissertation, is entitled to be present at the student’s examination taken in the framework of his/her studies, guarantees the subject of the dissertation seminar, determines the student’s scientific activities and evaluates his/her achievements.
5. Should it be proved that the tutor has failed to perform his/her duties or the student’s performance reveals to be insufficient, which was not reported by the tutor, or should the tutor be unable to exercise activities concerning the tutorship, the Specialist Board can make a proposal to the Dean to assign the relevant student another tutor.
6. Subjects can be lectured on by professors, associate professors and other distinguished specialists. Laboratory, theoretical and field seminars can be led by lecturers as well

1. Study are carried out in a form of:
   1. full-time studies
   2. combination of a full-time and a part-time studies
   3. part-time studies
2. A study is carried out full-time mostly in the presence of the student at the workplace guaranteeing his/her individual study plan (hereinafter “exercise centre”)
3. Studies are carried out in the part-time form mainly on the basis of the independent preparation of the student, mostly away from the tutoring centre.
4. A combination of full-time and part time forms of studies means that the time-designated part of study proceeds in the form of the full-time studies and another time-designated part proceeds in the part-time form.
5. The standard length of all forms of studies is three years, and the maximum length of study is four years. The standard length of studies determines the study load, which is necessary to get through under standard conditions in full-time studies within the period of three years. The standard length of studies is the base for the individual curricula in the full-time studies. For the part-time form of studies the individual curricula supposes that the programme is using a multimedia form of lecturing, and e-learning and internet technologies. For the combination form of programmes the individual curricula are made up of a proportion of full-time and part-time forms of studies with a maximum length of five years.
6. The Dean can interrupt a study on the proposal of a tutor also repeatedly for an imperatively long time for serious reasons, but maximally for a period of two years. The time of handing-in the dissertation is prolonged for the time of interrupting the study. However, a dissertation must be handed in at the most up to seven years from the starting of study for all forms of study, inclusive of the possible interruption periods.

An enrolled applicant becomes a student of VŠB-TUO on the day of enrolment for studies. He/She is a member of the Academic Community of VŠB-TUO, and an appropriate faculty, and the rights and duties given by the law, Internal Regulations of VŠB-TUO and a faculty and doctoral study programme are related to him/her. A student ceases to be a student:

1. on the day of defending his/her dissertation which is the last part of the State Doctoral Examination,
2. during an interruption of studies,
3. by quitting his/her studies and after he/she has informed the Dean about this decision in writing,
4. by terminating his/her studies through the Dean’s decision as per Article 56 Subsection 1 (b) of the Act; in case the student fails to meet the requirements of the individual curriculum and these Study and Examination Rules, especially when he/she does not submit the dissertation in due time, within seven years, including the length of all possible interruption periods,
5. by the withdrawal of the accreditation of a doctoral study programme,
6. by the expiry of the accreditation of a doctoral study programme as per Article 80, Subsection 4 of the Act,
7. by exclusion from studies as per Article 65, Subsection 1 (c) or as per Article 67 of the Act.

The procedure of the Dean’s decision letters b) and d) and e) complies with Article 68 of the Act. Should the student not pick up the resolution on matters given in Article 68 Subsection 3 (a) to (e) of the Act either personally in the administrative office of the faculty or could it not be delivered to him/her in the form of a registered delivery to the last declared address, the presentation of this decision on the official notice board of the faculty for 15 days is considered as compensatory delivery. The last day of this term is considered the day of the delivery.

The requirements for enrolment are stipulated in Article 48, Subsection 3 of the Act, the Statute of VŠB-TUO and Entrance Proceedings Rules at VŠB-TUO.

1. For a quantifiable evaluation of the course of study in doctoral study programmes a uniform credit system is used at VŠB-TUO. It has the following characters:
   1. one credit usually represents 1/60 of a student’s annual average load at a standard length of study, i.e. 30 credits in one semester and 60 credits in one academic year,
   2. each subject is assigned a specific number of credits, which represents a relative load rate for the student, so that he/she meets the requirements of the given subject,
   3. the same credit evaluation is assigned to each subject in all doctoral study programmes and all forms of studies,
   4. after completing the specified subject stated in the individual curricula (Art.3 Par. 4) the student can obtain an adequate number of credits assigned to this subject,
   5. all credits gained in the framework of one doctoral study programme are added up,
   6. the obtained number of credits represents the measure for quantifying the learning outcomes,
   7. the student is awarded credits for a particular subject in the course of his/her study only once.
2. A student shall be considered for a degree in the doctoral study programme when he/she has obtained a number of credits which equals at least a multiple of 60 of the number of years of the standard length of study, in harmony with the study programme and individual curricula.
3. The credit system of VŠB-TUO is compatible with the European Credit Transfer System (hereinafter "ECTS") enabling the mobility of students within the bounds of European educational programmes.

1. Studies are carried out in conformity with individual curricula. The individual curricula determine which study subjects are compulsory for a student, and determine the details and the time plan of his/her further individual study and technical scientific activity, eventually a study stay and practice at other workplaces (also abroad), its programme and orientation of dissertation, and pedagogical activities. An individual curriculum is outlined by a tutor after agreement with a student and it is accepted by the responsible Specialized Board.
2. Students are involved in pedagogical activity which can have the form of guided unpaid practice which is a part of the studies or part-time paid teaching. The maximal total extent of the student’s unpaid pedagogical practice is 4 hours per week on average in the winter semester and summer semester. The unpaid pedagogical practice of the student is included into the credit evaluation of the basic activities as given in Appendix No.1.
3. The studies are divided into two parts which can overlap in time
   1. a study part finished by the State Doctoral Examination,
   2. a technical scientific part aimed at working on a dissertation finished with the defence of dissertation.
4. The total scope of the study part in the doctoral study programme usually contains 70 credits and it is fixed by the individual curriculum of the student. The part aimed at working on a dissertation is oriented on technical scientific activity and contains usually 110 credits. The content is set in the individual curricula. It is evaluated and added up to the dissertation seminar. Credit evaluation of the basic activities included in the dissertation seminar is specified in the Appendix No. 1.
5. The point quantification of the subject ranges from 10 to 20 credits, and is specified in the individual curricula of the doctoral study programme. The study load of a standard monothematic subject in the doctoral study programme or a foreign language is 10 credits. The maximum of 20 credits is granted in case of a complex subject with a broader theoretical basis, where there are more teachers involved in its teaching and examination process.
6. The State Doctoral Examination is evaluated with 20 credits, whereas 10 credits are reserved for academic discussion on three selected subjects (the study part) and 10 credits are granted for the debate on the dissertation (the technical scientific part).
7. The usual number of subjects within the study part is five, except for at least one foreign language (English, German, French, Spanish and Russian). The foreign language must not be the native language of the student. A significant part of the whole studies is an independent technical study under the leadership of a tutor.
8. The minimal number of enrolled students for the allocation of organized teaching in a study is given by the decision of the Dean. In case of a lower number of enrolled students in a given subject, the teaching is carried out in the form of individually guided study.
9. Fulfilment of the study part of the individual curriculum is proven by passing examinations in the subjects of the study part (hereinafter “examinations”) and a Doctoral State Examination.
10. The knowledge and ability of a student in a subject and activity determined by the individual curricula are proven by examinations. Examinations take place minimally in the presence of an examining person (a teacher of a given subject) and an observer who is usually the tutor or a member of the Specialist Board. Examinations are classified “vyhověl” (“passed”), or ”nevyhověl” (“failed”) and can be repeated once. Exceptionally the Dean, at a student’s request, can allow a second repetition of the examination in the case of an affirmative view of the tutor and the Chair of the Specialist Board. In this case the examination takes place in front of an examination board composed of a tutor, a representative of the Specialist Board, who is the Chairperson of the Examination Board, a teacher of a given subject, eventually other members designated by the Specialist Board. The result of “vyhověl” (“passed”) is written down into the student’s book and into the examination record. The result of ”nevyhověl” (“failed”) is written down only into the examination record. Examination records are registered by the administrative office.
11. By each June a student works out a written report about the results of his activity in the past academic year and passes it on to the tutor. This report is one of the documents for the evaluation of a student. Based on the submitted outputs of the student’s technical scientific activity the tutor will approve the credits and recognize them in the framework of the dissertation seminar. The result of the student evaluation within the dissertation seminar is written down into the student’s book and the examination record in which the result “vyhověl” (“passed”) and the recognized activities as well as the gained credits are given. Records are registered by the administrative office.
12. After finishing each academic year a tutor presents an annual evaluation of a student to the Specialist Board. A tutor writes down information about the course of study and a recommendation in the prescribed form and it is signed by a student. A student thus confirms that he/she was acknowledged with the evaluation and agrees with its content. In case he/she does not agree with the evaluation, it is forwarded to the Specialist Board. The Board appoints a commission consisting of at least three members to deliberate on the student’s evaluation. The tutor of the student is not a member of this commission, however, is present at its session and comments on the evaluation. To continue the course of studies without any changes in the individual curriculum it is necessary to be awarded at least 40 credits, or in some special cases at least 30 credits in the combined form of studies. In case of a lower number of obtained credits the tutor is entitled to propose the Specialist Board an adjustment of the individual curriculum. After discussing an annual student’s evaluation in the Specialist Board and following their viewpoint the Dean is entitled to decide about the termination of studies as per Article 56, Subsection 1(b) of the Act.
13. Enrolment into another year of study takes place in the term stated by the Dean. In the case when a student is not enrolled in a stated term and if he/she does not apologize within five days, or if his/her apology is not accepted by the Dean, the studies shall be terminated as per Article 56, Subsection 1 (b) of the Act on the stipulated date.
14. The time plan of studies in the course of an academic year (especially the beginning and end of organized teaching in separate semesters, vacations, a period of free days and holidays) is stated by the Dean.
15. The technical scientific part of study is based on the working out of a dissertation in which a student shows his/her ability to reach original research results.

1. Studies are properly completed according to Article 47, Subsection 4 and Article 55, Subsection 1 of the Act.
2. Termination of studies for other reasons, not stated in Subsection 1, is followed by Article 56, Subsection 1 of the Act and Art. 5.
3. The decision on the termination of studies as per Article 56, Subsection 1(b) becomes effective on the day following the term for submitting a request for review expires in vain, one day after the student has surrendered the right for this request in writing, or on the day following the date of delivery of the Rector’s written resolution on the terminating of studies.

1. In the conclusion of a study part a State Doctoral Examination takes place. It concludes the academic discussion on three in advance determined subjects and the debate on dissertation proposition. The aim is to check on the student‘s ability to think in connection with study subjects and on a thematically elaborated dissertation. Subjects of the State Doctoral Examination need not differ from subjects of the study part. The State Doctoral Examination is classified "vyhověl" (“passed”), or "nevyhověl" (“failed”). The State Doctoral Examination is public.
2. The condition for carrying out a State Doctoral Examination is the fulfilment of the duties determined in the individual curricula.
3. The State Doctoral Examination proceeds the defence of the dissertation.
4. The State Doctoral Examination takes place in front of the Examining Board for the State Doctoral Examination. The board is permanent or replenished "ad hoc". This board consists of a Chairperson, Vice-chairperson and at least five other members including specialists in the particular branch, or, possibly specialists appointed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (hereinafter referred to as "the Ministry").
5. Only professors, associate professors and specialists approved by the Scientific Board and specialists appointed by the Ministry are entitled to examine at the State Doctoral Examination.
6. The Dean appoints the Examining Board for the State Doctoral Examination. The Chairperson and Vice-chairperson are appointed from professors or associate professors. At least two members of the Examining Board must not be employees of VŠB-TUO. The proceedings of the board are called by the Dean. The Board for the State Doctoral Examination has a quorum if at least four members including the Chairperson or Vice-chairperson are present. At least one of the members present must not be an employee of VŠB-TUO.
7. The Examining Board evaluates the course of the State Doctoral Examination at a closed session and in a ballot they decide its whole classification. If a classification grade “vyhověl” (“passed“) does not obtain an absolute majority of all those present, the State Doctoral Examination is classified with the grade “nevyhověl” (“failed“). The Examining Board makes out the record about the State Doctoral Examination signed by all present members. Immediately after finishing a session, the Chairperson of the Examining Board informs the student about the whole evaluation of the State Doctoral Examination.
8. In the case the classification is “nevyhověl” (“failed“), a student has the right to repeat the State Doctoral Examination at a term and under conditions determined by the Dean on the basis of a proposal of the Examining Board. The State Doctoral Examination can be repeated only once.
9. The application form for the State Doctoral Examination is applied by a student after fulfilment of all the other duties of the study part of his individual curriculum to the Dean by means of the administrative office. The application is provided by the tutor’s opinion and the opinion of the Specialist Board that name the composition of the Examining Board and a term for taking the State Doctoral Examination.
10. To the application form the student encloses the propositions of the dissertation in a scope of ten pages containing an evaluation of his experience in given field, formulation of targets and the solution methods of his dissertation.
11. On the basis of the Specialist Board’s standpoint the Dean decides about the taking of the State Doctoral Examination. In the affirmative case the Dean appoints the Examining Board on the proposal of the Specialist Board. The decision of the Dean is announced with an explanation of an appropriate negative standpoint within thirty days from the day of lodging an application to the Chair of the Specialist Board, tutor and student.
12. The Dean determines at least one opponent out of the members of the Examining Board for the evaluation of the dissertation proposition of the State Doctoral Examination. The opponent cannot be the tutor.

1. A dissertation is the result of completing a particular research task and proves the student’s ability of independent research work done in a creative way, and it must contain original results of research work. A dissertation is a self-contained work containing the originally published research results of the students or the results accepted for publication. In special cases, it is possible to admit as a dissertation a collection of publications or typescripts obtained for publishing, supplied with an integrated text.
2. In the case a collective work has more than one author, the proportion of the student must be defined unequivocally and relevantly and an attachment stating all contributors and containing their percentage rates must be added.
3. A dissertation is written in a language in which the doctoral study programme is accredited and the studies are realized. If a study programme is accredited in the Czech language, the dissertation can also be written in the Slovak language. On the student’s request and after an agreement with a tutor and the Chair of the Specialist Board the Dean can allow to write the dissertation in some other language according to Art. 8, Par. 7.
4. A dissertation mostly contains the following parts:
   1. annotation in the Czech or Slovak language and in the English language, to the extent of one page of the text,
   2. introduction and summary about the present state of the problems which are the topic of the dissertation,
   3. goal and content of dissertation,
   4. methods of elaboration,
   5. results of the dissertation by putting forward new knowledge and its analysis,
   6. concrete conclusions for implementing in practice or for the further development of the research field,
   7. a list of references and other sources the student has proceeded from or reacted to,
   8. a list of the student’s own work related to the topic of the dissertation,
   9. the conclusions of the dissertation and recommendations for further progress in research or development written also in one of the languages given in Art. 8, Par. 7; the extent of these conclusions is approximately one page (if the dissertation is written in one of the languages according to Art. 8, Par. 7, the conclusion and recommendation must be written in the Czech or Slovak language.)
   A formal arrangement of the dissertation is determined by a faculty.
5. The student submits a dissertation at the administrative office at least in five copies, together with the required documents, specified by the administrative office, as well as a written request for defence. One copy of the dissertation will be filed in the University Library.
6. The dissertation supplement is the author’s summary informing the scientific community about the main results contained in the dissertation. In the author’s summary the contents of the dissertation is presented. The formal arrangement is determined by the faculty. The summary is written in the Czech language and its enclosure is a one-page abstract in the English language. The number of copies submitted is determined by the Chair of the Specialist Board.

1. The student submits an application for a defence of dissertation together with the copies of the dissertation and the author’s summary to the administrative office, see Art. 11, Pars.5 and 6. The application is provided with the statement of the tutor and the Specialist Board as a testimonial or non-testimonial of the defence of dissertation. The application can be submitted under the condition that at least three authors´ own publications in professional journals or proceedings (seminars) are enclosed. The student need not be the only author of these publications.
2. If the application and the submitted documents comply with all formal appurtenances, the administrative office proceeds the application for the defence of dissertation to the Dean, who at the Specialist Board’s suggestion appoints the Board for the Defence, its Chairman and the opponents within thirty days.
3. A defence of dissertation takes place in front of the Board for the Defence. The defence of the dissertation is public.
4. The Board for the Defence always has seven members at least including the specialists eventually appointed by the Ministry. The Board for Defence consists of the Chairman, three opponents and other distinguished members of the academic staff and scientists or research workers from the faculty, other faculties of VŠB-TUO, other universities or scientific, research and development centres, conceivably, also of other significant specialists outside the university. At least two members of the board for the defence must not be employees of VŠB-TUO. The members of the Board for the Defence can only be professors, associate professors and specialists approved by the pertinent Scientific Board and specialists appointed by the Ministry.
5. The opponents are the specialists in an appropriate scientific field. They are appointed by the Dean on the basis of the proposal of the Specialist Board’s Chair after discussion in the Specialist Board. At least two opponents must be professors or associate professors. At most, one opponent can be an employee of VŠB-TUO. The tutor, direct superior or subordinate of the student cannot be appointed an opponent.
6. Each opponent works out an independent review in writing at the latest within two months from the day of delivery of his/her appointing an opponent or notifies within fifteen days from the delivery of his/her appointing an opponent that he/she cannot work out the review. It is not admissible to substitute an opponent’s review for a statement that he/she goes along with another opponent’s review. In case the administrative office does not receive the review within two months, the Dean appoints another opponent.
7. The opponent’s review must particularly contain:
   1. an evaluation on how the dissertation fulfils the stipulated goal,
   2. a statement on the procedure of solving the problem and on the results of the dissertation as well as a statement on the student’s particular contribution,
   3. a statement on the importance for practice and progress of a scientific field,
   4. a statement on the formal arrangement and the language level of the dissertation,
   5. a statement on the student’s publications,
   6. a unequivocal opponent’s statement, if he/she does or does not support the dissertation for defence.
8. The Chairman of the Board for the Defence informs the student and his/her tutor about the opponents‘ reviews. In case of a negative assessment by at least two opponents, the Chairman of the Board for the Defence decides on terminating the proceedings and informs the Dean and the student about the decision in writing. The student has the opportunity to submit a rewritten dissertation at the term stipulated by the Board for the Defence.
9. In case no obstacles mentioned in Article 8 have been found and the dissertation does not have any basic formal or technical drawbacks, the Chairman of the Board for the Defence sets the term and the venue for the defence of the dissertation within four weeks after receiving the last review and the administrative office informs the Dean about it within six weeks before this date together with a request for the announcement of the defence. The administrative office informs also the student and the members of the Board for the Defence about the term and the venue of the announced defence at least four weeks before this term and posts this information up on the official notice board of the faculty.
10. At least fourteen days before the defence of the dissertation takes place, the dissertation together with all opponents‘ reviews are on display at the place posted up on the official notice board of the faculty. Everybody interested in the researched problems has the possibility to look into the dissertation, take notes and excerpts and submit his/her review or comments in writing to the Chairman of the Board for the Defence at the latest on the day of the defence or express his review orally during the public defence. The student is obliged to take a stand on them.
11. The student is allowed to withdraw the submitted dissertation and the request for its defence during the whole course of the preparatory proceedings up to the start of defence.
12. The defence of the dissertation consists of two parts:
    1. proceedings in front of the board for the defence,
    2. a closed session of the board for the defence.
13. The public defence of the dissertation is guided by the Chairman of the Board for the Defence. In a short talk the student informs the Board for the Defence about the objective and the main conclusions of the dissertation, after it the opponents’ statements are presented and the student’s answers and a general debate follow.
14. The presence of at least five members of the Board for the Defence including two opponents is necessary during the defence. The absence of the third opponent is possible only if his/her review was positive and all the present members of the Board for the Defence agree with taking the defence without this opponent’s presence. In such case his/her review is read aloud.
15. If the author of a negative review is not able to take part in the defence for a period of three months from the date of the initial defence, the Chairman of the Board for the Defence postpones this and proposes another opponent to be appointed.
16. The Board for the Defence evaluates the dissertation as well as the course of the defence at a closed session and in a ballot they decide whether the defence shall be classified as “vyhověl” (“passed”) or “nevyhověl” (“failed”). The position of the Board for the Defence is positive, if the absolute majority of the present members of the Board for the Defence express themselves for the classification “vyhověl” (“passed”). The Chairman of the Board for the Defence makes out the record about the result of the defence signed by all present members of the Board for the Defence. Immediately after completing the record the Chairman of the Board for the Defence publicly announces the result of the defence to the student. If the defence is classified as “nevyhověl” (“failed”), the student has the right to submit a rewritten dissertation in the term set by the Board for the Defence.
17. Records with the classification for the defence of dissertation, State Doctoral Examination and the combined result of the studies and the proposal to awarding the academic degree “Doctor” are submitted by the Chairman of the Board for the Defence to the Dean within 10 days after the defence of the dissertation.
18. The student is entitled to write a request to the Dean and ask for the possibility to complete and/or defend the dissertation or to take the State Doctoral Examination in a foreign language (English, German, French, Spanish, or Russian).
19. The student may repeat the defence after rewriting the dissertation once more at most, however, not earlier than after six months. Should the student fail to defend the dissertation even if he/she is convinced that it meets the required standard, the student is entitled to launch an objection to the Scientific Board of the faculty. He conveys his/her objections to the Specialist Board. The resolution of the Scientific Board is deemed final.

On the Dean’s proposal the University Diploma is issued by the VŠB-TUO where the doctoral study programme, branch of study and the awarded academic degree “Doktor” (i.e. “Doctor”) are given. The graduate of the studies also receives the Diploma Supplement, documenting the contents of the studies and the results achieved in the course of the studies.

1. The specialist backup for the studies is provided by the departments and institutes at the faculties of the VŠB-TUO or other specialist research institutes.
2. The tuition of general subjects (mainly mathematics, physics, chemistry and languages) and the tuition of specialist subjects common for more branches of study are coordinated by the administrative office in cooperation with the Specialist Board.
3. The technical scientific part of the study – within the framework of the grant projects and the assigned topics of dissertations – is backed-up by the specialized departments and other specialist research institutes
4. The study is financed from the VŠB-TUO budget.
5. Topics of dissertations are chosen in view of the personal and material backing of the studies, experiments, educational stays, participating in conferences, Czech and international grants, compatibility with scientific and research programmes of the faculty, the interest of the industry and the expected results.

Foreigners studying in the Czech language are looked upon as students who are the citizens of the Czech Republic.

1. The Study and Examination Rules for doctoral study programmes at VŠB-TUO from 8 April 1999 registered by the Ministry under the reference number 18 827/99-30 as subsequently amended, with the exception of Art. 7, Pars. 5 to 8 are repealed.
2. These Study and Examination Rules for doctoral study programmes apply to students newly enrolled in the first year of the doctoral study programmes in the academic year 2007/2008. Art. 8 Pars. 4 to 6 and Par. 12. of these Rules does not apply to other students of doctoral study programmes; to these students Art. 7, Par. 5 to 8 of the Study and Examination Rules for doctoral study programmes from 8 April 1999 registered by the Ministry under reference number 18 827/99-30, as subsequently amended applies.
3. These Study and Examination Rules were approved as per Article 9 Subsection 1, (b) of the Act by the Academic Senate of VŠB-TUO on 26 June 2007.
4. These Study and Examination Rules come into effect as per Article 36 Subsection 4 of the Act on the day of their registration by the Ministry.
5. These Study and Examination Rules come into force on 1 September, 2007.

prof. Ing. Tomáš Čermák, CSc., in his own hand
Rector