Doctoral students

Starting in the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Law at Palacký University Olomouc offers five dynamic doctoral study programs. In addition to the existing programs introduced in 2019—Theoretical Legal Science and International and European Law—a new program, Legal History and Roman Law, was added in 2023.

Furthermore, in 2024, the faculty received accreditation for two additional programs focusing on contemporary legal challenges: Law and Digital Technologies and its English-taught counterpart, Law and Digital Technologies.

These diverse programs provide a comprehensive education in both traditional law areas and topics related to emerging digital technologies. This broad range of expertise is designed to equip students for the evolving demands of the modern legal landscape.

Note: International and European Law and Law and Digital Technologies are available for English-speaking students.

• Guide to PhD study at the Faculty of Law

At the beginning of doctoral studies, each doctoral student must formally register (fill in an enrolment form) for attendance or non-attendance. Students are informed by email about the date for enrolment in due time. 
After enrolment, students will receive a login and a password. The login and the password are the same for all university systems, such as:

• UP Study Agenda (IS/STAG) – stag.upol.cz
• University Library – library.upol.cz
• University Canteen – menza.upol.cz
• Erasmus Application – erasmusplus.upol.cz

After enrolment in studies, students can apply for a student identification card, either a standard "blue" university card or an ISIC card. For more information about identification cards, visit cvt.upol.cz. The student card is essential for accessing the university library, canteen, and other services.

The standard duration of most doctoral study programs at the Faculty of Law is 4 years. Students may request an extension of their studies, with the decision made by the Dean of the Faculty of Law upon a formal request. The maximum duration for a doctoral program is 7 years. However, the International and European Law doctoral program has a standard duration of 3 years, with a maximum duration of 6 years.

The course of study and results of all exams taken by each student are recorded in the electronic study records system, UP Study Agenda on stag.upol.cz.

After the topic assignment for the doctoral dissertation, students must upload information about their doctoral thesis to IS/STAG via the "UP Study Agenda" portal (stag.upol.cz). Instructions for uploading information are provided in Instructions for upload of information are provided in Attachment No. 1 of the UP internal regulation "Topic Assignment, Submission and Registration of Data on the Bachelor's Thesis, Master's Thesis, Dissertation, and State Comprehensive (Rigorosum) Exam, and the Means of Public Presentation - R-B-17/08".

The Dean may allow the doctoral student to interrupt their studies upon the student's request. Reasons for interruption may include serious health problems or other significant matters. As a rule, studies can only be interrupted for whole semesters. After the interruption is terminated, students must re-enrol to continue their studies. The total interruption period shall not exceed 3 years. A student who decides to terminate their studies must notify the Dean immediately.

• Study plan for PhD program International and European Law
• Study plan for PhD program Law and Digital Technologies

Students must acquire a minimum of 40 credits during each academic year, or several credits, which would, together with the credits acquired in the previous academic year, reach a minimum of 80 credits. Failure to fulfill the obligations constitutes grounds for the termination of studies.

By the end of each academic year, students must submit an annual review of their individual study plan, which shows the stage of fulfillment of the student´s study obligations within the stated period.

The deadline for fulfilling study requirements (including submission of the annual review) for an academic year falls at the beginning of September of the following academic year. Students should check and know the relevant dates (start/end of academic year etc.).

For students in the International and European Law doctoral program, the goal is to obtain 180 ECTS credits. Students in other PhD programs at the Faculty of Law aim to obtain 240 ECTS credits. Fulfilling this obligation is a prerequisite for admission to the State Doctoral Examination and graduation.

Graduating from the PhD program requires:

• passing the State Doctoral Examination
• defense of submitted doctoral dissertation

Once students have fulfilled their curriculum’s study requirements, they must submit an application for the State Doctoral Examination, which must include the Supervisor’s report.

Students must submit their doctoral thesis in hard and electronic copies and upload it to IS/STAG. Instructions for submission are provided in Attachment No. 3 of the UP internal regulation "Topic Assignment, Submission and Registration of Data on the Bachelor's Thesis, Master's Thesis, Dissertation, and State Comprehensive (Rigorosum) Exam, and the Means of Public Presentation - R-B-17/08".

To defend the doctoral dissertation, students must also complete an application. The application must include the Supervisor’s statement confirming that the dissertation meets the requirements for its defense. The dissertation and its presentation in hard and electronic copies should be attached to the application.

Formal requirements for final papers at the Faculty of Law of Palacký University are outlined in the document: "Internal Standard of the Dean of the Faculty of Law of Palacký University in Olomouc on the Formal Requirements for Qualification Theses at the Faculty of Law of Palacký University in Olomouc - PF-B-21/06-ÚZ02".

International experience and mobility of doctoral students are encouraged and strongly recommended. Students may participate in international exchange programs such as Erasmus+. A study/research period abroad can range from 3 to 12 months. The selection procedure typically occurs twice a year:

• December (for the winter and summer semesters of the next academic year)
• September (for the summer semester of the respective academic year)

For more information on the Erasmus+ program and other possibilities (such as internships, etc.), please contact the International Office of the Faculty of Law.

The Palacký University aims to attract excellent students, regardless of their origin and financial ability. Doctoral students of the Faculty of Law can apply for various scholarships and grants which would support their studies and research.

J. L. Fischer Scholarship

• scholarship of the Faculty of Law for doctoral students
• financial support of up to CZK 300,000
• may be awarded more than once
• PF-B-18/7 – Internal Standard of the Dean of the Faculty of Law of Palacký University in Olomouc on the J. L. Fischer Scholarship to Support Study in the Foreign-Language Study Programme

StartUP grants 2024/2025

StartUP grants are individual short-term grants intended for students of the first and second year of doctoral study programmes at the Faculty of Law, Palacký University Olomouc.

The Dean of the Faculty of Law announces a competition for StartUP grants to support the initiation of research activities of PhD students and to create conditions for the establishment of autonomous research.

Students can submit their StartUP grant applications to one of the grant funding areas listed below:

• Area 1 – Preparation of the project application for the IGA grant competition
• Area 2 – Preparation of a research plan or research project concept
• Area 3 – Developing a research strategy and international networking
• Area 4 – Establishing of junior research teams
• StartUP grants announcement 2024/2025

IGA (Internal Grant Agency)

• support of research by students
• one-year or two-year standard and above standard projects
• www.upol.cz/ps/iga/

SVOČ (Student Scientific Work Competition)

• competition for the best scientific work of students of the Faculty of Law
• bursary of up to CZK 20,000 and representation of the faculty in the finals of the competition
• The competition is announced annually by the Dean of the PF UP in December 
• SVOČ Announcement 2024

Endowment Fund of Palacký University Competition

• support of scientific-research and artistic activities which have an international dimension
• financial support according to project needs
• one-year projects
• more information on fond.upol.cz

Visegrad Scholarship Program

• Visegrad scholarships support Master and post-master students and researchers in all disciplines and any language for up to four semesters at more than 190 higher education institutions across Central and Eastern Europe
• both citizens of the Visegrad and non-Visegrad countries may apply for the scholarship
• more information available on www.visegradfund.org

• Enrolment form
• Request form
• Application for doctoral state exam
• Application for doctoral dissertation defence

Michaela Šimonová
PhD administrator
m.simonova@upol.cz

Alice Tandlerová
PhD administrator
alice.tandlerova@upol.cz

JUDr. Petr Podrazil, Ph.D.
Vice-dean for PhD studies
petr.podrazil@upol.cz