Assessment

Semester Research Report

Complex exam:

The comprehensive examination – in accordance with Section 72(5) of the Act on National Higher Education (Nftv.) – must be organized in line with the principles defined by the National Doctoral Council. The requirements of the comprehensive examination must be published at the time of announcing the doctoral program, in the manner specified in the operating regulations of the doctoral school.

The comprehensive examination consists of two parts. The first is a theoretical part, during which the doctoral student demonstrates their knowledge of the relevant academic or artistic field, including familiarity with its literature and current theoretical and methodological approaches. The second part is a report on scientific or artistic progress.

A doctoral student may retake a failed comprehensive examination once, within the same examination period.

Minutes must be recorded of the comprehensive examination. The result of the examination must be announced on the day of the final examination component. The evaluation of the comprehensive examination is binary: pass or fail.

Passing the comprehensive examination is a prerequisite for entering the research and dissertation phase; it serves as a comprehensive and integrative assessment of the candidate’s knowledge in their field within the doctoral procedure.

A prerequisite for admission to the comprehensive examination is the completion of at least 90 credits during the training and research phase of the doctoral program (the first four semesters), including all training credits prescribed in the doctoral school’s curriculum. This does not apply to those preparing individually for the doctoral degree; in their case, student status is established upon application for and successful completion of the comprehensive examination, and 120 credits are recognized.

In the theoretical part of the comprehensive examination, the candidate must take an exam in at least two and at most three subjects or topics, as defined in the doctoral school’s curriculum. With the approval of the doctoral school council, the examination may also be taken in a subject not included in the list. The theoretical examination may also include a written component.

In the second, dissertation-related part of the comprehensive examination, the candidate presents, in the form of a lecture, their knowledge of the literature, reports on their research or creative results, outlines their research plan for the second phase of doctoral training, and presents the schedule for completing the dissertation and publishing results. The supervisor must be given the opportunity to evaluate the candidate in writing in advance and/or during the examination.