PhD

Key Information

Degree: PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)
Duration of training: 8 semesters/4 academic years
Language of instruction: English
Language requirments: minimum level of B2 or official proof that your master study’s instruction language was English
Deadline for application: 31 May
Application fee: EUR 140
Tuition fee: EUR 6000/Academic year
Application procedure: see How to apply

Admission requirements:

Finished MA/MSc diploma - a copy of University / College degree (in English or with official translation; the original hard copy must be shown after arrival) and transcripts
Certified (in English or with official translation) copy of transcripts
Two letters of recommendation
List of publications, if available
Research plan (1-3 pages)
An official copy of the language exam certificate - The certificate should have a demonstrated evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency – B2 intermediate level, or official proof that the master study’s instruction language was English
Medical certificate, vaccination card (showing that you are immunized against HEP B, C) and HIV test, and results of Chest X-Ray
Europass CV in English
Motivation letter (introduction plus field of interest, etc.) in 3000 to 3500 characters
Copy of valid passport or national ID

For PhD students who had started their studies in or after the 2016/2017 academic year the study programme 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 programme upon the successful completion of the complex exam. In case of failure at the complex exam, 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 terminates, and her/his scholarship holder status ceases.

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

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

According to our standard procedure, applicants should contact the potential supervisor(s) directly. Students are not automatically assigned to professors! The way to contact 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, our International Office will be notified, too and you will be provided with a preliminary confirmation letter. This letter proves that you, as an applicant, is supported to apply for the current doctoral topic and you have made a contact with a prospective supervisor a priori. It does not enable you to become a registered PhD student without a successful entrance examination and fulfilling the formal requirements.

Our Programs

Doctoral Program in Biology and Sport Biology
Faculty of Sciences
- Degree: PhD
- Duration of the program: 8 semesters
- Language of instruction: English
- Head of the Doctoral School: Professor Dr Róbert GÁBRIEL
Description of the program

The Doctoral School of Biology and Sportbiology provides PhD studies in wide range fields of biology and sportbiology including genetics, microbiology, plant biology, ecology, regulatory biology, fitness, stress, sport and immune system. Excellently equipped laboratories are available in the biology departments and at the Szentágothai Research Center of UP, as well as at the Balaton Limnological Institute. By international contacts we give opportunity to our PhD students to mobility.
- Deadline for application: 31 May
- Starting date: September and February
- Tuition fee: EUR 3,000 per semester
- Application fee: EUR 140
Doctoral Program in Chemistry
Faculty of Sciences
- Degree: PhD
- Duration of the program: 8 semesters
- Language of instruction: English
- Head of the Doctoral School: Professor Dr Ferenc KILÁR
- Website: Doctoral School of Chemistry
Description of the program

The Doctoral School of Chemistry offers a four-year training and research program in a wide range of fields in chemical sciences, Analytical Chemistry, Bioorganic Chemistry, Homogeneous Catalysis, Chemistry of Coordination Compounds, Electrochemistry, Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Theoretical Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Separation Science. The chemistry program began in 1993 and since then the students have had access to all modern techniques, could take part in international scientific research programs, which leads the outstanding students to obtain a PhD degree upon complying with the requirements of their studies.
- Deadline for application: 31 May
- SH students: see the website of the Tempus Public Foundation
- Fee-paying students: 31 May
- Starting date: September and February
- Tuition fee: EUR 3,000 per semester
- Application fee: EUR 140
For more information please visit the website of the Doctoral School of Chemistry
Doctoral Program in Earth Sciences
Faculty of Sciences
- Degree: PhD
- Duration of the program: 8 semesters
- Language of instruction: English
- Head of the Doctoral School: Professor Dr István GERESDI
Description of the program

The Doctoral School of Earth Sciences offers a four-year training and research program in various fields of geography, geology and meteorology. Students can choose from a wide selection of research topics from the three subprograms of Physical geography, geology and meteorology; Human geography; Geopolitics, Geo-economics and political geography. Outstanding students can obtain a PhD degree after completing their studies and research activities. The program began in 1994 and since then more than 100 researchers have received their PhD degree and joined the alumni network of the Doctoral School.
- Deadline for application: 31 May
- Starting date: September and February
- Tuition fee: EUR 3,000 per semester
- Application fee: EUR 140
For more information please visit the website of the Doctoral School of Earth Sciences.
Doctoral Program in Physics
Faculty of Sciences
- Degree: PhD
- Duration of the program: 8 semesters
- Language of instruction: English
- Head of the Doctoral School: Professor Dr János HEBLING
Description of the program

The Doctoral School of Physics covers the fields that are the subjects of research in the Institute of Physics; namely, laser physics, including THz and X-ray laser research, nonlinear optics, generation of ultrashort laser pulses, laser based acceleration of particles, quantum informatics, theoretical atomic and molecular physics. World-leading research on high-energy THz pulses and their applications has a strong tradition at the Institute. There is a close collaboration between the doctoral school and three institutes of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences: both the Institute for Solid State Physics and the Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics of the Wigner Research Center, and the Institute for Technical Physics and Material Science, further the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI- ALPS) institute in Szeged, as well as several international scientific collaborators and local industrial partners. Students will be able to synthesize theoretical and empirical studies, conduct their own research, and present them both orally and in written form.
- Deadline for application: 31 May
- Starting date: September and February
- Tuition fee: EUR 3,000 per semester
- Application fee: EUR 140
For more information please visit the website of the Doctoral School of Physics.