Doctoral examination

The recommended literature for the subjects of the dissertation exam is determined by the given doctoral study program

The doctoral student can apply for the Doctoral examination if he/she has obtained at least 60 credits, of which 40 credits for studies. He/she must register for the exam no later than 18 months after the start of his/her studies in the three-year full-time doctoral programme or 24 months after the start of his/her studies in the four-year full-time doctoral programme. The conditions for applying for the state exam are defined by the currently valid Study Regulations of the Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava. The essentials of the written work/thesis are contained in the currently valid Directive of the Rector of Comenius University on final theses.

A doctoral examination consists of a written work (assessed by a reviewer and an examination commission) and an oral exam (assessed by an examination commission). At the doctoral examination, the doctoral student presents an overview of the theoretical and methodological background and the state of solving a scientific problem, which he/she solves within the dissertation project. At the oral exam, he/she presents theoretical readiness in the areas of subjects of this exam defined in the given doctoral programme. The assessment is "passed or failed" following the Study Regulations of the Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava.

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The subjects of the dissertation exam are determined by the given doctoral study program. All requirements are specified in the description of the study program.

Learning objectives: To verify the acquired knowledge of the methodology and research methodology in the field of didactics.

Learning outcomes: Graduates understand the essential facts, concepts, principles, and theories related to research and teaching practice and its educational system context. They can creatively use relevant knowledge to identify, analyze and solve subject-didactic problem situations, especially creatively apply concepts, principles, and procedures associated with planning, organizing, and evaluating teaching, especially student teaching of teacher adepts, self-reflecting subject-didactic work and competently assess its quality and effectiveness, scientifically examine the systemic relationships between the phenomena of teaching and training, especially the dependence of educational and educational-training effects on their programmatic, procedural and contextual determinants. Graduates demonstrate the skills of metacognition, self-education, and postdoctoral studies as well as the ability to cooperate with faculty teachers, teachers of secondary or primary training school as well as with employees of related professions.

The graduate of the dissertation will be able to acquire, analyze, interpret and apply new scientific knowledge in the field in which he/she carries out his/her research. He/she can demonstrate professional and methodological knowledge in the areas of the dissertation exam determined by the doctoral programme. He/she can evaluate the theories, concepts, and innovations that are needed to grasp and solve the scientific problem that is the subject of his/her research.

Ph.D. thesis defence

study of professional literature according to the chosen topic

The conditions for applying for the Ph.D. thesis defence are defined in Art. 21 and Art. 30 to 34 of Internal Regulation No. 1/2020 of the currently valid Study Regulations of the Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava. The essentials of the written work/thesis are contained in the currently valid Directive of the Rector of Comenius University on final theses.

According to Sec. 51 § 3 of Act No. 131/2002, as amended, the study of each study programme at the doctoral level also includes the student’s final thesis, which together with the defence of the final thesis forms one subject. The defence of the final thesis (dissertation) belongs to the state exams. The basic requirements for final theses are also regulated by the currently valid Directive of the Rector of Comenius University on final theses and the Study Regulations of the Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava. The directive regulates the formal requirements of the dissertation, its structure, method of citation, submission, and license agreement. The assessment is "passed or failed" following the Study Regulations of the Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava

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The defence of the dissertation takes place before the Commission for the state examinations. University teachers working in the positions of professors and associate professors and other experts approved by the Scientific Board of the faculty have the right to take examinations for the defence of the dissertation. The chair and members of the examination commission are appointed by the Dean on the proposal of the departmental commission. At least one member of the examination commission is not from the training institution. The examination commission must have at least four members.

The defence of the dissertation may take place only in the presence of at least two-thirds of all members of the examination commission and at least two opponents of the dissertation. Minutes are prepared on the defence of the dissertation. The minutes are signed by the chair and the members of the examination commission present at the defence of the dissertation.

The decision of the examination commission on the result of the dissertation defence will be made at a closed meeting of the examination commission after the end of the defence in the presence of the dissertation opponents and the supervisor. The closed session will assess the course of the defence and the possibility of using the results of the dissertation in practice.

The defence consists of the following parts: introduction of the doctoral student by the chair of the examination commission, presentation of the dissertation by the author, presentation of opponents’ opinions, author’s reaction to the opinions, opinions of the opponents answering questions, general discussion, debate, The defence of the dissertation is assessed by the evaluation "passed or failed" (following the current Study Regulations).

Framework principles of objectives and organization of the dissertation are determined by the currently valid Directive of the Rector of Comenius University in Bratislava on the basic requirements of final theses, rigorous theses and habilitation theses, control of their originality, storage, and access to Comenius University in Bratislava, currently valid Study Regulations of the Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava.

By defending the PhD. theses (dissertation), the graduate has to prove readiness for independent scientific and creative activity. After successful defence of the dissertation, the student will be ready to define and analyze the current state of scientific research in the field related to the subject of research, in areas related to the doctoral programme, and other related disciplines. The graduate will be able to carry out scientific research, interpret the results and present them in scientific forums. He/she will be able to scientifically argue and defend and reflect the results of his/her research. He/she can apply and creatively improve and develop theories and research, development, and innovation practices in his/her field and create new ones.