The complex exam
1) The complex exam will take place in the 4th semester of the organized doctoral training, during the exam period following the given semester.
2) To be eligible to take the complex exam, doctoral students must first obtain 90 credits in the 'training and research stage' of the doctoral programme (the first 4 semesters) and obtain all the 'training credits' as stated in the study plan of the doctoral school (except for students preparing individual to doctoral degree whose student status is established by applying for the complex exam and its acceptance).
3) Application deadline: 15th April and 15th October. Application method: submission of application form and required annexes.
4) Application for the complex exam is approved by the Disciplinary Doctoral Council. Students must be informed in advance of the date of complex exam.
5) The complex examination is public, and is taken before a board. The examination board must consist of at least three members; at least one-third of the board members must not have any employment relationship with the institution of the doctoral school. The chairperson of the examination board shall be a university professor or a Professor Emeritus or an instructor or researcher holding the title of DSc. All members of the examination board shall possess a scholarly degree. The candidate’s doctoral supervisor cannot be a member of the examination board.
6) The complex exam consists of two components: one to assess the candidates' academic preparedness (“theoretical part”) and the other to allow candidates to give an account of their scientific progress (“dissertation part”). In the theoretical part of the complex examination, candidates are assessed in a main subject and a minor subject that are specified on the application form. The list of subjects is included in the study plan of the doctoral school.
7) In the second part of the complex exam, candidates will present their knowledge of the research literature, report their research results, outline the second phase of their doctoral re-search training plan, and describe the timing of their dissertation and the publication of results in a form of a 15 minute presentation. As part of the complex exam, a 5-10 pages research summary in A5 format must be submitted, which the Examination Board receives in advance and is evaluated during the examination. The supervisor should have the opportunity to assess the candidate in writing in advance and/or in the examination.
8) The examination board evaluates the theoretical and dissertation part of the exam separately. An examination protocol including a written evaluation is completed for the complex exam. Exam results will be published on the day of the oral exam. The complex exam is deemed successful if a majority of the committee members declares the two parts of the examination successful. Evaluation of the complex exam can have two qualifications, passed or failed. The candidate must obtain a passed qualification in the main subject, the minor subject and the dissertation. Passed qualification requires that the points earned on the five-grade scale reach two-thirds of the maximum score.
9) If the theoretical exam is unsuccessful, a candidate will be provided the opportunity to retake the failed subject(s) of the exam within the given exam period. A failed dissertation exam component cannot be retaken during the given exam period.
10) The percentage of the theoretical and practical part of the complex exam will be counted by the qualification of the doctoral degree.
11) Student status ceases if the doctoral student does not complete the complex exam, i.e.:
- does not apply for the exam at the end of the 4th semester or
- the exam qualification is 'failed’.
- There is no possibility for equity.
12) The doctoral dissertation must be submitted for public defence within three years of a successful complex examination.
