Doctoral Studies

The crown of education

The third level of studies – doctoral academic studies, for obtaining the title of PhD Civil Engineering (180 ECTS) is carried out during the period of 3 years. Students who complete doctoral studies have a total of 480 ECTS points.

Doctoral academic studies of Civil Engineering last three years and are worth at least 180 ECTS, with at least 300 ECTS points previously acquired in undergraduate academic and graduate academic studies. Out of the total number of 180 ECTS points, 75 ECTS are acquired by taking examinations in 1 mandatory and 9 optional subjects, 45 ECTS based on activity results and appropriate progress assessment (completed tasks, completed, and defended semester papers, examination results, published research results) and 60 ECTS by preparing and defending a doctoral dissertation. Doctoral studies cannot last longer than 10 years.

The structure of the study programme ensures that the sum of the points of the optional subjects and the study research amounts to 112.5, i.e., 62.5% of the total sum of ECTS points in the programme (180).

Students profile their research interests by choosing subjects and research areas that they will take and study, which contributes to a deeper knowledge and understanding of the field (topic) of their doctoral dissertation. Optional subjects and study research areas are chosen within the study programme itself.

Doctoral studies are organised through teaching, scientific work, drafting and defending a doctoral dissertation. Subjects (mandatory or optional) are taught as group or individual (mentored) classes. Group classes are conducted if there are five or more students within one subject, i.e., if due to the nature (character) of the subject, this type of class is necessary to be organised. The decision on the type of classes and optional subjects is made by the Head of Doctoral Studies with the consent of the study programme quality committee.