PhD in Preventive Medicine

The graduate in doctoral study program (Ph.D.). Preventive Medicine will achieve an education in the field of preventive medicine. On the principles of evidence-based medicine, the graduate will be able to assess the importance of various factors impacting on the health of both an individual and the whole population and determine the possibilities and ways of prevention of health disorders.

By defense of the doctoral thesis, the graduate alleges the ability of individual research work, publication of results in scientific journals and mentoring young researchers. The standard length of the study is four (4) years which also enables international scientific activities.

Description of verification and evaluation criteria

The entrance examination is held in the form of an interview before a board, appointed by the Dean, and it checks the student’s capacity for scientific work in the given field. The board evaluates:

1. Quality of the thesis project and quality of rendering – the project must be structured as follows:
   introduction; literature search; objective(s) of the thesis; hypothesis/ hypotheses set in accordance with the type and subject matter of the project; methodology.
   The maximum score for the whole item – 20 points
2. Previous professional/scientific activity in the field of Preventive medicine:
   • For the full-time form of the studies – previous activities related to the project are considered, preferably the publishing activity and active presentation in a Student Scientific Conference or another scientific conference.
     The maximum score for the whole item – 20 points
   • For the combined form of the studies – the publishing activities related to the project: for a journal with IF – 20 points, for SCOPUS – 14 points, for ERIH – 12 points, for a reviewed journal – 8 points. The applicant will receive the full number of points as the first author, or 50 % as a co-author.
   The maximum score for the whole item – 40 points
3. Relation of the topic to the intended Supervising Tutor’s orientation and his/her research projects – the accord of the proposed topic with the Supervising Tutor’s research orientation must be clear.
   • For the Supervising Tutor’s grant beyond the University – 5 points,
   • For the accord with the Supervising Tutor’s research orientation – 5 points.
   The maximum score for the whole item – 10 points
4. The way of presentation of the project by the applicant:
   • Quality of presentation – 0-5 points;
   • Response to board members’ questions – 0-5 points.
   The maximum score for the whole item – 10 points

Each member of the examining board will score the applicant within the range of 0-10 points per item for items 3 and 4, within the range of 0-20 points per item for items 1 and 2, thus the maximum score for an applicant is 60 points. From the scores given by particular board members, the arithmetic means will be calculated. This will be rounded to a whole number in the standard way.

The standing of the applicants will be set according to the resulting number of points.

Conditions for admission

Admission to Doctoral studies is conditioned by successful completion of a Master's study program.

Career Prospect

A graduate of Doctoral study program in biomedical science „Preventive medicine“ will gain a profound knowledge in the field of Preventive medicine. On the principle of evidence-based medicine, they will be able to evaluate the effect of different factors on the health of individuals and whole populations. The graduate will know how to determine options and methods of prevention of health disorders. Last but not least, the graduate will be able to set up a scientific hypothesis, determine research aims, choose appropriate strategies and methods to confirm the hypothesis, critically evaluate experimental data, publish results in peer-reviewed scientific journals and present them at research meetings and conferences.