Physical Geography

This doctoral study programme is organized by the Faculty of Science in English and the studies are subject to tuition. There is an alternative option for the international applicants to be accepted in the free programme administered in Czech with the possibility of receiving a scholarship. The study language of the programme is still English (Czech is the administrative language). Before officially applying, please contact us at admission@sci.muni.cz to find all the necessary information related to the scholarship and see our FAQ’s.

Submit an application

International applicants for doctoral study (Czech and Slovak Republics applicants NOT included)
Submission deadline until midnight 15 December 2024.

What will you learn?

The program aims to prepare top specialists in specific disciplines of physical geography. Graduates of the program should be prepared primarily for further scientific careers in academic and research institutions, but also for potential employment in the private sector.

In the case of continuing scientific careers, long-term foreign experience in postdoc positions should be actively sought. Individual research groups at the Department of Geography cover the following research areas, where Ph.D. students are trained:

  • Geomorphology
  • Meteorology and climatology
  • Hydrology, limnology and glaciology
  • Pedology and pedogeography
  • Landscape ecology and biogeography
  • Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology and palaeoecology

The connecting elements among the research areas are shared instrumentation and software equipment, professional seminars, annual Ph.D. candidates’ presentations and mutual Ph.D. candidates mentoring. Ph.D. students are motivated by the highly professional quality of research in a competitive, but collaborative open environment. The scientific performance of individual students is rewarded both financially and by, for example, participation in prestigious foreign conferences.

Practical training

Practical training (not including laboratory and field work) is not a compulsory part of the Ph.D. program of Physical Geography.

Career opportunities

The graduates of the Physical Geography Ph.D. program can apply the acquired qualification especially in academic and research institutions, state and ministry institutes, as well as in the private sector. They are able to perform independent scientific and research activities in the field of basic or applied research. In the broader sense, they are ready to carry out all activities related to scientific work that aims to address conceptual questions, scientific and organisational activities and also teaching and transferring knowledge.

Admission requirements

Admission procedure
The admission interview is usually in an online form and consists of two parts:
1) expert interview – checking expertise background and motivation (max. 70 points),
2) Language part – check of communication skills in English, interview and expert discussion is in English (max. 30 points)

More information about admission process for international applicants in general can be found in the section Admission Process.

Date of the entrance exam
The applicants will receive information about the entrance exam via e-mail usually at least 10 days before the exam.
Please, always check your e-mails, including spam folders.

Conditions of admission
To be admitted, a candidate must obtain a total of 50 out of 100 points, so that at least half of the required points are achieved in each section.
Successful applicants are informed of their acceptance via e-mail and subsequently receive an invitation to the enrolment.

Programme capacity
The capacity of a given programme is not fixed; students are admitted based on a decision by the Doctoral Board after assessing their aptitude for study and motivation.

Deadlines

2 Jan – 15 Dec 2024

Submit your application during this period

Submit an application

Dissertation topics

Single-subject studies

Ecosystem functions of floodplains under conditions of environmental change
Supervisor: RNDr. Jiří Jakubínský, Ph.D.

Práce je zaměřena na problematiku identifikace klíčových funkcí, plněných nivními ekosystémy a dále na zhodnocení současného stavu kvality plnění těchto funkcí ve vybraných typech krajin České republiky. Hlavním cílem práce je vytvořit postup, jehož aplikací bude možné stanovit limitní hodnoty antropogenní zátěže (v současnosti a blízké budoucnosti), při jejichž překročení již niva neplní své přirozené funkce. Postup bude využitelný v praxi při rozhodování o nezbytné úrovni ochrany přírody a krajiny nivních ekosystémů, jako významných krajinných prvků definovaných zákonem.

Notes

Školitel RNDr. Jiří Jakubínský, Ph.D. podléhá schválení VR fakulty. Předpokládá se, že student bude během doktorského studia částečným úvazkem zaměstnán na Ústavu výzkumu globální změny AV ČR a zapojí se do řešení souvisejícího výzkumného projektu.

Supervisor

RNDr. Jiří Jakubínský, Ph.D.

Nature-based solutions to mitigate the impact of hydrometeorological extremes on private land and their social acceptability
Supervisor: RNDr. Jiří Jakubínský, Ph.D.

Práce svým tematickým zaměřením a předpokládanou metodikou výzkumu kombinuje postupy environmentálního modelování a sociologické metody sběru dat. Hlavním cílem práce je ve vybraných modelových lokalitách navrhnout realizaci přírodě blízkých opatření ke zmírnění průběhu extrémních hydrologických situací (sucho, přívalové povodně) a následně analyzovat možnosti prosaditelnosti těchto opatření mezi soukromými vlastníky příslušných pozemků.

Notes

Školitel RNDr. Jiří Jakubínský, Ph.D. podléhá schválení VR fakulty. Předpokládá se, že student bude během doktorského studia částečným úvazkem zaměstnán na Ústavu výzkumu globální změny AV ČR a zapojí se do řešení souvisejícího výzkumného projektu.

Supervisor

RNDr. Jiří Jakubínský, Ph.D.

Study information

Provided by Faculty of Science
Type of studies Doctoral
Mode full-time Yes
combined Yes
distance No
Study options single-subject studies Yes
single-subject studies with specialization No
major/minor studies No
Standard length of studies 4 years
Language of instruction English
Collaborating institutions
  • The Czech Academy of Sciences
  • Ústav výzkumu globální změny AV ČR
Doctoral board and doctoral committees
Tuition fees
The studies are subject to tuition, fees are paid per academic year
€3,000
Find out more

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