Placements abroad
for PhD students

In the context of doctoral studies, it is essential that students gain independent international experience to become independent and autonomous researchers after graduation. International mobility is an important activity in doctoral studies that develops both the student and the university and faculty.
Therefore, a placement abroad is compulsory for all PhD students, regardless of when they started their studies. This is mandated by Government Regulation No. 274/2016 on Standards for Accreditation in Higher Education (Part II, Title II, H. I. 3.). The condition is the international involvement in scientific cooperation, which primarily means participation in a foreign internship of at least 1 month.

The doctoral student and the faculty also see this as a joint and universally beneficial investment and are prepared to participate in the provision of the international mobility, including financial participation.
The faculty sees direct experience with international mobility as the standard and most beneficial part of doctoral study and therefore strongly recommends that all doctoral students seek ways to complete the placement abroad. 
Here you will find a comprehensive overview of the opportunities that can enable you to go on a study placement or traineeship, research or even a summer school, for example; and what not to forget!

  • How should I proceed?

    Explore the possibilities of foreign placements and agree with your supervisor on the most appropriate option (which placement, where, when to do it). Check with your department coordinator at the same time!
    If you are employed at the faculty/work on a project, be sure to consult your placement with the project supervisor, your immediate superior and the HR department. They also need to know that you are planning to travel!

    PhD mobility - process Stays abroad during concurrent full-time study and employment QS ranking - TOP 300 universities

  • What type of stay is best?

    Longer stays are primarily supported by the faculty, which is responsible for the quality of doctoral studies. For experimental disciplines,
    a longer period may be more appropriate (several months, a semester, etc.).. Always consider the relevance of the placement to your field of study.

    Since you are working on your individual research projects and dissertations, "TRAINEESHIPS" are usually the most appropriate option for most students. "STUDY STAYS" as defined by ERASMUS+ tend not to occur in PhD studies (semester-long study stays during which students enrol in courses at the host university).

  • I'm lost, who can I turn to?

    Check with your department coordinator what options you have or contact us directly at the International Relations Department and we will be happy to direct you.

  • What not to forget?

    Two important things:
    1) Create a record of your stay in IS MU!
    2) Make the most of your stay - get as much experience as you can .

Study placements

Erasmus+ ICM

The Erasmus+ ICM programme allows you to study at universities in Erasmus+ partner countries, i.e. in a number of countries not participating in the standard Erasmus+ programme. The specific offer of universities varies from year to year depending on the evaluation of Masaryk University's application for funding, and is mainly from countries outside Europe.

Duration of the study stay: 3 to 12 months

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CEEPUS

CEEPUS is a Central European university exchange programme focused on regional cooperation within university networks. It focuses on what is specific to the Central European region and contributes to European integration.
Through this programme, it is possible to go on short-/long-term study visits or summer schools to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Macedonia, Poland, Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Serbia.

Faculty of Science has 3 active CEEPUS networks at Department of Geological Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Department of Physical Electronics. However, you can also go as a freemover - outside the networks.

More - CZS More - CEEPUS More - DZS agency

Partner universities

Masaryk University also offers study stays outside the EU countries. The Partner Universities programme allows you to study at more than 70 partner universities outside the European Union.
Available countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Chile, Georgia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Mexico, Russia, Taiwan, Ukraine and the USA.

Duration of study stay: max. 2 semesters

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Freemover

The Freemover programme is intended for students who arrange their own study or research stay at a foreign university outside any exchange programme of Masaryk University (e.g. Erasmus+) or outside any intergovernmental, inter-university or inter-faculty agreements.
Available countries: universities from all over the world, provided that the home faculty/department and the foreign institution agree to the placement.

Length of stay: maximum 2 semesters

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Intergovernmental Agreements – Quotas & Selection Process

The Ministry of Education annually allocates scholarship places, so-called quotas, for Masaryk University students. Thanks to these quotas, students can take a summer language course abroad or study for up to two semesters at partner universities in countries with which the Czech Republic has concluded international agreements. The selection of students takes place at the faculty.
Countries available: China, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Malta, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.
Duration of stay: max. 2 semesters

The selection process allow for study or research stays abroad in countries with which the Czech Republic has concluded intergovernmental agreements. Students from all universities in the Czech Republic can apply for these study stays of up to two semesters; the selection of students is carried out centrally at the Ministry of Education and Science. 
It is possible to study in more than 30 countries (including non-European countries and EU countries).
Length of stay: max. 2 semesters

Scholarship holders have the possibility to apply at the Centre for International Cooperation for reimbursement of travel expenses.

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AKTION

The programme supports the development of bilateral cooperation in science and education in all fields of science between the Czech Republic and Austria. You can get, for example, scholarships for study and research stays in Austria and for summer language/vocational schools.

Deadlines for submission of project proposals: 15 April, 15 September and 30 November (electronically and by post - postmarked by the relevant deadline at the latest).

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Visegrad Fund

Students can receive a scholarship from the International Visegrad Fund of €2,300 per semester for study and research stays in the Visegrad Four countries and other countries in the region.
You can go abroad to Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Serbia, Kosovo and Ukraine.

You can also complete a full study abroad programme, as the Visegrad Scholarship is available for up to four semesters. The host university receives an allowance of €1,500 per semester from the International Visegrad Fund to cover the costs associated with the student's stay.

For more information on applications and stays, please visit www.visegradfund.org.

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Internships

An internship is a great opportunity to gain work experience abroad as well as credits towards your studies.
The best thing about internships is that you can arrange them at any institution where you would like to gain experience, whether it is a lab, research institute or other workplace.
It is possible to go on practical placements through Erasmus+, Freemover or Stella Junior for example.

Erasmus+ traineeship

Erasmus+ supports placements abroad (work placements, internships, etc.) for higher education students from programme countries. It applies to Bachelor and Master students as well as PhD students. Recent graduates can also benefit from these opportunities.
You can do your internship at any institution you approach! 

Traineeships can only take place in Erasmus+ countries. These countries are:

  • EU Member States,
  • European Economic Area countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein),
  • Turkey and Macedonia,
  • mobility to Switzerland is not possible.

Duration of traineeship: 2 to 12 months

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Freemover

The Freemover programme is designed for students who want to complete a one-month to one-semester internship abroad as part of their studies at Masaryk University and who do not have the opportunity to use other funding (e.g. through the Erasmus+ programme, from the faculty, etc.). As a freemover you can travel to any country in the world for your internship.

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Stella Junior

Stella Junior is a programme of the Compostela Group of Universities (CGU) through which MU students can apply for work placements published in the database of offers of foreign internhips placements available on the CGU website in the Stella Junior database section.

The Stella Junior programme also awards two one-off scholarships of 400 euros for these foreign internships twice a year (in March and July). The scholarships are awarded on the basis of a lottery.

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Summer Schools

Intergovernmental Agreements - Selection Process and Quotas

Every year, the Ministry of Education offers two opportunities to go to summer school:
1) International agreements - Quotas
Thanks to these quotas, students can take a summer language course abroad or study for up to two semesters at partner universities in countries with which the Czech Republic has international agreements. The students are selected and sent by the faculty.
Countries available: China, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Malta, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.

2) International agreements - Selection Procedures
Every academic year, the Ministry of Education announces selection procedures for study or research stays abroad in countries with which the Czech Republic has concluded intergovernmental agreements. Students from all universities in the Czech Republic can apply for these study stays of up to two semesters; the selection of students is carried out centrally at the Ministry of Education and Science. 
It is possible to study in more than 30 countries (including both non-European countries and EU Member States).

Scholarship holders have the possibility to apply at the Centre for International Cooperation for reimbursement of travel expenses.

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Summer Schools at Partner Universities

Some of Masaryk University's partner institutions allow students and recent graduates to participate in their summer schools at discounted rates.
The current list of summer schools at MU partner universities is regularly updated. 

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DAAD
DAAD

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is an association of German universities that aims to promote academic cooperation between Germany and foreign countries. The DAAD offers a number of scholarships to international students for study or research stays or summer courses.

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Scholarships

Most mobility programmes offer the possibility of a scholarship. In addition, all PhD students in the regular period of study increased by a maximum of one year (i.e. 4+1 years) have the possibility to apply for a faculty scholarship from the A.6 programme.
We strongly recommend that you explore all fellowship options during your planning process.

Guidelines for scholarship A.6 Confirmation of arrival - PhD

Remember that...

... every stay longer than 14 days must be recorded in the IS MU! However, we would recommend that even shorter stays are recorded ►►►

Office for Doctoral Studies, Quality, Academic Affairs and Internationalization

Mgr. Kristýna Bajgarová, Bc. Valeriia Denysenko

Phone: +420 549 49 5051, 3149
E‑mail: ,

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