Physical Geography

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.

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 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.