• Contact your chosen supervisor well in advance of the application deadline based on the announced dissertation topics or research areas.
• Before the formal admission process begins, the supervisor will organise a pre-selection interview with the candidate to assess the candidate's previous research experience and suitability for the chosen dissertation topic.
• This pre-selection process takes place prior to the actual submission of the application for the selection procedure and prior to the submission of all required documents by the candidate via the IS MU system (see below).
• The main language of the entire admission procedure - including applicants from the Czech Republic and Slovakia - is English. During the studies, emphasis is placed on internationalisation and strengthening of language competences. Applicants must therefore demonstrate sufficient knowledge of English before entering the programme.

Mandatory components of the electronic application (valid for both the Czech (free) and English (fee-based) programmes):

The application is submitted via the IS MU system (https://www.sci.muni.cz/pro-uchazece/doktorske-studium/27799-experimentalni-biologie-rostlin) and must contain the following documents:

1. Structured CV
2. Motivation letter (the prescribed form can be downloaded directly from the application form), which includes:
   • Part 1 - Description of the research project so far
   • Part 2 - Motivation to study in the PhD programme
   • Part 3 - Contact details of the person providing the recommendation
3. Dissertation project proposal - a brief summary of the intended dissertation, including a statement of its aims in the context of current research and a structured proposal of methodology (max. 1 A4 page)
4. Supervisor's statement signed by the supervisor and the programme supervisor (the prescribed form is available for download directly in the application form), confirming that the supervisor has discussed the possible acceptance of the applicant with the responsible persons at the relevant department
5. Two letters of recommendation (one from the thesis supervisor, the other from another person who can assess the applicant's suitability for doctoral study)
6. List of grades from the master's degree, copies of diplomas (MA/MSc.) or their equivalents, and diploma supplements (in Czech or English)

After completing the application form, the application fee must be paid.

Candidates will prepare a presentation of maximum 10 minutes to present their thesis or previous laboratory research. The presentation should include a brief introduction of the topic the candidate would like to devote to as part of his/her PhD studies.

The entire interview is conducted in English, including for applicants whose mother tongue is Czech or Slovak language.

The presentation will be followed by a discussion led by the admissions committee (note: the prospective supervisor does not have to be a member of the committee). The questions may relate to the previous project and the proposed methods, as well as to general topics in the field - for example, plant biology, plant molecular biology, etc.

The entire interview, including the presentation and discussion with the candidate and the supervisor, takes no more than 30 minutes.

The admission test and the evaluation of the candidate are conducted in three parts:

1. Professional competence (maximum 100 points): assessment of the applicant's professional background through discussion of the dissertation topic, previous research experience, motivation and readiness for doctoral studies.
2. Language skills (max. 100 points): assessment of the candidate's ability to communicate in English, with a focus on professional and scientific language.
3. Formal requirements (max. 100 points): assessment of academic and professional qualifications on the basis of the documents submitted (e.g. diplomas, letter of recommendation, etc.).

To be admitted, you must achieve a minimum of 60 points in each part of the exam and a total of at least 180 points. The admission committee's proposal is subsequently approved by the Vice Dean for Doctoral Studies and applicants are notified of the result within 30 days of the selection procedure.

The decision on admission is signed by the Dean of the Faculty of Science of MU after proof of completion of the previous master's degree, which is the second necessary condition for admission after successful completion of the entrance examination.

In case you have obtained a Master's degree by studying at a foreign university, the following conditions apply to the proof of previous Master's education, see option 3: https://www.sci.muni.cz/pro-uchazece/doktorske-studium/overeni-predchoziho-vzdelani