Study location	Hungary, Pécs
Type	Doctoral, full degree studies
Nominal duration	8 semesters (240 ECTS)
Study language	English
Awards	PhD
Course code	Natural Science

Entry qualification	Master diploma (or higher) The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English / Hungarian. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original. You must take the original entry qualification documents along with you when you finally go to the university.

Language requirements

English Accepted proof of proficiency: FCE or CAE, IELTS 5.5+ or TOEFL 69+ Accepted proof of proficiency: FCE or CAE, IELTS 5.5+ or TOEFL (iBT internet-based): 72 points (www.ets.org/toefl) / Cambridge ESOL: B2 level (www.cambridgeenglish.org) / TELC: B2 level (www.telc.net/en.html) / ECL: B2 level (www.ecl-test.com/) / Duolingo English Test: 115 points (englishtest.duolingo.com/scores) / Oxford Online Placement Test: 70 points (www.oxfordenglishtesting.com) / Pearson PTE Academic: 59 points (www.pearsonpte.com/) / Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE and ISE Digital): minimum ISE II or 80 points (www.trinitycollege.com/about-us/recognition/english-language/recognising-institutions/hungary) You do not have to submit an official English test result if one of the following criteria applies to you: English is your native language / You have continued your undergraduate studies in English / You have participated in a preparatory course organised by the UP or any other Hungarian institute (You have to submit the official transcript of your preparatory studies)

Other requirements	A motivation letter must be added to your application. - Master’s degree (MSc) in a relevant field, - Intermediate (B2) English Language proficiency certificate, - preliminary research proposal, - list of publication (if any), - 2 recommendation letters from previous teachers - supporting statement from supervisor

More information	ttk.pte.hu/..biology-and-sport-biology-phd

Overview

Program description:
The Doctoral School of Biology and Sportbiology provides PhD studies in wide range fields of biology and sportbiology including genetics, microbiology, plant biology, ecology, regulatory biology, fitness, stress, sport and immune system. Excellently equipped laboratories are available in the biology departments and at the Szentágothai Research Center of UP, as well as at the Balaton Limnological Institute. By international contacts we give opportunity to our PhD students to mobility.

Entrance exam:
Yes

Type of entrance exam:
oral

Entrance exam location:
Electronic

Entrance exam description:
Making a 100-point ranking out of the admission requirements. 50 point could be given for the basic previous academic achievement and the other 50 point could be reached for the oral entrance exam.

Contact:
Mr Roland Pócza
international coordinator
contact@gamma.ttk.pte.hu

Programme structure

The doctoral training program consists of two stages and a complex comprehensive
examination in between of the two stages. All of them are required for a qualification. The
first stage is the Training Phase, and the second stage is the Dissertation Phase. The student
can enter into the 2nd stage only if the complex exam was fulfilled with success after the
1st stage.

ALL REQUIRED CREDITS ARE 240
1 credit is equal to 30 hours. Credits to be completed each semester approximately 30
credits need to be completed. (App. 900 hours).
Minimum amount of credit to be awarded every six months: 18 credits

CREDITS THAT CAN BE COLLECTED IN THE I-IV SEMESTERS – TOTAL
(MINIMUM): 120 CREDITS
TEACHING – (optional) 16 credits. It can be replaced with courses.
1 hour of teaching and the same preparation = 1 credit (30 hours)
Maximum: 4 semesters long 4 hours per/ week
COURSES 24-50 credits
1 course per week plus personal assignments = 3 credits (60 hours, minimum required 24
credits) Maximum: 4 semesters long
LITERATURE STUDY
10 pages literary summary by the end of the Second semester – 10 credits

PREPARATION FOR PROFESSIONAL STUDIES AND PHD TEST – by the end of the
Fourth semester – 10 Credits

QUALIFIED SPECIALIST LABORARTIORIES – max. 66 Credits
1800 hours (40 weeks a year, and all together 80 weeks for 2 years) 20 hours / week
The completion of the laboratory work is continuous: up to 20 credits can be counted in one
semester.

CREDITS THAT CAN BE COLLECTED IN THE V- VIII SEMESTERS – TOTAL
(MINIMUM): 120 CREDITS

LECTURE IN PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE – 16 Credits (additional credits can be
added)
480 hours for two professional conferences
Only first-author performances can be counted. (8 credits / lecture).

PUBLICATIONS – 32 credits
960 hours to prepare 2 required level publications (plus credit eligible)
(16 credits / publication)

RESEARCH REPORT – 20 credits
By the end of the 6th semester

QUALIFIED SPECIALIST LABORARTIORIES – max. 80 credits
2400 hours (44 weeks per a year, and all together 88 weeks for 2 years) 20 hours / week
The completion of the laboratory work is continuous: up to 20 credits can be counted in one
semester.

Evaluation of the student is fully based on his/her performance and it gives a formal
feedback of his/her progress in work. All courses and laboratory work end with a grade.
The grading system generally used by Hungarian higher education institutions is the
following:
•The highest grade is 5 excellent.
•Grade 4 is good.
•Grade 3 is satisfactory.
•Grade 2 is a pass.
•Grade 1 is a fail – the course must be repeated.

A carried out personal assessment with a close relationship of the supervisor/tutor can be
reflecting and progressive, which could give new directions and ideas and further selfesteem
to write individual publications, teach courses and to start or restart research work.
The way of a the feedback of the student’s academic achievement can be oral or written, it
could be discussed in a small lab-group or in a bigger conference audience or one-by-one
with the tutor, either way, it is inevitable and part of the Doctoral Program to be able to
complete successfully the comprehensive exam, and reach the postdoctoral level in the end.
The Public Defence and evaluation of the Thesis is regulated in the Doctoral Regulations of
the University of Pécs (Annex 13).