After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• Provide standard histopathological bioptic and cytologic diagnosis of both neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases.
• Interpret the results of standard histopathological examinations.
• Interpret the results of molecular pathological and genetic examinations.
• Use clinical-pathological correlations.
• Use scientific literature, collect data and prepare them for statistical processing; he or she is well versed in the given research topic.
• Interpret obtained results, present them to others and publish them in international peer-reviewed journals.
• Conduct independent research and scientific work.
• Teach practical classes to undergraduate students of the Faculty of Medicine.

Graduates of the Pathology doctoral study programme can find career opportunities at the First Department of Pathological Anatomy of the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, and in St. Anne’s University Hospital in Brno, in institutes and departments of pathology at other university hospitals and medical faculties, and in hospital departments of pathology in the Czech Republic as well as abroad. As graduates of the programme, they will have obtained skills that can be applied in both research and clinical careers, and also in undergraduate and postgraduate education at faculties of medicine.

The structure of the study plan is grounded in the doctoral thesis topic. Students have to complete required courses common to all PhD students of the Masaryk University Faculty of Medicine and they can also choose from a number of selective common courses. Within the field of Pathology, the have to complete the required Pathology courses and at least one elective course. Other requirements include publishing the results of the doctoral thesis in a peer-reviewed journal with impact factor and publishing a total of at least two papers in peer-reviewed journals with IF (at least one of these must be a first-author paper). Students also have to actively participate in specialized conferences, teach undergraduate students (theoretical or practical classes at the Faculty of Medicine) for at least 2 hours per week during two semesters, and they have to participate in research grant projects.

Required practical training during the doctoral studies programme includes practical training in pathology based on the students’ contract with the given healthcare facility (at least 0.2 FTE) and teachers’ training in the form of teaching practical classes to students at the Faculty of Medicine (at least 2 hours per week during two semesters).

Graduation requirements include completing all the required courses, earning the required number of credits, meeting the publication requirements of the board for doctoral studies, passing the doctoral state examination, and defending the doctoral dissertation.