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

• carry out independent research in the selected field
• work at a position in humanities-oriented institutions
• think critically and rationally
• apply the received knowledge of the history of philosophy in scientific institutions and promotional activities
• offer specific applications according to their own specialization (ethics, argumentation)

Graduates with a doctoral degree in philosophy are qualified to work as academics or independent scholars at colleges and other professional institutions of social science and humanities orientations. They can find employment in all fields requiring critical, methodical, and systematic thinking. They can make use of the acquired skills and competence in editorial work in academic journals, in publishing companies, and in instruction at educational institutions.

Instruction is carried out on the basis of individual study plans in the form of methodological preparation, professional instruction, language education (provided by the Centre for Language Education of MU), or according to the decision of the doctoral committee and supervisor by means of presentations and publications in a foreign language. A major part of the doctoral study programme consists of the work on the dissertation, which is credited with half of the total number of credits in the programme. The study plan also includes other required courses, such as doctoral seminars, which take place once a month in the fall and spring terms (the student is required to receive a total of 30 credits for graduate seminars).

The students take a required number of type A/required, type B/selective, and type C/elective courses to meet the minimum of 240 credits.

Practical training consists of publishing articles and presenting them at conferences. These activities are included in the study plans and are credited.

The doctoral examination must be taken between the fifth and eighth semester of study after meeting all the requirements stated in the control template in the Information System. The candidate must prepare the following for the exam: 1) the exposition and defence of three theses; and 2) the exposition and defence of parts of the dissertation.

The theses are selected in cooperation with the supervisor. They must be handed in one month before the selected term of the exam at the latest. They must be handed in in written form to the departmental secretary. Each thesis must be minimum 3-5 pages long including the bibliography. They must not overlap thematically with the dissertation. The doctoral committee has the right to dismiss theses of insufficient quality and order their correction. In the course of the exam, the candidate presents and defends at least two of the theses according to the decision of the committee, and responds to follow-up questions.

After the exam the student can proceed to the defence of the dissertation. The successful defence completes the study program.

Graduates of the doctoral degree study programme have completed all of the study programmes offered by the Department of Philosophy. Further education and professional growth is fully within their competence.