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

• systematically understand and master the methodology of the selected subfield, including interdisciplinary considerations
• conceive, design, and execute advanced scientific methods and present original research
• independently develop scholarly work, including the ability to critically self-reflect
• present a major contribution to the field of classical philology that expands the boundaries of current scholarly knowledge
• present and defend the results of the research in an international forum (talks and publications)

Upon successful completion of the doctoral degree study programme, graduates possess thorough knowledge in a selected major field of classical philology (Greek or Latin linguistics; Greek or Roman literary criticism), including the historical, linguistic, and sociocultural contexts. Students may also choose subfields of ancient philosophy, ancient religions, fine arts, Greek and Roman history, private life in the antiquity, comparative linguistics, and comparative literary criticism. In addition to excellent understanding of ancient Greek and Latin texts, graduates possess deep knowledge of the theoretical and methodological principles of translation from Latin and Greek writings. Graduates are also capable of independent and thorough interpretation of original texts. They have obtained deep knowledge of their field of study and are therefore well prepared to apply scientific theoretical and methodological principles in independent and creative scientific work. Graduates possess a mastery of one foreign language (at minimum) and, given the obtained theoretical bases in linguistics, their linguistic competence may be further extended to cover other modern foreign languages of the Indo-European language family, esp. Romance languages and Modern Greek.

Graduates are well prepared for independent work at all humanities-oriented institutions requiring independent and critical thinking, especially at universities and selected high schools (after completing a specialization in high school teaching) and at major scientific institutions, as translators of scholarly literature, and as media editors. The professional formation of the graduates allows them to work in humanities and social sciences departments of the Academy of the Sciences, in archives, libraries, museums, and publishing houses, as well as in diplomacy and the institutions of the European Union.

The standard duration of the doctoral degree study programme is four years (eight semesters). During the study programme, students are required to earn at least 240 ECTS credits, including 214 ECTS credits for type A/required courses and 26 ECTS credits for type B/selective courses.

On the basis of their individual study plans, students are trained through philosophical preparation (lectures offered by the Department of Philosophy), scientific methodological preparation (under the tutelage of the supervisor, specifics may be agreed upon with the supervisor), language preparation (students complete this requirement either through the Language Centre of Masaryk University or through a lecture or a publication in a foreign language; the selected option must be approved by the doctoral committee and the supervisor), and scientific preparation in both linguistics and literary criticism.

Doctoral final state examination: The doctoral candidate shall prepare the exposition and defence of five minor theses. These are chosen in coordination with the supervisor and submitted in writing (required length: 3-5 pages, including literature) at least two months before the planned date of the doctoral final state examination at the secretary of the Department of Classical Studies. Minor theses may not be similar in content to the topic of the doctoral thesis. The Classical Philology doctoral committee reserves the right to return insufficiently prepared materials for reworking. During the examination, the doctoral student shall present at least two minor theses and answer an additional question, based on the requirements of the examination committee.

The successful completion of the doctoral degree study programme awards graduates with the highest qualification in the study of classical languages and is followed by independent scientific research.