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

• do an independent creative scientific work and solve complex problems
• have an overview of solutions of the given problem and methodology employed by the top foreign institutions
• present at international conferences and publish in both local and foreign journals
• observe the ethical principles of scientific work
• perform pedagogical work at universities
• master the modern methods of geological research, survey, and interpretation of results

The doctoral degree programme graduates will find employment mainly in basic or applied research, e.g. at universities, Czech Geological Survey in Brno and Prague, Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague, Institutes of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences in Brno and Prague, and the Moravian Museum. Other employment opportunities are in specialized laboratories, environmental protection, and public administration authorities.

The standard duration of studies is four years.

A. Block of courses required for the application for the doctoral examination:

Before filing an application for the doctoral examination, students must earn a minimum of 80 credits for courses of this block in the determined structure; the subject GD621 - Specialized Publications Related to the Thesis (impact factor publications) can be enrolled in repeatedly, and can replace the credits for the courses of this block given in paragraph 4 and 5. This block includes:

1. Demonstration of language skills (English), especially by giving lectures in foreign languages at the international conferences, including the subsequent discussion, and writing publications in a foreign language.

2. Read literature relevant for the topic of the thesis - students earn credits for this in the GD001 course - Summary of Research. The summary should be sent in an electronic form and attached to the thesis archive.

3. Assistance in instruction in the Bachelor's and Master's programmes or preparations for instruction - students earn at least 6 credits in this GD001 course - Assistance in Instruction.

4. Specialized seminars - at least 4 seminars in geology and the course GD101 - Doctoral Degree Seminar (enrolment required for each semester).

5. Specialized subjects which expand and deepen the knowledge of the branch beyond the limits of the Master's degree programme; students should earn at least 80 credits for Block A.

B. Block of other required courses:

Before the defence of their theses, students must earn a minimum of 240 credits and successfully complete these required courses (Doctoral Thesis 1-8 worth from 15 to 20 credits per semester, Lecture in a Foreign Language at an International Conference, and Professional Publications).

The doctoral state examination is determined in the Study and Examination Regulations of Masaryk University, Art. 31 and Art. 33. Students take the doctoral state examination in two subjects, one of which is chosen after the agreement with the supervisor, and the other is elective. Areas of the doctoral state examination are: Environmental Geology, Geochemistry, Historic and Stratigraphic Geology, Hydrogeology, Geology of the Raw Material Deposits, Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, Mineralogy, Paleontology, Regional geology, Sedimentology and Sedimentary Petrology, Structural Geology and Geotectonics, Quaternary Geology.

The doctoral thesis may be submitted in two forms - a monograph or collection of published articles supplemented with a unifying text; at least three articles must be impact publications and meet the requirements of the course GD621 of Specialized Publications Related to the Thesis.