Funding

Calculation

• DS = (DI – (2/3 of the declared wage* for creative work related to the doctoral thesis**)), but at least 12,000 CZK
• The amount of your doctoral scholarship is calculated by subtracting 2/3 of the wage for creative work related to your thesis from the guaranteed doctoral income (DI) of 24,960 CZK (if you have more than one activity in your job description, the corresponding percentage of your total income is included). Please note that agreements to complete a job, and agreements to perform work are not included in the DI.
• Your doctoral scholarship will be between a minimum of 12,000 CZK (even if you have a higher income from your employment, you will always receive this amount) and 24,960 CZK.

*declared wage = wage rate, performance premium and management premium under Section 7 of MU Internal Wage Regulations, and statutory allowances under Act 262/2002 Coll. 2/3 of the gross wage is counted to balance the scholarship, which is not subject to tax.

** the creative activities related to the doctoral thesis are listed in your job description; if you perform other activities not related to the thesis as part of your employment, only the corresponding proportion of your wage is included

Conditions for the scholarship award

• You will apply for the scholarship using the form in IS MU.
• If you have an employment contract related to your doctoral thesis, concluded with an employer other than Masaryk University, you must make arrangements with the faculty so that it can enter into a necessary agreement with that employer.
• If you have an employment contract with Masaryk University, your scholarship will be calculated automatically.

Calculation

• DS = DI
• The amount of your doctoral scholarship will correspond to the minimum doctoral study income, i.e. 24,960 CZK.

Conditions for the scholarship award

• You will apply for the scholarship using the form in IS MU.
• You must also confirm with a statutory declaration that you do not have any employment in which you receive a wage for creative work related to the preparation of the doctoral thesis.

The doctoral student income (DI) is a legally guaranteed income of a PhD candidate eligible for the doctoral scholarship. The doctoral studyincome may consist of the doctoral scholarship, wages or salary for employment related to the doctoral thesis preparation or a combination of both.

The amount of the doctoral study income must not be lower than 1.2 times the minimum wage and will thus be automatically adjusted in the following years.

A minimum doctoral scholarship of 12,000 CZK is guaranteed at MU as part of the doctoral study income. Please inquire at your faculty whether higher amounts have been determined by the dean.

The doctoral study income consists of the doctoral scholarship and, if applicable, wages or salary for employment related to the doctoral thesis preparation at MU or a collaborating employer. At MU, wages mean all declared wage components, i.e. wage rate, performance premium and management premium according to MU Internal Wage Regulations, and statutory allowances in accordance with the Labour Code (only in Czech).

Agreements to complete a job (in Czech DPP) and agreements to perform work (in Czech DPČ) are not included in the doctoral studyincome.

A collaborating employer is a legal entity where a PhD candidate works on their doctoral thesis as part of employment. This employer has a cooperation agreement with the MU faculty where the PhD candidate is enrolled in their doctoral programme. Without such an agreement, wages for work related to the doctoral thesis at an employer other than MU cannot be included in the doctoral study income.

Doctoral scholarship is a special type of scholarship under the Higher Education Act that can be included in the doctoral study income.

The amount of doctoral scholarship is determined individually according to each PhD candidate´s specific situation. At MU, the minimum amount of doctoral scholarship is set at 12,000 CZK. Thus, the monthly amount of doctoral scholarship at MU can range from 12,000 CZK to 24,960 CZK, depending on the amount of income from wages included in the doctoral study income.

Please inquire at your faculty whether higher amounts have been determined by the dean.

PhD candidates in the full-time mode of a doctoral degree programme at MU whose study period has not exceeded the standard duration of study (eight semesters in the first PhD programme) are eligible for the doctoral scholarship. Any previous non-completed studies in doctoral degree programmes are also included into the standard duration of study.

Another requirement for the award of the doctoral scholarship is fulfilment of obligations arising from the Individual Study Plan (ISP).

The PhD candidate must file an application to be awarded the doctoral scholarship.

The doctoral study income (DI) is a guaranteed income of a PhD candidate eligible for the doctoral scholarship.

At the beginning of the studies, the PhD candidate and their supervisor draw up the ISP, which guides the entire course of doctoral studies. The ISP content reflects the conditions of studies set for the given degree programme by the Doctoral Board, which approves it by the end of the first semester.

The ISP is completed and evaluated via an application in IS MU.

PhD candidates draw up the plan for each following semester, in which they provide details of study obligations arising from the ISP. This plan is evaluated by the PhD candidate and their supervisor each semester, and by the Doctoral Board each year.

The plan for the following semester is completed and evaluated via an application in IS MU.

The fulfilment of study obligations and research objectives against the ISP and semester plans is evaluated first by the PhD candidate and then their supervisor, who approves the advancement to the next semester. At least once a year, the PhD candidate´s performance is evaluated by the Doctoral Board, who approves the continuation of the studies.

If the ISP compliance evaluation reveals serious deficiencies, the Doctoral Board will convene a meeting, which can be attended by the PhD candidate. Based on the results, the Doctoral Board may propose non-award, reduction or withdrawal of the doctoral scholarship, and set the date of another evaluation of the ISP compliance or the termination of studies.

The application for the doctoral scholarship can be filed via IS MU.

You only have to fill in the application accurately and file it. Of course, it is necessary to comply with the conditions of eligibility for the doctoral scholarship set by law and MU internal regulations. 

The first scholarship payment is made on the nearest payment date (the 10^th day of the month) after the decision comes into legal force. If you agree with the decision on the scholarship award and do not wish to appeal the decision, you can speed up the process by declaring that you waive your right to appeal. Such a declaration will be part of your file. 

The law stipulates that doctoral studyincome must be at least 1.2 times the minimum wage; therefore, its amount depends on the minimum wage increase. The minimum amount of the doctoral scholarship at MU will be set for each academic year by an internal regulation issued by the Rector.

For the 2025/2026 academic year, the minimum doctoral scholarship is set at 12,000 CZK and the minimum doctoral income at 24,960 CZK.

The dean may, by an internal regulation, determine the doctoral student income and doctoral scholarship at higher amounts than those set for the entire MU.

A reduction or withdrawal of the doctoral scholarship is decided by the dean upon a proposal of the Doctoral Board. The board may propose this procedure based on the result of its meeting in case the performance evaluation suggests that you have seriously failed to comply with your obligations.

Another reason for a reduction of the doctoral scholarship is an increase in the wages included in the doctoral student income.

An award, increase, reduction and withdrawal of the doctoral scholarship is decided by the dean. You may appeal against the dean’s decision within 15 days from its receipt.

Other scholarships at MU are awarded in accordance with MU Scholarship and Bursary Regulations and faculty regulations. Please check with your faculty for information on how to financially support your studies with other scholarships.