Individual Study Plan
Understand the ISP, your role in it and how you relate to others.
PhD candidate Supervisor Doctoral Board
What is an ISP
The Individual Study Plan (ISP) represents an “agreement” between the PhD candidate, their supervisor and the Doctoral Board for the given doctoral programme. It sets out what the PhD candidate must complete during their studies and by when. The ISP is binding on every PhD candidate, and responsibilities defined in it must be met.
The ISP is worth your attention. A detailed and carefully designed plan as well as evaluation of individual semesters against the pre-set obligations
- is an excellent support for successful studies at all stages
- helps prevent or mitigate misunderstandings that may occur in the course of doctoral studies.
You should realize that failure to fulfil the ISP may have serious consequences on the course of studies. A serious breach of obligations ensuing from the ISP may lead to the reduction or withdrawal of the scholarship or initiation of proceedings on the termination of the studies (Section 30(7) of SE Regulations).
In accordance with Section 30 of the SE Regulations, the ISP sets out the conditions for:
- doctoral thesis preparation,
- publications,
- participation in conferences and professional forums,
- research internships,
- teaching skills development plan,
- proving the language competencies in a manner set by the Doctoral Board,
- specialized courses and other forms of theoretical education,
- study milestones (if determined by the relevant Doctoral Board as per the enrolment date) and
- other requirements associated with the focus of the programme or set by the Doctoral Board, such as preparing the propositions of the doctoral thesis or a transferable skills development plan.
In addition, the ISP addresses other issues such as:
- arranging consultations between the PhD candidate and their supervisor,
- rights and obligations related to intellectual property and its utilization and to ethical aspects of research,
- specific rules of supervision in case the programme is carried out in cooperation with another institution (e.g. cotutelle or collaborative PhD), and
- information regarding the financial aspects of studies of a given PhD candidate.
For more information see Section 30 of MU Study and Examination Regulations.
ISP preparation and approval
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ISP preparation
The ISP is prepared by the PhD candidate in cooperation with their supervisor.
Ideally, it should be prepared before the PhD candidate is admitted to the doctoral programme in cooperation with a potential supervisor, so that the PhD candidate is aware of the content and direction of their future studies. -
ISP approval
The final version of the ISP must be approved by the supervisor and the Doctoral Board before the end of the first semester (the faculty may set a shorter period).
Once approved, the ISP shall not be modified. Modifications are made only exceptionally in the case of substantial changes, such as a change in the dissertation project or topic of doctoral thesis, or a change in the funding of the PhD studies. Such modifications must again be approved by the supervisor and the Doctoral Board.
Some practical tips: The Information System of MU (IS MU) is the place to work with the ISP.
- PhD candidates complete it under the heading PhD Individual Study Plan and its Evaluation
- Supervisors and the Doctoral Board approve it under: Approval and Evaluation of PhD Individual Study Plans, part “ISP”.
- Manual for Ph.D. Candidates
- Manual for Supervisors and Doctoral Boards
ISP in the course of studies
PhD candidate
- At the end of each semester, the PhD candidate evaluates their performance in the given semester and plans their work for the following semester.
- This feedback can be provided at any time during the semester and one week into the following semester (i.e. by 7th February for the autumn semester and by 7th September for the spring one).
Some practical tips: PhD candidates work under the heading PhD Individual Study Plan and its Evaluation in IS MU.
Supervisor
- At the end of each semester, the supervisor evaluates the PhD candidate’s performance in the given semester against the obligations set in the ISP (the autumn semester is evaluated by 28/29th February, the spring semester by 30th September).
- The supervisor then indicates whether they agree or disagree to the PhD candidate’s advancement to the next semester or whether they propose to reduce (if the faculty is working with this option) or withdraw the scholarship. A proposal for the scholarship reduction or withdrawal and disagreement to advancement to the next semester must be properly justified.
Some practical tips: The supervisor works under the heading Approval and Evaluation of PhD Individual Study Plans in IS MU, part “Semester evaluation".
Doctoral Board
- once a year evaluates the PhD candidate’s performance and agrees or disagrees to their continuation in the studies, and as the case may be, proposes to reduce (if the faculty is working with this option) or withdraw the scholarship. A proposal for the scholarship reduction or withdrawal and disagreement to continuation in the studies must be properly justified.
Some practical tips: The Doctoral Board assesses and approves the procedure under Approval and Evaluation of PhD Individual Study Plans in IS MU, part “Semester evaluation”.
In the “Fulfilment of key obligations” tab, the Doctoral Board may tick off the obligations already fulfilled by the PhD candidate. This chart can be displayed to both the PhD candidate and the supervisor.