Anatomy, Histology and Embryology

Characteristics of the study programme

Anatomy, histology and embryology is based in its name on the listed scientific disciplines, which are within of this study programme are connected with related clinical (surgery, pediatrics, gynecology, obstetrics, etc.) and experimental (molecular biology, genetics, immunology, cell biology, etc.).

Admission procedure requirement specific to the study programme

The conditions and course of the admission procedure for the part-time of study are the same as the conditions for the full-time form. 

We recommend to contact your potential supervisor in advance and consult the suitable form of preparation for the interview. Each study programme has its own specifics, so the supervisor can help you to prepare for the specialized entrance examination (the interview).

Topics of dissertation thesis

The SAB listed these topics. The candidate chooses the preliminary topic individually and contacts a potential supervisor. He/she consults with him on the chosen topic and agrees on its more precise specification. In case of any ambiguity, we recommend that you also contact the chairman of the SAB. If necessary, he/she can recommend that he/she consult the topic with another specialist according to the focus of the intended project.

If the candidate does not know which topic/supervisor to choose, he/she will contact the chairman of the SAB, with whom he/she will consult on a suitable topic and a potential supervisor.

This choice is preliminary, the admissions board may, after consultation with the candidate, nominate another supervisor.

Supervisors of the study programme

Each supervisor must be approved by the SAB. The criteria for admitting new supervisors are determined by the SAB. If the proposed supervisor has not yet been approved by the SAB, this must be done no later than the enrollment of the applicant in the study (provided that the applicant is accepted). You can find a list of supervisors approved by the SAB here. After clicking, the supervisor's workplace and contact information will be displayed.

Requirements during the study

Study obligations for full-time and part-time form of study are the same. The student has to pass through compulsory courses and continuous examinations in accordance with the ISP. The SDE is a key examination in the second half of study. Moreover, the fellowship at a foreign workplace and participation at a symposium are required. 

The student must pass the following courses:

1. Introduction to Research Activities and Publication
2. Medical Statistics
3. Health Informatics
4. Technology Transfer Manager 

Two continuous examinations are included in the ISP and belong to the dissertation topic. Examinations consist of a brief presentation of the solved issue (10 min. at most), and the discussion (10 min. at most), including three examination questions. We can recommend noting Material & Methods in the talk of the first continuous examination and preliminary results into the second examimation.

Passing of the examination in English language is obligatory for students studying in the Czech language. The Dean's Provisions no. 2/2024 states that all students should attend the faculty Scientific conference in the 4th year of study (and also again in 6th and 8th year of study in case the student extends their studies).

Other obligations are stated and specified in the students’ ISP.

Requirements for internships

Study stay or internship abroad lasting at least one month (for full-time form of study).

Listed courses

Requirements for the SDE

The student is required to demonstrate an active knowledge of anatomical structure, microscopic anatomy, ontogeny and cell biology of organs and organ systems of laboratory mammals and humans during the SDE, especially in relation to the topic of the doctoral study programme. In the case of organs and tissues, which he deals with in the topic of his/her dissertation, it must be the level of the current state of knowledge based on published sources.

The course of the SDE

The SDE consists of two parts and it lasts approx. 50-60 minutes.

1. During the first part, the candidate briefly presents the current progress in the preparation of his/her dissertation thesis (within 5-7 minutes). This is followed by an approximately 10- minute discussion in which the candidate responds to questions from members of the committee directed to the topic of his/her studies.

2. In the second part of the SDE, the candidate chooses one of the five areas (Anatomy, Histology, Embryology, Cell Biology, Methods). Three questions will be drawn randomly from the selected area. No written preparation is expected for being ready to answer the questions and subsequent supplementary questions from the members of the committee. The expected duration of this part of the oral exam is 30-40 minutes.

SDE study questions

Publication activity requirements

At least three publications in scientific journals are required, out of which two publications must be published in a journal with the IF of Web of Science database (one work can be published in a journal without IF, but the journal must be reviewed and indexed in Scopus).
The student must be the first author of at least one publication of original scientific results.

Defence requirements

• SDE
• Publication activities

The defence consists of the introduction of the student by the supervisor and head of the supervisoring workplace. The dissertation topic is presented by the applicant (approx. 15 min.), followed by discussion (approx. 10 min.), and the interpretation of reviews of the dissertation thesis.

The Subject Area Board requests 15 copies of the printed dissertation summary and 3 copies of the dissertation bound in hardback. 

Profile of a graduate of the study programme

Anatomy, histology and embryology belong to the basic morphological field. During their studies, graduates acquire basic research skills and a broad background of experimental work at the level of organs, tissues, cells and even on the subcellular level. The graduate will be able to produce his own research results, he/she will be able to summarize the results of his/her own scientific work, to analyze them statistically, to publish them in research journals, to present them to an expert audience and the broad public and also to translate them to clinical praxis or to other fields of applied research.

Information about graduate employment

Graduates will find employment as clinical specialists, academic and scientific staff in universities and research institutions, and as researchers in the biotechnology and biomedical private sector. Typical employers will be universities, research institutions, healthcare facilities including teaching hospitals and private biotechnology and biomedical companies.