PhD in Computer Science

Admission requirements:

• a completed university study of master degree in computer science (obtained title MSc. or a corresponding engineer title in computer science)
• knowledge of computer science corresponding to a master degree, and a proof of expertise based on published or unpublished results
• successful passing of an admission interview focused mainly on a general background in computer science and a potential study profile of the candidate
• elementary knowledge of English, both common and specialized in computer science
• a preliminary agreement with a potential Ph.D. thesis supervisor

The final admission decision depends on the Dean of the Faculty, on the base of the recommendation of the admission committee composed of guarantors of the study program.

Admission fee:

560,- CZK for the application filed to the classical form (A3 double-page printed form can be requested at the Department of Science and Foreign. Relations FPS)

470,- CZK for the online application (in the information system STAG)

Fee study carried out in English:

P1801 Computer Science - 70.999 CZK / academic year

The fee is paid in EURO or the equivalent amount of CZK exchange rate announced by the Czech National Bank valid on the date of payment. The applicant accepted for studies realized in a foreign language is obliged to pay study fee on the day of enrollment at the latest in full amount for the whole academic year in advance.

Name of the bank: ČSOB Ostrava Account Number: 8010-0309706853/0300 Constant symbol: 558 (for payment in the bank) Constant symbol:: 179 (for the payment slip type A) Variable symbol: 1013 Specific symbol: birth code of candidate/without slash (YYYYMMDD)

When filing the classical form (A3 double-page) the candidate sends in together with the application form mandatory annexes.

When filing electronically, the candidate prints the application form (abridged version), signs it and sends it together with mandatory annexes.

Mandatory annexes to the application:

• proof of payment, even in case of non-cash charge electronically or mobile phone payments. We also accept e-mail that is sent to the candidate in case of crediting an amount on account to the faculty,
• a copy of master´s degree, diploma supplement or certificate of final state exam officially certified by vidimation not for graduates FPS SU; (Applicants who have not completed a Master's degree, are required to submit a copy of a master´s degree, diploma supplement or certificate of final state exam officially certified by vidimation during the entrance exam or study enrollment at the latest
• CV including an overview of current professional experience
• list of current publishing activities
• preliminary approval of a potential supervisor of a candidate with a proposal of the dissertation thesis

Application deadline: 31th May 2015

Date of entrance exam: Juni 2015 (the exact dates will be announced, candidates will receive a written invitation).

Detailed study information:

The goal of the doctoral study of computer science in the branch of study Autonomous Systems is the training of experts for design, research, and applications of a broad spectrum of autonomous and multiagent systems. Students choose their specialization among topics like artificial intelligence (cognitive systems), knowledge systems and knowledge engineering, theoretical and applied robotics, drone control and processing of data streams from drones (UAV – Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles), mathematical modeling of multi-agent systems, bio-inspired multiagent computing, supercomputing technologies and more. They have also wide opportunities for participation in research projects, grant support, short-term and long-term foreign research stays.

Graduate profile:

Ph.D. graduates will find jobs as top IT experts in both private companies and public sector organizations. They are able to participate in the development of open-source software platforms, to lead teams developing large software projects, to design and build knowledge bases, to become consultants of the latest information technologies. Last but not least, they can continue their academic career as investigators at universities and international research centers.

Study organization:

The study program is available in full-time and part-time form. Standard study duration is 3 years in the full-time form and 5 years in the part-time form. Students of the full-time form will be provided a scholarship according to the actual university regulation. In return, they will participate in teaching duties of the Institute of Computer Science, up to 4 hours weekly.

The study follows an individual study plan under control of the student’s supervisor. The individual study plan is designed in cooperation of the supervisor and the student and must be approved by the scientific council of the study program. The individual study plan contains:

• the Ph.D. thesis theme
• the list of courses the student has to pass
• a list of other duties and suggestions for subsequent years of study (scientific publications, conference and workshop participation etc.)
• a description of continuous control of the state of preparation of the Ph.D. thesis

The individual study plan includes at least 5 study courses concluded by exams conducted by an exam tribunal. The students of the full-time form must pass the exams in the first two years of study, and the students of the part-time form must pass them in the first three years of study. The courses Autonomous Systems and English for Computer Science are mandatory, the student also visits the Seminarium every semester of the study.1 At least four courses are chosen from the list of optional courses according to the topic of the Ph.D. thesis.

Contents, scope, and form of the state doctoral examination:

The state doctoral examination is organized as a scientific dispute with the candidate and it includes topics of three courses of the individual study plan, selected so as to be linked with the Ph.D. thesis topic and the exams the student has passed. The scope of these three courses is defined in the actually published list of topics for the final exams, and in more details also in content descriptions of these courses. The student is expected to prove an orientation in theoretical computer science, artificial intelligence and the field of autonomous agents and multiagent systems.