The Individual, advanced (“Untrained”) PhD Program is recommended for students with significant scientific experience and achievements. The complete duration of the training is 1-4 semesters for research and preparing the dissertation.

The Individual PhD Program is for those whose research, done outside the framework of a Doctoral School (e.g. work done abroad or in a research institution independent of universities) meets the requirements of awarding the PhD degree. Following a successful oral entrance examination, they immediately sit for the complex examination, and directly enter the Research and Dissertation Phase without going through the Educational and Research Phase and without taking courses. They subsequently receive their PhD degree through the same procedure as the Conventional PhD Program, except for having to meet a 50% higher publication requirement.

Medical, dental and pharmacy students achieving outstanding results during their studies in frame of the Students’ Scientific Association (TDK) have the possibility to meet the requirements of the complex examination (completion of PhD courses worth of 16 credits and fulfilment of the proportional fraction of the scientific work required for the degree) already in the last 2 years of their undergraduate studies under the guidance of their future supervisor. 

After receiving their MD, DMD or PharmD degree, students must pass the complex examination. After the complex exam there are no further educational requirements and they can directly enter the Research and Dissertation Phase of the PhD Program. Although MD-PhD students must meet a 50% higher impact factor requirement, they can obtain their PhD degree two years earlier than those participating in doctoral training in the Traditional PhD Program.

The 2/3 of IF requirements (100%) has to be fulfilled with at least two original papers related to the topic of the dissertation. The Student has to have at least one “first-author” paper published in a Journal whose IF reaches 50% of requirements. Another 1/3 of IF requirements (50%) should be fulfilled with scientific publications which might not relate to the topic of the dissertation and the order of authors is arbitrary.

Dissertation must be presented within three years after passing the complex exam.

Regular (“Trained”) PhD Program is recommended for students with no or moderate scientific experience. The training can be entered with an MSc or an undivided degree after an entrance exam. The complete duration of the training is 5-8 semesters (4 semesters for training and research phase, 1-4 semesters for research and preparing the diploma work).

PhD studies can be undertaken with the help of a state fellowship (for EU citizens only) or with self-financing. After a successful entrance examination, the Program starts with a 4-semester Educational and Research Phase, for which candidates holding MD or MSc degrees are eligible. Requirements in this phase include completion of research-related educational courses (16 credits altogether), and research work under the guidance of a supervisor.

After the 4^th semester the students sit for a complex exam to give account of the scientific knowledge gained and the research results achieved. After a successful exam they enter the second, Research and Dissertation Phase in order to complete the research started in the first phase, to publish the results, and to prepare and submit their doctoral theses after a successful debate at the host institution. This is followed by public defence of the thesis and, after a successful defence, awarding the PhD degree by the Doctoral Council. 

Prerequisites of the PhD degree are knowledge of a foreign language necessary for scientific activity (usually English), and fulfilment of the predetermined publication requirements (usually publication of 2 original papers in journals of high standing measured by their impact factor). The maximum duration of the Research and Dissertation Phase is 4 semesters, but in case of earlier completion of the above requirements the doctoral thesis can be submitted at an earlier time.