4 year / 8 semester (regular)
2 year / 4 semester (individual)
scholarship / self financed
admission fee: 9000 HUF
240 credit (educational/research)
Entry requirements:

Oral exam (all applicants)
+ Complex exam (for Untrained program)

Application period:

Nov.-Dec., 2024 (cross-semester)
April-May, 2025

About the Division

The Division of Pathology and Oncology is one of the most popular and successful programs of the Semmelweis Doctoral School. Graduates of our programs can participate in research covering the whole spectrum of pathology and oncology, from theoretical research to translational research for clinical practice, using state-of-the-art digital and omics technologies.

In addition to a broad range of cancer diseases, the department’s training program also includes several translational research topics with clinical relevance, in addition to understanding the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases. In addition to basic research in cancer biology using in vitro and in vivo experimental systems, the 45 active PIs in the group are involved in several translational research topics (biomarker identification, development of molecular risk assessment systems). Particular emphasis will be given to research on tumour metabolism and the human microbiome, as well as the development and application of advanced bioinformatics techniques.

Programs of the Pathological and Oncological Division

01. Diagnostic, Digital and Molecular Pathology
Program leader: Dr. András Kiss

02. Study of Microorganisms and their Products on Cellular and Organism Level
Program leader: Dr. Dóra Szabó

03. Molecular and Experimental Oncology
Program leader: Dr. Csaba Bödör

04. Clinical Oncology and Radiation Therapy
Program leader: Dr. Csaba Polgár

Entry requirements

Who can apply for PhD training?

Those with a university degree (MSc, MA) can apply for PhD training (proof of education is not yet required in the admissions process, but studies can only be started with proof of education).

In case of proof of excellent research results, doctoral training can also be started with a bachelor's degree and started master's studies.

Division, program and topic selection

When applying for doctoral training or obtaining a degree, it is mandatory to indicate the chosen doctoral division. The admission interviews are organized by the doctoral divisions. The program and topic selection are only mandatory from the second semester onwards (with the exception of individual degree holders and the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship applicants, who can only apply with the recommendation of the future supervisor/consultant).

  • During an admission procedure, you can only apply for one division and have to indicate the topic and supervisor of a program.

  • If the applicant does not wish to choose a program, supervisor and topic in the first semester, then the head of the doctoral division will be the student's supervisor during the first semester.

  • Enrollment for the second semester can only be done by indicating the program, supervisor or topic approved by the doctoral school.

General admission requirements
  • Doctoral applicants must be university graduates (MSc or MA degree) or students registered for their final semester of university studies, or Bsc graduates who started their  MSc, as well with  proven excellent  research track

  • Applicants for the English-Language PhD program must have a good command of English, which is assessed at the entrance interviews

  • When applying to the program, applicants are required to state the specific training program and research topic they wish to pursue within one of the University’s  doctoral programs

  • The admission procedure is based on evaluating the candidate’s general and topic-related knowledge as well as personal ability, academic competence and previous scientific activity and contribution.
Admission requirements for Individual ("Untrained") Program

The PhD candidates in the untrained program are supposed to take a complex comprehensive exam after a successful entrance interview.

The exam has two parts:
  • the practical part (students have to give a 8-10 minutes long presentation in front of the examination board)

  • the theoretical part of the exam (1 main subject, 1 additional subject) - the Recommendation for the subjects of the complex exam and for the members of the professional board of the theoretical exam form is filled in by the Doctoral Divisions not by the students.

Read more →

Contacts - Pathological and Oncological Division

Chairman: Dr. András Matolcsy
e-mail: titkarsag.1path@semmelweis.hu
phone: +36 1 266 1637 / 54455

Educational coordinator: Cecília Laczik
e-mail: laczik.cecilia@semmelweis.hu
phone: +36 1 266 1637 / 54437

Why is it worth getting a degree with us?
  • Innovation efforts at Semmelweis University are based on more than 250 years of tradition and professional experience.
  • Wide range of research topics, from basic to clinical research
  • Collaboration with internationally renowned researchers
  • Opportunities to participate in international research and publish in prestigious scientific journals
  • Opportunities to learn about state-of-the-art technologies

How to apply?

Application and admission periods
Application period
  • in case of traditional training in April-May 
  • in case of cross-semester training in November-December 
Dates of entrance exams:
  • during spring application in June
  • in the case of cross-semester enrollment at the end of January
How to apply?

The application can be submitted online after registration.
The application interface is only active during the admission process period.

phdapplicant.semmelweis.hu

Documents required for application
Documents have to be uploaded during the online application:
  1. Curriculum Vitae with detailed work/professional experience (1-2 pages)
  2. a photocopy of the university diploma(s),
    • if a non-Hungarian diploma: an authenticated translation or its naturalisation document should be submitted,
    • if required, the equivalence decision of the Hungarian Ministry of Education (of a non-Hungarian diploma)
    • in case of application without MSc, MD etc. degree: Certification of the examination results,  the credit certificate from Neptun
  3. proof of at least one intermediate state accredited language examination C type, or the certificate of an equivalent language examination, or certicate of the supervisor about the necessary English knowledge, or certificate  of English language university studies
  4. short research plan, which is the outlines of the selected research tasks in case you apply for a specific theme attached to a particular supervisor (2-3 pages)
  5. list of publications (if you have any publications)
  6. written recommendation of  the supervisor/ consultant
  7. documents which can certify the additional points  (second degrees, awards, publications, etc.)
  8. proof of payment of the application fee
Payment of the application fee

Payment of the application fee is a condition for acceptance of the application for doctoral training.

The admission fee is HUF 9,000, which can be paid:

  • by online card payment (by onlinebank card payment initiated from the registration interface via with Simple pay)
  • by transfer, on the basis of an invoice (please upload the payment proof to the admission interface)

How to get an invoice?

If you choose bank transfer, please send the following information to the staff of the Financial Management Unit – Doctoral School (titkarsag.digh@semmelweis.hu) regarding the payment of the admission fee. Based on the data given, an invoice will be sent to the applicant, who can transfer the application fee by referring to this invoice.

When requesting an invoice for an individual person:

  • applicant’s name, address,
  • passport number,
  • phone number,
  • e-mail address.

When requesting an invoice for a company:

  1. name of applicant,
  2. company name,
  3. headquarter address,
  4. tax number,
  5. phone number,
  6. email address
  7. the company’s statement in email about whether it accepts electronic invoices
  8. the company’s signed, attached pdf statement about its bank account number.

If you choose to pay by bank transfer, please upload the payment proof to the admission interface, also send it to the staff of the Financial Management Unit – Doctoral School (titkarsag.digh@semmelweis.hu). Finalization of the application is possible only after uploading the payment proof.

Things to do before starting the studies
  1. Enrollment: enrollment takes place in person, at a pre-specified time (at the beginning of September) in the Doctoral Office. Accepted students will be notified by e-mail of the exact date and the required documents. Attention, the condition for starting doctoral training is the presentation of a university diploma and a moral certificate not older than three months. Read more →

  2. Activating the Neptun semester and recording the subjects

  3. Applying for a student ID card

  4. In the case of self-funded students, payment of the tuition fee

Student services