Support for the Development of the Evaluation System of PhD Theses

Support for the Development of the Evaluation System of PhD Theses through the Involvement of Recognized International Experts

Purpose of the support: Inviting recognized international experts to act as opponents and/or to participate in committee work is possible if financial support is provided to the supervisors for this purpose. Beyond elevating the quality of the defence and enhancing the University’s reputation, the involvement of international experts may also strengthen existing scientific collaborations or facilitate the establishment of new ones. All of these can contribute to further increasing Semmelweis University’s role in international research networks and improving its position in global university rankings.

Eligible applicants: accredited PhD supervisors of Semmelweis University.

Application period: continuous, until funds are exhausted.

Minimum/maximum amount of support: between 400,000 – 600,000 HUF

The maximum amount of support is 400,000 HUF for experts arriving from European universities/research institutions, and 600,000 HUF for experts arriving from overseas.

In the exceptional case that the international expert undertakes committee work at at least two PhD defences during their stay, the maximum amount of support is 600,000 HUF for a European expert and 900,000 HUF for an overseas expert.

If the international expert also acts as an opponent, the maximum amount of support may be increased by 100,000 HUF per evaluation.

Form of support:

• Financial contribution to the travel, accommodation, meal expenses, and honorarium of international experts.
  The awarded support may be disbursed once the international expert confirms in writing their in‑person participation in the PhD defence.
• The full amount of the awarded support is transferred to the organizational unit employing the supervisor.
• Following the doctoral defence, the use of the support must be verified with a contract of engagement issued in the name of the international expert or with invoices issued to the University.
• In the event that the travel is cancelled for any reason, the amount of support must be repaid (in the case of force majeure preventing travel after a flight ticket has been purchased, the price of the ticket does not need to be reimbursed).
• Within one calendar year, each supervisor may submit one application.
• Applications are accepted continuously, and evaluation takes place within 10 working days.

Condition of support:

Among the first‑author publications used for obtaining the degree, at least one must be classified as D1 (based on SCImago ranking).

The international expert must not be a co‑author of any publication forming the basis of the PhD thesis.

Documents to be submitted by the applicant:

• Completed application form
• Copies of the publications forming the basis of the PhD thesis (the first page is sufficient).
• Copies of the international expert’s five most important publications (the first page is sufficient).