Branch programme/details

The students of the branch of study will have acquired comprehensive knowledge and skills required for conducting independent research and other scientific activities in quantum optics and optoelectronics. In accord with individual study plans students concentrate on the topic of their thesis. They can find employment in both fundamental and applied research at universities, research institutes, and in industry. The progress in application of optics in numerous research areas (physics, biology, chemistry, medicine, communications, and robotics) leads to an increase in the range of employment possibilities.

Invitation to subject entrance examination

The invitation to the subject entrance examination will be sent to those applicants, who

• submitted a complete application together with its obligatory attachments 2,3 and 4 before the deadline,

• paid the application fee,

• did not obtain the confirmation of the waiver of the subject entrance examination before mid-December 2024.

The invitation to an entrance examination is delivered through the University Electronic Information System. In mid-December, 2024, all applicants without a waiver receive an invitation to take the entrance examination from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics. If the Faculty approves the waiver after sending out the invitation, the invitation ceases to apply.

Entrance examination

The entrance examination consists of two parts, subject part and a language part.

The subject part of the entrance examination takes the form of a discussion about the chosen study programme. The committee gives the applicant three questions related to the chosen study programme. The committee judges the correctness of the answer, the knowledge of the field and overall readiness for doctoral studies. Each answer is evaluated on the binary Pass/Fail scale. The applicant must obtain three passing grades. If the applicant has chosen one of the thesis topics offered by the faculty and has obtained an approval of a future supervisor, or if the committee accepts the annotation of the applicant‘s own topic, the applicant will successfully pass the exam with only two passing grades from three questions.

The language part of the entrance examination consists of verification of knowledge of the English language in the form of a written test conducted in person. The applicant may obtain a maximum of 100 points, the threshold for passing the exam is 50 points.

If the applicant cannot take part in the face-to-face test for objective reasons, it is possible to take the test online at the Department of Language Education of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics under the same conditions. In this case, the student must contact the Study Department at the latest two working days before the day of the exam and inform them of the reasons.

Admission to Doctoral studies is conditioned by successful completion of a Master's study programme.

Verification method:	entrance exam
Confirmation date (of entrance exam) from:	15.01.2025	Until:	16.01.2025
Alternative date (of entrance exam):	23.01.2025	Until:	23.01.2025

Waiver conditions of the subject entrance examination

The subject entrance examination may be waived for applicants who have chosen one of the thesis topics offered by the faculty and obtained an approval of a future supervisor, and for whom at least one of the following conditions applies:
1. their original scientific work on a relevant topic has been published, or has been accepted for publication, in a reviewed medium indexed by MathSciNet, SCOPUS or ISI Web of Knowledge databases;
2. they have achieved excellent results in their master's study programme in the field of Physics, Computer Science, or Mathematics;
3. they have achieved other remarkable results testifying their ability for doctoral studies.
It is necessary to apply for the waiver and prove that the applicant satisfies some of the above conditions, by no later than November 30, 2024

Conditions for a language examination waiver

The language examination will be waived if the applicant fulfills at least one of the following waiver conditions:
A. The applicant spent at least two years of his/her previous education at secondary or university level with English as the sole language of instruction in one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, South Africa, UK or USA.
B. The applicant does not need to take the language examination of English if (s)he has already passed one of the following exams (in some cases we recognize the exam only with a minimum score or level):
• General State Language Examination in English in the Czech Republic
• examination in English at Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
• TOEFL (paper) – 550 points
• TOEFL (computer) – 213 points
• TOEFL (internet) – 80 points
• IELTS – 7 points
• C2 Proficiency (formerly known as CPE) - Pass
• C1 Advanced (formerly known as CAE) - Pass
• B2 First (formerly known as FCE) – Grade A
• City&Guilds International ESOL, or City&Guilds International Spoken ESOL: Expert level - expert level
• TELC (The European Language Certificates) – TELC English C1 - Pass
• UNIcert English for Mathematicians: Level C1 – level C1
• Melab – 77 points
• Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) - Pass
• Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) – 605 points

The language examination waiver and the compliance with one of the conditions mentioned above must be requested before the deadlines mentioned above.

The graduate in this branch of study has a sound theoretical and experimental knowledge of quantum optics and optoelectronics. He/she is able to conduct an independent scientific research and present the obtained results at conferences and in journal publications. The graduates can find employment in both fundamental and applied research at universities, research institutes, and in industry.