Branch programme/details

The study program is focused on the problematic of didactics of physics and general problems of physics. It stems from scientific disciplines such as physics, didactics of physics, pedagogy and psychology. The main goal is to provide students with a complex overview of didactics of physics, teach them independent scientific practice in this field and allow for a deeper understanding of some parts of physics. This programme naturally follows the master’s programme Physics Education for Secondary Schools which, out of the whole Charles University, can be studied solely at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics. It is therefore natural that this faculty also has a doctorate program focused on didactics of physics and general problems of physics. This study programme is unique by being the only one at our university to offer doctorate level studies in the field of didactics of physics.

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 December 19, 2021.The invitation to an entrance examination is delivered through the University Electronic Information System. On December 19, 2021 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, the invitation ceases to apply.

Entrance examination
The entrance examination consists of two parts, subject and language one. 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 comittee 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 entrance examination consists of a written test. The applicant may obtain a maximum of 100 points. The exam verifies that the applicant has an adequate command of the English language, i.e. at least at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This is an equivalent of 50 points. All applicants with a score between 50 and 79 points who will complete all other necessary admission requirements will be obliged to take the exam English for PhD students (NDZK001) offered by the Faculty as an obligatory part of their individual study plans. The Faculty also offers courses (NJAZ068, NJAZ116, NJAZ069, NJAZ117, NJAZ092, NJAZ118) as preparation for this exam.

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:	19.01.2022	Until:	20.01.2022
Alternative date (of entrance exam):	27.01.2022	Until:	27.01.2022

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 work has been recognized in the SVOČ competition in computer science, mathematics, or teaching of mathematics (for study programmes in the fields of Computer Science and Mathematics);
2. their work has been recognized at the Czech-Slovak Student Conference on Physics (for study programmes in the field of Physics);
3. 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;
4. they have finished a master's study programme in the field of Physics, Computer Science, or Mathematics in the academic years 2020/2021 or 2021/2022, and their grade in each part of the state final examination is „excellent“ or „very good“ (for study programmes in the field of Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics);
5. they have gained at least 120 credits in the master's study programme in the field of Physics, Computer Science, or Mathematics in academic years 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22, and their average study grade (according to the Code of Study and Examination, Art. 8, Par. 13) is at most 1.5, where 1=„excellent“, 2=„very good“, and 3=„satisfactory“ (for study programmes in the field of Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics);
6. 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 December 15, 2021 in case of points 1,2,3,5 and 6, and by January 15, 2022 in case of point 4.

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 work has been recognized in the SVOČ competition in computer science, mathematics, or teaching of mathematics (for study programmes in the fields of Computer Science and Mathematics);
2. their work has been recognized at the Czech-Slovak Student Conference on Physics (for study programmes in the field of Physics);
3. 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;
4. they have finished a master's study programme in the field of Physics, Computer Science, or Mathematics in the academic years 2020/2021 or 2021/2022, and their grade in each part of the state final examination is „excellent“ or „very good“ (for study programmes in the field of Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics);
5. they have gained at least 120 credits in the master's study programme in the field of Physics, Computer Science, or Mathematics in academic years 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22, and their average study grade (according to the Code of Study and Examination, Art. 8, Par. 13) is at most 1.5, where 1=„excellent“, 2=„very good“, and 3=„satisfactory“ (for study programmes in the field of Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics);
6. 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 December 15, 2021 in case of points 1,2,3,5 and 6, and by January 15, 2022 in case of point 4.

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 – 6.5 points
• Cambridge ESOL CPE
• Cambridge ESOL CAE
• Cambridge ESOL FCE – (Grade A, B, C)
• City & Guilds International ESOL IESOL and ISESOL, expert level
• TELC (The European Language Certificates) – TELC English level C1
• UNIcert – level C1
• Melab – 77 points
• Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE)
• Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) – 605 points
• International ESOL and Spoken ESOL – Expert LanguageCert and Mastery LanguageCert

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

The graduate has deeper knowledge in physics, physics education, pedagogical-psychological disciplines or philosophy and history of physics and is prepared to independent research work in various branches of physics education or philosophy and history of physic. Graduate specialized in physics education is able to solve problems connected with physic education on secondary school level and to plan, conduct and evaluate research in the field of physics education. The graduates will find employment at university departments providing pre-service physics teacher training, in scientific and pedagogical institutions, in management positions in school system and as a highly qualified teacher at junior and senior secondary schools and at colleges.