Theoretical physics and Astrophysics

The aim of the doctoral study programme Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics is to educate students in the field of Physics at the doctoral level with a focus on theoretical physics and astrophysics. The professional knowledge and skills and general competences acquired during the study are aimed at completely independent and, from the perspective of the global context, full-fledged scientific and research work in the field of theoretical physics and astrophysics, with extensive use of mathematical and computer methods enabling flexible changes in the focus of scientific research. Another aim of the study is the development of critical thinking and mastery of dynamically developing information technologies in both the hardware and software areas.

Upon successful completion of the programme, the graduate is able to:

• Definition of professional knowledge according to the thematic focus of the dissertation, graduates have thorough knowledge of relativistic physics and astrophysics, particle physics or computer physics, enabling independent scientific work level.
• Graduates have the ability to use physical-mathematical reasoning, logical and critical thinking, and the ability to search for patterns and connections between physical phenomena when solving practical problems.
• Graduates are capable of operationally modifying independent scientific research into a wide range of physical and technical applications.
• Definition of exit competencies Graduates demonstrate the ability to quickly orient themselves in new issues, adaptability; the ability to use physical and mathematical methods operatively, the ability to cooperate in a team and to lead a team.
• They are adaptable and capable of creatively approaching the solution of practical problems and finding application in other fields or in practice.
• They are highly skilled in working with computers. They have teaching experience from working at a university. Thanks to practical experience from working in an international team, they are capable of active general communication in English.

Studies in the doctoral study program Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics are conducted according to an individual study plan under the guidance of a supervisor from among the habilitated employees of the Institute of Physics in Opava, or from another workplace; the subject council may approve other prominent experts in theoretical physics and astrophysics as supervisors.

The applicant for studies first chooses a possible supervisor with whom he/she agrees on the topic of his/her dissertation. This is usually in accordance with the focus of the research centers of the Institute of Physics in Opava and with the current directions of their scientific activities. After a successful admission procedure, the supervisor creates an individual study plan for the student, which is then forwarded to the subject council for approval, as well as the topic of the dissertation.

The content of doctoral studies is the student's scientific work under the supervision of a supervisor, the results of which the student presents in his/her dissertation, in professional publications, at seminars and conferences. Another integral part of doctoral studies is the completion of three mandatory subjects of each individual study plan (Seminar in Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, Dissertation Thesis, English), one basic theoretical subject of the profiling foundation and three other subjects of the profiling foundation that are mandatory electives in the individual study plan.

The content of the selected mandatory elective subjects of the individual study plan is determined by the supervisor in cooperation with the subject guarantors within the given professional areas of the subjects so that they correspond to the thematic focus of the dissertation; it also includes the determination of appropriate study literature, the composition of which is selected by the supervisor so that it also reflects the current state of knowledge in theoretical physics, both in book literature and, above all, in journal literature.

Doctoral studies do not use a standard system of evaluating study load using credits, however, as a guideline, the fact that a joint seminar represents approximately 10% of the total study load (for the entire study), 5 exams represent a total of 45% of the load, and work on the dissertation also represents 45% of the load.