In 1993, following Hungary’s adherence to the Bologna Process, the Anglo–American model of doctoral education ending with a PhD degree was introduced as a well–pronounced third cycle of higher education (the other two being the Bachelor and Master levels) that is to serve the education of future generations of scientists.
Doctoral education is about getting prepared for a research career and thus offers an opportunity to acquire the theoretical, methodological and communication skills that are instrumental to writing the doctoral dissertation and to meeting the necessary requirements.
Doctoral education at the same time marks the beginning of a long process of socialization: it is a decisive phase in getting introduced to the academic form of life. Up to now around 1500 students have obtained a PhD degree at the Corvinus University of Budapest or one of its legal predecessors and there are several hundred students who are currently getting ready for the submission of their doctoral dissertation. This study guide is intended mainly for students who began their studies after 1 September 2016 in the so–called „new type” of doctoral education. It contains all the basic information that is needed to find one’s way in the world of the Corvinus Doctoral Schools.
Corvinus Doctoral Schools (CDS): Umbrella organization coordinating doctoral programs at the Corvinus University of Budapest. The most important tasks of CDS are to facilitate the effective functioning of the professionally autonomous doctoral schools, to ensure smooth communication, efficient administration and educational management, to maintain the competitiveness of the education of future generations of scientists. CDS is headed by a Director General who is also the Chairman of the Doctoral Cabinet.
Doctoral Cabinet (DC): Consultative body composed of the Heads and Program Directors of the Doctoral Schools. It gives an opinion on regulatory, budgetary and strategic matters related to the Corvinus Doctoral Schools. The Cabinet also prepares the upcoming meeting of the University Doctoral Council.
University Doctoral Office (UDO): Organizational unit in charge of the administration of doctoral education overall, including both service centre activities and office functions, among others it deals with the administration of the doctoral admission procedure, registration, course registration, the comprehensive exam and the public PhD defence. It keeps official records, issues documents and certificates.
University Doctoral Council (UDC): The supreme decision making body responsible for doctoral education. It is comprised of the Heads, Program Directors of the Doctoral Schools, their delegates as well as external experts. The Council meets twice each semester and takes decisions on matters like admissions to doctoral schools, on the composition of the Evaluation Committees of public defences and on awarding the PhD degree.
Secretariats of the Council of Doctoral School (CDS Secretariats): The operation of each doctoral school is supervised by a Council elected by the Core Members of the Doctoral School. The Secretariats provide administrative support to these bodies, as well as to the Heads and Program Directors of the Doctoral Schools. They are in charge of organizing the defence of the thesis proposal, handle applications from students, coordinate the administration of credit request forms, provide information, they also represent the main forum for liaising with students and lecturers.
The doctoral schools of the Corvinus University of Budapest operate with a licence obtained from the Educational Authority under the constant monitoring of the Hungarian Accreditation Committee.
The language of education is Hungarian and English, with most of the courses held in English owing to the increasing number of foreign students and the internationalisation of the university.
The programs offered by the four doctoral schools are essentially related to social sciences, the Doctoral School of Business Informatics however transmits knowledge in the field of engineering as well. The deeper we dig in the activities of the doctoral schools, the more we witness the wide range of the branches of science offered from management and organizational sciences through information, economic, political and sociological sciences to media and communication sciences.
The schedule of all doctoral programs is full–time. Students either benefit from state scholarship or finance their own studies. The latter, however, can apply for various grants (e.g. the MNB Scholarship of Excellence). The Heads of the Doctoral Schools are internationally renowned professors who hold a DSc and are assisted by Program Directors and Heads of Specialization.
The Doctoral Schools enjoy scientific autonomy: they define their educational program (curriculum) within the framework of the relevant university regulations, invite professionals to act as supervisors and specify the requirements of obtaining a doctoral degree.
Registration
Colleagues at the University Doctoral Office record in the Neptun systemstudents’ personal data, check documents and degrees related to previous studies(the originals must be presented).
Importatnt: During the program the student’s e–mail address featured in theNeptun system is the most widely used communication channel. Thereforeif a student’s e–mail address changes, he or she should immediately notify theUniversity Doctoral Office.
Course Registration
Following registration the student should himself/herself register in the Neptunsystem for the courses i.e. the compulsory, compulsory elective and electivesubjects prescribed for the given semester in the curriculum.
Important: If needed, colleagues at the University Doctoral Office can helpregister for courses.
Choosing a supervisor
The supervisor is key to the successful advancement of students. In most of theDoctoral Schools the person of the supervisor emerges during the admissionprocess (mentor supervisor), the supervisor however is not finalized before thefirst meeting of the Council of the Doctoral School.
Important: The student should seek to establish an intensive relationship with thesupervisor (mentor) from the very outset. If he/she does not have a supervisor yet,it is advisable to get in touch with the management of the relevant Doctoral Schoolwithout delay to identify the most suitable person and to be able to start workingtogether.
Access to databases
Obtaining the so–called Cusman username and password is indispensable forcommunication and access to databases (Neptun, intranet, library). Doctoralstudents may also request an email address with the following format: name@uni–corvinus.hu. Students are registered in the doktori.hu database by theUniversity Doctoral Office. Registration in MTMT (Hungarian National ScientificBibliography) , by contrast, should be done by the student himself/herself.
Important: foreign students are assisted in this exercise by the librarian indicatedby the Doctoral School
