Curriculum

Last modified: 11. October 2023

Available here:

https://doktori.hu/index.php?menuid=191&lang=EN&di_ID=227

Study system for the Doctoral School of Animal Science
 
The Higher Education Act changed the training period of doctoral schools from six semesters to eight semesters from September 2016 and divided the study interval into two phases. The first four semesters are in the "training and research" phase, the second in the "research and dissertation preparation” phase. At the end of the fourth semester, at the end of the training and research phase and as an initial condition for starting the research and dissertation phase, a complex exam must be passed, which measures and evaluates the progress of studies and research. The doctoral student must submit his / her doctoral dissertation within three years after the complex examination.
It is the intention of the legislator that not only should the structure of doctoral training change, but also that research and preparation for effective publication activities should play a greater role than at present. In the spirit of this, the study system of the Doctoral School of Animal Sciences is based on the following main guidelines: at least 30% but not more than 50% of the 240 credits to be obtained in 8 semesters are research credits, while training credits are only 18%-27%. Overloading doctoral students with educational tasks is not a goal, therefore the proportion of credits that can be obtained through educational activities is max. 10%.

Distribution and crediting required for the degree

The condition for applying for a degree is to obtain the so called “absolutorium”, which can be issued if at least 240 credits are completed (Table 1). During the first four semesters of the training, in the “training and research phase”, at least 120 credits must be obtained, including 100% of the study (training) credits undertaken in the work plan. The first stage of the training ends with a complex exam.

Doctoral students must complete a total of at least 240 credits per semester during the 4-year course. Minimum credit to be completed per semester 16. In the absence of this, the doctoral student may not continue his / her studies. If a student completes more than 30 credits in a semester, it may be carried over to the following semester (s).

 
Table 1: Summary of credit requirements to be met for getting absolutorium

 
Table 2: Compulsory courses taught in the framework of doctoral (PhD) training and their credit numbers at the Doctoral School of Animal Science

Elective subjects are taken according to an individual work plan. Elective subjects do not start in the first semester, their proposed dates are II., III., IV. semester.​​​​​​​

Table 3: All courses, teachers in charge, credits

Possibilities of digital imaging devices (CT, MR) in vivo in animal breeding

3D digital modeling and printing

Epidemiological statistics

Parasitoses in farm and companion animals in the light of the One Health approach

Gene conservation, conservation and genetics

Applying a One Health Approach to Animal Product processing

Ecology and conservation of predators

Stress Physiology and Test Methods in Fodder Plants

Wild mammals

research methodology

Study credits: a total of 35 credits can be obtained by completing the required subjects. At least 3 electives must be completed during the 4 semesters of the training and research phase. The student has the opportunity to increase his / her study credits, with a maximum of 2 credits per semester and a maximum of 8 credits in the training and research phase.
In the case of electives taught and completed in a foreign language in one's own and other doctoral schools (4 credits for electives), the student receives an extra credit (+ 2 credits).

Teaching credits: to gain a minimum of 2 credits is required; a maximum of 6 credits can be credited over a maximum of 4 semesters (over the entire period of doctoral training), i.e., a maximum of 24 credits over 8 semesters.
6 credits (based on Neptun system) can be credited for teaching 2 hours per week or more as a course leader or teacher. Active participation in the teaching of a course, but not exceeding 2 hours per week, minimum 6 hours / semester (based on the certificate of the person in charge) is worth 3 credits. In case of education in a foreign language, the student is entitled to extra credit (+ 2 credits). A maximum of 6 teaching credits and a maximum of 4 semesters can be credited per semester.

Research credits: minimum 72, maximum 120 credits.
The accepted work plan is worth 8 credits. Up to 14 credits (28 credits per year) can be credited for research work, but it is evaluated by an ad hoc committee convened by the head of the DI. After the first year, the condition for continuing doctoral studies is the existence of 8 + 16 research credits (approved work plan + progress of the research in the first year).

Credits for publications: minimum 24 credits of this type are required.

The following credit values can be credited for publications:
• Lecture at a professional event/conference in Hungarian: 2 credits;
• Lecture at a professional event/conference in foreign language: 4 credits;
• Abstract or poster published in a domestic conference: 2 credits;
• Proceedings published in full in a Hungarian conference: 3 credits;
• Abstract or poster published in a foreign conference: 3 credits;
• Material published in full in a foreign conference publication
  (proceeding): 4 credits
• Scientific article or paper in a foreign scientific journal: 8 credits;
• Scientific article in Hungarian in a scientific journal: 4 credits;
• Scientific article in a foreign language 6 credits in a scientific journal not listed by Scopus;
• Scientific article in “other” (non scientific) journals or publications in Hungarian: 2 credits;
• Foreign language article in “other” (non scientific) journals: 3 credits;
• Diploma thesis consultation completed per student: 4 credits/student;
• Preparing/training a student for a Faculty / University Scientific Student Conference: 2 credits/student;
• Preparing/training a student for a national Scientific Student Conference: 4 credits/student;
• Book excerpt, note excerpt: 4 credits / sheet, max. 8 credits;

* In case of co-supervision, the student is entitled to 50% of the credit value.
 
Credits for both written material and lectures are eligible for attendance at the conference. A lecture given at a round table conference is also eligible (lecture at a professional event in Hungarian: 2 credits).
 
Weighting of publications in the refereed journals during the credit calculation

• The value of a scientific article is determined by the journal in which the authors have published it. The comparison based on the previous impact factor did not take into account the differences between disciplines, so according to the quartile classification already introduced (https://researchassessment.fbk.eu/quartile_score), the DS takes into account the weighting of publications. Publications in journals in categories Q1-Q4 are multiplied by the following multipliers: 4-fold in Q1, 3-fold in Q2, 2-fold in Q3 and 1-fold in Q4.

• In the case of a multi-authored article, if the student is on the list of authors as first, as last, or as a correspondent (or possibly shared first author), the student will receive the credit value due to the credit table.

• If the student is not the first, last or correspondent author on the list of authors, he / she is only entitled to 50% of the weighted credit value.
 
The following examples show the calculation of the credit that can be given for an article published in a different Q-category scientific journal.
 

Other credits
 
Support received by doctoral student as a subject (conference participation, publication, scholarship) awarded to the student by a national or international scientific body, professional college: 4 credits
Participation in a patent application: 10 credits

The complex exam

The complex exam is a summary, overview form of examination for measuring the knowledge of the doctoral student participating in the organized doctoral training/education, as well as the evaluation of research progress in the training and research phase of the doctoral training (first 4 semesters). Completion of the complex exam is a condition for starting the research and dissertation phase (second 4 semesters of doctoral training). An applicant applying for a doctoral degree can join the second 4 semesters of the doctoral program by passing the complex exam.

Conditions for applying for the complex exam:

• At least 90 credits in the “training and research phase” of the doctoral program (first four semesters)
and
• obtaining all the “training credits” required in the doctoral school's curriculum (except for those preparing for a doctoral degree individually, whose student status is established by applying for and accepting the complex examination)
• Existence of a second language exam and / or language exam.

Students can register/apply for the complex exam by submitting an application form, which must be accompanied by documents proving that the above conditions have been met (proof of credits obtained).
In the case of special fairness, the President of the Doctoral and Habilitation board may, with the consent of the supervisor and the head of the doctoral school, authorize the completion of the complex examination in the following examination period.
The complex exam must be taken in public in front of a committee. The examination board consists of 5 members (chairman, secretary, 1 internal and two external members). Its president is a university professor or professor emeritus or a lecturer or researcher of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. All members of the examination board have an academic degree. The supervisor of the doctoral student must not be a member of the examination committee. The examination may be conducted if at least the chairman and two members (one of whom is an external member) are present. (An alternate chairman and alternate member shall be appointed when determining the composition of the committee.)
The composition of the examination committee is reviewed by the DIT and approved by the DHT. The chairman and members of the committee are invited by the head of the DI. The date and place of the examination will be decided by the head of the DI after consultation with the members of the committee.

The complex examination consists of two main parts: one part assesses the candidate's theoretical background ("theoretical part") and the other part reports on the candidate's academic progress ("dissertation part").
The theoretical part of the complex exam consists of a main and a secondary exam part. For the theoretical part of the complex exam, the head of the DI compiles the topics agreed with the supervisor and a bibliography for each topic. The topics provide the examination committee with information on the content of the student's training, their excessive narrowing is not desirable.
In the dissertation part of the complex exam, the candidate reports on his / her research results in the form of a 20-minute lecture, describes his / her research plan for the second phase of the doctoral program, and the schedule for preparing the dissertation and publishing the results. The supervisor evaluates the candidate in writing and / or orally in advance.
The complex examination consists of two main parts: one part assesses the candidate's theoretical background ("theoretical part") and the other part reports on the candidate's academic progress ("dissertation part").

The committee evaluates the main and minor examinations separately in a closed session, the theoretical part of the complex exam as an average, and then the dissertation part. The evaluation is done by secret ballot, scoring on a scale of 1-5 (5 - largely supported, 4 - supported, 3 - inappropriate, 2 - rejected, 1 - explicitly rejected). If the doctoral student does not reach 60% in any part of the examination, the complex examination is considered unsuccessful.
Exam evaluation: failed (below 60%), passed  / rite (60-70%), cum laude (71-90%), or summa cum laude (above 91%).
A report containing a textual assessment will be prepared for the complex exam. The result of the examination must be announced on the day of the oral examination. If the exam fails, there is no possibility to repeat the “dissertation” part of the exam. The “theoretical” part can be repeated once every six months. Until the successful completion of the exam, the student status and the payment of the scholarship will be suspended.
No exemption may be granted from the complex examination.

Kaposvár, 28 February 2022