Regulations for Doctoral Studies and Study Regulations

III.4.2. Doctoral thesis as an integrated collection of research publications


107. An integrated collection of research publications must meet the requirements laid down in clause 121 and includes three research publications and an introductory chapter unless stipulated otherwise in these regulations.

108. In an integrated collection of research publications,

108.1. the introductory chapter must meet the requirements laid down in clause 118;

108.2. the three research articles must have been peer-reviewed and accepted for publishing by publications described in clauses 116.1 or 116.2. By a justified decision of the council, one of the three articles may be positively peer-reviewed by two internationally recognised independent researchers selected by the council.

The review of a scientific article should be organised by the council in accordance with articles 125.2 and 126. The review should be equivalent to the review of a high-quality scientific journal.

109. An integrated collection of research publications may also comprise

109.1. an introductory chapter meeting the requirements laid down in clause 118 and

109.2. at least one publication meeting the requirements of clauses 116.1 or 116.2 and at least two invention patents or patent applications;

109.3. at least two publications meeting the requirements of clauses 116.1 or 116.2 and at least one patent, patent application or applied solution.

110. The doctoral candidate must be the lead or sole author of at least one research publication.

111. If a publication, invention or applied solution has several authors or the doctoral thesis forms a part of a joint research, the contribution of the doctoral candidate must be significant and thoroughly described in the doctoral thesis.

Contribution to collaborative research must be described in the list of original publications.

It is customary to inform one’s co-authors of including a joint research in the doctoral thesis. If the doctoral candidate plans to publish a joint article in the doctoral thesis before it is published in a journal/collection, it is mandatory to ask for written permission from all co-authors.

In principle it is allowed to include a publication in several doctoral theses, however the final decision is made by the council.

112. The council, based on a calculated and justified decision, has the right to allow a doctoral thesis in the form of an integrated collection of research publications to be defended also if it contains fewer publications than required in clause 107, provided at least one of them includes research at an internationally outstanding level which has a clearly visible and comprehensible result that changes the scientific worldview of the specialisation, and in which the doctoral candidate is the lead or sole author.

The decision for a case described in clause 112 is made by the council when the supervisor of a doctoral candidate asks for a consultation with the council. Positive feedback from the council is necessary before the candidate submits their documents according to clause 122. Council’s decision for making the exception is made with the decision according to clause 125.