Masaryk University has been working for several years to improve conditions for those at the beginning of their research careers. Most recently, the effort to significantly enhance the socio-economic background of PhD students has been reflected in an amendment to the Higher Education Act. The amendment states that newly enrolled doctoral students must be guaranteed an income of at least 1.2 times the minimum wage, which for this academic year amounts to CZK 24,960.
Masaryk University has extended this guaranteed income to all PhD students who are studying in the full-time form of a doctoral study programme and within the standard period of their study and meeting their academic obligations. By law, this guaranteed income applies regardless of the language of the study programme.
We asked students from the Faculty of Science how they perceive this change. Researcher Maja Klimentić, a doctoral student in the Environmental Health Sciences programme at the RECETOX centre, and Jakub Hruška, who is a student of the Life Sciences study program and works at Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC) of Masaryk University.
Maja Klimentić comes from Bosnia and Herzegovina and completed her Master’s degree at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague. At Masaryk University, she focuses on how PFAS, so-called "forever chemicals", influence newborns' developing immunity during pregnancy. Jakub Hruška is currently focusing on combining atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in the study of biological samples.
They shared their views with M Magazine.
What does your income consist of during your PhD, and is it enough to cover your expenses?
MK: I’m lucky to be in a RECETOX department that offers fair financial opportunities for PhD students. Students are funded through a balance of project-based salary and stipend. As an international student, my contract also covers health insurance and other requirements for the residence permit. At the moment, the income provided by RECETOX is sufficient to cover my expenses, although I hope it will improve in the future considering the increasing cost of living.
JH: So far, I have been funded through projects and stipends. This income has been sufficient to cover my basic living needs.
How did you view the financial situation of PhD students before these changes?
MK: The financial situation of PhD students varies significantly, not only between universities but also between departments. There are major discrepancies in terms of both workload and income. It seems there is still a prejudice in academia that “love for science” is what drives you forward in research — but that belief harms both researchers and the quality of science. Many PhD students are forced to work part-time or even full-time in order to cover living costs, while still being expected to spend long hours focused on their PhD projects. This is not only stressful and unhealthy but also leads to longer study durations and reduced research output. Love for science is what draws people to a PhD in the first place, but financial pressures, stress and burnout often lead them to lose that passion.
JH: The situation before the recent changes was complicated. A student had to agree on the entry conditions in advance, and even then, there was no guarantee that, for example, halfway through the programme they wouldn’t have to rely solely on the basic scholarship if the planned project was not extended. Alternatively, they had to secure external funding in the form of various doctoral scholarships and competitions, such as Brno PhD Talent. I personally did not experience this uncertainty due to the guaranteed income in our program, but I know that it was a reality for many students in other programs.
Do you plan to apply for the newly introduced minimum stipend to secure the legally guaranteed income?
MK: Yes. I plan to follow guidelines given by the study department, which include fulfilling all individual study plan obligations, and regular updates on received income from research-related activities.
JH: Within my studies, I already have a guaranteed income thanks to the CEITEC PhD School program. However, the university offers students the opportunity to recalculate their income using a calculator that will be launched in September in the Information System, and then decide whether they want to switch to the new minimum scholarship system or stay with the current one. I am curious to see how this comparison will work out in my case. So I don't know the answer at the moment.
Do you think this increase in income could affect motivation or the overall quality of PhD studies?
MK: I hope that motivation and the quality of research will be higher overall — not only because students will be better able to focus on their studies, but also because the increased support might attract more people to start PhD programmes. Of course, this is still far from the standard of non-academic salaries, but it is a step forward and gives hope that more positive changes will follow. However, I worry that students who still need to work despite the increase — for example, those supporting families — may remain at a disadvantage. They’ll continue to face the challenge of balancing work with fulfilling study plan requirements.
JH: There will certainly be greater pressure on the selection of doctoral students, and their number will probably decrease due to the higher costs of supporting them. This will undoubtedly raise the quality of doctoral study, as students will no longer be forced to take part-time jobs in their free time and will be able to focus fully on their research.
How do you create your individual study plan?
MK: PhD students at RECETOX take mandatory first-year course (E0403 – Research project development and funding) focused on developing and funding research projects. It helps us clarify our research goals and build a detailed work timeline. The document we create in this course is then used to assess our progress and milestones in later years. Personally, it really helped me get a better grasp of my project and learn more about managing different aspects of it. It’s also great for reflecting on progress and planning what comes next. This plan highlights key objectives, so even when research takes unexpected turns — as it often does — I can always refer to the “big picture.” I think this course should be a standard part of all PhD programmes and would highly recommend it to both first-year students and those who feel lost later in their studies.
JH: Planning is essential during doctoral study to ensure you keep moving forward. I therefore have both a semester plan and an overall plan for the entire programme. My plans include defined goals – experiments, literature reviews, conferences or even an international placement. Planning helps me organise my time more effectively, track my progress and stay motivated. It is important that the plan is both realistic and flexible, because in research priorities and schedules often change.
How is your academic progress evaluated?
MK: PhD progress is evaluated every semester, based on feedback from the student, supervisor, and doctoral board. At the end of each semester, we summarise what we’ve done and how our research plan is progressing — including any conferences, study stays abroad, courses, or other activities relevant to our individual study plan. This also enables students to raise and resolve any potential issues, and to receive constructive feedback in case the project is not progressing as expected.
JH: As part of the CEITEC PhD School and all programmes guaranteed by the National Centre for Biomolecular Research, we have what is called a TAC meeting every year. This Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) consists of at least three members, two of whom are external. The meeting reviews and evaluates the student’s plans to ensure they lead towards successful completion of the degree. It also includes a confidential section to discuss mutual satisfaction between the supervisor and the student.
How would you rate the quality of PhD education at Masaryk University?
MK: I cannot speak for the quality of PhD education across all of Masaryk University or even the entire Faculty of Science, as requirements and experiences differ between departments. However, I can share my own experience at RECETOX, which has been very positive. We work in a truly interdisciplinary environment with many learning opportunities. There’s strong infrastructure to support high-quality research and plenty of support for taking part in educational activities, developing soft skills (such as through the MUNI Mendel Doctorandus programme), and building international networks. In addition, PhD students benefit from excellent programme management, an excellent student advisor, a diligent doctoral board, and dedicated PhD Union representatives — all of whom do an impressive amount of work to improve the doctoral student experience on many levels.
JH: From my perspective, the programme is of a high standard. I particularly value the wide range of courses and subjects across different specialisations, as well as the modern research facilities available.