Invitation to enroll in the Doctoral study programme in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Admission criteria

Candidates who completed graduate university study programmes or four-year university pre-Bologna study programmes at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek or hold a degree in other faculties of electrical and/or computer engineering from Croatian universities with an average undergraduate and graduate or a four-year university pre-Bologna level grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.8 are eligible to enrol in the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, branches Power Engineering, Communications and Informatics and Computer Science. Pursuant to the proposal of the Doctoral Committee, the Faculty Council can make an exception and approve for a candidate, whose GPA is lower than 3.8, but not lower than 3.0, to enrol in the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme based on published papers and other scientific and professional research results done in the last five years prior to an admission vacancy announcement.

Candidates who completed graduate university study programmes or four-year university pre-Bologna study programmes in Mathematics/Physics/Informatics at faculties of science, technical sciences and engineering faculties or similar study programmes at related technical faculties at Croatian universities with an average undergraduate and graduate or a four-year university pre-Bologna level GPA of at least 3.8 are eligible to enrol in the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme in Electrical Engineering. Pursuant to the proposal of the Doctoral Committee, the Faculty Council can make an exception and approve for a candidate, whose GPA is lower than 3.8 but not lower than 3.0, to enrol in the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme based on published papers and other scientific and professional research results done in the last five years prior to an admission vacancy announcement. In such case, the Doctoral Committee will organise an entrance exam and/or list differential exams from undergraduate and graduate study programmes of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek.

Candidates holding a Master of Science degree with a specialisation in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Automotive Computing and Communications are eligible to enrol in the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme.

Candidates holding a Master’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering from foreign universities are eligible to enrol in the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme after undergoing the process of recognition of academic diplomas possibly followed by taking differential exams. 

Candidates holding a Master’s of Science degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering or a degree in related technical and natural sciences who completed their studies pursuant to the Higher Education Institutions Act (Official Gazette no. 59 adopted on 17 July 1996) or pursuant to acts on Higher Education which were effective in that period as well as candidates holding a Master’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering or a degree in related technical and natural sciences who graduated from foreign universities (after undergoing the process of recognition of academic diplomas) are eligible to enrol in the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science.

For candidates holding a Master’s of Science degree, pursuant to the proposal of the Doctoral Committee, the Faculty Council can list differential exams in case a candidate wants to enrol in a module different from a scientific field he/she obtained a degree in.

A ranking list of candidates is based on a GPA earned at undergraduate and graduate study programmes, four-year university pre-Bologna study programmes or postgraduate university master study programmes, published papers and other scientific and professional research results done in the last five years prior to a postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme admission vacancy announcement. An interview is a mandatory part of the selection procedure.

Candidates who are not satisfied with selection procedure results can file a written elaborative complaint to the Student Administration Office within 15 days of the ranking list results. The complaint will be considered by the Doctoral Committee who will send a disclosure to a candidate within 15 days of the filing a complaint deadline.

A decision on admitting a candidate to the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme is made by the Faculty Council, who appoints a study counsellor, elected in scientific-educational or scientific titles and employed by the Faculty, to each doctoral student.

Speaking english language is mandatory.

Postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme tuition fees are to be paid prior to the enrolment in each of the six semesters. The fees can be paid in 6 equal instalment payments or at once before enrolling in the study. Diploma printing expenses are to be paid by a doctoral student.

 

Duration of study

The postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme can be studied in a full-time or part-time mode. Candidates enrolled in a full-time study mode have to complete their studies in three years. If reasons are justified, pursuant to a decision made by the Doctoral Committee, the study period can be extended to five years.

Candidates enrolled in a part-time study mode have to complete their studies in five years. If reasons are justified, pursuant to a decision made by the Doctoral Committee, the study period can be extended to seven years.

Structure and organisation of the study programme

Four categories of students can enrol in the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme as follows:

1. candidates who completed university graduate study programmes and obtained Master’s degrees;

2. candidates who completed four-year university pre-Bologna study programmes (prior to 2005)

3. candidates holding Master’s of Science degrees (pursuant to the Higher Education Institutions Act, Official Gazette no. 59 adopted on 17 July 1996);

4. candidates who completed appropriate study programmes at foreign higher education institutions.

 

Structure and organisation of the study programme for candidates who completed university graduate study programmes and obtained Master’s degrees

Candidates who completed university graduate study programmes and obtained Master’s degrees are required to earn at least 180 ECTS credits at the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme as follows:

• at least 54 ECTS credits by opting for courses, taking exams and participating in seminars as follows:
  • enrolling in and taking 1 obligatory and 5 elective course thus obtaining the following:
  • 5 ECTS credits by taking an obligatory fundamental course;
  • 8 ECTS credits by taking a fundamental course in the first semester;
  • 10 ECTS credits by taking a fundamental module course in the first semester;
  • 24 ECTS credits by taking scientifically-oriented courses in the second semester;
    • Students enrol in at least 2 scientifically-oriented courses of the elected module and 1 course of the elected module or other modules offered at the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme or courses at some other higher education institutions in Croatia or abroad (pursuant to the approving procedure of enrolling in courses at other institutions);
  • 3 ECTS credits by participating in seminars for acquiring generic skills (enrolling in 3 seminars);
    • students who participate in seminars for acquiring generic skills held at institutions other than the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology Osijek can earn up to 2 ECTS credits. A decision on acknowledging these ECTS credits will be made by the Doctoral Committee pursuant to a student’s written request;
  •  4 ECTS credits by participating in a research seminar (4 public presentations on scientific research results during three years of studying).
• at least 70 ECTS credits for publishing research results related to a student’s doctoral dissertation:
  • 5 ECTS credits for publishing a scientific paper in a scientific conference proceedings which are not cited in referral databases (up to 2 papers from this category are acknowledged);
  • 10 ECTS credits for publishing a scientific paper in a scientific journal cited in referral databases which need not be listed in categories A and B pursuant to the Regulations on requirements for the election to scientific titles, Official Gazette no. 28/2017 (but in other referral databases) or for a scientific paper published in internationally reviewed scientific conference proceedings cited in referral databases listed in categories A and B pursuant to the aforementioned Regulations;
  • 20 ECTS credits for publishing a scientific paper in a scientific journal cited in referral databases (category B pursuant to the Regulations on requirements for the election to scientific titles, Official Gazette no. 28/2017);
  • 40 ECTS credits for publishing a scientific paper in a scientific journal in the fourth quartile (Q4) in the referral databases Current Contents (CC), Science Citation Index (SCI) or Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-Exp.) (category A pursuant to the Regulations on requirements for the election to scientific titles, Official Gazette no. 28/2017);
  • 50 ECTS credits for publishing a scientific paper in a scientific journal in the third quartile (Q3) in the referral databases Current Contents (CC), Science Citation Index (SCI) or Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-Exp.) (category A pursuant to the Regulations on requirements for the election to scientific titles, Official Gazette no. 28/2017);
  • 60 ECTS credits for publishing a scientific paper in a scientific journal in the second quartile (Q2) in the referral databases Current Contents (CC), Science Citation Index (SCI) or Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-Exp.) (category A pursuant to the Regulations on requirements for the election to scientific titles, Official Gazette no. 28/2017);
  • 70 ECTS credits for publishing a scientific paper in a scientific journal in the first quartile (Q1) in the referral databases Current Contents (CC), Science Citation Index (SCI) or Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-Exp.) (category A pursuant to the Regulations on requirements for the election to scientific titles, Official Gazette no. 28 adopted on 29 March 2017).

Students obtain a maximal number of ECTS credits for a published paper with 1-4 co-authors; 75% of ECTS credits for a published paper with 5 co-authors; 50% of ECTS credits for a published paper with 6 co-authors, 25% of ECTS credits for a published paper with 7 co-authors and 100/n % of ECTS credits for a published paper with n=8 or more co-authors. ECTS credits will be acknowledged for papers accepted for publication pursuant to an appropriate confirmation (certificate).

• 10 ECTS credits are awarded to a student pursuant to a passed qualifying doctoral exam in the second and third semester
  • a prerequisite for taking a qualifying doctoral exam is to earn 20 ECTS credits;
  • when initiating a qualifying doctoral exam, a student needs to submit a review paper in the field of his/her doctoral dissertation;
  • a qualifying doctoral exam is a public event. Doctoral students are examined by a three-member committee of scientists elected in scientific-educational or corresponding scientific titles. At least one member needs to be elected in the scientific-educational title of an associate or a full professor or corresponding scientific titles. Committee members are appointed by the Faculty Council pursuant to a proposition of the Doctoral Committee.

• 30 ECTS credits are awarded to a student pursuant to a defended topic of his/her doctoral dissertation
  • additional 10 ECTS credits can be earned by working on a research project (active participation of a student in a research project is confirmed by a project manager in a written report);
  • additional (up to) 18 ECTS can be earned by conducting research on a foreign scientific institution. For every 30 mobility days, a student earns 6 ECTS credits (credits can be earned on multiple mobility programmes; however, one mobility programme needs to last for at least 14 consecutive days while others need to last for at least 5 working days). ECTS credits are awarded by the Doctoral Committee pursuant to a host institution confirmation and a report on research results during a mobility programme certified by a supervisor.

A student opts for courses upon consultation with a student counsellor. Elected courses are approved by the Doctoral Committee. Seminars for acquiring generic skills are enrolled in pursuant to a student’s election in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth semester. A student enters elected courses in the first and second semester in a student’s matriculation book while scientific and research work is carried out in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth semester.

 

Structure and organisation of the study programme for candidates who completed four-year university pre-Bologna study programmes (prior to 2005)

Candidates who completed four-year university pre-Bologna study programmes in Electrical or Computer Engineering prior to 2005 are eligible to enrol in the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme. Candidates are required to earn 180 ECTS credits at the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme in the same way as candidates who completed university graduate study programmes and obtained Master’s degrees.

 

Structure and organisation of the study programme for candidates holding Master’s of Science degrees pursuant to the Higher Education Institutions Act (Official Gazette no. 59 adopted on 17 July 1996) or other acts effective in that period

Master of Science degree holders can be acknowledged up to 90 ECTS credits when enrolling in the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme. 50 ECTS credits are acknowledged for passing exams at the postgraduate university (master) study programme and defending a master thesis. Upon a student’s request, a maximum of 40 ECTS credits can be acknowledged for scientific papers, in the field of a student’s doctoral dissertation, published prior to the enrolment in the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme pursuant to a proposition of an expert committee appointed by the Doctoral Committee. At the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme, a Master of Science degree holder is required to earn additional 90 ECTS credits as follows:

• at least 8 ECTS credits for passing a scientifically-oriented module course;
• at least 40 ECTS credits for publishing scientific papers in the field of one’s doctoral dissertation;
• a maximum of 18 ECTS credits for conducting research on a foreign scientific institution (a student needs to submit a host institution’s confirmation/certificate and a research report certified by a supervisor). For every 30 mobility days, a student earns 6 ECTS credits (credits can be earned on multiple mobility programmes; however, one mobility programme needs to last for at least 14 consecutive days while others need to last for at least 5 working days);
• 10 ECTS credits for working on a research project (active participation of a student in a research project is confirmed by a project manager in a written report);
• 30 ECTS credits for defending a topic of one’s doctoral dissertation;
• other ECTS credits are to be earned by publishing scientific papers, attending seminars for acquiring generic skills (up to 2 ECTS credits) or participating in mobility programmes.

For publishing scientific papers, students earn ECTS credits in the same way as students who completed university graduate study programmes and obtained Master’s degrees.

 

Structure and organisation of the study programme for candidates who completed appropriate study programmes at foreign higher education institutions

Candidates who completed appropriate study programmes at foreign higher education institutions can enrol in the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science pursuant to a certificate on the recognition of academic diplomas issued by Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek. For such candidates, the Doctoral Committee proposes and the Faculty Council appoints an expert committee who will determine differential exams. Upon passing differential exams, the structure and organisation of the study programme is the same as for candidates who completed university graduate study programmes and obtained Master’s degrees. If necessary, all classes can be taught in the English language. In the case of a low number of foreign students, classes will be taught in the English language during professors’ office hours.

Semester enrolment criteria for candidates who completed university graduate study programmes and obtained Master’s degrees

• For enrolling in the second semester, there are no special requirements;
• For enrolling in the third semester, a student needs to earn at least 20 ECTS credits and meet the following criteria:
  • pass the exam in the Methods of scientific research (5 ECTS credits);
  • pass the exam in the fundamental module course (10 ECTS credits);
  • other credits need to be earned by taking exams, publishing scientific papers, attending seminars for acquiring generic skills, research seminar and/or mobility programmes.
• For enrolling in the fourth semester, a student needs to earn at least 40 ECTS credits and meet the following criteria:
  • meet the criteria for the enrollment in the third semester;
  • pass a qualifying doctoral exam (10 ECTS credits);
  • other credits need to be earned by taking exams, publishing scientific papers, attending seminars for acquiring generic skills and/or mobility programmes.
• For enrolling in the fifth semester, a student needs to earn at least 66 ECTS credits and meet the following criteria:
  • meet the criteria for the enrollment in the fourth semester;
  • pass at least 2 fundamental or scientifically-oriented module exams (16 ECTS credits);
  • give at least one presentation on research results at a research seminar;
  • earn at least 10 ECTS credits by publishing scientific papers;
  • other credits need to be earned by taking exams, publishing scientific papers, attending seminars for acquiring generic skills and/or mobility programmes.

 

Semester enrolment criteria for Master of Science degree holders

For enrolling in the fifth semester, Master of Science degree holders do not have to meet any requirements. In the fifth semester (at the latest), a student needs to initiate a procedure for approval of a doctoral dissertation topic. For initiating the procedure, a student needs to have earned at least 80 ECTS credits (including credits acknowledged from the postgraduate university (master) study programme) and meet the following criteria:

• pass all exams (a minimum of 8 ECTS credits);
• publish at least one scientific paper (or have at least one scientific paper accepted for publication), in the field of one’s doctoral dissertation, in a journal ranked in category A or B. A student needs to be a lead author (a minimum of 20 ECTS credits). This paper has to be published up to five years prior to initiating the procedure of defending a topic of one’s doctoral dissertation with a possibility to accept a paper published prior to a student’s enrolment in the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme (considered by the Doctoral Committee). A student can earn up to 40 ECTS credits for publishing such paper.

For enrolling in the sixth semester, a student needs to earn at least 110 ECTS credits and meet the following criteria:

• meet the criteria for approval of a doctoral dissertation topic (80 ECTS credits);
• approved topic of one’s doctoral dissertation (30 ECTS credits).

Qualifying doctoral exam

In order to enrol in the fifth semester, a student must pass a qualifying doctoral exam by the end of the second academic year upon enrolment.

A student shall register for taking a qualifying doctoral exam at the Student Administration Office by using a special registration form. Registration for taking a qualifying doctoral exam presupposes that a student had passed all differential exams (if applicable), at least two (2) other exams and had earned a minimum of 20 ECTS credits by publishing scientific papers in the field of one’s doctoral dissertation.

In addition to the application, a student shall also submit a review paper showing the current stage of the development in one’s scientific field, i.e., indicating the research area of one’s future doctoral dissertation. The review paper is submitted in a computer readable form in accordance with the Guidelines, which can be obtained from the Student Administration Office (a text file in .doc and .pdf format, and a PowerPoint presentation - all on CD).

Upon completion of registration for taking a qualifying doctoral exam, and upon a proposal from the Doctoral Committee, the Faculty Council appoints a Qualifying Doctoral Exam Committee consisting of at least three and at least one deputy member. Members of that Committee shall be persons elected to scientific-educational or scientific titles in scientific fields relevant to the research area of the doctoral dissertation. A student’s supervisor is one of the members of the Qualifying Doctoral Exam Committee but cannot be appointed head of that Committee.

The qualifying doctoral exam is a public oral examination in which a student presents his/her work. The Qualifying Doctoral Exam Committee monitors the level of student's knowledge referring to the current stage of the development in the research area of his/her doctoral dissertation and his/her ability to apply the relevant fundamental and special research knowledge to solve these problems.

A doctoral student may take the qualifying doctoral exam only twice (2). 

 

The procedure for approval of a doctoral dissertation topic

The procedure for approval of a doctoral dissertation topic is initiated by a student when he/she had earned a minimum of 80 ECTS credits and at the latest in the fifth semester. The student needs to have at least one published scientific paper (or accepted for publication) in the field of one’s doctoral dissertation in a journal ranked in category A or B with the student being the lead author. The student initiates a procedure for approval of a doctoral dissertation topic by submitting an application to the Faculty Council. The application shall include a proposition of a doctoral dissertation title in the Croatian and English language, topic elaboration, main aim and research plan, methodology, information on a proposed supervisor and his/her competencies, overview of previous research, matriculation book, list and copies of published papers, short biography with a description of scientific and professional activities and a declaration that the procedure for acquiring an academic title of the Doctor of Science has not been initiated at any other institution. 

Whether the doctoral student had met the requirements for initiating the procedure for approval of a doctoral dissertation topic is evaluated by the Doctoral Committee. If the Doctoral Committee notices that the application does not include the required documentation, the doctoral student will be asked to complete his/her application. A deadline for completing the documentation cannot be longer than 30 days. Pursuant to a proposition of the Doctoral Committee, the Faculty Council appoints the Dissertation Topic Approval Committee, which consists of three members (if necessary five) and one deputy member. Members of the Dissertation Topic Approval Committee have to be elected in scientific-educational or scientific titles. At least two committee members have to be elected in the scientific-educational title of an associate professor (or a higher title) or a corresponding scientific title and one of them has to be elected in the scientific-educational title of a full professor or a corresponding scientific title. One of these two committee members is the President of the Dissertation Topic Approval Committee. One committee member is a scientist not affiliated to the Faculty (or usually not affiliated to the University of Osijek), who does not participate in the educational process at the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme. A supervisor and co-supervisor cannot be members of the Dissertation Topic Approval Committee.

All doctoral students, who had met the requirements for initiating the procedure for approval of a doctoral dissertation topic, participate in a public discussion where they elaborate on their expected scientific contributions, which are evaluated in terms of their realization. The public discussion is to be held within 90 days of submitting the application for approval of a doctoral dissertation topic. A period from 16 July until 31 August is not included in the 90-day-period. The supervisor informs members of the Dissertation Topic Approval Committee, all Faculty departments, members of the Doctoral Committee about a place and time of the public discussion and a doctoral dissertation topic. The supervisor needs to inform the aforementioned at least 7 days prior to the public discussion. A place and time of the public discussion is to be announced on the announcement board and the Faculty’s website.

The Dissertation Topic Approval Committee provides the Doctoral Committee and the Student Administration Office with a report on a public doctoral dissertation topic presentation. The report includes the Committee’s proposal of accepting or declining the doctoral dissertation topic. The report has to be submitted in a written form, signed and delivered, at the latest, 21 days upon the public doctoral dissertation topic presentation.

Pursuant to an elaborative report and a proposition made by the Dissertation Topic Approval Committee, the Faculty Council makes a final decision on accepting or declining a doctoral dissertation topic, informs the doctoral student who submitted the topic and appoints a supervisor who will guide the doctoral student in writing his/her doctoral dissertation. The proposed supervisor elaborates on the proposed topic and expected scientific contributions to the Faculty Council. If a proposition made by the Dissertation Topic Approval Committee has merits, the Faculty Council can appoint a co-supervisor in addition to the supervisor.

 

Dissertation submission and defence

A doctoral dissertation can be submitted for evaluation when a student had earned 180 ECTS credits. The student needs to have at least one published scientific paper (or accepted for publication) in the field of one’s doctoral dissertation in a journal ranked in category A or B with the student being the lead author (a prerequisite for initiating the procedure for approval of a doctoral dissertation topic) and at least one published (or accepted for publication) scientific paper in the field of one’s doctoral dissertation in a journal ranked in category A with the student being the lead author. The student whose doctoral dissertation topic had been approved initiates the procedure for evaluation of the doctoral dissertation by submitting a written request. In addition to the request, the following documents are to be submitted to the Student Administration Office:

• a final version of the doctoral dissertation in the Croatian language in 4 unbound copies;
• a list and copies of published papers;
• an extended abstract in the English language;
• a declaration of originality.

A supervisor submits a report on a doctoral dissertation. The report shall include an overview of the paper’s content and desirable scientific contributions, overview of the applied methods and a declaration on realized scientific contributions. The supervisor proposes committee members to evaluate the doctoral dissertation.

Pursuant to Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek Regulations on postgraduate studies, a doctoral dissertation can be a scientific work in the form of a monograph or a scientific work based on a collection of published papers. It is to be written in the Croatian language. Pursuant to a doctoral student’s request and based on the Faculty Council’s approval, a doctoral dissertation can be written in the English language.

 

Academic degree titles 

Upon defending a doctoral dissertation, a student is issued a diploma and certificate on the completion of the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme and is awarded the academic title of the Doctor of Science.

Upon completion of the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme in Power Engineering, a student is awarded the title of the

Doctor of Science, scientific area of Technical Sciences, scientific field of Electrical Engineering.

 

Upon completion of the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme in Communications and Informatics, a student is awarded the title of the

Doctor of Science, scientific area of Technical Sciences, scientific field of Electrical Engineering.

 

Upon completion of the postgraduate university (doctoral) study programme in Computer Science, a student is awarded the title of the

Doctor of Science, scientific area of Technical Sciences, scientific field of Computer Science.

 

Diplomas are presented by a rector at a formal ceremony.