semmelweis university 2 0 1 2 / 2 0 1 3

SEMMELWEIS UNIVERSITY / SCHOOL OF PH.D. STUDIES
520
History and basic information
A decade ago The Act of Higher Education, 1993, charged universities with preparing students for
their academic degree as well as awarding them doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees. This decision galvanized
the scientific communities and schools of doctoral studies were founded one after the other in all
Hungarian universities.
At that time professor Péter Sótonyi laid down the basic foundations of the SOTE Doctoral School.
His successor, Professor László Kopper carefully structuring the study programs, reorganized it,
creating and amending detailed regulations and working out new rules of the institution. The next
chairman, professor Ágoston Szél has continued these efforts to build a well-organized institution
devoted for education and training of graduate students in several fields of medicine, biology and
health sciences. The School Ph.D.Studies of Semmelweis University is currently one of our most
successful divisions with around hundred students obtaining Ph.D. diplomas every year. The
School of Ph.D. Studies is in fact a “virtual” organisation of the university, in importance
comparable to that of a Faculty. The virtuality of this “Faculty” is due to the fact that teachers and
tutors are all employees or co-workers of the five regulal Faculties, they perform their scientific
activities in different laboratories and institutes of this (and other) university. However, with their
collaboration and organization they create new research centres that function like spiritual “melting
pots”. The concentration and focus of this scientific potential has a great impact on the young
candidates’ research work. The motivation of the students is multiplied by the presence and
interaction of experienced tutors.
The basic unit of this complex teaching-learning team is one student - one tutor. Together they
enjoy a high level of freedom and autonomy in running their research, that is within the limits set
by the Rules and Regulations.
The first doctoral programs in 1993 were formed sporadically around the greatest personalities of
the university. Each program was comprised of five to ten subprograms, the majority of which
consisted of various topics or themes. It was the leader of the program who was responsible for
the advance of each tutor and student. The number of the study programs was already around 25
when the Ministry of Education decided to restructure the doctoral training. A small number of
branches of science were nominated and now all programs must be grouped under the umbrella of
larger organizations called Doctoral Schools (the Hungarian abbreviation is TDI). The programs
have retained their independence, however, the councils of the doctoral schools became the real
administrative centres of the doctoral training.
Currently the School of Ph.D. Studies at Semmelweis University has eight Doctoral Schools. Basic
Medicine, Clinical Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mental Health Sciences, Sport Sciences,
Neurosciences, Molecular Medicine and Pathological Sciences. Each School comprises of 2 to 14
study programs, the total number of which is above 40 (see detailed information on programs and
Doctoral Schools).
By involving the greatest authorities from within, as well as from outside the university, the School
of Ph.D. Studies has from the beginning been able to preserve the quality and prestige of the
degree. By the end of December 2011, altogether 1318 Ph.D. theses had been defended at the
School of Ph.D. Studies. The number of enrolled students at that time was 412 and 300 were
about to defend their dissertation.
The largest faculty, the Faculty of Medicine is represented in almost all Doctoral Schools, the
Faculty of Dentistry has its own study program, the Faculty of Pharmacy as well as the Faculty of
Physical Education and Sport Sciences is represented by individual Doctoral Schools. The Faculty
of Health Care as a Higher Education Institute of college level does not issue doctoral diplomas
degrees, its teachers however are taking part in the study programs organized by the other
faculties.