Doctoral program
Let knowledge be your career!
Above all, the doctoral programs of Corvinus prepare you to become a successful researcher – even at international level. You can acquire the theoretical, methodological and communication skills needed to obtain a doctorate and to pursue a successful career as a teacher, researcher or even expert. Around 1,500 students have graduated so far with PhD degrees at the University (and our predecessor institutions), and hundreds more are currently preparing to obtain their doctorate. Our doctoral courses are available in English, and about a third of our students are from abroad, making you part of a scientific and international community. In addition to students, an increasing number of the University’s lecturers and researchers come from abroad and are actively involved in doctoral programmes as teachers and supervisors.
The program also has many other benefits. The Corvinus Doctoral Scholarship supplements the state scholarship to HUF 300,000, and during your years here we provide you with a dormitory in the city centre, just a few minutes’ walk from the University. You can also enrich your horizons not only through the international environment of the university, but also by attending conferences abroad during your studies or even spending longer periods as a visiting student at foreign universities. As a Corvinus PhD student, you can be an active part of the University’s professional life, both as a lecturer and as a young researcher. Funding opportunities such as the Cooperative Doctoral Program or the New National Excellence Program are also open to our students, and our best students regularly win these.
How to apply
General application requirements
• A degree from a university or equivalent accredited Master’s programme (MA or MSc) (Part-time MBA degrees are not accepted).
• A complex state-recognised language examination at level “B2” or higher in at least one foreign language.
• You can apply even if you have no prior studies in the relevant discipline (but otherwise meet all the admission requirements). You can start your studies on condition that you take the designated catch-up courses and pass an exam in the first semester of your PhD studies.
• Preference will be given to applicants who have won an OTDK (National Scientific Students’ Associations Conference) award. Proven research ability (OTD, scientific publications) is also an advantage.
• Applicants graduating in the academic year 2023/2024 must present their diploma no later than 1 September 2024. Admission is conditional until the student presents his/her diploma.
Documents required for application
• Professional, academic CV.
• Proof of payment of the procedural fee*.
• A copy of a document proving that you have the required educational qualifications or are in the process of obtaining them.
• A copy of the language certificate(s).
• Research plan or essay (specific to doctoral school).
• A copy of documents proving your previous professional and academic achievements (diplomas, certificates, publications, appointments, etc.) – if available.
• To apply to the Doctoral School of Business and Management, you must also pass a written examination. More information here! (Link to subpage)
*The entrance exam fee is HUF 9,000, which should be transferred to the University’s bank account: 11784009-22229896-00000000
Please indicate the following in the comment section: admission fee, subject number: SDRSM0000K, name of applicant.
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Corvinus Doctoral Scholarship
State scholarship
Self-paid form of training
Supplement the amount of the state scholarship up to HUF 300,000 HUF!
You can apply for the Corvinus Doctoral Scholarship if you apply for the Hungarian state scholarship in the general doctoral admission procedure.
The amount of the public scholarship:
• Semester 1-4: HUF 140,680/month
• Semester 5-8: HUF 180,680/month
The conditions for applying:
• full-time training
• Hungarian citizenship, or students who have the same rights as Hungarian citizens under law or international conventions
Tuition fees for the academic year 2024/25 for students admitted in 2024:
• Hungarian language training for Hungarian citizens and foreigners (EU and EEA) participating in the same procedure: HUF 660,000/semester
• English language training for Hungarian citizens and foreigners participating in the same procedure (EU and EEA): HUF 1,030,000/semester
• Third-country nationals: EUR 4,000/semester
Corvinus Doctoral Schools
Welcome
The Corvinus Doctoral Schools (‘CDI’) is the coordinating body of the four doctoral schools of Corvinus University of Budapest accredited by the Hungarian Higher Education Accreditation Commission (MAB). Founded by the Corvinus Senate in 2017, the primary task of the Corvinus Doctoral Schools is to operate the unified administration of doctoral (PhD) education, monitor quality assurance processes, coordinate innovations for the development of education, and promote the use of synergies between doctoral schools. The Corvinus Doctoral Schools are in close contact with the University Doctoral Council (EDT) and the University Doctoral Office (EDI), and the symbiosis of these three organisations is the key to the effectiveness of doctoral education at Corvinus. The staff of CDI work day in and day out to ensure that as many doctoral students as possible obtain the PhD degree and that they become successful players in the national and international scientific community with their competitive knowledge.
Two-way doctoral training
The two pathways have the same training and output requirements, the degree obtained (PhD) is the same, the difference will be in the target group, the aim of the training and the way the training is organised.
Academic career
This is the place for you if you want to work professionally in research and education or if you want to pursue a career in higher education and research. You can also apply for a scholarship or a place on a fee. And you can only apply for the Corvinus Doctoral Scholarship if you have chosen a career in academia.
Expert career
This is the ideal choice for you if you already have experience in business, public administration, culture, diplomacy and want to put your knowledge into practice. You can only apply for this type of course on a fee-paying basis.
Doctoral students on an academic track can transfer to a specialist track, which is decided by the Doctoral School Council, but there is no transfer in the other direction.
Scholarships, opportunities
Cooperative Doctoral Scholarships
The programme of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office is open to doctoral students who, in addition to their doctoral studies, undertake to work in the research, development and innovation sector and to pursue related scientific research.
New National Programme for Excellence scholarships
The Ministry of Human Resources announces the scholarship in several different categories, with the aim of providing financial support to the most outstanding PhD students to conduct their research smoothly and to prepare their dissertations to a high standard.
Study Abroad Scholarship
Students can apply for a period of between 1 and 3 months. They can carry out research in support of their doctoral thesis at any foreign university or research institute that hosts them. The scholarship will partially cover travel and accommodation costs.
Participation in a scientific conference
Students will have the opportunity to present their new scientific results at national and international conferences, within the limits of the available budget and provided that the conditions are fully met, by applying for funding from their doctoral school.
Corvinus Doctoral Students’ Association (‘DÖK’)
The organisation
The Doctoral Students’ Association (DÖK) of Corvinus University was established in 2019. Based on the relevant provisions of the National Act on Higher Education, the organisation was established primarily to represent the interests of students participating in doctoral studies. The DÖK is present in the decision-making bodies of the University – the Senate, the University Doctoral Council, the Doctoral Cabinet and the councils of the individual doctoral schools – where the constructive cooperation that has developed over the past years enables effective representation of interests. The DÖK also works closely with the National Association of Doctoral Students and the Students’ Association of Corvinus University.
Contact
Alexandra Bagi, president (dokelnok@uni-corvinus.hu)
First steps in case of successful admission
Your data will be recorded by the staff of the University Doctoral Office in the Neptun system. At this stage, they will also check documents relating to previous studies and qualifications (you will need to present the original official documents or provide a certified copy).
After enrolment/registration, you take the courses, compulsory, compulsorily elective and optional courses for the semester in question, according to the program of studies, via Neptun. The secretarial assistants of the doctoral schools can help you with this if you need it.
Your supervisor will play a key role in your studies during the doctoral program. In the majority of doctoral schools, the person of the supervisor (mentor) is outlined during the admission process, but the person is finalised by the Doctoral School Council. It is advisable to seek to develop an intensive relationship with your supervisor from the beginning of your training.
To access communication and online databases (Neptun, Moodle, library), it is essential to obtain a Cusman code and password. Doctoral students can also request an email in the format name@uni-corvinus.hu. The University’s Doctoral Office registers the students in the doktori.hu database, but in the MTMT (Hungarian Database of Scientific Works) each student must register individually. Information on how to use MTMT is available from the librarians.
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