Provision of the Dean No. D127

on doctoral student income

Article I
General Provisions

This Dean's Provision of the Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia (USB), is issued in response to the amendment of Act No. 111/1998 Coll. on Higher Education Institutions and the predicted minimum wage level for 2026. The aim is to prepare the Faculty of Science for the forthcoming legal obligation to provide a guaranteed Doctoral Study Income.

According to this provision, students enrolled for the first time in any doctoral study program at the Faculty of Science, USB, starting from September 1, 2025, and studying within the standard period in the full-time format, are entitled to the Doctoral Study Income.

Article II
Financial Support

Effective from the winter admissions period for doctoral study programs (DSP) in January 2026 and onwards, newly admitted students must receive financial support (beyond the regular doctoral scholarship) throughout the standard study period. The amount of financial support aligns with the requirements established by the amendment to Act No. 111/1998 Coll. on Higher Education Institutions, specifying the Doctoral Study Income being paid in the form of a stipend at a minimum of 1.2 times the minimum wage, or as a combined form of stipend plus salary, where 2/3 of the salary plus stipend must exceed 1.2 times the minimum wage. The predicted minimum wage for 2026 is 22 800,- CZK. Thus, the minimum expected Doctoral Study Income for 2026 is 27 360,- CZK (1.2 × 22 800,- CZK).

The minimum required financial support for different funding sources in 2026 is as follows:

         1) At least a 50% employment contract with a minimum gross salary of 40,000 CZK from any grant source (particularly GAČR) for the project duration, or generally for a minimum of two consecutive years.

OR

         2) In the absence of grant funding, the doctoral student shall receive a minimum stipend of 14,000 CZK, or a minimum 50% employment contract with a gross salary of at least 40,000 CZK from department funds or the budget of institutions holding extended accreditation for the respective DSP.

The decision regarding the form of financial support falls within the authority of department heads or directors of institutions with extended accreditation for the given DSP, taking into account the individual student’s situation and their mandatory health insurance participation, as detailed in Appendix 1 of this provision.

Financial support is guaranteed for the entire standard study period by the signatures of the department head, institution director (for extended accreditation programs), or another responsible authority, as well as the project principal investigator or grant applicant. This commitment is documented in the “Planned Dissertation Project Form”, which is a mandatory attachment to the doctoral study application.

Article III
Other Provisions

This provision replaces the previous version dated November 5, 2024. However, Article II of the November 5, 2024, provision remains valid until the winter admissions period for doctoral study programs in January 2026.
This document takes effect on the date of issuance.

In České Budějovice

prof. RNDr. František Vácha, Ph.D.
Dean of the Faculty of Science USB

Appendix 1

Mandatory Participation of Doctoral Students in Health Insurance

1. Czech students: The state covers health insurance for the standard duration of the first full-time doctoral study program.

             Exception: If the student is over 26 years old and is employed (regardless of workload) or self-employed.

   EU students: Health insurance is provided by the country of residence of the primary provider (usually a parent) until the age of 26. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers necessary healthcare in the Czech Republic.

             Exception: If the student has permanent residence in the Czech Republic, is employed, or is self-employed.

2. Non-EU students: Must always arrange commercial health insurance in the Czech Republic.

             Exception: If the student has permanent residence, is employed, or is self-employed in the Czech Republic.

If a student is employed at USB, the university payroll office ensures the payment of health insurance contributions to the respective health insurance provider.