Decision of the dean on the rules of admission for the   Master´s Ecology programme for the academic year 2020/2021

In accordance with Sections 48 - 50 of Act 111 /1998 Col l. On Higher Education Institutions and the Modifications and Amendments of Other Acts, I announce the rules of admission for entrance into the two-year Master's Ecology programme at the Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice (hereafter FSci USB) for the academic year 2020/2021.

1. Every applicant is to deliver a correctly completed and signed application form and a motivational letter to the FSci USB Department of Student Affairs by 18 May 2020 and pay the application fee. The application form is available at https://www.jcu.cz/uchazec-o-studium/e-prihlaska. The motivational letter should introduce the applicant, his/her previous experience in ecology, and describe their bachelor' s research project(s), if any, on up to one A4 page. The application fee of 500 CZK (EUR 20) can be paid by card at the university website, or through bank transfer (account number: 10472 5778/0300, BIC: CEKOCZPP, IBAN: CZ20 0300 0000 0001 0472 5778, variable symbol - 6020106, specific symbol: date of birth in the form YYMMDD, payment note: full name). The application may be delivered in person, by post or by e-mail. Submission of a scanned copy of the signed original document via email with fee payment details is sufficient.
   
   Address for applications:
   e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
   post: Department of Student Affairs, Faculty of Science
   University of South Bohemia Branišovská 1760
   370 05 České Budějovice Czech Republic
   
   In the event of vacancies remaining after the first call, a second call for applications for the academic year of 2020/2021 will be opened, with a deadline of 31 October 2020.
   
   
2. The maximum of 20 applicants will be admitted to study in the academic year of 2020 /2021.
   
   
3. The dean is to name an admission committee composed of 3-5 members of the academic staff and chaired by the Vice Dean for Study. In the first round, the
   applications and motivational letters are evaluated by the admission committee on the following aspects:
   
   • research interests, experience, and plans,
   • ability to communicate in English at a level sufficient for the study.
   
   Each member of the committee is to evaluate each applicant's application and motivational letter on a scale of 0-10 points, the points are then to be averaged across all committee members. Applicants are to be ranked by score and 40 applicants with the highest score are then to be invited for the second round (interview). All applicants reaching the same score as the 40th applicant are also to be invited. Applicants scoring below 3 points are not to be admitted.
   
   Applicants invited to the second round are to be interviewed via teleconferencing (e.g. Skype). The candidates to be interviewed are to be notified within one week after the application deadline and the date and time of their interview arranged with them.
   During the interview the admission committee is to examine the:
   • scope of ecological knowledge,
   • research interests, experience, and plans,
   • ability to communicate in English at a level sufficient for the study.
   
   Each member of the committee is to evaluate each applicant's performance on a scale of 0-10 points, and the points are to be averaged across all committee members. Applicants are ranked by the score and 20 applicants with the highest score are admitted. All applicants reaching the same score as the 20th applicant are also to be admitted. Applicants scoring below 3 points are not to be admitted.
   
   
4. Applicants with specific needs (with a disability or chronic illness) have the right to use the support service operated by the university for the admission exam as well as further study, if admitted. For more information please contact the Center for students with special needs (e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., telephone +420 389 036 026).
   
   
5. Based on the recommendation of the admission committee, the dean is to decide and announce the admission or non-admission of the given applicant within three weeks of the examination. This information is to be passed on to the applicant by e-mail and post.
   
   
6. Eligible applicants are to hold an officially recognized BSc (Bachelor of Science) degree based on at least 3-year university study. Applicants in the final year of their BSc degree who have not yet graduated may be admitted conditionally. They are to present their BSc degree on the day of their enrolment at the latest, including recognition of the Bachelor's degree by Czech authorities where appropriate. Foreigners (of any nationality and citizenship) need to fulfil the conditions necessary for the study of foreign nationals at universities in the Czech Republic on the day of their enrolment at the latest.
7. Any applicant unable to attend the interviews for health reasons (confirmed by a doctor within five days), or experiencing technical problems during the interview, will be given one additional interview date.
   
   
8. Unsuccessful applicants shall have the right to appeal to the Dean within 30 days of receiving the decision. If the appeal is rejected, the candidate may present it to the Rector of the University for a final decision. The appeal is to target paragraph 3 of this Decision, otherwise it is to be deemed to be without basis. In formulating the appeal the applicant has the right to view the documentation of his admission process but does not have the right to see the documentation of other applicants or the committee protocols.
   
   
9. These conditions for admission were discussed and agreed upon by the Academic Senate of Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice on 15 January 2020.

České Budějovice, 15 January 2020

prof. Ing. Hana Šantrůčková, CSc.
The Dean of the Faculty of Science