Information for prospective students
Except for study programmes in Czech, the Faculty of Science offers several study programmes conducted in English.
Bachelors Programmes
The study programmes is carried out within a bilateral cross-border collaboration between the Johannes Kepler University in Linz (Austria) and the Faculty of Science of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice.
Biological Chemistry
Biological Chemistry represents an alternative extension of modern molecular, cellular and structural biology towards biochemistry, bio-organic chemistry, and biophysics.
The program not only focuses on competency skills and knowledge transfer in biological
General education covers base knowledge in areas of inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry. Compared to studies in “Technical Chemistry”, this program provides concentrated, in-depth instruction in areas of biological chemistry and biology.
Masters Programmes
The Master’s programmes are open to any student who has successfully finished a Bachelor’s programme in biology or related fields at any university. Applicants are accepted on a competitive basis, depending on their results in the admission examination.
Biological Chemistry
Biological Chemistry represents an alternative extension of modern molecular, cellular and structural biology towards biochemistry, bio-organic chemistry, and biophysics.Ecology. The primary goal of the study program is to provide state-of-the-art education that encompasses molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry and biophysics. The program represents an alternative extension of the modern molecular, cellular and structural biology towards biochemistry, bio-organic chemistry
Ecology
Ecology trains students in modern research in population and community ecology. Students will be trained in modern ecology research. The courses are focused on ecological theory and analysis as well as interpretation of ecological data using modern computational approaches. The workload is about five courses per semester.
Doctoral programmes
Applied physics
The aim of the doctoral study program Applied Physics is training and education of qualified workers, with robust physical education. Graduates will be able to solve a wide range of problems on the border of scientific and technical practice. Students can choose their own specialization in the field of experimental physics and/or computer modelling and simulation. The Ph.D. topic are profiled according to the experimental laboratories, research groups and currently running projects. It is possible to study advanced approaches of deposition of functional nanostructures and active thin films, low-temperature plasma, laser and nonlinear optics or advanced audio signal processing within the experimental physics branches. Computer modelling groups focus on simulations of interactions between molecules and surfaces using molecular dynamics, processes in solar physics by magnetohydrodynamic equations, simulation in continuum mechanics or advanced modelling of charge exchange in material structures; see the topics specified below. The student can choose the topic and the supervisor by his/her own preferences and scientific interest.
Biochemistry
Study of Biochemistry program is aimed to prepare qualified scientists with the highest level of education to work in all fields of biochemistry, which nowadays is a multidisciplinary field of science, including chemistry, biology and physics. Graduates of the program - prospective managers with the scientific prerequisites for work in biochemical and biotechnological laboratories focusing on research, development, manufacturing and control operations - gain theoretical knowledge of the functional and structural biochemistry and practical skills involving the use of different methodologies and the use of many modern instrumental methods for studying the structure and function of living organisms at the molecular level. The variety and a large number of different research projects at facilities for the teaching program provides many opportunities for individual students focus direction according to their interests and capabilities. Students will establish the knowledge gained from biochemical disciplines and expand the practical experience of more advanced laboratory techniques and modern instrumental biophysical and analytical methods for the study of molecules and complexes in biological systems. They gain advanced knowledge from the study of the molecular mechanisms of metabolic processes occurring in solutions, biological membranes and living organisms using different types of biochemical analysis and use of various biophysical methods. Basic biochemical concepts will be discussed in relation to news and current research will be discussed in parallel topics including the structure and function of important biological molecules and biochemical functions common to all spheres of life and human medicine. Attention will be paid to the modern techniques of molecular and cell biology in the range that allows graduates of PhD program independently work with biological material and taking advantage of the corresponding techniques of analytical and preparative biochemistry and molecular biology.
Biophysics
Biophysics provides training for students in the fields of physics, chemistry and biology provided by trainers active in these fields in both basic and applied research. Students are mainly concerned with solving problems related to biology and / or chemistry using physical methods.
Botany
Doctoral programme Botany provides training for students in all botanical areas of interest (systematics of cyanobacteria, algae, bryophytes, vascular plants, fungi including lichens, ecology, archaeobotany) to the highest possible level of qualification. The topics in systematic studies include investigation of microevolutionary processes, ecological differentiation of populations, phylogeography and phylogeny using a combination of molecular and conventional methods.
Topics in plant ecology range from the level of individuals to communities and the study of vegetation on landscape scale, and ecological investigations also include non-vascular plants such as the bryophytes or fungi. Long-term interest is devoted to vegetation dynamics, especially the succession and spread of non-native with a strong emphasis on restoration ecology. Another set of topics involves the archaeobotany and paleoecology. The programme of Botany is also characterized by the well-developed international cooperation, particularly with European and North American universities. The cooperation results in mutual hosting of academic staff, joint publications in IF journals and joint grant projects. We cooperate closely with the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, especially with the Institute of Botany of the ASCR in Průhonice and Třeboň.
Ecosystem Biology and Ecology
Ecosystem Biology and ecology study programme provides students with training in the issues and methods of contemporary ecology, focusing primarily on mechanisms that determine the behavior of ecological systems. It is a link between animal and plant ecology, both in the terrestrial and aquatic environment.
For additional information see https://kbe.prf.jcu.cz/en/ecosystem-biology
Entomology
Entomology provides expertise and skills in main insect-related disciplines. Education and training are guaranteed by supervisors, which are active in entomology research, using modern methods and equipment. Dissertation topics are related to biology, genetics, ecology, systematics and phylogeny research as well as applied research (e.g. Integrated plant management and biodiversity conservation). Acquired knowledge will enable the graduates to work in specialized workplaces such as phytosanitary services, forestry and environmental protection, as well as in basic research and education. Students will learn to use modern methods and approaches to produce professional publications.
Topics of doctoral theses: Ecology of xylophagous insects of tropical and temperate forests; Macroecological determinants of agricultural landscape restoration; Anthropogenic habitats in terms of ecology and conservation of invertebrates; Ladybird biology: mate choice and securing paternity; Ecophysiology of mountain butterflies; Community ecology of arboreal species of ants in lowland rain forest of New Guinea; Phylogeny of Erebia butterflies; Phylogeography of longhorn beetle (Rosalia alpina)
Integrative Biology
Integrative Biology
The doctoral program Integrative Biology brings together the fields of biology, which use similar methodological approaches from the fields of molecular and cell biology, molecular to organ physiology and biochemistry, immunology, infection biology, proteomics, genetics and genomics, supported by bioinformatics and mathematical modeling. The doctoral program covers molecular cell and developmental biology and physiology in mouse and insect models, plants and single-celled organisms, molecular phylogenetics, evolutionary cytogenetics, and molecular integrative physiology and immunology with selected biomedical problems.
Limnology
Limnology provides students with training in the problems and methods of contemporary limnology and hydrobiology, focusing primarily on the research of lake, fishpond and reservoir ecosystems, chemical processes and nutrient transformation of production and microbial processes taking place in surface waters. Dissertation theses are focused on specific partial questions of basic research of aquatic ecosystem components or holistic approach to whole ecosystems and their basins and applications usable in practical water quality management in water management.
For additional information see https://kbe.prf.jcu.cz/en/hydrobiology-limnology
Parasitology
Parasitology provides training for students in basic parasitologically oriented fields provided by trainers active in parasitological research and using modern instrumentation. The submitted topics of the dissertation work in the field of basic research on the biology of parasitic organisms and their relationship to hosts and in the fields of medical and veterinary parasitology. The acquired knowledge will enable the graduates to apply in specialized medical and veterinary laboratories, in basic research and in education.
Zoology
The Zoology programme provides students with methods and topics of modern zoology, ecology, and the evolution of animals. The programme offers a broad spectre of research topics for dissertation with the focus on animal systematic and phylogeny, genetics, ecology and the behaviour of invertebrates, fish, birds, and mammals including humans. The acquired education will allow a graduate to work in areas of basic research, nature conservation, education and culture (museums and zoos).