Conditions for progression in the program – applicable to students enrolled from 2023/24 and earlier (no later than 2025/26)
Conditions for progression to the 2nd year
To progress from the first to the second year, the student must achieve at least 30 ECTS from the first year and submit the form D1 - "doctoral candidate's research interest area", which identifies the research field within which the doctoral candidate wishes to conduct research, and must be approved by the KZRD.
Conditions for progression to the 3rd year
The condition for progression from the second to the third year is the completion of all obligations from the first and second years totaling 110 ECTS.
Conditions for progression in the program – applicable to students enrolled from 2024/25 onwards
Conditions for progression to the 2nd year
To progress from the first to the second year, the student must achieve at least 40 ECTS from the first year, including the subject IRD 1 – within which the student must submit to the KZRD the D1 application: Doctoral candidate's research interest area.
Condition for progression from the 2nd to the 3rd year
The condition for progression from the second to the third year is the completion of all obligations from the first and second years totaling 100 ECTS.
Repeating a year
A doctoral candidate who does not meet the conditions for enrollment in a higher year may repeat a year once during their studies due to failure to fulfill obligations in the previous year.
Extension of status
A doctoral candidate may have their student status extended for up to one year in accordance with applicable legislation if:
- for justified reasons, they do not enroll in a higher year,
- for justified reasons, they do not graduate within 12 months after completing the last semester,
- the doctoral candidate becomes a parent during the study period, with one year extension for each child born.
Provisions on transitions between programs
In accordance with Article 39 of the Higher Education Act and the Criteria for transitions between study programs, it is possible to transfer to a third-cycle study program from study programs of the same level. Applications for transfers are considered individually according to faculty rules. Obligations already completed by the student are identified and may be recognized as completed obligations in the new program, and exams that the student must pass to obtain the doctoral diploma of the second-cycle study program in social gerontology are prescribed.
Graduates of previous (old, i.e., pre-Bologna system) study programs for obtaining a Master of Science or specialization after completing a study program for obtaining a university degree in a third-cycle doctoral study program are recognized, according to the 3rd indent of Article 16 of the Act on Amendments and Supplements to the Higher Education Act (Official Gazette RS 94/06), study obligations amounting to 60 ECTS credits. On this basis, they are enrolled directly into the second year, provided that by the end of the first semester of that year they submit the outline of their doctoral dissertation.
Counseling and guidance during studies
The mentor will guide the doctoral candidate throughout the entire study period and encourage their involvement in the faculty's study and research environment. The mentor's obligation to the doctoral candidate will end when the candidate successfully completes their doctorate. At the beginning, the mentor will present the study program to the doctoral candidate. They will assist in organizing the study, which means monitoring and guiding the candidate's work during the study. The mentor will advise and help the candidate solve problems related to the study, select subjects within the credit system, and choose and find study literature. They will also advise on decisions about studying abroad.
A higher education teacher will collaborate as a mentor, advising on the selection of appropriate research methodology and relevant literature. They will assist the doctoral candidate in preparing the dissertation design, planning the research methodology, selecting sources and literature, and assessing when the doctoral dissertation is ready for defense.
Conditions for completion of studies
The condition for completion of studies is the successful completion of all study obligations prescribed by the program and the preparation and successful defense of the doctoral thesis. The doctoral candidate completes the study when they accumulate all 180 ECTS credits prescribed by the study program.
Upon completion of the study, the doctoral candidate receives a doctoral diploma, which is a public document.
