The doctoral study in Physics consists of four blocks:

 

(a) The scientific research project, aimed at completion and defence of the doctoral dissertation. This is the basis of the doctoral study programme and the students are engaged in the research project from the very beginning of their study, with the guidance of the programme mentors.
 

(b) The programme of the doctoral study in Physics, which provides the students with the generic as well as the specific competences related to the topic of their dissertation. The programme is characterised by the following:

- English is the medium of instruction, so the programme is available to international students

- Courses are normally taken only in the first year of the study

- There are no mandatory courses; courses are tailored to the specific needs of the scientific work of each doctoral student.

 

(c) The internationalisation of research, aimed at promoting the involvement of doctoral students in the current scientific developments. This includes visits to renowned local and international universities and institutes, active participation in international projects and collaborations, participation in international conferences, invited lectures.

 

(d) Elective activities, aimed at promoting the visibility of students’ research. These include publication of preliminary papers, scientific and professional papers in scientific and professional journals, presentations at national and international conferences, and participation in the transfer of knowledge.

The Doctoral study in Physics takes four calendar years for full-time doctoral students, or six years for part-time doctoral students. Particularly successful doctoral students may complete the study programme earlier than the expected duration of the study. Where there are reasonable grounds, the duration of the study may be extended, but to a maximum of  six calendar years for full-time doctoral students, or ten calendar years for part-time doctoral students.

Research fields covered by the doctoral study, with a broad expertize within the Faculty of Physics, are:

- Astrophysics,

- Condensed matter physics,

- Elementary particle physics.

In these areas, the doctoral study in Physics at the University of Rijeka ensures a high level of elective courses so that the curriculum can be substantially individualized in accordance with the subject of doctoral research.   

- Medical physics is also included as an optional part of the specific study, as the Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka is a partner institution of the Doctoral study.

Specifics of the Doctoral study in Physics offered at the University of Rijeka are:

- The University of Rijeka (through the Faculty of Physics and the Centre for Micro and Nano Sciences and Technologies - CMNST) is equipped with state-of-the-art research instruments and facilities that are unique in this part of Europe, mainly used for the research in condensed matter physics. In this field, the Institute of Physics in Zagreb, as a partner institution, also offers PhD students a top level research environment.

- In the field of astrophysics, the University of Rijeka is, through the Faculty of Physics, the only university in Croatia participating in the search for extrasolar planets within the international collaboration PLANET. In addition, the research group from the Faculty of Physics in Rijeka has received international recognition through its activity in the international astroparticle experiments and the related collaborations MAGIC and CTA. Doctoral students at the University of Rijeka thus have the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art experimental equipment in this field as well.

- The Centre for Advanced Computing and Modelling (CACM) of the University of Rijeka hosts a supercomputer Bura (currently ranks among the 500 most powerful computers in the world) that enables fast computing and processing of vast sets of data, which can be crucial for solving complex problems in the field of physics.

- The medium of instruction of the doctoral study programme in Physics is English, giving access to the programme not only to the Croatian students but also to the international candidates.