The University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic, is accepting applications for its fully English-taught doctoral programme in Fishery — a four-year, full-time PhD at the Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters (FFPW). The catch, and the reason to move fast: applications close on 30 November 2026, and the admission interview is already scheduled for 15 December 2026. That leaves just 19 days from today to pick a dissertation topic, agree it with a supervisor, and file the application.
What makes this call stand out from the usual PhD listings is the money. Doctoral students at the faculty receive a regular scholarship and are employed by the faculty on at least a 0.1 FTE contract — a contract that can rise to a full-time (1.0 FTE) position. The university states the average monthly income of a doctoral student is approximately CZK 26,900. You are paid to do the PhD; you do not pay tuition-style fees to study. The only upfront cost listed by the university is a CZK 1,500 administration fee for the application itself.
Programme at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| University | University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (USB), Czech Republic |
| Faculty | Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters (FFPW / FROV) |
| Programme | Fishery — doctoral (PhD) |
| Duration | 4 years, full-time |
| Language | English |
| Average monthly income | Approximately CZK 26,900 (scholarship + faculty employment, 0.1–1.0 FTE) |
| Application fee | CZK 1,500 |
| Application deadline | 30 November 2026 |
| Admission interview | 15 December 2026 |
| Who can apply | Master’s degree holders in a relevant field; international applicants welcome (programme taught in English) |
What you would actually research
This is a strongly research-oriented doctorate, not a taught course. Students join a research laboratory team, work on their dissertation topic, and are expected to publish as first author, present results internationally, and even design a research project under the university’s Grant Agency and run it themselves if funded. The programme is built around the research issues the faculty works on today:
- Pond farming — the Czech Republic’s signature aquaculture system, centred on carp ponds in South Bohemia.
- Biology and fish farming — production biology, rearing systems and fish health.
- Fish stock conservation — protecting and restoring wild fish populations.
- Fishery management of open waters — managing lakes, rivers and reservoirs.
- Maintaining the hydrocenosis of open waters — keeping the living communities of open waters intact, in line with current conservation approaches.
On top of the research, the programme deliberately builds the skills of a working scientist: independence, communicating with colleagues at home and abroad, writing high-quality scientific publications, presenting internationally, and teaching. Practical experience is part of the design, not an afterthought.
What you get paid — and what it costs
The funding model is the part most applicants misunderstand, so here it is plainly. A doctoral student at FFPW receives two things: a regular doctoral scholarship, and employment by the faculty on a contract of at least 0.1 FTE, which can be increased up to a full-time 1.0 FTE position depending on circumstances. The university’s own figure for the average monthly income of a doctoral student is approximately CZK 26,900. That is the number to plan around — not a stipend range quoted by a third-party site.
The only fee the university lists for applicants is the CZK 1,500 administration fee payable with the application. There is no separate tuition figure published on the programme page; applicants should confirm any further charges with the faculty contact before applying, rather than assuming.
Who should apply
The programme builds directly on the knowledge and skills acquired at master’s level, so you need a completed master’s degree in a relevant field — fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic biology, ecology, zoology or a closely related discipline. Because the programme is taught in English and the faculty explicitly expects graduates to communicate and publish internationally, you should be comfortable working and writing in English. There is no nationality restriction stated on the programme page: the doctorate is open to international applicants, and the faculty’s research teams already work across borders.
This PhD suits you best if you want a research career in aquaculture or fisheries science, in a university or research institute, or if you want to work as a highly qualified fish farmer, processor, fishing technologist or consultant in production companies, feed or processing plants. The graduate profile also lists public administration roles — specialised officers in fisheries, agriculture, nature protection and the environment at ministerial, regional or municipal level.
How to apply — supervisor first, then the form
Do not start by filling in a form. The university’s own procedure has three steps, in this order:
- Choose your dissertation topic. Pick from the topics offered by the faculty’s research units — pond farming, fish biology and farming, stock conservation, open-water fishery management.
- Contact the supervisor for your selected topic. Discuss the topic and agree the scope of the work with them. This is a required step, not a courtesy email.
- Complete the application to study — only once you and the supervisor have reached a mutual agreement.
That supervisor-first sequence is the single most common reason applications to European PhDs fail: candidates apply cold, without an agreed supervisor, and the application goes nowhere. Start the supervisor conversation now — the 30 November deadline leaves no room for a week of unanswered emails. Detailed admission conditions are set out in the Dean’s Measure on the admission procedure and on the faculty’s own pages; read them before you submit.
Key dates — do not miss them
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 30 November 2026 | Application deadline — your complete application must be in |
| 15 December 2026 | Admission interview |
| After the interview | Admission decision under the Dean’s Measure on the admission procedure |
Applications received after 30 November will not be considered — the university states the deadline plainly, and with the interview fixed for 15 December there is no slack in the timetable.
Why South Bohemia for a fishery PhD
České Budějovice sits in South Bohemia, the historic centre of Czech pond aquaculture — a region where carp pond farming has been practised for centuries and where the faculty’s research is rooted in real production systems, not just laboratory models. For a fisheries graduate from India, that matters: pond farming is the production system closest to the carp and freshwater aquaculture practised across Asia, and a doctorate built on it transfers directly back to hatchery, farm and open-water management work at home. The faculty’s own graduate profile makes the same point — its graduates apply new knowledge to Czech or international aquaculture to raise the efficiency and quality of fish production.
What graduates go on to do
According to the university, graduates of the programme become researchers at institutions specialising in basic and applied research in fishery, agriculture, food, veterinary medicine and natural sciences; university teachers in fishery, agriculture and natural science; innovators or highly qualified fish farmers and processors in production companies, feed or processing plants; fishing technologists; self-employed fishery professionals; senior managers in fish farming and fishing companies; and specialised officers in public administration. It is a doctorate aimed at people who will run research, farms or policy — not a degree that ends at the thesis defence.
Frequently asked questions
Is the PhD taught in English?
Yes. The programme page lists English as the language of instruction, and the degree is full-time over four years.
Do I need to find a supervisor before applying?
Yes — that is the university’s stated procedure. Choose a dissertation topic, contact its supervisor, reach a mutual agreement, and only then complete the application.
How much will I earn as a doctoral student?
The university states the average monthly income of a doctoral student is approximately CZK 26,900, combining the regular scholarship with faculty employment of 0.1 FTE up to a full-time 1.0 FTE position.
Is there an application fee?
Yes — CZK 1,500, as listed on the official programme page.
Can international students apply?
The programme is taught in English and no nationality restriction is stated on the programme page. Confirm visa and recognition-of-degree requirements with the faculty contact before applying.
When is the deadline?
30 November 2026, with the admission interview on 15 December 2026. Late applications are not considered.
Official links
- University of South Bohemia — Fishery doctoral programme (official programme page)
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters (FROV) — detailed study information and study plan
Contact for the programme: Mgr. Veronika Zámečníková, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, Branišovská 1645/31a, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; phone +420 387 774 620.
More funded fisheries PhDs abroad
- DTU Aqua Denmark PhD Scholarships in Fisheries & Marine Food Webs 2026/27
- Wageningen University Aquaculture & Marine Fisheries Research Fellowships 2026/27
- Commonwealth Funds Your Aquaculture MSc — Dec 8
- University of Bergen PhD & Postdoctoral Fellowships in Fisheries Ecology & Marine Biology, Norway
All dates, figures and admission rules in this post are taken from the University of South Bohemia’s official Fishery doctoral programme page, verified 11 November 2026. Applicants should confirm the details on the official page and with the faculty before applying, as admission conditions can change.