Final state exam

At our department, the final state exam takes place in conjunction with the thesis defense. First you will defend your thesis by providing a brief overview of the work—what it is about and why it matters, how you conducted the research, and any interesting outcomes obtained. You will have 10 minutes to present the work, so it's a good idea to have it well thought out in advance. The reviews and other questions from the examination panel will then be discussed. The entire defense typically lasts 20–25 minutes.

The state exam follows immediately after the defense. It is comprised of three sections, reflecting the thematic foundations of the program—theoretical approaches and major concepts connected to energy politics, Czech energy policy and EU energy policy. Literature for the individual sections can be found here.

The exam proceeds as follows: 1 hour before the defense you draw at random 1 topic from each section, i.e. 3 in total. You then have 60 minutes to prepare, after which begins the thesis defense and then the exam. The order of questions is up to you, so you may begin with the topic that best suits you. We recommend that you start each question with a brief outline of the key points you have prepared. The goal during the exam is to show that you understand the discussed topics, see how they are connected, and can connect theoretical concepts with practical examples.

Additional information:

• Please arrive to the exam at least 90 minutes prior – 60 minutes are designated for preparation and an extra 30 minutes in case of any last-minute changes.
• The dress code is semi-formal.
• The exam and defense are open to the public. Come see how it works and support your classmates.