Master degree study

FIIT offers the following accredited study programs in 2-year full-time and 3-year full-time conversion engineering studies (within the meaning of Act No. 131/2002 Coll. on Higher Education and on Amendments and Additions to Certain Acts, as amended):

General characteristics and objectives of the master degree

Education in the second degree of studies in the field of computer science and information technology is designed so that the study programs respecting the economic and social development of society are of interest to applicants for the second degree of studies. Graduates of these study programs will find employment both on the domestic and international labour market. The best students can go on to study a third degree.

In the second degree, the faculty has accredited the above-mentioned study programs with a standard length of study of 2 years. It is assumed that the candidate has completed a first degree in the relevant field of study or in a related field of study.

It is assumed that the candidate has completed a first degree in the relevant field of study or in a related field of study.

Applicants who have completed their first degree in a field of study further afield will be admitted to study programs with a standard duration of 3 years.

The study programs are based on the assumption of a thorough theoretical foundation and practical skills acquired in the bachelor's degree. Emphasis is placed on developing creativity by conducting research with a high degree of creativity and independence. In order to be able to acquire a solid scientific approach, students gain experience in hypothesis formulation, experimental design, hypothesis testing, and data analysis.

The goal is to provide in-depth knowledge by exploring the relevant field of study along with knowledge in non-technical areas. Each student takes courses in economics, humanities, and social sciences. Project work (individual and group) forms an important component of the study content. The programs apply elective courses, which profile the student in the chosen area of computer science and information technology.

Structure of units of study programs and forms of teaching

From the point of view of the organisation of studies, the basic part of the study is the nominal year. Each nominal year consists of two semesters. With regard to the standard length of master studies for students who have completed their first degree in the relevant field of study or in a related field of study, the study is divided into nominal years as follows for study programs with a standard length of study of 2 years:

1st nominal year – student has earned less than 60 credits
2nd nominal year – student has earned 60 credits or more.

For those students who have completed a first degree in a more distant field of study, study in a program with a standard length of study of 3 years is divided into nominal years as follows:

0th nominal year (conversion year) – student has earned less than 60 credits,
1st nominal year – student has earned 60 credits or more but less than 120 credits,
2nd nominal year – student has earned 120 credits and more.

In the conversion year (0th nominal year), a student who has completed a first degree in a more distant field of study acquires the basic knowledge of the relevant field of study at the level of a bachelor's degree in that field or in a related field of study. The choice of subjects shall ensure that the student's current knowledge and practical skills in the relevant field are taken into account.

In the first nominal year, the student deepens his/her knowledge of the field of study. He/she is working on a large two-semester project in a team and is beginning work on a diploma project. Further, the knowledge of mathematics is also deepened by choosing two mathematical courses according to the student's narrower focus.

In the second nominal year, the knowledge of the field of study is completed. A substantial part of the student's effort is devoted to the diploma project, which results in the diploma project thesis. The diploma project is carried out over three semesters, with the greatest amount of effort scheduled for the final semester (23 credits). Furthermore, the student also completes his/her profile by choosing one course in economics and one course in management.

Throughout the study, the option of courses in the field of study is applied, which the student can appropriately complement the specialization given also by the topic of the diploma thesis.
The condition for proceeding to the next part of the study is the completion of the prescribed number of credits. The number of credits required for the progression to the next part of the study is determined by the study regulations.

Study programs are divided into courses. Education in the courses shall be provided in the following forms: lecture, seminar, numerical exercise, design or laboratory exercise, project work, internship, excursion or professional practice. Each form is complemented by consultation as a method of communication with the student. For each form, the amount of instruction in hours is given to represent the direct (timetabled) instruction of the student. In addition to the direct form of teaching, each course has a set proportion of practical supervised work and independent work of the student.

For each form, the amount of teaching in hours is given, which represents the direct (timetabled) teaching of the student. In addition to the direct form of teaching, each course has a specified proportion of practical supervised work and independent work by the student.

Methods of evaluation and completion of the study of courses

For each subject, the method of completion of the study of the course is determined as one of the following options:

credit (z)
classified credit (kz)
credit and examination (zs)
examination (s)
state examination (sš)

The method of evaluation is specific to the individual courses as well as to the forms of teaching. The level of completion of the courses is assessed by points in the range 0-100. In the case of courses with the completion method classified credit, credit and examination, examination, the score is transformed into a grade according to the established grading scale. In the case of courses completed by credit only, the score shall be reflected in the award or non-award of credit.

The overall evaluation of the level of completion of the course is an integral evaluation which includes:

continuous evaluation
the following are assessed:
- the knowledge acquired by the student through continuous study of the course (1 to 3 continuous tests),
- the solutions of the tasks assigned in the framework of the student's supervised and independent work.

final evaluation
the level of completion of the final test (if the method of completion of the course is an examination or credit and examination) or the defence of the project (in courses where project work is used as a form of teaching and the method of completion of the course is graded credit) is assessed.

Continuous assessment of students' work forms a significant part of the assessment (normally 40-60% of the total evaluation in master studies). It is also motivating for students to acquire lasting knowledge and skills.

Projects

Project work is a distinctive feature of master degree programs. It is regarded as an essential means of acquiring master skills, practical habits and application of the acquired theoretical knowledge.

Project work is included in the curricula by two large-scale projects:

an individual project (diploma project)
and a team project (team project).

These projects are carried out by five separate project courses (compulsory subjects in the master studies): Team Project I, Team Project II, Diploma Project I, Diploma Project II and Diploma Project III in all programs of study in the master studies.

The Team Project is primarily used to prepare students to work as part of a team. The goal is to learn the methods and procedures of working in a team to solve a large-scale project (for an individual with a given time schedule), and thus demonstrate readiness for employment in practice. The topic of the project is related to selected aspects of the relevant field of study. The student develops skills:

communication in a team,
collaborate in the production of a joint project outcome (including documentation),
plan a relatively large-scale project,
effectively manage (participate in the management of) a project and effectively use (moderate) discussions within the team and also with the project leader and the client.

Further, project work is also implicitly developed to a lesser extent in a number of courses. Here, students solve smaller projects (2 to 6 projects, tasks of varying complexity) individually or in small groups during the semester, whose solutions are also presented and defended orally at predetermined deadlines. The assignments of the projects correspond to the content of the respective courses in which they are addressed. However, in order to successfully complete them, students must also apply knowledge from other subjects. The importance of project work is also reflected in the proportion of its evaluation in the overall evaluation of the level of completion of the relevant course. Evaluation of project work typically includes evaluation of the documentation of the project (assignment), the level of design and implementation (according to the project requirements) and the presentation of the project (assignment).
The emphasis placed on independent work and self-study is also reflected in the credits assigned to the course. Credits reflect not only the number of schedule hours but also the amount of hours devoted to independent work and self-study.

State examination and diploma project

The final master's project is the diploma project. Development of the diploma project is carried out in the form of three project courses: diploma project I, diploma project II, diploma project III. The aim is to master the methods and procedures of solving relatively large projects. At the same time, the aim is to demonstrate the ability to independently and creatively solve complex tasks, including those of a research nature, in accordance with current methods and procedures used in the relevant field. This is individual self-directed project work, which is intended to demonstrate the student's ability to:

to apply the theoretical and practical knowledge gained from their studies,
to search for relevant literature, scientific and professional publications related to the problem to be solved, which allows to refine the specification of the problem (assignment) in accordance with the current state of the art in the relevant field,
independently, creatively and critically process new knowledge, analyze possible solutions, create models or implement them and evaluate the results,
demonstrate master skills and practical habits,
present clearly and concisely the solution, the method and the result of the verification of its properties both orally and in writing,
effectively manage their own project and make effective use of discussions with the project leader.

The diploma project, in its scope and complexity represents the importance of the project as the final project of master studies and thematically focuses on a selected topic from the supporting themes of the respective field of study.
The diploma project topics are chosen by students in the 1st semester of master studies from a defined set of topics. Individual topics are assessed in terms of the required quality (research and professional focus, difficulty, scope) by an expert committee led by the study program guarantor.

In the master studies, the student passes a state examination. The state examination for master studies is a defence of the diploma project and a professional debate on the project (it is a specialized area within the study program in the given field of study).

The student spends 3 semesters completing the diploma project. The end of each semester represents a checkpoint in which the student demonstrates the results achieved:

after the 1st semester of solution (completion of the Diploma Project I course) written documentation, which is evaluated with a grade by the project supervisor,
after the 2nd semester of the solution (completion of the Diploma Project II) written documentation, evaluated by the project leader; defence before a minimum 3-member committee; the final grade is determined by the leader on the basis of the documentation, the student's continuous work and the evaluation of the defence by the committee,
after the 3rd semester of the solution (completion of the Diploma Project III course) written documentation - diploma project, assessed by the project leader and one opponent.

The diploma project is defended by the student in front of the examination committee for the state examination. In the evaluation of the state examination the following is taken into account:

the submitted project with emphasis on the proposed solution and its verification, creativity and research component of the project (based on the judgments of the project leader and the opponent),
work on the project during its development (based on the project leader's judgement),
presentation and defence of the thesis,
statements and opinions in the professional debate on the project.

The student may repeat the state examination only once, on the date set by the examination board.

The level and applicability of graduates

All study programs at FIIT STU are designed in such a way that every student who has completed his/her studies and defended his/her diploma project acquires the required theoretical knowledge, abilities for teamwork, independent creative work, as well as practical habits and skills in terms of the graduate profile. Project work, especially Diploma Projects I, II, III and Team Projects require the student to creatively apply the acquired theoretical and practical knowledge in full. Thus, only a student who systematically and continuously devotes himself/herself to the study of individual subjects can successfully complete his/her studies. Each graduate can thus:

find and present their own solutions to problems in the research, development, design and construction of software, information systems, computer systems and, in general, in the broader context of information technology systems,
lead large projects and take responsibility for complex solutions; adapt and implement modern information technology in a variety of application areas; work effectively as an individual, as a member and as a leader of teams.

A significant percentage of students also expand their practical knowledge and skills during their studies by working in various sectors of the economy, such as programmers, developers, software systems administrators, computer network administrators and designers, and technical equipment developers. Most of these students find employment after graduation, especially in the organizations where they worked during their studies (as development team leaders, independent workers, managers).

Graduates of the above study programs will find employment on the domestic as well as international labor market in all sectors of the economy, both in the private and public sectors. They will find employment in all sectors that use the methods and means of informatics and information technology to manage and administer their processes (e.g. industrial enterprises, banking, transport, healthcare, educational institutions, etc.). They are also prepared to study third-level university education programs.

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