Come and shape the future with us
Program in a nutshell
Our PhD program is really unique within the Czech Republic. For students of postgraduate studies, it is a unique opportunity to create their dissertation in cooperation with Škoda Auto experts. Thanks to the PhD program, you easily connect theory to practical skills.
Requirement
Admission to a PhD programDuration of the program
Up to 4 yearsTime Allocation
Max. 20 hours per weekRemuneration
335 CZK/hour
Come and shape the future with us
The PhD program is customized for each student. The experience goes beyond departmental work and includes networking events, breakfasts with managers, and various training sessions. The program also includes an annual group meeting for PhD students from across the Volkswagen Group.
What the PhD program looks like
- This is a multi-year development and motivation program for PhD students at the university (up to 4 years).
- Dissertation topics are announced by Škoda Auto, we can also try to find a topic together.
- The time fund of the program can be adapted to you, the maximum is 20 hours per week.
- We will draw up a cooperation contract ("Agreement on Work Activity") with you.
- This is a paid form of cooperation (335 CZK/hour).
What we offer
- Close collaboration on your dissertation with top industry experts.
- Development of your professional knowledge and skills during the internship.
- Language courses and specialized training.
- Meetings with managers.
- Group-wide meetings for doctoral candidates.
- Opportunity to get employed at Škoda Auto.
Something extra
- Subsidized meals.
- Educational activities (training, workshops).
- Regular meetings of the PhD program members (every 3 months).
- Ambassador position at your university.
What experiences and expertise are we looking for?
Acceptance to a PhD study...
At the time of starting the internship, the student must be accepted to PhD studies, or already study at any Czech or Slovak university.
… with language skills,
Advanced knowledge of English or German at level B2 is essential.
… communication and organizational skills,
You will meet other colleagues and representatives of individual departments and share your experience and suggestions together. There will be also meetings all across the VW Group.
… and broad knowledge of the field studied.
Interest in the field studied and its broad knowledge is essential for acceptance.
Selection process
Once you submit your application and we agree on a specialized topic, we will invite you for an interview. If the meeting goes well, you'll proceed to language tests and our Assessment Center, where you'll get the chance to show off your skills. After that, you can look forward to the results.
CV screening
The recruiter has 2 weeks from the time you submit your application to review your CV.
Language Test
If you pass the CV screening, a link to an online language test will be sent to you within 3 weeks of submitting your application.
Face-to-face/online interview
If you meet the required level, you will be invited to interview within a week.
Agreement on the dissertation topic
If you don't choose from the topics listed, the recruiter will contact the departments with your topic to see if they are interested in a collaboration.
Nominations to the Assessment Centre
If we agree on a professional topic, you will be invited by the recruiter to the AC.
Assessment Centre
At the end of the Assessment Centre, you will find out whether you have been accepted.
Start of the program
From AC to your onboarding, you are already in close contact with the program coordinator who will help you through the onboarding process.
What have our doctoral candidates gained from the program?
Students from all over the Czech Republic and abroad come to us for experience. Read their stories. Perhaps, they will inspire you to take the first step towards your dream career.
"In my doctoral thesis, I am researching Škoda windshields."
"I was looking for a topic in the field of electromobility. I found it in Škodovka."
"I manage to combine cooperation with Škoda Auto and studies."
Stories of our PhD students
Let’s rotate! What do internships at Škoda Auto look like?
Experience – one of the most important things for interns. It is a benefit which they can utilize for the rest of their life. And an internship that includes all of this? Priceless! This is exactly what Škoda offers. As part of the Student Talent Program, you will try out a sophisticated rotation system and work in various departments across the company – from Technical Development through Purchasing to Marketing and Sales.
Why is MB a great place to live? Young talents share their views.
Located in the heart of the Czech Republic, Mladá Boleslav might not be as famous as Prague, but it holds a unique charm that makes it a wonderful place to live. In this article, Škoda Auto Talent Programs members and ex-members describe reasons why they moved to this town through a series of interviews, capturing the essence of what makes Mladá Boleslav a great place to call home. In this article, our respondents recommend their most favourite restaurants, cafés or parks together with their journey in Škoda Auto and their experiences.
We’ll help you find contacts for life
Ahoj. Hello. Hola. 你好. You never know which greeting you’ll get from Pavlína. She is fluent in several languages, including Chinese. She also uses her language skills as a coordinator of Talent programs for people from all over the world. "I had to learn to be great at negotiations," she laughs. She has so much energy to spare – and throw. In her free time, she enjoys, among other things, athletics and hammer throwing. But we start the conversation with a slightly more subtle topic – a reference to Cinderella on her Instagram profile...
Postgradual students at Škoda Auto
Combining work and study? Why not? Škoda Auto values young talent such as PhD students and is interested in establishing various forms of cooperation with them. The relationship is mutually beneficial - students gain valuable experience and Škoda can use the results of their research in its own projects. Find out more about Škoda Auto's post gradual students and their areas of research.
We have a lot to learn from students
“I truly believe that academia needs industry, and industry needs academia. The best outcomes arise from cooperation of the two. And I really enjoy being in the middle, talking to both sides and helping them collaborate,” says Tessa Talsma, an innovation specialist.
How to change production? You can start while you're still studying
When Pavlína Šťastná was finishing her studies at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU), she decided to combine her academic knowledge with what she has learned during her internship at Škoda Auto. To do so, she chose the internal localization of objects in an industrial environment as the main topic of her master's thesis. And the decision certainly paid off. Her thesis, which can influence the speed and efficiency of production in the future, won the Laurin & Klement Prize, which is awarded to the most noteworthy final theses.
From waking up to falling asleep. How does metrology shape our life?
“Measurement has become unified. Metrology has gradually become a field that works the same all over the world. This has made international trade and cooperation in production easier. But metrology also shapes our daily lives,” explains Jan Urban, who works as a chief metrologist at Škoda Auto.
“I could not find another doctoral program - which would focus specifically on the area of innovation and digitization - as comprehensive as this. That is why Škoda Auto was a clear choice for me.”
Lucie Bezecná PhD student and marketing managerExplore the offer of PhD positions picked just for you
FAQ
Where does the doctoral program take place?
At any Škoda Auto plant in the Czech Republic, according to the current requirements of the specialist departments. Nevertheless, the majority of postgraduate students work in Mladá Boleslav at the company's headquarters.
How many postgraduate students will be accepted this year?
We do not have any limits for the doctoral program. We accept postgraduate applications throughout the year.
As a postgraduate student, will I get a part-time or full-time employment contract?
Postgraduate students at Škoda Auto sign an Agreement on Work Activity, which corresponds to a part-time position.
What are the requirements to get accepted into the PhD Program at Škoda Auto?
The main requirement is to be a PhD student at any Czech or Slovak university. Additionally, it’s important to agree on the topic of your dissertation with your potential supervisor.
Is it possible to apply more than once for the selection procedure?
Yes, after one year.
Can I participate in the selection procedure while I am still studying for my master’s degree?
Yes, it is possible to sign up for the doctoral program at the end of your master’s studies. After receiving confirmation of acceptance for doctoral studies, you will be accepted on to the doctoral program.
What is the deadline for doctoral applications?
Postgraduate students are accepted on to the program throughout the year.
Is the doctoral program tied to studying at the Škoda university?
Application to the PhD program is not linked to study at Škoda university (ŠAVŠ). At present, ŠAVŠ has no accreditation for the PhD program. You can join the PhD program at Škoda Auto only after you have been accepted to a PhD program at any university in the Czech or Slovak Republic.
What happens if I am successful in all rounds of the selection procedure, but I don't graduate university in time?
You can enter the doctoral program after being accepted for doctoral studies. In the meantime, you can start a university internship.
What should I do if I am not accepted to the program, but I am still interested in working at Škoda Auto?
If you do not meet the required criteria for the doctoral program at Škoda Auto, you can start a university internship or you can collaborate with experts from Škoda Auto on your final thesis.
What is the difference between a doctoral program and a university internship?
Within the doctoral program, you will have access to language courses, various training events, meetings with managers, Group meetings of postgraduate students, networking events, and higher hourly rates. Only students holding a postgraduate degree will be accepted to the doctoral program, whereas for university internship students, any degree is accepted.
What kind of employment agreement will I have?
During the onboarding process at Škoda Auto, we will conclude a work agreement with you, which means you may work on average 81.5 hours a month.
What is the typical career path of postgraduate students after completing the doctoral program?
Postgraduate students often enter their main employment as specialists.
Is it possible to start a foreign internship?
Foreign internships are not offered as part of the doctoral program. However, you may have the opportunity to go on business trips within the VW Group.
What if things don’t go as planned?
If you make it to the Assessment Center but don’t pass it, you can still prepare your dissertation by means of a university internship.
Contact us today!
