Doctoral studies

Mentors and research groups

Mentoring during doctoral studies, eligibility requirements for supervisors and the research areas of the Department.

Mentorship

During doctoral studies there are three mentoring roles: the study mentor, the prospective mentor and the doctoral dissertation mentor. These roles relate to different stages of the studies and may be held by the same person, provided that they meet the prescribed requirements. The requirements and procedures for appointing mentors are laid down in more detail in the Regulations Governing Doctoral Studies at the Faculty of Mathematics (Articles 23, 24 and 31–33).

The study mentor guides and directs the student during the first two years of studies, that is, until the student has fulfilled the obligations for those years. The study mentor helps with the choice of courses, the preparation of the annual work plan, familiarisation with research methodology and the choice of the prospective doctoral dissertation mentor. At enrolment, the student submits a signed proposal of the study mentor (Annex 1 to the Regulations). The study mentor is appointed by the Committee for Doctoral Studies, with their prior consent.

The prospective mentor works with the student on planning the research, choosing and shaping the doctoral dissertation topic and preparing its submission. The prospective mentor is appointed by the Committee for Doctoral Studies, on the proposal of the student and the study mentor, before the student enrols in the courses that, according to the accreditation, are taken with the doctoral dissertation mentor. The study mentor may also be the prospective mentor, provided that they meet the prescribed requirements.

The doctoral dissertation mentor (doctoral supervisor) is formally appointed by decision of the Teaching and Research Council of the Faculty of Mathematics when the doctoral dissertation topic is accepted. As a rule, this is the prospective mentor. The mentor guides and monitors the student's research and work on the doctoral dissertation. In accordance with the Regulations, two doctoral dissertation mentors may also be appointed.

Requirements for mentorship

The study mentor must be a faculty member of the Faculty of Mathematics, a member of the Teaching and Research Council, elected in the relevant narrower scientific field, who at the time of appointment meets the requirements for a doctoral dissertation mentor. The doctoral dissertation mentor must have appropriate scientific references in the field of the dissertation topic, including at least five papers published in the previous ten years in international journals of categories M21, M22 or M23, in accordance with the prescribed standards for the relevant scientific field (Article 31). A mentor may supervise at most five doctoral students at the same time. A mentor who took on a mentorship before retirement has the right to retain it for two years after retirement (Article 32).

Change of mentor

A student who wishes to change the narrower scientific field or the study mentor submits an application to the Committee for Doctoral Studies, with the consent of the proposed new study mentor. The Committee decides on the application, and the new study mentor establishes an amended work plan and list of courses with the student (Article 29). A change of the doctoral dissertation mentor is possible exceptionally, on the basis of a reasoned written request by the student or the mentor addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics. The new mentor is chosen by the Teaching and Research Council, on the proposal of the Dean (Article 33).

Faculty members who may act as study mentors

According to the form "Scientific area, research group and study mentor" (in Serbian) for the academic year 2026/2027, the following faculty members of the Department may be proposed as study mentors in the doctoral programme in Computer Science:

More detailed information on the scientific and professional competences of the faculty members is available in the document Competences of mentors in doctoral studies (in Serbian).

Research areas and groups

The Department of Computer Science and Informatics has active research groups covering various areas of computer science and its applications. Doctoral students, in line with their research interests, may join their work and collaborate with the faculty members and researchers of the Department. The list of research groups, their areas of work and further information are available on the Research groups page.

Already when applying to the Call, in the form "Scientific area, research group and study mentor", the candidate indicates one or at most two faculty members with whom they would like to collaborate, thereby also expressing interest in the corresponding research area. This form serves as a preliminary expression of interest and is not the final choice of the study mentor. The final choice is confirmed at enrolment, with the corresponding signed proposal of the study mentor (Annex 1 to the Regulations). We recommend that candidates become familiar with the research areas of the Department before applying and contact the faculty member whose research is closest to their interests.