Animal Physiology

The institution defines the learning objectives of the study programme such as student's abilities at the time of completion of the programme and the main learning outcomes.

Graduates of the study programme Animal Physiology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the Comenius University are skilled in the scientific methods of physiological and behavioural research, which can apply creatively in their scientific work, and thus contribute to the development of scientific knowledge. They are successfully employed in a wide range of scientific and research institutions focused on biomedical, medical, pharmaceutical, biological, agricultural, and environmental research. They are professionally prepared to work creatively in scientific institutes of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, at various levels of research and management in the fields of the environment, agriculture, food industry or healthcare, as well as at universities and nature protection institutions.

Graduates of the study program Animal Physiology will gain in-depth knowledge of Special Animal and Human Physiology and Cell and Molecular Physiology, which determine various physiological and pathophysiological processes. Students will acquire the necessary theoretical knowledge at selected lectures, seminars, and consultations in compulsory optional as well as in selected optional courses. Through their compulsory participation in the pedagogical process at the department, students will gain experience in leading and evaluating students, which they can also use in future jobs. In the scientific part, students will gain deep theoretical knowledge and practical experience with modern scientific methods of physiological and behavioural research with their specialization according to the focus of the dissertation. The acquired skills and experience can creatively apply in their scientific work and thus contribute to the development of scientific knowledge. In this way, they can be successfully applied in a wide range of scientific and research institutions focused on biomedical, medical, pharmaceutical, biological, agricultural, and environmental sciences. The quality and course of the scientific part of the work is verified by active participation in scientific seminars, as well as in scientific events in the field at the domestic and international level. The publication outputs of the doctoral student are decisive for the successful completion of the study.

The institution indicates the professions for which the graduate is prepared at the time of completion and the potential of the study programme from the point of view of graduate's employability.

Graduates of the study program Animal Physiology apply in a wide range of areas, such as human and veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and agriculture. They are qualified experts in research institutes of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, institutes of health, agriculture, and the food industry, as well as in specialized facilities of these institutes (e.g. Biologist, Physiologist, Science, Expert in the field of Development, Research and Innovations, Pharmacologist, Toxicologist). They can find employment in pharmaceutical companies as product specialists and in the evaluation of the clinical effectiveness of treatment (Expert for Clinical Studies). They apply to all universities where biological disciplines are taught (e.g. Biologist, Physiologist, Assistant Professor). Graduates of this program are highly successful in obtaining postdoc scholarships at top domestic and foreign research institutions in the public and private sectors and also have good prospects to employ as healthy lifestyle consultants and in companies focused on applied as well as basic research in animal physiology and biomedicine.

Graduates of the study programme Animal Physiology are in demand primarily in research institutions - institutes of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and universities, medical laboratories, multinational companies engaged in clinical research of drugs and pharmaceutical companies.

For individual study plans, the institution states the requirements for completing the individual parts of the study programme and the student's progress within the study programme in the given structure:
- Number of credits for compulsory courses required for proper completion of studies: 20
- Number of credits for compulsory optional courses required for the proper completion of studies: 10
- Number of credits for elective courses and research activities required for proper completion of studies: 165
- Number of credits for the dissertation exam: 15
- Number of credits for oral defence of the final thesis: 30
- Publication of at least two scientific papers registered in Scopus or WOS databases, of which one publication must be in Q1-3 and in one the student must be a first-author