Questions and answers

• I have studied Physics, Chemistry, Social studies, Law…, non-humanities discipline, in short. Am I allowed to take part in the admission?

Yes! Our School lends a hand if you want to change your life path 😉 What we do care about during the admission is: initial description of the research project, scientific activity of the candidate (confirmed by means of scanned documents!) and interview. Only these three factors have an impact on gaining a doctoral student status – if you have a MA/MSc title, of course.

• Only MA/MSc? They say you can take part in admission process even earlier…

Yes, “they” are right, but it is a bit harder way of recruitment. The qualification proceedings may be also initiated based on an application for admission to the School, submitted by the candidate who:

a) is the research project coordinator for a project carried out at the University as part of the “Diamentowy Grant” [Diamond Grant] program launched by the Minister responsible for higher education and science or submitted an application as part of this program that is currently pending review, or

b) is a graduate of a first degree program or a student who has completed the third year of a long-cycle master degree program, and has been approved by the Director in consultation with the qualification team to be considered for admission due to their exceptional, superior scientific achievements demonstrated to date (answering in advance: exceptional, superior scientific achievements demonstrated to date are evaluated individually).

• Under which criteria will my cadidacy be evaluated?

Three criterias, metioned above in point 1, are:

stage I (60 points)

1) initial description of the research project (40 points), its assess takes into account:

a) research objective (0-10 points);
b) novelty and originality of the research project (0-10 points);
c) methodology appropriate for the objective pursued, consistency of argumentation, transparency of reasoning (0-10 points);
d) description of the current status of research with references relevant for the research objective (0-10 points);

2) scientific activity of the candidate (20 points), its evaluation takes into account, confirmed by means of scanned documents:

a) scientific publications, including scientific articles, sections in multi-author monographs, single-author monographs, publications in peer-reviewed international conferences materials (0-8 points);
b) presentations at national and international scientific conferences with an approved paper (0-8 points);
c) other elements of the evaluation of the candidate’s experience and scientific achievements, including awards, honourable mentions, certificates, professional experience, teaching experience, activity in an academic scientific movement, training, promotion of science, etc. (0–4 points);

stage II

1) interview (20 points), its assess takes into account:

a) the candidate’s competencies relevant to the research conducted, including understanding of the research topic to be addressed and substantive knowledge 0-20 points)

b) the candidate’s ability to justify the appropriateness of the chosen discipline and linguistic accuracy, including in particular fluency in the use of scientific language typical for the discipline of the planned research (0-20 points).

• Which language proficiency certificates are required in the admission process?

NONE! You are probably a little perplexed, but we are explaining it right now, as it is an important issue. Candidates submit only a declaration of the B2 level of proficiency in English, as their language proficiency level will be verified  during the interview. The declaration is made by completing an application in the IRK system (LINK). This is due to the fact that one of the questions during the interview will be asked in English (and you have to answer it in that language). Unless, of course, you want your interview to be carried entirely in English.

• English is fine, but what about German, French, Italian… I am not so good at English!

Understanding English at certain proficiency level is mandatory if you want to start education at our School. It is not an arbitrary decision of the School –  English has become, nolens volens, international science language. Candidates who are not fluent enough in it will not be able to carry out research at proper level, because English source literature will not be available to them.

• May people from abroad take part in the admission process?

Yes, they can indeed! Non-Polish citizens have exactly the same rights and obligations as Polish doctoral students.

• I plan to graduate between June and September this year. May I take part in admission process this year nevertheless?

Yes – in that case you have to upload to the IRK system a scan of a statement that the diploma or certificate confirming the award of a master’s degree will be delivered by the 20th September 2023. Therefore, you have to graduate before that date, otherwise you will not be enrolled to the School.