Required documents

Candidates must submit their applications for admission to the Doctoral School exclusively through the Internet Recruitment System (IRK). The application must include:

1. An indication of the selected discipline in which the candidate intends to pursue doctoral education; their PESEL number or passport number; citizenship; contact details (residential address, email address and telephone number); a statement indicating whether the candidate agrees to receive administrative decisions by electronic means of communication; and consent to the processing of personal data for the purposes of the admission procedure.

2. A scanned copy of a diploma confirming completion of long-cycle Master's degree studies or second-cycle studies, or an equivalent diploma obtained under separate regulations. In the case of a diploma considered equivalent to a diploma confirming completion of long-cycle Master's degree studies or second-cycle studies, the candidate must provide a justification for its equivalence. If the diploma was issued in a language other than Polish or English, the candidate must attach a sworn translation.

3. A preliminary research project proposal (including its title) written in English. The proposal must not exceed four pages and must comply with the following formatting requirements: Times New Roman or an equivalent typeface, a minimum font size of 11 points, single line spacing, top and bottom margins of at least 1.5 cm, and left and right margins of at least 2 cm.

4. A curriculum vitae (CV) containing information about the candidate's scientific activities, including their research interests and achievements during the five calendar years preceding the submission of the application. If the candidate became a parent during this period and provides a scanned copy of the child's birth certificate with the application, the period will be extended by two years for each child. The CV should include, in particular, information on scientific publications; research and organisational activities within student scientific associations; participation in scientific conferences and research projects; awards and distinctions; research internships; completed training in research skills; science communication and outreach activities; participation in representative bodies of the scientific community; grade point average during university studies; professional career; and knowledge of foreign languages.

5. Scanned copies of documents confirming the scientific activities listed in the CV.

6. A document confirming knowledge of English at a level of at least B2, or a declaration that the candidate's command of English is sufficient to pursue education at the Doctoral School.

7. A scanned copy of a declaration by the prospective supervisor confirming their willingness to supervise the candidate and stating the number of doctoral candidates for whom they are currently an appointed supervisor. The declaration must follow the template set out in Appendix No. 4 to Resolution No. 17 of the Senate of the University of Warsaw of 20 January 2021 on the rules of admission to the doctoral schools of the University of Warsaw (University of Warsaw Monitor, 2024, item 120). In addition, the candidate may attach a scanned copy of an opinion issued by the prospective supervisor, as well as opinions from other researchers concerning the candidate, their scientific activities or their proposed research project.

8. A photograph showing the candidate's face and allowing their identification.

9. A declaration stating whether the candidate is or has previously been a doctoral candidate or a participant in doctoral studies, or whether they have or have previously had an open doctoral degree procedure or proceedings for the award of a doctoral degree. If so, the candidate must provide the title of the doctoral dissertation or research project they have been preparing, together with the full name of their supervisor.

10. A declaration confirming that the candidate has read Resolution No. 17 of the Senate of the University of Warsaw of 20 January 2021 on the rules of admission to the doctoral schools of the University of Warsaw (University of Warsaw Monitor, 2024, item 120), as well as Articles 40 and 41 of the Polish Code of Administrative Procedure.

11. Contact details of two individuals who will send recommendation letters on behalf of the candidate directly to rekrutacja.nsp@uw.edu.pl for the discipline of Biological Sciences. Failure to receive the recommendation letters does not render the application for admission to the Doctoral School incomplete. However, the letters may be taken into account when assessing the candidate's scientific potential. The authors of the recommendation letters should submit them directly by electronic means no later than 15 October 2026.

12. Scanned copies of academic transcripts from first-cycle and second-cycle studies or long-cycle Master's degree studies, or equivalent documents (e.g. a diploma supplement).

13. An abstract of the Master's thesis or Master's research project in English (up to 3,000 characters, including spaces).

Form of the selection procedure and maximum number of points

The selection procedure consists of a single stage. The maximum number of points that can be awarded during the selection procedure is 100.

Language of the selection procedure, including the interview

The interview will be conducted in Polish or English, according to the candidate's preference indicated in the IRK system. If Polish is selected, part of the interview may be conducted in English.

Assessment criteria and scoring

I. Preliminary research project proposal (maximum 5 points)

The following criteria will be taken into account when assessing the preliminary research project proposal:

1. The feasibility of carrying out the project in light of the candidate's documented competencies.

2. The scientific significance of the project.

3. The expected added value of the project to the scientific community within the relevant discipline.

II. Candidate's scientific activities (maximum 15 points)

The assessment of the candidate's scientific activities will take into account the following achievements, provided they are supported by scanned documentation:

1. Scientific publications (a scanned copy of the title page is required; in the case of multi-author publications or achievements, the candidate's percentage contribution must be specified).

2. Documented participation in student competitions.

3. Documented participation in research projects (a scanned certificate issued by the project leader is required).

4. Oral presentations or seminar and conference presentations (a scanned document confirming the delivery of the presentation is required).

5. Documented research internships.

6. Achievements resulting from activities within student scientific associations (a scanned certificate signed by the president of the association is required).

III. Qualifying examination (maximum 40 points)

The candidate's knowledge and skills in the discipline of Biological Sciences will be assessed through an oral examination.

IV. Interview (maximum 40 points)

The interview is intended to assess the candidate's scientific potential. It may include the following elements:

1. A discussion of the candidate's Master's thesis (understanding of the research topic, research hypotheses and their implementation, results obtained and conclusions drawn).

2. Questions concerning the candidate's scientific achievements and the course of their first-cycle and second-cycle studies or long-cycle Master's degree studies, including courses related to the subject of the doctoral dissertation.

3. Questions concerning information provided in the recommendation letters, including the nature and outcomes of the candidate's collaboration with the authors of the letters.

4. Questions concerning the doctoral research project and other information contained in the documentation submitted by the candidate.

Admission requirements

Admission to the Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences is conditional upon the candidate being ranked within the available number of places on the ranking list and obtaining at least 50 points in the selection procedure.

Doctoral education programme

The doctoral education programme lasts four years. It comprises compulsory courses (not exceeding a total of 300 hours over the entire period of education) and the implementation of an individual research plan under the supervision of a doctoral supervisor.

The preparation of the doctoral dissertation within the programme must not exceed four years.

Doctoral scholarship

The monthly doctoral scholarship amounts to:

• PLN 4,236.00 gross up to and including the month in which the doctoral candidate undergoes the mid-term evaluation at the Doctoral School.

• PLN 5,500.50 gross from the month following the month in which the doctoral candidate undergoes the mid-term evaluation at the Doctoral School.

The scholarship is awarded in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science.

The total period during which a doctoral candidate may receive a doctoral scholarship at a doctoral school must not exceed four years.

The above scholarship amounts may change if the minister responsible for higher education and science announces a new base rate.