Poland - third cycle (PhD) programmes

The academic degree of doktor can be obtained in two ways: by students of third level (postgraduate) studies that usually last for 3-4 years, or by persons who combine their professional work with academic research and the elaboration of a dissertation.

All candidates must hold the professional title of magister or equivalent. To be awarded the degree of doktor, the candidate must submit and successfully defend a doctoral dissertation that is assessed positively by two supervisors and pass doctorate examinations.The degree of doktor  can be conferred either by higher education institutions or by research institutes entitled to award it. Since March 2003, the name of the qualification awarded as an equivalent to the degree of doktor in artistic disciplines is doktor sztuki (former name: kwalifikacje pierwszego stopnia).

The degree of doktor habilitowany is awarded to candidates who already hold the degree of doktor. It can be obtained either by academic staff of higher education institutions and research units, or by persons who combine their research work with other professional activities. To be awarded the academic degree of doktor habilitowany the candidate must: have remarkable scientific or artistic achievements; submit a habilitation dissertation which contributes to the development of a given scientific discipline; receive a favourable assessment of his/her dissertation from three supervisors; pass a habilitation examination and deliver a favourably assessed habilitation lecture.Since March 2003, the name of the qualification awarded in artistic disciplines as an equivalent to the degree of doktor habilitowany is doktor habilitowany sztuki (former name: kwalifikacje drugiego stopnia).The holders of the doktor habilitowany degree are eligible for the academic post of professor at higher education institutions and can be awarded the academic title of profesor conferred by the President of the Republic of Poland.