Payment period
The total period of receiving a doctoral scholarship at doctoral schools cannot exceed 4 years. The scholarship will also be paid during holiday periods.
For this period, the period of training at a doctoral school shall not be counted, in case the training at the school has been discontinued and there is no other doctoral school providing training in the discipline, and the entity providing the doctoral school shall pay the costs of the proceedings for the award of the doctoral degree in an extramural procedure to the person who missed the opportunity to complete the training.
Amount and payment of the scholarship
According to Article 209(4) of the Law on Higher Education and Science, the amount of the monthly doctoral scholarship amounts to at least:
- 37% of a professor’s salary - until the month in which the mid-term evaluation was conducted;
- 57% of a professor’s salary - after the month in which the mid-term evaluation was conducted.
The amount of the minimum basic salary of a professor in a university shall be determined by the Minister by regulation. Since 2024, it amounts to PLN 9370 (gross).
The amount of the doctoral scholarship less the pension contribution will be approximately:
- before the mid-term evaluation: PLN 3466,90 gross,
- after the mid-term evaluation: PLN 5340,90 gross.
Following a successful mid-term evaluation, in the case of employment of more than half-time, the amount of the scholarship amounts to 40% of the monthly scholarship referred to in Article 209(4)(2) of the Law on Higher Education and Science (57% of the professor’s salary).
During the period of suspension of education, the provisions for determining the amount of the doctoral scholarship shall be applied mutatis mutandis, except that the basis for determining the scholarship shall be understood as the amount of the monthly doctoral scholarship referred to in Article 209(4) of the Law on Higher Education and Science, due on the date of submission of the application for suspension.
Payment of the scholarship will be made by the 30th of each month.
Increase in scholarship resources
The amount of the doctoral scholarship may be increased. The decision on the amount of the increase of the doctoral scholarship is made by the Vice Rector responsible for the Doctoral School upon the proposal of the Dean of the Doctoral School.
A higher doctoral scholarship may be awarded to two doctoral students each year of training, in any programme in which training is provided at the Doctoral School. The Rector may increase the number of scholarships at the request of the Dean of the Doctoral School.
Increase in scholarship – NAWA STER programme
Certificate of disability
A doctoral student with:
- a certificate of disability,
- a disability degree certificate or
- a certificate referred to in Art. 5 and Art. 62 of the Act of 27 August 1997 on Vocational and Social Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities,
receives a doctoral scholarship in an amount increased by 30% of the amount indicated in Article 209(4) item 1 of the Law on Higher Education and Science.
Employment of a doctoral student
A doctoral student may not be employed as an academic teacher or researcher. The prohibition does not apply to the employment of a doctoral student:
- for the implementation of the research project referred to in Article 119(2) items 2 and 3 of the Law on Higher Education and Science;
- following a successful mid-term evaluation, except that in the case of employment of more than half-time, the amount of the stipend shall be 40% of the monthly stipend referred to in paragraph 4 item 2;
- who is not entitled to a doctoral scholarship.
Early submission of the dissertation
A doctoral student who has submitted their dissertation at an earlier date than the completion date provided for in the training program shall receive a doctoral scholarship until the date on which the completion date expires, but for no longer than 6 months, with the scholarship period not to exceed 4 years.
Discontinuation of the scholarship
Payment of the scholarship shall cease on the last day of the month in which the doctoral student was removed from the list of doctoral students or in which the statutory deadline for collecting the scholarship expired.
A doctoral scholarship shall not be awarded to a doctoral student receiving a salary of at least 150% of the amount of the doctoral scholarship to which he or she is entitled pursuant to paragraph 4 from employment in connection with the implementation of a research project referred to in Article 119(2) items 2 and 3 of the Law on Higher Education and Science by the entity operating the doctoral school in which the doctoral student is studying, during the period of such employment.
Insurance premiums / taxation
According to the position of ZUS [Social Insurance Institution], all doctoral students of Doctoral Schools are covered by social insurance, i.e., pension, disability and accident contributions are paid. Eager doctoral students can also pay sickness premiums. Contributions are paid compulsorily, regardless of having any other title to pay them.
Health premiums are paid only if there is no other title to insurance – such as an employment contract or enrolment by a family member.
The doctoral scholarship is not taxed.
Doctoral School Office
building M, room 35
Madalińskiego 6/8
02-513 Warsaw
e-mail: bsd@sgh.waw.pl
phone: +48 22 564 71 15
phone: +48 22 564 71 30
Monday – Friday: 9:00–15:00