- SUPERVISOR
1. Do I need to have a supervisor chosen during the admission process?
No! The supervisor is officially appointed only after the start of your studies.
However, it’s a good idea to reach out to a potential supervisor earlier – while preparing your research proposal.
2. Question about the opinion. If I have already spoken with a person who could become my supervisor at SGH and they expressed interest in the topic (I have also sent them my proposed research plan), is it sufficient to indicate this person in the application?
Providing an opinion on the candidate’s academic competence is a formal requirement. The opinion must be issued in writing, and the candidate must upload a scanned copy to the Online Recruitment System.
3. Does the potential supervisor need to prepare any additional, formal document?
No.
According to § 14(1–2) of the Regulations of the Doctoral School at SGH Warsaw School of Economics:
1. The supervisor(s) are appointed by the dean at the request of the doctoral student, no later than 3 months after the doctoral student begins their education in the Doctoral School. In the case of a supervisor from outside SGH, information about their academic activity and publications must be attached to the request.
2. The request for the appointment of a supervisor (supervisors) is submitted by the doctoral student immediately after commencing education, but no later than 15 November of the given academic year. The request must be accepted by the proposed supervisor(s).
The only exception applies to the Industrial Doctorate, for which the supervisor’s approval must be obtained already at the application stage.
4. I am interested in the process of choosing a supervisor. I saw a list of people who have supervised doctorates before – may I pursue a doctorate with someone not included on that list?
The supervisor should be an employee of SGH, though during the doctoral programme an auxiliary supervisor may also be appointed.
According to § 14(3) of the Regulations of the Doctoral School at SGH Warsaw School of Economics:
3. The auxiliary supervisor is appointed by the dean at the request of the supervisor(s). In the case of an auxiliary supervisor from outside SGH, information on their academic activity and publications must be attached to the request. The request must be accepted by the proposed auxiliary supervisor.
5. Does the supervisor have to be an SGH employee?
Yes. The supervisor should be an SGH employee. SGH employs over 250 independent researchers (professors and habilitated doctors) with broad scientific interests. It is therefore highly likely to find competent supervisors capable of providing excellent supervision in the chosen research area.
- Opinion on the candidate
6. May the opinion be issued by my master’s thesis supervisor who holds a PhD but not a habilitation degree?
No.
According to § 11(1)(4) of Resolution No. 162 of the Senate of SGH on the conditions and procedure for admission to the Doctoral School at SGH:
“The opinion on the candidate’s academic competence is issued by a researcher associated with the relevant discipline who meets the requirements for a supervisor as defined in the Higher Education and Science Act, within the discipline in which the candidate intends to pursue education.”
The opinion may only be issued by an independent academic staff member, i.e., a person holding a habilitation degree (dr hab.) or the title of professor (prof. dr hab.).
7. How to obtain an opinion on the candidate’s academic competence?
To obtain the opinion, the candidate should contact an independent academic staff member holding a habilitation degree or professorial title who is associated with the discipline in which the candidate intends to pursue doctoral studies at SGH.
The opinion does not need to be issued by an SGH employee or the future supervisor. The most valuable opinion will be provided by a person who knows the candidate’s academic predispositions, achievements, and research interests.
8. May the opinion be issued by an academic not affiliated with SGH?
Yes. It does not need to be issued by an SGH employee or the future supervisor.
9. Is there a template for the opinion?
No. The opinion should address the candidate’s academic competence.
- Scholarship
10. What is the monthly doctoral scholarship amount?
The monthly doctoral scholarship is as follows:
- 37% of a professor’s salary (PLN 3,466.90 gross) – until the mid-term evaluation,
- 57% of a professor’s salary (PLN 5,340.90 gross) – after the mid-term evaluation.
The minimum professor’s salary used as the basis for calculation is PLN 9,370 gross (from 2024).
Doctoral students may apply each year for a scholarship increase awarded through a competition. Two doctoral students per year of study within each programme may receive the increased scholarship. On the first year, the increase is awarded based on recruitment results. In the 2025/2026 academic year the increase amounts to PLN 1,500 per month.
11. What is the scholarship for an international student and what is the total amount?
All doctoral students at the SGH Doctoral School are treated equally. The scholarship amount is identical for all, regardless of nationality. Information is provided above.
12. What forms of financial support are available for doctoral students?
Learn about the doctoral scholarship and the funding opportunities for your scientific activities:
Funding scientific activities of doctoral students
Additional benefits for doctoral students
13. When is a doctoral scholarship not granted to a doctoral student?
A scholarship is not granted to a student if:
- their education in the doctoral school is associated with an employment obligation at the institution running the doctoral school, based on an employment contract, with a salary that exceeds the salary of a professor;
- the student already holds a doctoral degree.
The total period for receiving a doctoral scholarship in doctoral schools cannot exceed 4 years.
- Recruitment
14. Can I change the data entered in the ISR?
You are allowed to update and modify the data entered in the ISR until the system closes. Changes to personal data (such as nationality, PESEL, date of birth, and gender) can be made as long as you have not yet selected your level of study. Otherwise, you must unregister from the ISR application form, update the mentioned data, and then select the appropriate application form again.
15. If I graduated from a foreign university, is my diploma sufficient for the application?
You can find information about that on the website “Admission process step-by-step to the SGH Doctoral School”.
16. Do I need to attach a diploma’s translation?
All documents you submit during the admission process can be in Polish or English. If the original document is in another language, a certified translation by a sworn translator must be attached.
17. Statement of English proficiency in the ISR
There is no need to upload a separate document. At the very beginning of your registration in the ISR, when selecting the admission process, you will be required to check a statement confirming that your English proficiency is at a level that allows you to study at the Doctoral School. No additional declarations or language certificates are required.
18. How many points do I need to be qualified?
To be eligible for entry into the list of doctoral students, you need to score at least 85 points after the second stage and be placed on the ranking list within the available number of spots.
19. Are there sample questions/example literature for the interview available?
We do not collect sets of sample interview questions. The interview will focus on the issues related to your research plans and the discipline of the program you are applying for. However, you can prepare yourself by reviewing the program requirements and consulting your research plans with a potential supervisor.
20. Can I apply to more than one program?
You can take part in admissions for only one program in one profile in a given academic year.
21. Should the diploma be attached as a scan in the application form and is this form acceptable?
Yes. Recruitment is conducted exclusively electronically via the ISR system. If accepted, the candidate must submit original documents in person at the Doctoral School Office.
22. If I defend my thesis in July, may I begin the doctorate in October?
Recruitment for 2026/2027 runs from 9 April to 21 June (16:00). During this time, all required documents must be uploaded, including a diploma or diploma supplement.
If the diploma is not yet issued but the defence has taken place, a certificate from the faculty office and a statement regarding the later submission of the diploma must be uploaded.
23. Admission limits
Each educational program has a limit of 7 available spots.
However, if multiple candidates with the same score are tied for the last spot, all of them will be eligible for entry into the list.
The minimum number of candidates required to launch a program is 5.
24. May I authorize another person to submit documents on my behalf?
Yes. Original documents must be submitted on 9–10 September. A written authorization with the ID number of the authorized person is required.
25. The ratio of 2.5–3 candidates per place – does this refer to those invited to the interview or all applicants?
This ratio refers to candidates admitted to the interview stage.
26. Which profile has the highest number of applicants?
All profiles enjoy high interest. The Industrial Doctorate profile is available only to applicants whose projects receive funding from the Ministry.
27. If I completed SGH doctoral studies but did not open the doctoral procedure on time, may I apply again to the Doctoral School?
Completing doctoral studies and obtaining the certificate of completion does not automatically grant the right to resume education at the Doctoral School. In such a situation, we encourage you to contact the secretariat of the relevant college, which will provide detailed information and help determine possible next steps.
It is also permissible to re-enter the education process, but only under the general recruitment rules applicable at the Doctoral School, which means the need to complete the full education program.
28. May I include articles from the journal Controlling i Zarządzanie?
Under the link provided below, you can verify whether the indicated title is included in the list of scored scientific journals:
The detailed criteria for evaluating academic publications in the field of social sciences are specified in Annex No. 1 to the Recruitment Conditions.
For academic publications:
- in scientific journals included in the list of the ministry responsible for higher education and science,
- authored monographs,
- authored chapters in scientific monographs,
- co-authored chapters in scientific monographs,
- editorial work on a scientific monograph,
the candidate may receive 5 points for each publication. The candidate may submit only three publications issued after 31 December 2021 – the date of publication or the issue date (in the case of periodicals) is taken into account.
29. Do I need prior experience in writing academic articles to apply?
No. Academic experience is not required but may provide additional points.
30. What level of detail is expected in the research proposal?
The preliminary research plan related to the topic of the future doctoral dissertation should be prepared in the form of a description of the intended research activities, which is assessed on a scale of 0–40 points. The required scope of this document is strictly defined in the candidate evaluation criteria of the SGH Doctoral School. Although the document does not need to constitute a fully developed research project, it should be well-thought-out, coherent, and demonstrate the maturity of the concept as well as familiarity with the relevant literature.
The evaluation criteria specify the minimum level of detail expected at the recruitment stage:
Detailed candidate evaluation criteria – scoring
31. Is a certificate of Polish language proficiency required?
No. Knowledge of the Polish language is not required. The study programmes are offered in both Polish and English, depending on whether foreign doctoral candidates are admitted in a given cohort. The doctoral dissertation may be prepared in English.
However, it should be noted that the application for the award of the doctoral degree must include one of the following diplomas or language certificates:
32. How many places are available in Political Science and Administration?
Seven places in 2026/27.
33. Can graduates of technical universities apply?
Yes. Admission to the SGH Doctoral School is open to graduates of all universities – including technical universities – provided they hold a master’s degree or an equivalent qualification. The evaluation criteria and scoring for diplomas obtained in other scientific fields are as follows:
Master’s degree diploma (uniform master’s studies or second-cycle studies, in Polish or a foreign language, or an equivalent diploma):
- diploma grade 5.0 or higher – 10 points,
- diploma grade 4.5 – 6 points,
- diploma grade 4.0 – 3 points,
- diploma grade 3.5 or 3.0 – 0 points.
Bachelor’s degree diploma or a document confirming completion of the third year of long-cycle master’s studies:
- diploma grade 5.0 or higher – 5 points,
- diploma grade 4.5 – 3 points,
- diploma grade 4.0 – 1 point,
- diploma grade 3.5 or 3.0, or confirmation of completion of the third year of studies – 0 points.
Detailed candidate evaluation criteria – scoring
34. Is there preferential scoring for an SGH diploma?
No.
35. How are conferences scored?
The scoring for participation in conferences is presented in Annex No. 1 to the Recruitment Conditions, which is available on the SGH Doctoral School admission website and constitutes the basis for evaluating the candidate’s academic achievements:
Detailed candidate evaluation criteria – scoring
The scoring for conference participation is as follows:
- active participation in national conferences (presentation of a paper, poster, or participation in a panel),
- active participation in international or foreign conferences (presentation of a paper, poster, or participation in a panel).
For each conference, a candidate may receive 0–3 points, depending on the type of conference and the form of activity. A maximum of 5 conferences with the highest scores are evaluated, provided that they were completed no earlier than 1 January 2021.
Certificates or programs confirming active participation are required.
36. Are unpublished articles counted?
No.
37. Do doctoral students may apply for the student dormitories?
Yes! According to art. 211. Act on LHES (Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science) a doctoral student may apply for:
- accommodation in the student dormitory or board in the student canteen,
- accommodation for a spouse or child in the student dormitory – pursuant to the rules and procedures laid down in the student benefits regulations.
- Work and doctoral studies
38. Do you offer any employment opportunities for doctoral students during the course of their studies?
If we receive inquiries with job offers for doctoral students, for example within research projects, they are forwarded to them.
At SGH, there is a well-developed support system for students and doctoral students through the SGH Career Service. Information on the scope of support is available at the following link:
39. Are doctoral students generally able to combine their studies with full-time employment?
Education at a doctoral school is provided in a full-time, on-campus mode, which means that doctoral students are obliged to fulfil the study programme, attend classes, conduct scientific research, prepare a doctoral dissertation, produce publications, participate in conferences, and carry out other duties specified by the doctoral school and the supervisor.
At the same time, the regulations do not prohibit doctoral students from undertaking professional employment, provided that it does not interfere with the implementation of their research project or programme-related obligations. One possible solution may be employment in a flexible or part-time form and/or conducting part of the research within professional projects, where this is substantively justified.
- Rules of education
40. What language will the classes be in?
Classes may be conducted in Polish or English. So far, all common courses have been held in English. The language of classes for each program depends on whether there are candidates who do not speak Polish.
41. What are the main milestones in the doctoral school education?
The education at SGH Doctoral School lasts for 4 years. The key milestones are:
1. Choosing a Supervisor – by 15th November of the academic year in which the doctoral student starts their education.
2. Submitting the Individual Research Plan (IPB/IRP) – by 30th June of the first year.
3. Major exams – March/May of the second year.
4. Mid-term evaluation of realization of the IRP – October of the third year.
5. Completion of mandatory classes as outlined in the curriculum – by the end of the second year (excluding scientific seminars and doctoral seminars, which are held throughout the entire education period).
6. Submission of the doctoral dissertation with a positive opinion from the supervisor by the deadline in the individual research plan (no later than the end of the fourth year – i.e., 30th September).
42. Is it possible to study in the doctoral school on a part-time basis?
No. Education at doctoral schools are offered only on full-time basis: from Monday to Friday.
43. Is studying at the SGH Doctoral School paid?
No – education at our Doctoral School is free of charge.
44. At what times do classes usually take place, including both general and programme-specific courses?
The Doctoral School operates in a full-time, on-campus mode, which means that classes may be held from Monday to Friday during the University’s working hours (at SGH: 8:00 a.m. to 8:40 p.m.). Classes within the study programme may be scheduled throughout the day; we aim to group them together where possible.
45. How many days per week are classes held at the Doctoral School?
Classes may be held from Monday to Friday; however, we aim to schedule them in blocks lasting 1–2 days. It should be noted that education at the Doctoral School is not limited to attending classes only. Doctoral students are also required to devote an appropriate amount of time to scientific research, the preparation of their doctoral dissertation, writing publications, and participating in conferences.
46. Do doctoral studies consist only of attending classes (like master’s studies)?
Education at the Doctoral School is not only about attending classes. Doctoral education primarily involves conducting research, preparing academic articles, active participation in conferences, and, above all, the preparation of a doctoral dissertation. Classes serve as a complement to the process of developing scientific competencies.
47. Who teaches the classes? Are they taught by university academics or also by professionals from the business sector?
The teaching staff of the Doctoral School consists of carefully selected researchers and experts from SGH, as well as distinguished scholars from foreign higher education institutions (HEIs). These are individuals who possess not only the highest academic, research, and teaching competencies, but who also regularly cooperate with enterprises and other organisations from the socio-economic environment. SGH staff are recognised experts not only in academia, but also across many fields and sectors of economic activity.
48. What is the difference between a scientific seminar and a doctoral seminar?
Scientific seminars are conducted in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th semesters, with 15 hours per semester. They serve to present research results, facilitate knowledge exchange, and enable discussion of scientific issues. Participants comment on presentations, ask questions, and propose methodological or interpretative solutions.
The doctoral seminar is a compulsory, regular form of classes for doctoral students, conducted by the supervisor or supervisors, and is intended to support the research process and the preparation of the doctoral dissertation. Doctoral students at SGH complete 30 hours of doctoral seminars per year.
49. Can we find detailed information about the disciplines on the website?
The study programme for each discipline is available at the following link:
The framework curricula of the programs
50. Does SGH allow an individual mode of study for people who are not based in Warsaw?
No.
51. Is it possible to pursue doctoral studies remotely or with minimal presence in Warsaw?
No. The studies are conducted in a full-time, on-campus mode.
52. Is there a difference between the Polish-language and English-language programmes?
No. There are no differences between the Polish-language programme and its English-language version at the SGH Doctoral School. Both programmes follow the same curriculum, structure, and academic requirements.
53. What is the institution’s role in the commercialization of doctoral dissertations, and can you provide information on intellectual property? In particular, who holds the ownership of results produced during the PhD programme—the university or the doctoral student?
Issues related to the commercialization of research results and intellectual property at the SGH Doctoral School are governed by the general provisions of Polish law as well as the University’s internal regulations applied to all employees and doctoral students.
As a rule, the moral rights to a doctoral dissertation always belong to the doctoral student, in accordance with copyright law. However, economic (property) rights and rights to research results may depend on the source of funding and the nature of the project, including, among others, participation in grant-funded projects, cooperation with an external institution, or the implementation of an implementation doctorate.
54. Is it possible to complete the Doctoral School programme earlier, provided the dissertation is prepared efficiently?
The education process at the SGH Doctoral School lasts four years. It includes both the completion of the study programme and the implementation of the Individual Research Plan (IRP). It is possible to submit the doctoral dissertation earlier than the deadline specified in the IRP, provided that the entire study programme has been completed. The doctoral education is completed once all programme requirements have been fulfilled and the doctoral dissertation has been submitted.
55. What is the cost of a PhD at SGH? Is it possible to complete the PhD remotely, i.e. in an off-campus (extramural) mode?
Education at our Doctoral School is free of charge. An external (extramural) doctorate is subject to a fee. In matters related to external doctorates, please contact the relevant SGH College Office:
56. How to start publishing scientific articles?
1. Start with choosing a topic and reviewing the literature.
- Define the research area and the problem you want to address.
- Conduct a literature review – check what has already been published and identify existing research gaps.
- Consult your idea with a mentor / co-author / supervisor.
2. Choose an appropriate type of publication.
The most common forms include:
- theoretical article (literature review),
- empirical article (results of original research),
- case study,
- review article (systematic or narrative).
Many authors start with:
- a literature review or
- a case study,
as they require fewer data.
You may also take advantage of conferences (which often offer publications in conference proceedings and provide presentation experience).
3. Choose a journal.
Consider:
- the journal’s profile and thematic scope,
- its level/ranking (e.g. MEiN list, indexing in Scopus, WoS),
- editorial requirements (format, word count, structure),
- average review time.
4. Prepare the article in accordance with the journal’s guidelines (each journal has its own Author Guidelines).
5. You may ask for initial feedback (from your supervisor or an academic staff member).
6. Submit the article and prepare for the peer-review process.
57. Is a syllabus available? Are courses assessed through exams during the examination session, or are there other forms of assessment as well?
Syllabi are available only to Doctoral School students. Courses are completed with a pass, in accordance with the requirements specified by the course coordinator in the syllabus.
58. Does a doctoral student have to conduct classes?
In the 4th semester of doctoral education, doctoral students carry out the “Workshop on Didactic Methods”. Part of the completion of the workshop is the completion of 4 hours of didactic practices – in the form described in the syllabus of the course.
- External mode (externistyczny)
59. Request for more information about the external (extramural) doctorate programme—particularly regarding the recruitment process?
An external doctorate is a mode of awarding the doctoral degree outside the Doctoral School, in which the candidate does not have the status of a doctoral student and does not participate in organised doctoral education. This mode involves solely the conduct of the doctoral procedure, fulfilment of the statutory requirements, and the defence of the doctoral dissertation. The candidate is required to pay a fee for the doctoral procedure.
More information on the external (extramural) mode at SGH:
60. Does the external mode also require a disciplinary (field-specific) examination?
Confirmation of achieving learning outcomes for qualifications at Level 8 of the Polish Qualifications Framework (PQF) may be obtained through:
1. Confirmation of completion of the full doctoral study programme conducted under the provisions of the Act of 27 July 2005 – Law on Higher Education, issued by the university at which those doctoral studies were completed;
or
2. Confirmation of completion of the full study programme at a Doctoral School, issued by the university at which the Doctoral School education was provided – whereby completion of the full cycle of education also includes termination of education at the Doctoral School due to the submission of a doctoral dissertation;
or
3. Passing a doctoral examination before a committee appointed by the Dean of the relevant SGH College.
More information on the substantive scope of the doctoral examination
61. For an external (extramural) doctorate, when is the fee paid? Is it paid upfront, or can it be paid in instalments?
For information regarding the payment schedule for the external doctorate fee, please contact the secretariat of the relevant SGH College:
62. Is there any difference in the awarded academic degree or in the content of the diploma between a doctorate completed at the Doctoral School and an externally conducted doctorate?
The legislator provides for two alternative modes of preparing a doctoral dissertation. The first is doctoral education conducted within a Doctoral School. The second is the external (extramural) mode. The fundamental difference concerns the fee charged to individuals who prepare their doctorate externally (outside the Doctoral School).
The doctoral degree is awarded by the Scientific Council, not by the Doctoral School; therefore, the mode of doctoral education does not affect the status of the degree. In accordance with the currently applicable diploma template, the mode of completing the doctorate is not indicated on the diploma.
Want to stay up to date? Follow our LinkedIn to never miss an update!
SGH Doctoral School | LinkedIn
Didn’t find answer to your question? Don’t hesitate to contact us!
SGH Doctoral School Office
building M, room 35
Madalińskiego street 6/8
02-513 Warszawa
e-mail: bsd@sgh.waw.pl
phone: +48 22 564 71 15
phone: +48 22 564 71 30
Monday – Friday: 9:00–15:00