Doctoral studies
Information on doctoral studies started before 2019/2020
General information about studies
Legal act: Act of 3 July 2018 Provisions introducing the Law on Higher Education and Science (OJ 2018, item 1669), in particular Articles: 179; 270; 273; 278; 279.
Article 279. 1. Doctoral studies started before the academic year 2019/2020 shall be conducted on the basis of the current rules, but not longer than 31 December 2023.
This means that all decisions to extend studies may be issued no longer than 31 December 2023 regardless of the reason for the extension. Thus, Ph.D. students of the 2018-2022 cohort can obtain an extension no longer than lasting 1 year and 3 months in total.
After 31 December 2023 doctoral studies cease to exist, and the participants of these studies cease to be PhD students by law.
The existing regulations are still in force:
- Regulations of full-time and part-time doctoral studies in SGGW - SGGW Senate Resolution No. 88 - 2014/2015 of 25 May 2015
- Regulations for granting and paying a doctoral scholarships to participants of full-time doctoral studies in SGGW - Order No. 69 of the Rector of the SGGW of 24 August 2017.
- Regulations for granting and paying the amount of the increase in the doctoral scholarshipsfrom the earmarked subsidy for co-financing pro-quality tasks for doctoral students of SGGW – Order No. 70 of the Rector of the SGGW of 24 August 2017.
- Regulations of benefits for students and PhD students of the SGGW – Order No. 45 of the Rector of SGGW of 24 September 2019
This means that all grants (doctoral, pro-quality, for the best students, benefits) are awarded on the basis of the existing rules.
Doctoral dissertations initiated until 30 April 2019
Doctoral students who initiated the doctoral dissertation until 30 April 2019 implement it on the existing rules, in accordance with the Act of 14 March 2003 on academic degrees and titles, in the field of art (Journal of Laws 2017, item 1789 as amended in the afore called Article 179 of the Act of 3 July 2018). Introducing the Act – Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws 2018, item 1669). These dissertations should be completed by 31 December 2022, bearing in mind that the end is understood as awarding of the degree and not the defense of the doctoral thesis. If someone receives a doctoral degree while they are still in the course of their studies, the date on which the degree was awarded marks also the date on which the doctoral studies are completed.
Doctoral dissertations not completed by 31 December 2022 will be redeemed or closed. The current provision of the Act does not say that they are closed by law, so, if nothing changes in this regard, the relevant councils of disciplines will have to redeem or close the dissertations regardless of the consent and knowledge of the person concerned.
Procedures for the award of the doctoral degree from 1 October 2019
From 1 October 2019 we are no longer talking about initiating doctoral dissertations, but about initiating proceedings for the award of the doctoral degree (dissertations can only be talked about for those initiated until 30 April 2019).
In accordance with seventh paragraph of the Article 179 of Provisions introducing the Law on Higher Education and Science – for those who have started their doctoral studies before 2019/2020 and apply for
to award the doctoral degree “the procedure for the award of the degree shall be initiated by the submission of an application
the appointment of a promoter”, which means that the date of initiation of the proceedings shall be the date on which the application is lodged with the registry of the institute or the board of discipline.
Furthermore, in accordance with eighth paragraph of the Article 179 of Provisions introducing the Law on Higher Education
and Science – for those who have started their doctoral studies before 2019/2020 and apply for to award the doctorate degree “the learning outcomes of modern foreign language skills are confirmed on an existing basis” (i.e. the PhD student submits a certificate of language proficiency or declares a foreign language he will pass the doctoral examination from).
Proceedings initiated for PhD students from 1 October 2019 will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the new Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws 2020, item 85) and the Rules of Procedure for conducting proceedings for the award of the doctoral degree of SGGW – Senate of SGGW Resolution No. 8 – 2019/2020 of 23 September 2019 – the exception is the time when proceedings are initiated and knowledge of a foreign language is confirmed (as referred to above).