Admissions to the Doctoral School of the UO

The University of Opole announces admissions to the Doctoral School for the academic year 2024-2025.

Education at the UO Doctoral School lasts 8 semesters and ends with submitting a doctoral dissertation. It prepares students for a doctoral degree in the fields of: natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and theology, in the following disciplines of science:

• biological sciences,
• chemical sciences,
• computer science,
• economics and finance,
• environmental engineering, mining and energy,
• educational sciences,
• health sciences,
• history,
• law,
• linguistics,
• literary studies,
• medical sciences,
• physical sciences,
• political and administrative sciences,
• psychology,
• theology.

The list of places earmarked for scientific disciplines at the Doctoral School of the University of Opole for the academic year 2024/2025 is set out in Regulation 44/2024 of the Rector of the University of Opole of May 24, 20224 on limits of admissions to the Doctoral School of the University of Opole and places allocated to individual disciplines for the academic year 2023/2024.

Students of the Doctoral School gain specialist knowledge in chosen scientific disciplines, develop their research skills, and gain experience necessary for independent research, and organizational and teaching activity.

The admission procedure for the Doctoral School takes place by way of a competition, on the terms set out in Resolution No. 249/2016-2020 of the Senate of the University of Opole of March 19, 2020 on the conditions and procedure of admissions to the Doctoral School of the University of Opole (uniform text of March 30, 2021) and is conducted in accordance with the admissions schedule established by the chairperson of the Admissions Committee of the Doctoral School.

The candidate is obliged to comply with the deadlines specified in the admission schedule!

The candidate applying for admission to the UO Doctoral School shall:

• hold the professional title of magister (MA), magister inżynier (MEng), or equivalent,
• hold a diploma of completing studies abroad, which gives the right to apply for a doctoral degree in the country of the higher education system of the university that issued it,
• have a diploma of graduation obtained abroad, which has been recognized as equivalent to the Polish diploma and professional title, which allows this person to use the appropriate Polish professional title,
• in exceptional cases, justified by the highest quality of scientific achievements, be a graduate of first-cycle studies or a student who has completed the third year of long-cycle master’s studies, including a student who is a beneficiary of the “Diamond Grant” programme, who:
  • obtained the consent of the proposed supervisor to provide scientific supervision over the preparation of a doctoral dissertation,
  • is not a PhD student at another doctoral school.

Admissions to the Doctoral School are conducted by way of an open competition based on the results of the admission procedure, the elements of which are: the arithmetic mean of grades from studies, evaluation of the candidate’s scientific achievements, evaluation of the research project, and an interview.

The candidate may join the admission procedure only for one place specified in the Regulation of the Rector of the UO.

The results of the admission procedure are public.

The candidate is obliged to submit to the Admissions Committee, within the time limit specified in the admission schedule, in a white cardboard folder with tie, with the first name and surname and correspondence address (including the postal code) legibly written, the following:

1. a signed candidate’s application form for admission to the Doctoral School and consent to the use of electronic communication means (printouts from the IRK system);
2. a photocopy of the diploma of the professional title of magister (MA), magister inżynier (MEng), or an equivalent title, after being certified by an employee of the Office of the Doctoral School, on the candidate’s presentation of the original document;
3. one 35×45 mm photo, which should be uploaded during registration to the IRK system;
4. curriculum vitae;
5. a document specifying the average grade for studies (diploma supplement, certificate from the dean’s office, student’s book). In the case of completing the first- and second-cycle studies, the arithmetic mean of both degrees is calculated so the grades for both degrees should be provided;
6. a list of publications with their photocopies – if the candidate has such;
7. information on the knowledge of foreign languages, confirmed by language certificates;
8. a summary of professional accomplishments (presentation of scientific interests, possibly research proposals for the doctoral dissertation and motives for applying for admission to the Doctoral School);
9. additional documents proving the candidate’s predisposition to scientific work (work in research clubs, membership in scientific organizations or associations, courses, post-graduate studies, internships, grants, scholarships, participation in scientific conferences and delivered papers, etc.);
10. a medical certificate in accordance with applicable regulations (only if the programme of studies indicates the possibility of the presence of factors harmful to health, e.g. chemical sciences);
11. a written consent of the potential supervisor(s) together with their declaration regarding the number of doctoral students they supervise;
12. in the case of theology (it concerns clergy and people of consecrated life), a permission of the competent ordinary or higher superior to undertake education at the Doctoral School;
13. in the case of a certificate of disability, or a certificate of the degree of disability, or a certificate referred to in Article 5 and Article 62 of the Act of August 27, 1997 on vocational and social rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons (consolidated text, Journal of Laws of 2019, item 1172, as amended) – a photocopy of this certificate, certified by an employee of the Office of the Doctoral School, on the candidate’s presentation of the original document.

Foreigners who meet the conditions specified in Article 323(1) of the Act – Law on Higher Education and Science additionally submit:

1. If they have completed their studies outside Poland, a diploma of graduation with an apostille, or legalized in the country of issue, together with a translation into Polish by a sworn translator, or a certificate of recognition by way of recognition procedure of the equivalence of the diploma with the appropriate Polish diploma and professional title – if required by law;
2. A photocopy of a visa or a permanent residence card (a permit to settle), or a temporary residence card (a residence permit for a fixed period), or another document entitling to stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland, after being authenticated by an employee of the Office of the Doctoral School, on the candidate’s presentation of the original document;
3. A photocopy of the insurance policy in event of illness or accident for the period of education in the Republic of Poland, or the European Health Insurance Card, after its certification by an employee of the Office of the Doctoral School, on the candidate’s presentation of the original document, or a declaration that they will apply for health insurance at the ZUS immediately after starting education;
4. A document confirming the level of knowledge of the language (minimum level B2) of instruction at the Doctoral School.

The total maximum number of points that can be obtained in the admissions procedure is 100.

The number of points constituting the basis for admission to the Doctoral School cannot be less than 75.

The admission procedure is conducted in three stages. In the first stage, the formal criteria are checked. In the second stage, the candidates are assessed on the basis of two qualitative criteria – the average grade from higher education studies and academic achievements. Candidates who have passed through to the third stage are interviewed and asked to present their research project.

After the second and third stages, the ranking lists are created. The order of placing the names of candidates on the ranking list for a given discipline is determined by the number of points obtained in the admission procedure.

On the basis of the ranking list in a given discipline, the committee prepares an opinion on the admission of a candidate to the Doctoral School for the place specified in the regulation of the Rector of the UO, or an opinion on the refusal to admit a candidate to the Doctoral School.

In the event that two or more candidates who participated in the admission procedure for the place allocated to a given discipline, specified in the regulation of the Rector of UO, obtain the same number of points, the number of points awarded by the admissions committee for scientific achievements decides about admission to the Doctoral School.

In the event of failure to meet the admission limit specified for a given scientific discipline, included in the regulation of the Rector of the UO due to the lack of suitable candidates, the places can be used for other disciplines.

Admission to the Doctoral School takes place by way of entry on the list of doctoral students, which is made by the chairman of the committee on behalf of the Rector. The list is published in the “Admissions results” tab in the IRK system and on the website of the University of Opole.

Refusal of admission to the Doctoral School takes place by way of an administrative decision, issued by the chairman of the committee on behalf of the Rector. The candidate is entitled to submit a request for reconsideration of the refusing decision to the Rector, through the chairman of the committee, within 14 days from the date of delivery of the decision.

A person admitted to the Doctoral School starts education and acquires the rights of a doctoral student upon taking the oath.

A set of documents in paper version, in a white cardboard folder with tie, on which the first name and surname and correspondence address (including the postal code) should be legibly written, shall be submitted by the candidate in person at the Office of the Doctoral School, or in the manner specified in Article 57(5) of the Act of June 14, 1960 – Code of Administrative Procedure (uniform text, Journal of Laws of 2020, item 256, as amended), in particular, the candidate sends the documents by the designated operator pursuant to the Act of 23 November 2012 – Postal Law (uniform text, Journal of Laws of 2018, item 2188, as amended) between August 22 and August 22, 2022.

Documents submitted after the above-mentioned date shall not take part in the admissions procedure to the Doctoral School of the UO and will be returned without consideration.

For more information, please contact the Office of the Doctoral School of UO – 45-060 Opole, ul. Katowicka 87a, floor 4, rooms: 5.3 or 5.4.

E-mail: szkoladoktorska@uni.opole.pl

Tel.: +48 77 4527586

Office hours: Monday-Friday, from 8:00 am to 02 pm