Recruitment 2021/2022

Notice! This post is updated regularly.

Announcements:
The Senate of the University of Warsaw adopted resolution on the rules of recruitment for Doctoral Schools at the University of Warsaw. The document lays down the rules of recruitment for doctoral schools in the years 2021/2022 – 2023/24. [LINK]

It is worth starting the recruitment process to a doctoral school at the University of Warsaw by finding a supervisor, who will be willing to provide care for the doctoral student and perform scientific supervision over their research project. The name of the supervisor and the scan of their declaration about their willingness to be the candidate’s supervisor shall be submitted in IRK. In order to find a supervisor, candidates for the Doctoral Schools are encouraged to search through the database of supervisors available here. The database contains the list of University of Warsaw researchers, who are willing to perform the function of the dissertation supervisor. The candidates are also encouraged to consult the websites of the University of Warsaw faculties and academic units for the information on academic teachers conducting their research. Template of supervisor’s declaration – declaration form [LINK – available at a later date]

General information

The main element of education at the Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences (SDNSP) is the implementation of an individual PhD project in one of the scientific disciplines (Astronomy, Computer Science, Mathematics, Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences) that are covered by the school, under supervision of a faculty member chosen by the doctoral student (more information ).

Education at SDNSP includes courses in the form of specialization and monographic lectures, workshops, seminars, two-day symposiums as well as courses and trainings to improve the skills of doctoral students in teaching. Some classes are a kind of interdisciplinary courses. They are centrally organized by the Doctoral School and dedicated to the PhD students of all disciplines.

During education at SDNSP, doctoral students can apply for co-financing in prestigious international conferences, workshops and summer schools. Courses take place on the Ochota campus with modern laboratories responding to the needs and challenges of the 21st century.

The graduated from the Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, who gained the PhD degree, has a highly specialized education acquired under the supervision of leading scientists and is prepared to undertake independent scientific and teaching activities at universities and research institutes. In addition, the graduate will have gained extensive knowledge beyond the discipline in which he/she prepared his doctoral dissertation, as well as skills in conducting scientific and teaching activities.

Education at SDNSP is full-time and lasts 4 years (more information ).

The school recruits in the following disciplines:

Astronomy – admission limit 5
Mathematics and computer sciences – admission limit 22;
Biological Sciences – admission limit 17;
Chemical Sciences – admission limit 18;
Physical Sciences – admission limit 27;
Earth and Environmental Sciences – admission limit 11

Contact

Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences
ul. Żwirki i Wigury 93, p. 3061, 02-089 Warsaw

contact e-mail for candidates: rekrutacja.nsp@uw.edu.pl

more information: https://szkolydoktorskie.uw.edu.pl/sdnsip/kontakt/

Recruitment schedule
The development of the recruitment schedule is in progress. More information will be made available here in April.

Required documents
The candidate shall submit the application for admission to the School only in IRK [LINK – it will be open at later date]. It shall include:

the application for admission to the School stating the discipline in which the candidate plans to pursue education;
scan of a diploma of completion of the long-cycle Master’s degree programme or second-cycle programme or an equivalent diploma obtained under separate regulations or in the case of candidates pursuing education within the European Higher Education Area – a certificate of obtaining a Master’s degree or a declaration that the diploma or certificate of obtaining a Master’s degree shall be provided by the day determined in the recruitment schedule (the schedule will be probably available in March) – declaration form;
a description of the initial research project proposal with the title, the description should not exceed 4 pages, typestyle: New Times Roman size min. 11, single leading, top and bottom margins min. 1,5 cm, outside margins min. 2cm; uploading of the file possible;
a resumé or curriculum vitae containing information about scientific activities, including scientific interests and scientific achievements during five calendar years preceding the submission of the application;
scans of materials confirming scientific activities referred to in the resumé or CV;
a document confirming the fluency of English on the level min. B2 or a declaration of being fluent in English on the level enabling studying in the Doctoral School;
a scan of the declaration of the supervisor candidate about their willingness to be the candidate’s supervisor and the number of doctoral students, for whom they are appointed as the supervisor; declaration form;
one photograph of the candidate’s face, allowing their identification;
declaration whether the candidate is or was a doctoral student or participant of doctoral studies, has, or has had, a doctoral dissertation procedure or a procedure for awarding a doctoral degree initiated and if yes – title of doctoral dissertation or the research project prepared by the candidate, as well as first name and surname of the academic tutor or the supervisor;
declaration on familiarising themselves with the content of the Resolution [LINK], as well as Article 40 and Article 41 of the Code of Administrative Procedure.
contact details of two persons, who agreed to send letters of recommendation for the candidate:

– sd.nsp.astro@uw.edu.pl for astronomy,
– sd.nsp.biol@uw.edu.pl for biological sciences,
– sd.nsp.chem@uw.edu.pl for chemical sciences,
– sd.nsp.fiz@uw.edu.pl for physical sciences,
– sd.nsp.mat@uw.edu.pl for mathematics and computer sciences
– sd.nsp.nzs@uw.edu.pl for Earth and Environmental Sciences

If no letters of recommendation are received, this shall not mean that the application for admission to the school is incomplete; however letters can be taken into account when evaluating the candidate’s scientific potential;

scans of transcripts of records of the first and second cycle programmes, the long-cycle Master’s degree programme or equivalent documents (e.g. diploma supplement);
abstract of the master’s thesis or draft master’s thesis in English (up to 3,000 characters with spaces)

Evaluation criteria and method:

Preliminary evaluation of the research project proposal (maximum number of points – 5)

The following shall be taken into account in the preliminary evaluation of the research project proposal:

– possibility to implement the project taking into account documented skills of the candidate;
– scientific weight of the project;
– expected value added for the scientific environment in the particular discipline..

Scientific activity of the candidate (maximum number of points – 15)

When evaluating scientific activity, the following elements, confirmed with scans, shall be taken into account: – scientific publications (a scan of the title page required; in the case of multi-author achievements, the percentage share of the candidate in the achievement must be defined);
– confirmed participation in student competitions;
– confirmed participation in research projects (a scan of the certificate issued by the project manager is required);
– paper presentations or seminar and conference messages (a scan of the paper presentation confirmation is required);
– documented research internships;
– achievements within activities of scientific societies (a scan of the certificate signed by a chairperson of the society is required).

Qualification examination (maximum number of points – 40)

Checking the candidate’s knowledge and skills in the discipline in writing (chemical and physical sciences, and mathematical sciences and computer science) or oral form (astronomy, biological sciences and Earth and environmental sciences).

In justified instances (e.g. where the candidate stays abroad), based on the written request of the candidate addressed to the chairperson of the selection team appointed for the particular discipline, the written examination may be replaced with the oral examination carried out remotely, using generally available online tools.

Interview (maximum number of points – 40)

The interview shall involve the evaluation of the candidate’s scientific potential. The interview may comprise the following elements:

– discussion of the candidate’s master’s thesis (understanding of the subject, research hypotheses, its implementation, obtained results and conclusions);
– questions about the scientific achievements and about the course of the first and second cycle programmes or the long-cycle Master’s degree programme, including subjects related to the doctoral dissertation;
– questions pertaining to information included in letters of recommendations, including nature and results of cooperation of the candidate with authors of these letters;
– questions pertaining to the doctoral project and other information included in the documentation submitted by the candidate.

The interview shall be carried out in Polish or English – in accordance with the candidate’s preferences presented in IRK. If the Polish language is selected, the interview may include parts in English.

Condition of admission to the School

Superviosors

Recruitment to the Doctoral School at University of Warsaw should start by finding a supervisor who declares to be designated as a supervisor to the candidate and his research project. The name of the supervisor and his declaration should be submitted on IRK.

To find a supervisor, we encourage to familiarize with our browser available on this website. It contains a list of research scientists at the University of Warsaw who want to be a supervisor.

We also encourage you to check the websites of University of Warsaw where you can find information about academic teachers who realize their research there.

Scholarship

During the four years of study, each PhD student receives a scholarship in the amount of PLN 2371.70 (gross) for the first two years of studies (before the mid-term evaluation) and PLN 3653.70 (gross) in the next two years after the mid-term evaluation. Supplement for people with disabilities: PLN 711.51.

Compulsory insurance is deducted from the scholarship amount and it’s reduced (by 11%)

Warning! These rates may change if the Ministry of Science and Higher Education will decide to announce a new base rate.

Important links
– www.irk.uw.edu.pl
– Resolution on the rules of recruitment for Doctoral Schools at the University of Warsaw (in Polish) (LINK)