PhD in Doctoral School of Social Sciences
Łódź, Poland
DURATION
8 Semesters
LANGUAGES
English, Polish
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Oct 2025
TUITION FEES
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STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
University of Lodz Doctoral School of Social Sciences provides support and guidance to those seeking a PhD in Social Sciences that prepare dissertations in the following disciplines:
- Sociological Sciences
- Economics and Finance
- Legal Sciences
- Pedagogy
- Psychology
- Socio-economic Geography and Spatial Management
- Management and Quality Studies
- Political and Administrative Sciences
University of Lodz Doctoral School of Social Sciences provides its doctoral students with a Doctoral Supervisor's care and helps to obtain the knowledge necessary to obtain a PhD degree in Social Sciences. The study curriculum makes it possible for a doctoral student to gain advanced level qualifications pertaining not only to the implementation of the doctoral dissertation but also to professional development (improvement of research workshop and improvement of teaching qualifications) as well as personal development (soft skills).
The curriculum starts with a year of an interdisciplinary nature, which is addressed to doctoral students of all disciplines. This entails joint scientific discussions, posing questions, and looking for multi-faceted answers. The following years are dedicated to the development of the selected discipline and expanding knowledge during classes of doctoral student's interest area. The entire period of studies is intensive work in cooperation with a Doctoral Supervisor.
The studies lasted 8 semesters. They are full-time studies (the classes are held during working days) and they are free of charge.
The first year is interdisciplinary and it is addressed to the doctoral students of all disciplines. It is a year of joint scientific discussions, posing questions, and looking for multi-faceted answers. The following years are dedicated to the development of the selected discipline and expanding knowledge during classes of doctoral student’s interest area. The entire period of studies is intensive work in cooperation with a Doctoral Supervisor in a master-student relationship.
The study curriculum takes into consideration current theoretical concepts in social sciences as well as trends concerning the application of the research results in practice, providing doctoral students with a chance to continue their scientific development, and to participate in international and inter-university exchange.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Under Article 209 Clause 4 of the Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws 2023, item 742, amended) the amount of monthly doctoral scholarship should be at least:
- 37% of a professor’s salary – gross amount of PLN 3466,90 – up to the month in which the mid-term evaluation was conducted
- 57% of a professor’s salary – gross amount of PLN 5340,90 – after the month in which the mid-term evaluation was conducted
for doctoral students with certified disability the above amount is raised to PLN 4506,97 and PLN 6380,97 respectively.
Doctoral students may also take up employment as academic/research staff or in any other capacity.
However, a doctoral scholarship will not be awarded to a doctoral student whose:
- curriculum at a doctoral school involves a mandatory employment contract in an entity running that doctoral school,
- employment contract provides a remuneration exceeding the amount of the minimum monthly professor’s salary (currently PLN 9 370.00 gross)
As a candidate, you are required to inform the Secretary of the Doctoral School if:
- You have already been a doctoral student at another doctoral school (even for a short period) and have received a doctoral scholarship there. You are entitled to the scholarship for a total of 48 months of curriculum carried out at any doctoral school(s). After 48 months, even if you continue to study at our school, you will not be entitled to a doctoral scholarship any longer
- You obtain a doctoral degree at another university. Then you lose the right to your doctoral scholarship at the UL because a person with an already conferred doctoral degree cannot receive the scholarship.
The doctoral scholarship is not subject to income tax. However, doctoral students studying at doctoral schools and receiving doctoral scholarships are covered by compulsory pensions and accident insurance. Sickness insurance is voluntary.
A doctoral student may apply for a student loan. The provisions on student loans shall apply accordingly, except that:
- The loan may be obtained by a doctoral student under the age of 35
- The loan shall be granted for the duration of training at the doctoral school only once and for no longer than 4 years.
Curriculum
Year 1
- Doctoral Seminar
- Higher Education Didactics
- Science Funding and Knowledge Transfer
- Preparation of Scientific Texts
- Ethical and Legal Aspects of Research
- Interdiscipinary Doctoral Seminar
Year 2
- Doctoral Seminar
- Career Coaching
- Doctoral Dissertation - Requirements and Rating
- Contemporary Research Problems (for each scientific discipline)
- Advanced Qualitative Research Methods (for each scientific discipline)
- Doctoral Dissertation - Requirements and Rating
Year 3
- Doctoral Seminar
- Contemporary Research Problems (for each scientific discipline)
- Advanced Qualitative Research Methods (for each scientific discipline)
- Advanced Quantitative Research Methods (for each scientific discipline)
- Methodology of Social Sciences (Philosophical Approach)
Year 4
Doctoral Seminar
