Doctoral School at the University of Silesia in Katowice

The Doctoral School educates PhD candidates at the University of Silesia in Katowice. Its most important goal is for doctoral candidates to prepare outstanding postgraduate dissertations and be ready to participate in academic and social life as researchers, academic teachers, specialists, and efficient knowledge administrators. Classes at the Doctoral School are conducted by experienced researchers from all disciplines and the best specialists from the University of Silesia and other partner universities.

Individual education and research	International reach	Scholarships and grants
PhD candidates work with a supervisor and tutors. They participate in activities that develop their competencies and conduct research in a research team or individually.	PhD candidates collaborate with scientists from around the world, participate in international scientific events and go on internships abroad. University of Silesia is a partner in the consortium Transform4Europe together with 10 European universities.	A doctoral candidate who does not have a doctoral degree receives a scholarship. The best doctoral candidates as well as international doctoral students may get additional scholarships. The Doctoral School supports doctoral candidates who prepare grants and scholarship applications. The university financially supports research and international mobility.

Disciplines and fields

The most important dates (excerpt from the schedule)

• June 1-12, 2026 - registration in the IRK system, payment of the recruitment fee, uploading documents
• July 1, 2026, untli 15:00 - announcement of the results of the first stage of admission and the interview schedule
• July 3-10, 2026 - interviews with candidates (the number of days depends on the number of candidates in a given area)
• July 13, 2026, until 12:00 - the deadline for submitting a graduation diploma in the ICT system or submitting a declaration of delivery of a graduation diploma (taking into account the date of delivery, no later than September 10, 2026)
• July 14, 2026 at 15:00 - the announcement of the lists of candidates qualified for admission
• July 15-17, 2026 - registration of candidates qualified for admission (July 17 until 12:00)
• September 10, 2026, until 12:00 - The deadline for submitting a graduation diploma in the ICT system, for people who have submitted a declaration of graduation
• September 11,  2026 - informing candidates on the reserve list about their qualifications

Documents to be uploaded

the field of humanities and theology; the field of social sciences; the field of natural sciences

• a copy of the diploma
• research plan design
• a written opinion of a researcher at the University of Silesia in Katowice, acting as the candidate's research supervisor, with consent for him/her to act as a supervisor or assistant supervisor of a doctoral student
• a written opinion of an additional academic teacher or researcher with at least a doctoral degree
• list of the candidate's scientific achievements
• documents confirming scientific achievements

the field of art

• a copy of the diploma
• research plan design
• a written opinion of a researcher at the University of Silesia in Katowice, acting as the candidate's research supervisor, with consent for him/her to act as a supervisor or assistant supervisor of a doctoral student
• a written opinion of an additional academic teacher or researcher with at least a doctoral degree
• list of the candidate's scientific achievements
• documents confirming scientific achievements
• portfolio / presentation of artistic achievements

the field of science, engineering and technology

• a copy of the diploma
• a transcript of records (course history)
• a cover letter justifying the desire to undertake education at the Doctoral School in a given discipline, taking into account the candidate’s research experience and justifying the choice of the research topic for which the candidate is applying (doesn't concern mathemetics)
• at least one, but no more than two, written opinions from a research and teaching employee or a research worker holding at least a doctoral degree from a university or other research institution of the national or foreign higher education and science system; the opinion should concern the candidate’s scientific competence and experience
• list of the candidate's scientific achievements
• documents confirming scientific achievements

Download documents forms: https://us.edu.pl/szkola-doktorska/en/rekrutacja-na-rok-akademicki-2026-2027/ (see: "Information and documents necessary in the admission process")

Admission fee

• 450 PLN

Graduation Diploma

The doctoral school may admit a person with the professional title of master, master engineer, or an equivalent*. This is confirmed by the diploma of completion of the relevant studies. A diploma (or other document issued as a confirmation of graduation) issued abroad must be certified through legalization or apostille. If it is issued in a language other than Polish or English, it must be accompanied by a sworn translation into Polish or English.

Candidates can start admission before defending and obtaining a Master's (or equivalent) degree. During registration from 1 to June 12, 2026, it is not required to upload a scan of the diploma. Until July 13, 2026, candidates are required to upload to IRK a scan of the diploma or a statement on the delivery of a graduation diploma, including the date of delivery, no later than September 10, 2026. Until September 10, 2026, the candidate must upload the diploma.

Candidates who have completed their studies but have not yet received a diploma may upload a relevant certificate issued by their university. For foreign universities, such a certificate will be honoured only if it can be verified. After obtaining the diploma, the candidate or admitted person must deliver it.

*In exceptional cases, justified by the highest quality of scientific achievements, a person who is a graduate of 1st cycle studies or a student who completed the third year of long-cycle studies may be admitted to the Doctoral School

Supervisor

Note: the following information about a supervisor doesn't concern the field of science, engineering and technology - in this field, candidates choose topics from the list, which also includes a supervisor of the topic. 

Each candidate for the Doctoral School must confirm that one of the researchers employed at the University of Silesia is ready to work with him/her as a supervisor or auxiliary supervisor. This is confirmed by the declaration of the candidate's guardian uploaded to IRK.

People who want to take part in the admission, but have not yet found a candidate for the supervisor, can follow the paths described on the website https://us.edu.pl/szkola-doktorska/kamienie-milowe-rekrutacji/znajdz-promotora/. However, it should be remembered that an academic teacher is not obliged to take care of any candidate and that the process of looking for a supervisor may be lengthy.

Detailed data on admission

Complete admissions data:: https://us.edu.pl/szkola-doktorska/en/rekrutacja-na-rok-akademicki-2026-2027/