University Of Lodz Doctoral School Of Humanities

The community of Doctoral Schools at the University of Lodz is encouraged to read the contents of two important documents aimed at fostering transparent cooperation between doctoral students and supervisors based on mutual respect and responsibility, as well as indicating clear procedures for resolving disputes at doctoral schools of the University of Lodz.

Pursuant to Article 204.3 of the Law on Higher Education and Science, at the request of a doctoral student, doctoral education shall be suspended for the period corresponding to the duration of maternity leave, leave on the conditions of maternity leave, paternity leave and parental leave as defined by the Labour Code.

On 15 February 2024, a new Regulation amending the regulation on the minimum monthly basic remuneration for a professor employed in a public higher education institution has been signed (Dz.U. – Journal of Laws, item 235). It states 30% increase of remuneration since 1 January 2024 which means that the basic salary of a professor has risen from PLN 7210 to PLN 9370. The provisions of the regulation has entered into force in the day following its announcement, that is on 22 February 2024 as applicable from 1 January 2024. The regulation has been published under item no. 235 in the Dziennik Ustaw (abbreviated „Dz. U.”) or the Polish Journal of Laws.

Why is this important for doctoral students? It affects the amount of scholarship (stipend) grant that you receive each month – since its amount is steadily proportional (pegged) to the value of professor's salary, it has now increased accordingly, and you may even expect an extra balance payment once, due to the increase being applicable from January.

Pursuant to 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:
1) 37% of a professor's salary – gross amount of PLN 3466,90 – up to the month in which the mid-term evaluation was conducted; 
2) 57% of a professor's salary – gross amount of PLN 5340,90 – after the month in which the mid-term evaluation was conducted.

By virtue of the amendments made to the aforementioned Act by the Act of 28 July 2023 amending the Act - Teachers' Charter and certain other acts (Journal of Laws 2023, item 1672), as of 1.10.2023, the prohibition on employing doctoral students of a doctoral school as academic teachers or research staff does not apply any longer (because Article 209(10) has been repealed and the related Article 203(1)(5) has been amended). The Act does not prohibit doctoral students from taking up employment in any other capacity.

In addition, the provision making the stipend payout conditional on the amount of remuneration received has been changed. It used to refer to project participants specifically, but now it only refers to a certain form of employment.

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).

The doctoral scholarship is not subject to income tax. However, doctoral students studying at doctoral schools and receiving a doctoral scholarship are covered by compulsory pension 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 COMPLETION AT DOCTORAL SCHOOL

The doctoral curriculum lasts 8 semesters and it ends with submission of doctoral dissertation.
The preparation schedule of doctoral dissertation and its submission deadline are specified in the doctoral student's individual research plan (IPB). 
The doctoral student who submitted their dissertation before the curriculum completion deadline specified in their IPB shall receive doctoral scholarship up till that deadline but for no more than 6 months. 

CURRICULUM COMPLETION AT DOCTORAL SCHOOL – EXTENSION OF TIME LIMIT

The time limit for submitting the doctoral dissertation may be extended with no more than 2 years on conditions stipulated in the regulations of the doctoral school. During this extension period, the doctoral student retains the doctoral student status with a reservation that they collect scholarship for no more than 4 years at doctoral schools.

At the doctoral student's request, the Director may extend the time limit for submitting the doctoral dissertation in the case of:
1)    temporary incapacity to pursue studies due to illness;
2)    the need to take personal care of a sick member of the family;
3)    the need to take personal care of a child under 4 years of age or a child with a disability certificate;
4)    participation in a grant related to the doctoral dissertation;
5)    other specific situations of chance.

An application for the extension of the time limit for submitting the doctoral dissertation (Annex No. 1)  should be submitted to the Director of the doctoral school. An evaluation from the should be attached to the application.
The doctoral student may appeal against a refusal to extend thdoctoral supervisor(s)e time limit for submitting the doctoral dissertation to the UL Rector within 14 days of receiving the decision. The UL Rector's decision shall be final.
 
SUBMITTING DISSERTATION AT DOCTORAL SCHOOL

A doctoral student shall submit their dissertation twice:
(1)    First time: with curriculum completion at the Doctoral School, on conditions stipulated in the Regulations of that school..
The doctoral student shows a complete doctoral dissertation to their doctoral supervisor(s). 
The supervisor is obliged to verify the dissertation with the Uniform Anti-plagiarism System. The report from the anti-plagiarism system is attached to the supervisor's evaluation.
The condition for submitting the doctoral dissertation to the doctoral supervisor(s) is to obtain the credits and grades resulting from the curriculum and submitting the documentation of the course of study.
After verifying the dissertation, the supervisor(s) shall draft up an evaluation of the submitted dissertation.
The submission of the doctoral dissertation to the School's Director using the dissertation submission form (Annex No. 2) together with positive evaluation from the doctoral supervisor(s). The doctoral school shall issue a certificate of curriculum completion to the doctoral student (the graduand).
The dissertation shall remain in the doctoral student's file at the Doctoral School.

Hereby, the term “graduand” applies to a person who has completed a doctoral school curriculum – but this does not nesessarily mean this person has a doctoral degree/title. A graduand who is only after finishing their doctoral school curriculum should sign up for award proceeding in order to receive their PhD equivalent (Polish: doktor).

(2)    Another and final time: at the initiation of proceeding for the award of the doctoral degree (doktor), subject to the Rules of detailed mode of proceedings for the award of the degree of doctor and habilitated doctor at the University of Lodz