One can obtain a Ph.D. at Collegium Civitas through the external mode with the following procedure.

1. Appointment of Promoter(s)
2. Verification of Learning Outcomes
3. Submission of a doctoral dissertation
4. Initiation of Proceedings

1. Appointment of Promoter(s)

An individual seeking a doctoral degree and preparing a dissertation in the extramural mode, before initiating the doctoral degree-awarding process, submits a written request through the Department of Scientific Research to the Scientific Council of Disciplines for the appointment of:

1. a promoter, or
2. promoters, or
3. a promoter, and an assistant promoter.

If a supervisor has not yet been chosen, we encourage you to review the list of dissertation supervisors at Collegium Civitas.

The application shall be accompanied by the following:

1. a copy of the document confirming the possession of a master’s degree, master’s degree in engineering or equivalent;
2. information about the scientific discipline within which the candidate intends to prepare his/her dissertation;
3. general assumptions of the dissertation, including, in particular, the preliminary topic of the dissertation, including its substantiation;
4. a current list of scientific achievements and other scientific and professional activities relevant to the evaluation of achievements, research interests and the selection of a promoter or assistant promoter;
5. a record of any scientific achievements referred to in point 3 on an electronic medium;
6. information on the course of the doctoral dissertation or proceedings for the award of the doctoral degree, if the candidate has previously applied for the award of the doctoral degree, including the titles of the dissertations that were the basis for the application for the award of the doctoral degree;
7. a statement of consent and fulfillment of the requirements to act as a promoter;
8. a list of promoter candidate’s scientific achievements – in the case of candidates who are not employees of the Collegium.

Appendix No. 1 – Model opinion on a candidate who does not hold a master’s degree or equivalent

Appendix No. 2 – Model Request for the Appointment of a Promoter

Appendix No. 3 – Model Statement of the Candidate for Promoter

2. Verification of learning outcomes

A candidate who prepares a doctoral dissertation in the extramural mode and has a designated promoter shall be subject to verification of learning outcomes for the qualification at level 8 of the Polish Qualifications Framework.The verification application should be accompanied by the following documents:

• a detailed concept of the dissertation, including the dissertation topic and the rationale for its selection, the main research goals, the objective of the dissertation, the expected research methods and the expected date of submission of the dissertation,
• an up-to-date list of academic achievements and other scientific and professional activities,
• a copy of the diploma supplement confirming knowledge of a modern foreign language, certifying knowledge of this language at a language proficiency level of at least B2, or a copy of a certificate confirming knowledge of a modern foreign language, certifying knowledge of this language at a language proficiency level of at least B2.

The following documents can also supplement the application:

• certificate on the course of doctorate studies,
• opinion of the head of the doctorate studies on the learning outcomes achieved by the doctoral candidate in the doctoral program.

Verification of learning outcomes is carried out in terms of knowledge and skills specific to the discipline in which the candidate is applying for the degree. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the guidelines for the disciplines of sociology as well as political science and administration:

• Guidelines for the learning outcomes verification for level 8 PRK Political science
• Guidelines for the learning outcomes verification for level 8 PRK Sociology

The verification team determines the verification date and communicates to the candidate no later than 30 days before the scheduled verification date.

Verification of the fulfillment of individual learning outcomes is made on a four-point scale:

1. fully;
2. to a significant degree;
3. sufficiently;
4. does not fulfill

– where a “does not fulfill” grade means not achieving the specified learning outcome.

For positive verification of learning outcomes, the candidate must confirm the achievement of all learning outcomes at least sufficiently.

Appendix No. 4 – Model Application for Verification of Learning Outcomes Appendix

Appendix No. 5 – List of Certificates Confirming Knowledge of a Modern Foreign Language

Appendix No. 6 – Model Verification Form for Obtaining Qualifications at Level 8 of the Polish Qualification Framework

Appendix No. 7 – Model Certificate of Obtaining Qualifications at Level 8 of the Polish Qualifications Framework

3. Submission of a doctoral dissertation

The dissertation presents the candidate’s general theoretical knowledge of the discipline or disciplines and ability to independently conduct scientific or artistic work. The subject of a doctoral dissertation is an original solution to a scientific problem, an original solution to the application of the results of one’s scientific research in the economic or social sphere, or an original artistic achievement.

The doctoral dissertation under investigation at the Collegium should be prepared in Polish or English. Should the candidate wish to prepare a dissertation in a language other than that indicated in the previous sentence, the approval of the competent body is required. Consent is granted by resolution upon written application of the candidate supported by the promoter, submitted before the initiation of proceedings.

The doctoral dissertation shall be accompanied by the following:

1. in case the dissertation is a written work:
2. an abstract in English;
3. an abstract in Polish – if the dissertation is prepared in a foreign language;
4. in case the dissertation is not a written work – a description in Polish and English;

Before initiating the doctoral degree awarding proceedings, the candidate shall submit to the promoter, or promoters the doctoral dissertation together with the attachments, so they can prepare a written opinion.

The opinion shall be prepared within two months from the date the dissertation was submitted to the promoter

The dissertation and its appendices shall be submitted electronically on a computer storage medium.

The prepared opinions of the promoter(s) shall be immediately transmitted to the candidate, together with the report generated from the Uniform Anti-plagiarism System.

Appendix No. 8 – Model Statement of Co-authorship

4. Initiation of the proceedings

The doctoral degree awarding proceedings are initiated at the candidate’s request.

The application for initiation of doctoral degree awarding proceedings, together with the attachments, is submitted by the candidate to the Scientific Council of Disciplines at Collegium Civitas through the Department for Research Support. The application and its attachments shall be submitted in writing with copies of these documents saved on an IT data storage medium.

The application shall be accompanied by the following:

1. the dissertation with the attachments;
2. a positive opinion of the promoter or promoters’ opinions;
3. a Uniform Anti-plagiarism System report;
4. a copy of the document confirming the possession of a master’s degree, master’s degree in engineering or equivalent;
5. a copy of the diploma supplement confirming knowledge of a modern foreign language, certifying knowledge of this language at a language proficiency level of at least B2, or a copy of a certificate confirming knowledge of a modern foreign language, certifying knowledge of this language at a language proficiency level of at least B2;
6. information on the course of the doctoral dissertation or proceedings for the award of the doctoral degree, if the candidate has previously applied for the award of the doctoral degree, including the titles of the dissertations that were the basis for the application for the award of the doctoral degree;
7. a scientific resume;
8. an up-to-date list of scientific works and creative professional works, as well as information on science popularisation activities;
9. a certificate of the candidate’s achievement of learning outcomes for the qualification at level 8 of the Polish Qualifications Framework.

Doctoral degree awarding proceedings shall be initiated for a candidate who:

1. meets the statutory requirements;
2. has submitted a dissertation and a positive opinion from the promoter(s) along with the application

– upon delivery of a complete application with attachments.

The Chairperson of the competent body shall verify the fulfillment of the requirements for initiation within 14 days from the submission date of the application for initiation of proceedings.

If the requirements referred to in section 1 are not met, the competent body shall issue a decision to refuse to initiate proceedings.

The decision may be appealed to the Council for Scientific Excellence within seven days from the decision’s delivery date.

Appendix No. 9 – Model Application for the Initiation of Doctoral Degree Awarding Proceedings

Appendix No. 10 – Dissertation Defence Framework

Further steps are specified in: Regulations for conducting proceedings regarding awarding the degree of doctor at Collegium Civitas