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SWPS University - Main page

Unique Teaching Program
SWPS University’s Doctoral School - Our Difference

We have developed a unique doctoral education model, which we offer in collaboration with international institutions that support universities in providing professional development for researchers. We accept candidates intent on academic and research careers. We provide them with optimal conditions for realizing their research aspirations, and we help them to launch their scientific careers. We understand that the most effective format of education, which ensures successful defense of doctoral theses requires several components such as: mentorship, collaboration with other researchers, networking, and sharing knowledge and experience with international colleagues.

The industrial doctorate program enables young researchers to look for answers to practical research questions, which are grounded in social reality.

Science and business collaborations

Our Doctoral School provides an environment conducive to collaborations between the world of academia and research and the world of business, industry and the society. We offer our doctoral students an option to pursue industrial doctorates in collaboration with their employers or other entities.

Pioneers in research implementation

Examples of doctoral projects implemented by our students over the years:

  • 2018/2019: our Interdisciplinary Doctoral School, in collaboration with the Copernicus Science Centre, obtained funding for three industrial doctorates in the fields of creative education and constructivism.
  • 2021/2022: a doctoral student pursuing an industrial doctorate in collaboration with Tramwaje Warszawskie (Warsaw Trams - a section of Warsaw Public Transport Authority) carried out a project aimed at improving traffic efficiency and safety of tram drivers.
  • 2022/2023: a student began a cross-generational education project, in collaboration with the Intergenerational Activity Center “Nowolipie”.
  • 2024/2025: two employees of the Copernicus Science Centre embarked on the way to their doctoral theses in the discipline of art, design, and art conservation [Delight in the learning process of STEM subjects in classes 4–8], and in sociology [Developing skills of the future in informal education concerning natural phenomena].
  • 2025/2026: an implementation doctorate in the field of Fine Arts and Art Conservation has received funding. It focuses on the sustainable design of digital products and is being implemented in collaboration with CSHARK, a global entity, offering comprehensive solutions and consultancy, with deep insights in financial and regulatory sectors, and the industrial and manufacturing domains.

Funding for research-related activities

Doctoral students are eligible to receive funding for participation in conferences and other research-related activities deemed crucial for their doctoral research. You can also take advantage of various opportunities concerning collaboration with research centers abroad, which organize international conferences and symposia, and offer fellowships.

Download study program

Program requirements

  • You must be employed full-time at an entity that will approve your enrolment in SWPS University’s Doctoral School and assign a supporting supervisor at the company (who holds a doctoral degree/doctoral degree in arts or has a proven 5-year experience in carrying out research projects or significant achievements in research implementation — the information will be confirmed once the announcement of the Minister of Science and Higher Education is published, in April 2026).

Doctoral scholarships
Funding of your doctoral education

We offer free of charge doctoral studies for full-time students. Over the course of study, doctoral students pursuing an industrial doctorate receive scholarships in the amount of PLN 3,935 per month (pre-tax), and PLN 5,997 (pre-tax) per month, after the mid-term assessment. The scholarships are subject to social insurance deductions, which means that doctoral students contribute to their state pension capital over the period of doctoral studies. PLEASE NOTE: the final amount of the scholarship shall be confirmed once the announcement of the Minister of Science and Higher Education is published in April 2026; the above-noted information pertains to scholarships granted in the 8th edition of the “Industrial Doctorate” program.

Our Doctoral School also accepts doctoral fellows who received scholarships from research programs carried out by researchers from SWPS University. Review Appendix 2 to the Admissions Regulation for more details.

Select a research center and thesis advisor
Step by step instructions

  1. Review our research centers

    Before you apply to our Doctoral School, review our Research Centers and choose a center or team, whose area of expertise is aligned with the topic of your doctoral thesis. Review the biographies of thesis advisors, in particular their research interests and requirements concerning doctoral candidates. Choose an expert with whom you would like to collaborate.

  2. Contact your chosen research center

    E-mail the head of the center/research team, where your thesis advisor works. Present the scope of your proposed research project, and indicate the researcher whom you have chosen as your thesis advisor. You may also contact the selected thesis advisor directly.

  3. Obtain recommendation of the Head of the Center

    Once you receive initial approval of your potential thesis advisor, submit a request for a formal recommendation to the Head of the Research or Implementation Center or to the Head of a Research or Artistic Group (a link to the request form will be provided soon). You will need this document while registering in the online Admissions Portal.

Guide to Doctoral Studies
Before you apply to SWPS University’s Doctoral School

What is a doctorate? What does the research process look like? What are the steps to writing your doctoral thesis? How does a collaboration between a doctoral student and a research center looks like? Review our Guide to Doctoral Studies to learn more about our doctoral program, mentoring, scholarships, and grants for doctoral students.

Review our Guide to Doctoral Studies

Thesis advisors
available in 2026/2027

Review profiles of the available thesis advisors. Read the attached overviews describing their research interests and thematic scope of doctoral thesis, which they can supervise.

Psychology

  • Krejtz, Izabela review scope and requirements
    Bio
    Tak
    Permanent employee
    Tak
    Role in the Faculty
    {"funkcja-na-wydziale0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Faculty of Psychology in Warsaw"}}
    Role in the Department
    {"funkcja-w-katedrze0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Department of Clinical Psychology"}}
    Role in the Institute
    {"funkcja-w-instytucie0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Institute of Psychology"}}
    Role in the Research Center
    {"funkcja-w-centrum0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Cognitive Studies"},"funkcja-w-centrum1":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Eye Tracking Research Center"}}
    Specialization
    psychologist, specializing in determinants of wellbeing and eye-tracking research
    First and last name
    Izabela Krejtz
    Academic degree or title
    Ph.D. / Associate Professor
    City
    warszawa
    Discipline
    psychology
    Position
    profesor uczelni
    Faculty
    Array
    Institute
    Array
    Ph.D. / Associate Professor Izabela Krejtzpsychologist, specializing in determinants of wellbeing and eye-tracking research
  • Krejtz, Krzysztof review scope and requirementsz
    Bio
    Tak
    Permanent employee
    Tak
    Role in the Faculty
    {"funkcja-na-wydziale0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Faculty of Psychology in Warsaw"}}
    Role in the Department
    {"funkcja-w-katedrze0":{"Funkcja":"Head","\u0141\u0105cznik":"of the","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Department of Cognitive Psychology, Development and Education"}}
    Role in the Institute
    {"funkcja-w-instytucie0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Institute of Psychology"}}
    Role in the Research Center
    {"funkcja-w-centrum0":{"Funkcja":"Head","\u0141\u0105cznik":"of the","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Eye Tracking Research Center"}}
    Specialization
    psychologist, specializing in human-computer interaction and eye-tracking research
    First and last name
    Krzysztof Krejtz
    Academic degree or title
    Ph.D. / Associate Professor
    City
    warszawa
    Discipline
    psychology
    Position
    profesor uczelni
    Faculty
    Array
    Institute
    Array
    Ph.D. / Associate Professor Krzysztof Krejtzpsychologist, specializing in human-computer interaction and eye-tracking research
  • Piotrowski, Konrad review scope and requirements
    Bio
    Tak
    Permanent employee
    Tak
    Role in the Faculty
    {"funkcja-na-wydziale0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Faculty of Psychology and Law in Pozna\u0144"}}
    Role in the Department
    {"funkcja-w-katedrze0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Department of General Psychology"}}
    Role in the Institute
    {"funkcja-w-instytucie0":{"Funkcja":"Vice-Director","\u0141\u0105cznik":"of the","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Institute of Psychology "}}
    Role in the Research Center
    {"funkcja-w-centrum0":{"Funkcja":"Head","\u0141\u0105cznik":"of the","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Center for Research on Personality Development"}}
    Specialization
    psychologist, specializing in developmental psychology, especially of adolescents and adults
    First and last name
    Konrad Piotrowski
    Academic degree or title
    Ph.D. / Associate Professor
    City
    poznan
    Discipline
    psychology
    Position
    profesor uczelni
    Role in the university
    Director of the Doctoral School
    Faculty
    Array
    Institute
    Array
    Ph.D. / Associate Professor Konrad Piotrowskipsychologist, Principal Investigator in the Polish team of the Parenthood Regret Scale project
  • Retowski, Sylwiusz review scope and requirements
    Bio
    Tak
    Specialization
    psychologist, specializing in work and organizational psychology
    Permanent employee
    Tak
    First and last name
    Sylwiusz Retowski
    Academic degree or title
    Ph.D. / Associate Professor
    City
    sopot
    Discipline
    psychology
    Position
    profesor uczelni
    Role in the Faculty
    {"funkcja-na-wydziale0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Faculty of Psychology in Sopot"}}
    Role in the Department
    {"funkcja-w-katedrze0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Department of Organizational and Marketing Psychology"}}
    Role in the Institute
    {"funkcja-w-instytucie0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Institute of Psychology"}}
    Role in the Research Center
    {"funkcja-w-centrum0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Center of Research on Cognition and Behavior"}}
    Faculty
    Array
    Institute
    Array
    Ph.D. / Associate Professor Sylwiusz Retowskipsychologist, specializing in work and organizational psychology

    • Sociology and Political Science and Administration

  • Kwiatkowski, Piotr Tadeusz review scope and requirements
    Bio
    Tak
    Specialization
    sociologist, specializing in public opinion polling and market research
    Permanent employee
    Tak
    First and last name
    Piotr Tadeusz Kwiatkowski
    Academic degree or title
    Professor
    City
    warszawa
    Discipline
    sociology
    Position
    profesor
    Role in the Faculty
    {"funkcja-na-wydziale0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Faculty of Social Sciences in Warsaw"}}
    Role in the Department
    {"funkcja-w-katedrze0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Department of Sociology"}}
    Role in the Institute
    {"funkcja-w-instytucie0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Institute of Social Sciences"}}
    Role in the Research Center
    {"funkcja-w-centrum0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Center for Research on the Economics of Memorial Sites"}}
    Faculty
    Array
    Institute
    Array
    Professor Piotr Tadeusz Kwiatkowskisociologist, specializing in public opinion polling and market research

    • Fine Arts and Art Conservation

  • Jakubowicz, Michał review scope and requirements
    Bio
    Tak
    Permanent employee
    Tak
    Role in the Faculty
    {"funkcja-na-wydziale0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Faculty of Law and Communication in Wroc\u0142aw"}}
    Role in the Department
    {"funkcja-w-katedrze0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Department of Graphic Design"}}
    Role in the Institute
    {"funkcja-w-instytucie0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Institute of Design"}}
    Specialization
    graphic designer, visual artist
    First and last name
    Michał Jakubowicz
    Academic degree or title
    Ph.D. / Associate Professor
    City
    wroclaw
    Discipline
    fine-arts-and-art-conservation
    Institute
    Institute of Design
    Position
    profesor uczelni
    Faculty
    Faculty of Law and Communication in Wrocław
    Role in the Research Center
    {"funkcja-w-centrum0":{"Funkcja":"Head","\u0141\u0105cznik":"of the","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Gallery of Graphic Design"}}
    Ph.D. / Associate Professor Michał Jakubowiczgraphic designer, visual artist

    • Fine Arts and Art Conservation — Auxiliary Thesis Advisor

  • Rayss, Agnieszka review scope and requirements
    Bio
    Tak
    Permanent employee
    Tak
    First and last name
    Agnieszka Rayss
    Academic degree or title
    Ph.D. / Assistant Professor
    Role in the Faculty
    {"funkcja-na-wydziale0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Faculty of Design in Warsaw"}}
    Role in the Department
    {"funkcja-w-katedrze0":{"Funkcja":"Head","\u0141\u0105cznik":"of the","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Department of Artistic Design and Design Research"}}
    Role in the Institute
    {"funkcja-w-instytucie0":{"Funkcja":"","\u0141\u0105cznik":"","Nazwa w mianowniku":"Institute of Design"}}
    Specialization
    photographer
    City
    warszawa
    Discipline
    fine-arts-and-art-conservation
    Institute
    Institute of Design
    Position
    adiunkt
    Faculty
    Array
    Role in the Research Center
    []
    Ph.D. / Assistant Professor Agnieszka Rayssphotographer

    • Applications
    step by step

    Detailed information on the admissions to the Industrial Doctoral Program will be provided after the announcement of the Minister of Education and Science, in April.

    Review detailed rules and regulations
    1. Contact our Industrial Doctorate Coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss your project
    2. Fill in the Application Form and submit it by March 31, 2026
    3. Attend an interview (April 20 — May 15, 2026)
    4. Await the Ministry of Science and Higher Education’s (MNiSW) project selection announcement (expected April)
    5. Once your project has been accepted by MNiSW, upload scans of the required documents to the Applicaiton Platform
    6. Wait for admission results (by September 30, 2026)
    7. Deliver original documents to the Office of the Doctoral School (mandatory condition)

     

    Important
    notes

    • The deadline for submitting documents to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MNiSW) will be provided after the publication of the Minister's announcement, as per the Bulletin of Public Information (BIP).
    • Please contact the Industrial Doctorate Coordinator and fill in the Application Form.
     

    Documents

    Rules and regulations

    Forms

    Language requirements

    According to Article 186(1)(2) of the Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science, “The doctoral degree shall be awarded to a person who has achieved the learning outcomes for qualifications at Level 8 of the Polish Qualifications Framework (PRK), whereby the learning outcomes in the area of modern foreign language proficiency are confirmed by a certificate or a diploma of completion of studies certifying knowledge of that language at a proficiency level of at least B2.”

    This means that a person applying for a doctoral degree must demonstrate certified knowledge of a modern foreign language at a minimum B2 level, and this language cannot be their native language. This requirement also applies to foreign nationals. For example, a person whose native language is English must certify knowledge of another modern language at B2 level. For foreign candidates, this foreign language may also be Polish.

    Fees
    and scholarships

    Application fee

    Application fee is PLN 400

    The application fee is nonrefundable regardless of the admission decision. Graduates of SWPS University are exempt from the application fee.

     

    Funding of doctoral education

    Full-time
    Free of charge as it is funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher (MSiSW).
    Scholarships for doctoral students
    Students in the Industrial Doctorate Program are eligible for scholarships. The scholarships are subject to social insurance deductions, which means that doctoral students contribute to their state pension capital over the period of doctoral studies (the final amount of the scholarship shall be confirmed in April, in the announcement of the Minister of Education and Science; the above-noted information pertains to scholarships granted in the 8th edition of the “Industrial Doctorate” program.
    before mid-term assessment after mid-term assessment
    gross PLN 3,935 gross PLN 5,997