If you are planning an academic career in Poland, it is important to understand the structure of academic degrees and titles, which may differ from those in your home country.

• Foreign scholars may be hired by Polish universities for positions at various levels of the academic structure based on equivalency of their credentials. However, formal recognition of foreign diplomas by Poland’s Education Office may be required.
• Habilitacja (postdoctoral degree, abbreviated as dr hab.) is an advanced postdoctoral academic degree used in several European countries. It is not a degree in a specific field, but a formal recognition of independent scholarly achievement and the ability to lead research. There’s no direct equivalent in many Anglophone academic systems (like the US or UK).
• Associate Professor (Profesor Uczelni) is a relatively new title (since 2018) and may differ slightly in function depending on the institution. The positoin of an Assistant Professor requires a post-doctoral degree (habilitacja), and is one step higher thans Assistant Professor in the academic title structure.
• The title of Professor, also known as Full Professor (profesor zwyczajny) is conferred by the President of Poland. It is a title and not an academic degree or a position in the university’s organizational structure.
• Teaching load (pensum) refers to the mandatory number of teaching hours that an academic staff member is required to complete within an academic year. It is defined in employment contracts and typically depends on the academic position (e.g., assistant professor, professor) and the type of contract (research and teaching or teaching only).

 

Before applying to SWPS University for an academic job, ensure that your academic credentials are recognized in Poland. This process is known as nostrification and confirms whether degrees obtained in other countries are equivalent to those granted by Polish universities.

To verify whether your diploma is recognized in Poland, use the handy KWALIFIKATOR

For additional information, visit the webpage of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange at: NAWA Recognition Information