ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Any graduate of a Polish or foreign higher education institution with the degree of magisterium or its equivalent may apply to doctoral studies at the Graduate School for Social Research (GSSR). Students who have not yet been awarded the magisterium degree or equivalent may be conditionally accepted to the programme. The Director of the School will specify the maximum period for which a student may enjoy conditional status before presenting proof of award of the necessary degree.

Admission to the GSSR depends only on the applicants' academic qualifications, research skills, and their command of English. However admission is not determined by the subject background of the candidate.

Applications from candidates with research interest in the following areas are particularly welcome:

• Social structure
• Methodology
• Social institutions
• Culture
• Comparative analysis in social sciences
• Public policy

Good candidates with interest in other areas are however also encouraged to apply.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR CANDIDATES

Knowledge of the English language is one of the basic conditions for admission to the doctoral studies at GSSR. During the individual interviews each candidate has to display a level of knowledge of the English language allowing them to conduct research and take part in classes held in that language.

LANGUAGE TESTS AND EXCEPTIONS

Candidates should have passed one of the following tests of language abilities in English:

Candidates who at the time of interview have not passed one of these tests may take a test of English arranged by the School. Applicants should bear in mind that this could take place on a different day from the interview, which for foreign candidates could mean a stay of several extra days.

* English Entrance Examination will be held on June 21^st.

HOW TO APPLY

Please read carefully the list and forms of documents required to complete the application (check list of required documents). The completed applications should be sent by post or delivered personally to the following address:

SZKOŁA NAUK SPOŁECZNYCH (GSSR)
Nowy Świat 72, p. 247
00-330 Warsaw, Poland

Please note that the applications should be sent in advance to reach the GSSR no later than on the day of the deadline indicated below. Those who plan to deliver the application personally should take into consideration that the GSSR office is open Mondays - Fridays between 09:00 17:00.

DEADLINES:

After a record number of applications were received in 2010 it has been decided to ease the work of the selection committee by holding separate recruitment exercises in 2011. Candidates from any country may submit their applications either by April 4th, 2011 (to be interviewed 18-22 April), by June 20th, 2011 (to be interviewed at the end of June) or by September 16th, 2011. Candidates whose applications are unsuccessful in April or June will not be permitted to make another application in September.

Candidates who plan to seek financial support in addition to that offered by the GSSR are advised to apply by the April deadline. Letters of acceptance should then be available in time for inclusion in their grant applications.

Submission of complete application packages for all candidates (international and Polish):

First recruitment -- Monday, April 4th, 2011, 17:00

Second recruitment -- Monday, June 20th, 2011, 17:00

OR

Additional recruitment for new candidates -- Friday, September 16th, 2011, 17:00

* English Entrance Examination will be held on September 19^th.

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST

Applicants are required to submit the following documents:

• Completed application form: appform2011_v3.pdf
• Master's Degree diploma or an equivalent certificate of graduation
• Letter of recommendation from the applicant's masters' thesis supervisor or from a person who is familiar with academic or professional abilities of the applicant (the authors of the letters should estimate the position of the student in class ranking e.g. "in top 5 out of 45 students")
• Curriculum Vitae
• A well structured essay on a topic in social sciences or philosophy (in English), approximately 1500 words.
• Official transcript or record of the applicant's university work (the transcript is defined as an official document issued by your university, which lists all courses completed and grades received during your studies).
• Personal data form: perform_v2.pdf
• Photocopy of passport (in case of Polish applicants: photocopy of ID card)
• Confirmation of payment of the application fee (200 PLN or equivalent in USD or EUR). The fee is waived for candidates from non-EU countries.

PLEASE NOTE:

Incomplete documents will not be accepted.

We accept photocopies of diplomas and transcripts - originals should be presented at the school in order to confirm that the copies are true copies.

Documents of applicants not accepted are not returned to the applicant. They are kept in the School's archive.

To convert the currencies, students may refer to currency converter sites on the Internet (for example http://www.xe.com/ucc/) or inquire with a local bank or travel agency.

All payments must be free of charge for the beneficiary, so that the GSSR receives the full amount established.

The description of the payment must specify the candidate's full name and the reason for the payment.

THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

The admissions procedure for non-Polish candidates comprises:

Stage One: evaluation of application documents

Stage Two: interviews with selected candidates

Stage Three: final evaluation

Stage Four: notification of acceptance or rejection

Stage Five: accepted candidates from eligible countries (for the list of those countries click here) may apply for GSGP grants (for details click here)

An Appeals Commission will meet to consider appeals from candidates (Polish and non-Polish) who believe that in their case the published recruitment procedures were not followed.
Appeals may be submitted in writing to the School within fourteen days of the appearance of the announcement of the results of the applications process (in hard copy or by e-mail to sns@sns.edu.pl). Applicants should state clearly the reasons for believing that in their case the application was not dealt with according to the published recruitment procedures.
The Commission will not review academic decisions of the Recruitment Commission made in accordance with the published procedures.

ATTENTION:

A list of applicants accepted to the GSSR is published on our website as soon as the admissions committee has reached its decision.

Applicants who fail to attend the appointed interview (or test of language abilities if applicable) will be considered to have withdrawn their applications.

The result of PhD programme 2011/2012 recruirment (April 2011) (click here).

The result of PhD programme 2011/2012 recruirment (June 2011) (click here).

The desision of Appeals Commission from 25.07.2011 is available (click here).