Description

The Doctoral School of Exact Sciences of Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań offers opportunities to study and conduct scientific research in the international, as well as in the national and regional dimension. The University constantly updates and expands its research programmes and educational content, with particular emphasis on their interdisciplinary character.

Discipline: Astronomy

The Doctoral School of Exact Sciences will teach selected areas of modern astronomy. In the field of celestial mechanics, Doctoral students will deal with the dynamics of artificial satellites and space debris, as well as long- and short-term dynamics of comets and asteroids. They will also model non-gravitational effects and solve mathematical problems of sky mechanics. Planetary astronomy will include photometric and spectroscopic observations of asteroids in order to determine their physical properties. The obtained data will be used, among others, to model the shape of these bodies on a computer cluster. Similar observations will be carried out within the framework of star astrophysics. Their results will be used to study star binary systems and cataclysmic stars. As part of extragalactic astronomy, Doctoral students will conduct radio and infrared observations of dust and gas in galaxies and will study the processes of star formation.

Recruitment 

Selection Committee:

Chairman:                      prof. dr hab. Sławomir Breiter  -chairman 

Deputy chairman:         prof. UAM dr hab. Agnieszka Kryszczyńska 

Memebers:                    prof. UAM dr hab. Wojciech Dimitrow

                                          prof. UAM dr hab. Anna Marciniak

                                       prof. UAM dr hab. Michał Michałowski

                                       prof. UAM dr hab. Tomasz Kwiatkowski

                                       prof. UAM dr hab. Przemysław Bartczak

                                       mgr Mateusz Witczak

Secreatry:                      dr Halina Prętka-Ziomek  

Schedule of  the Doctoral  School enrolment procedure: 

Recruitment fee

The recruitment fee is 75 EUR.

Language of the selection procedure, including interviews:

Polish or English language. 

Required documents:

Candidates applying based on exceptional academic achievements must include a scan of the following:  

1) For first-cycle graduates: the diploma and supplement. 

2) For students completing the third year of a unified master’s programme: a certificate indicating their academic average from years 1 to 3, along with a transcript. 

Candidates educated outside Poland must additionally submit: 

1)    A scan of a document certifying education – a diploma with a diploma supplement for first- and second-cycle studies (Bachelor’s, MSc, or MA degrees) in the original language; if the document is not in English, a copy of the diploma in English or Polish, or a certified translation of the diploma into English or Polish, shall also be provided;

2)    A scan of a diploma or certificate confirming knowledge of a modern foreign language at a level of at least B2;  

3)    A scan of a passport, in the case of foreign nationals.

 Evaluation criteria

1)   The grade obtained in second-cycle studies or a uniform master’s degree programme (no more than 3 points); the candidate shall receive:

a)      3 points for a grade of at least very good or equivalent;

b)      2 points for a grade of good plus or equivalent;

c)       1 point for a grade of good or equivalent;

d)      3 points in the case of candidates applying for admission on the basis of the highest quality of scientific achievements (e.g. leadership of a project under the “Pearls of Science” programme).

In the absence of a diploma grade, the average grade from the course of studies shall be taken into account.

2)   Points for maximum three documented scientific achievements, in accordance with the detailed criteria for the candidate’s achievements, attached during electronic registration in the IRK system; no more than 22 points may be awarded.

3)   Points for other documented activities, based on a maximum of three achievements, in accordance with the detailed criteria for the candidate’s achievements in a given discipline; no more than 5 points may be awarded.

4)    Points for a research project prepared for the purposes of admission, and in the case of admission conducted in connection with the implementation of a research project – an original concept for the implementation of a grant project (no more than 20 points), with particular emphasis on:

a)     the ability to formulate the research objective and present the research problem;

b)     the originality of the research idea and the ability to select an appropriate method for solving the research problem;

c)      methodology appropriate to the chosen discipline;

d)     knowledge of existing research, supported by a basic bibliography;

e)     the significance of the project for the development of the chosen discipline;

f)       risk analysis of research tasks.

5)    The result of the interview, the scope of which shall include:

a)    knowledge and competences appropriate to the chosen discipline;

b)    elements of research methodology appropriate to the chosen discipline.

No more than 50 points may be awarded for the interview, and the maximum duration of the interview shall be 30 minutes.

Detailed admission criteria 2026/2027

Condition of admission to the Doctoral School 

Education Program

Education at the doctoral school lasts 8 semesters. Education is conducted on the basis of a curriculum and an individual research plan, and concludes with the submission of a doctoral thesis. The doctoral school curriculum comprises a catalogue of compulsory, compulsory elective, and optional modules.    

Start of studies: 1 October 2026. 

Supervisors

A doctoral student works under the supervision of a supervisor or supervisors, or a supervisor and auxiliary supervisor, who will be appointed by the Deputy Rector at the request of a doctoral student (within 3 months of the start of his or her studies at the Doctoral School).

Scholarships

Each doctoral student receives a scholarship in the amount of PLN 3570,50  gross for the first two years of studies (before the mid-term evaluation) and PLN 5500,50 gross  for two years following mid-term evaluation (maximum 4 years). Disability allowance: PLN 1071,15 gross.

The amount should be reduced by 11,26% due to ZUS (social insurance) contributions.

Rules of admission to doctoral schools of Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań in the academic year 2025/2026, Appendix to Resolution No. 46/2024/2025 of UAM Senate of 27 January, 2025.