Communication and media studies

Description

The Doctoral School of Social 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 school educates doctoral students in the discipline of social sciences: social and economic geography and spatial management, communication and media studies, political science and public  administration, law, sociology, pedagogy and psychology. The study program covers four semesters, during which doctoral students conduct interdisciplinary scientific seminars, scientific methods of scientific research, scientific workshops, methods of scientific work in a scientific discipline, soft skills workshops and specialist lectures. Program in Polish and in English.

Discipline: Communication and media studies

Research in the field of social communication and media sciences is conducted in two areas.

The first one is devoted to such issues as: the importance of communication in social processes, tabloidization of political discourse in news programs, the role of media in building civil society, mediatization of social life, public relations and political marketing, analysis of media content - press, radio, television, information portals and social media. Particularly noteworthy is the research on populism that has been conducted for several years.

Cognitive science is the second important branch of research within this discipline: multidisciplinary research of the mind and cognitive processes, aimed at developing a uniform image of the structure and operation of the mind.

A very good infrastructure available to researchers may certainly be an additional incentive for future doctoral students: eyetrackers, EEG, TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator), CAST (TV content analysis system).

Selection Committee    

      Chairman:             prof. dr hab. Mariusz Urbański 

      Deputy chairman:  prof. UAM dr hab. Szymon Ossowski 

                                    prof. UAM dr hab. Paweł Łupkowski

                                    prof. UAM dr hab. Dorota Leszczyńska-Jasion

                                    prof. UAM dr hab. Dorota Piontek

                                    prof. UAM dr hab. Agnieszka Stępińska

                                    mgr Katarzyna Mania

          Secretary:              mgr inż. Agnieszka Weltrowska 

Recruitment:

    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.