PhD in Political science

The PhD programme in Political Science at the Graduate School for Social Research, run under the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, lasts four years and is taught in English, based in Poland. As a doctoral school operating within the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Graduate School for Social Research combines academic training with the research infrastructure and faculty of one of Poland's research institutions. Doctoral study in political science at this level typically involves advanced coursework in political theory and methodology alongside independent research conducted under faculty supervision, culminating in a dissertation that contributes original findings to the field. Students usually work within a specific research area, such as comparative politics, political sociology, or international relations, refining a research question over the course of the programme and presenting their progress through seminars, working papers, and conference participation before a formal dissertation defence. Because the Graduate School for Social Research sits within the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, doctoral candidates in political science often engage with adjacent fields such as sociology and philosophy, supporting interdisciplinary approaches to political questions. Graduates of research-focused doctoral programmes of this kind typically pursue academic careers as university faculty or researchers, positions in policy institutes and think tanks, or roles in international organisations and government bodies that draw on advanced research training. The four-year duration reflects a standard timeline for doctoral study in the social sciences, allowing time for coursework, fieldwork or data collection, and dissertation writing. English-medium instruction makes the programme accessible to international applicants seeking doctoral training in political science within a Polish research institution.