Below are the competition regulations for admission to the Doctoral School of the Medical University of Bialystok (MUB) for the academic year 2025/2026.
We invite applications to the Doctoral School of the Medical University of Bialystok in the fields of medical sciences and health sciences, offering training in International Path – Medical Sciences (12 places).
The recruitment process includes a competitive procedure and a decision regarding admission to the Doctoral School, either by entry onto the list of doctoral students or issuance of a rejection decision.
The process is conducted according to the Schedule and based on the scoring criteria for admission to the Doctoral School.
The competitive procedure comprises:
a) Assessment of the Candidate’s Research Potential
The research project should present the concept of a research study within the candidate's scientific interests (potentially forming the basis of their future doctoral dissertation), including a proposed methodology, the organisational unit of MUB where the research could be conducted, and a declaration confirming that the submitted project does not infringe upon third-party rights.
The project must include the following: candidate's name, project title, project description, research assumptions and objectives, methodology, equipment, references, and the planned research site. The project should not exceed three A4 pages, using Times New Roman font, size 12, with 1.5 line spacing.
If the research project does not meet the requirements, the Director of the Doctoral School or their authorised representative may request its correction within seven days, under penalty of disqualification from the competition. Only formal amendments are permitted; substantive changes to the project are not allowed.
b) Examinations: English Language and Subject-Specific
The oral examination in the subject area comprises three questions, including an evaluation of the scientific value of the proposed work and the feasibility of its implementation based on the submitted research project. Each question is graded separately.
The oral English language examination consists of three parts assessing:
- The ability to actively engage with popular scientific literature in English.
- The ability to initiate and maintain a conversation about the candidate's career and research path.
- Proficiency in grammatical structures.
A single overall grade is assigned for the English examination.
Grading Scale for Examinations: Very Good (5), Above Good (4.5), Good (4), Satisfactory Plus (3.5), Satisfactory (3), Unsatisfactory (2)
The examination regulations are outlined in Appendix No. 3 to the Resolution.
Candidates holding a language certificate at a minimum B2 level may be exempt from the English examination (in such cases, an automatic grade of "Very Good (5)" is awarded).
Recognised Certificates and Minimum Scores:
IELTS: Minimum score of 6.0
TOEFL: Minimum score of 90
FCE: Minimum grade C
CAE: Minimum grade C
CPE: Minimum grade C
TOEIC: Minimum score of 850
Further information about the English examination is available on the Language Centre's website.
To be admitted to the Doctoral School, a candidate must achieve at least a "Satisfactory" grade in each examination and obtain a minimum of 10 points in the competition procedure. Receiving an "Unsatisfactory" grade or failing to achieve the minimum points results in disqualification from further consideration and rejection of the application.
Admission is based on the total points obtained in the competitive procedure within the limits of places approved by the University Senate.
Recruitment schedule for the Doctoral School for the academic year 2025/2026
1. Applicants for admission to the Doctoral School are required to complete electronic registration and submit their documents within the period: June 2, 2025 – June 13, 2025 (the required documents are described below).
2. Candidates graduating in the academic year 2024/2025 must submit their graduation diploma by August 18, 2025, while other documents must be submitted within the deadlines specified in point 1. Failure to meet the deadlines in point 1 will result in the candidate being excluded from further stages of the competition process.
3. Individuals referred to in Article 186, paragraph 2 of the Act (graduates of first-cycle studies or students who have completed the third year of long-cycle Master's studies) must submit an application for admission to the competition procedure for the Doctoral School due to their demonstrated exceptional, highest quality of prior scientific achievements, within the period of April 7–11, 2025. This does not apply to students in the final years of Master's or long-cycle programs, such as the sixth year of medical studies or the fifth year of dental studies.
4. The Chairperson and a Member of the Program Council in the respective discipline, or persons designated by them, will decide on the admission to the competition process based on the applications referred to in point 3 by April 28, 2025.
5. Prospective supervisors must submit statements ensuring the availability of a place for conducting teaching activities (Appendix No. 8), a place for conducting scientific research (Appendix No. 9), and their compliance with the requirements to act as a doctoral supervisor (Appendix No. 10) within the deadlines specified in point 1.
6. Exam dates for the international path (medical discipline):
a) September 1, 2025 – English language. The exam will take place at the Foreign Languages Department of the Medical University of Białystok (Collegium Universum) at 2c Adama Mickiewicza Street at 9:45 AM. The oral exam will begin at 10:00 AM.
b) September 2, 2025 – Subject exam. The oral exam will take place in the Aula Magna of Branicki Palace. The subject exam in the medical sciences discipline will begin at 8:30 AM, and candidates will be informed of the specific day and time of the exam no later than 14 days before the exam date.
7. The results of the competition process will be announced on September 10, 2025.
8. Changes to document submission deadlines, exam dates, and the date of the announcement of competition results may occur due to changes in the epidemiological situation. However, revised dates will not be earlier than those stated in this Resolution.
In such a case:
a) The Director of the Doctoral School will determine the new deadlines and methods for document submission, exam dates, or the announcement of results.
b) Candidates will be informed of the deadlines and methods for document submission, exam dates, or the final results through a notice on the University's website and via email to the addresses provided during electronic registration.
c) Candidates will have at least seven business days to submit documents, counted from the day the notice referred to in point 8b is published on the University's website.
9. If the admission quota is not filled, the date for announcing the list of admitted candidates to the Doctoral School may change. In such a case, the provisions of point 8b will apply.
10. Changes to the locations of the competition procedure may occur. Candidates will be informed of such changes through a notice on the University's website and via email to the addresses provided during electronic registration.
Required Documents
Applicants for admission to the Doctoral School must complete electronic registration through the Internet Candidate Registration system between June 2, 2025, and June 13, 2025.
Candidates must submit the following documents:
1) A completed and signed application for admission to the Doctoral School, including an indication of the area of interest (selected from the list provided in the admission requirements), for which the candidate will take the subject exam – Appendix 7 to the Resolution:
Appendix 7: Application for the International Path of the Doctoral School
2) A color photo and the same photo in electronic format, sized 300x375 pixels with a resolution of at least 300 dpi (uploaded to the candidate's recruitment account).
3) A diploma or a certified copy of a diploma of completion of Master's studies in Poland or, in the case of studies completed abroad, a diploma or other document recognized as equivalent to a Polish Master's diploma under separate regulations.
4) A project presenting the concept of the research work.
5) A list of prior scientific activities and achievements, along with supporting documentation, prepared according to Annex No. 2 to this Resolution – achievements must be entered electronically in the online account.
6) A medical certificate stating no contraindications to admission to the Doctoral School (the original referral is available at the Promotion and Recruitment Office).
7) A certificate confirming English language proficiency for those applying for exemption from the English exam.
8) Polish citizens applying in competition paths specified in § 1, point 2, items 1–3 must submit documents mentioned in items 1–7 in Polish.
9) Polish citizens applying in the competition path specified in § 1, point 2, item 4 must submit documents mentioned in items 1–3 and 5–7 in Polish, while the research project must be submitted in English.
General Provisions:
1. A person eligible to apply for admission to the Doctoral School must hold a Master's degree, a Master of Engineering degree, or an equivalent qualification, or be a person referred to in Article 186, paragraph 2 of the Act (a graduate of first-cycle studies or a student who has completed the third year of long-cycle Master's studies), subject to paragraphs 2–4.
2. A person referred to in Article 186, paragraph 2 of the Act (a graduate of first-cycle studies or a student who has completed the third year of long-cycle Master's studies) must meet the following conditions to participate in the competition procedure:
1) Demonstrate a minimum of 30 points based on the evaluation of prior scientific achievements, calculated according to the principles and scoring outlined in Appendix No. 11 to the Resolution.
2) Complete their studies on time – the candidate must not have repeated a year, nor can they have had or currently hold a conditional entry during their course of study.
3. A candidate referred to in Article 186, paragraph 2 of the Act must submit the following to the Recruitment Committee in the chosen discipline, within the timeframe specified in the schedule provided in Annex No. 1 to the Resolution:
- An application for admission to the competition procedure for the Doctoral School due to demonstrated exceptional, highest-quality scientific achievements.
- A certificate confirming that they have not repeated a year or held a conditional entry, issued by the relevant Dean’s Office.
Templates for the application and certificate are included in Annex No. 11 to the Resolution.
4. The application referred to in paragraph 3 is reviewed by the appropriate Recruitment Committee. Only candidates whose applications are positively evaluated by the Recruitment Committee are eligible to participate in the competition procedure.
5. Foreign nationals may undertake and pursue studies under the principles set out in Articles 323 and 324 of the Act.
Applicants for admission to the Doctoral School must complete electronic registration via the Internet Candidate Registration system.
Legal Acts
1 Jana Kilińskiego Street, 15-089 Białystok (Branicki Palace wing)
Phone: +48 85 748 55 12, +48 85 748 54 72
Email: promocja@umb.edu.pl
The office is open year-round, Monday to Friday, from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM.