Doctoral School Regulations

Resolution No. 31/2023
of the Senate of the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce

dated 27 April 2023

on the adoption of the Regulations of the Doctoral School
of the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce

https://bip.ujk.edu.pl/uchwala_nr_31_2023.html

Annex to Resolution No. 31/2023

REGULATIONS OF THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL OF THE JAN KOCHANOWSKI UNIVERSITY IN KIELCE

§ 1

Organization of the Doctoral School

1. The Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce operates a Doctoral School.
2. Within the Doctoral School, disciplinary sections determined by the Rector shall function.
3. A section within the Doctoral School shall be established, dissolved, or transformed by the Rector upon the request of the Director of the Doctoral School.
4. A disciplinary section of the Doctoral School may cover more than one scientific or artistic discipline.
5. The Doctoral School may be run jointly with another entity, under the principles set forth in the Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws of 2023, item 742), hereinafter referred to as the “Act.”
6. The Doctoral School is managed by the Director of the Doctoral School, hereinafter referred to as the “Director.”
7. The procedure for appointing the Director shall be specified in the Statute of the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, hereinafter referred to as the “Statute.”
8. The tasks of the Director shall include, in particular:
   1. managing the Doctoral School;
   2. drafting the Regulations of the Doctoral School;
   3. developing admission rules for the Doctoral School;
   4. organizing the admission process to the Doctoral School;
   5. determining, with the Rector’s consent, the admission limits to the Doctoral School;
   6. developing study programs at the Doctoral School;
   7. organizing the doctoral education process;
   8. supervising the implementation of the study program;
   9. cooperating with institute directors/heads of scientific councils representing disciplines included in the Doctoral School’s section with regard to: ensuring the quality of doctoral education, admission rules and criteria, appointing supervisors and auxiliary supervisors, and determining the composition of the admissions committee, the mid-term evaluation committee, and study programs;
   10. monitoring the quality of education at the Doctoral School;
   11. issuing administrative decisions, authorized by the Rector, regarding doctoral education within the scope defined by the Rector;
   12. organizing the process of conducting mid-term evaluations of doctoral students, in particular by setting their dates;
   13. supervising the process of conducting mid-term evaluations;
   14. ensuring the welfare and social matters of doctoral students;
   15. coordinating the work of the Scientific Council of the Doctoral School;
   16. preparing the Doctoral School for evaluation;
   17. cooperating with the doctoral students’ self-government;
   18. supervising doctoral studies until their completion.
9. At the request of the Director, the Rector may appoint and dismiss a Deputy Director and section heads.
10. The Director shall define the competences of the Deputy Director and disciplinary section heads.
11. The Director shall manage the Doctoral Students’ Affairs Section, which provides administrative support for matters related to doctoral students’ status.
12. The detailed competences of the Doctoral Students’ Affairs Section shall be defined in the Organizational Regulations of the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, hereinafter referred to as the “Organizational Regulations.”
13. The Doctoral School shall have a Scientific Council, hereinafter referred to as the “School Council,” as an advisory and consultative body to the Director.
14. The procedure for electing members of the School Council and its competences shall be specified in the Statute.

§ 2

Admissions and Education in the Doctoral School

1. A person may be admitted to the Doctoral School who:
   1. holds the professional title of master, master engineer, or an equivalent degree;
   2. demonstrates the highest quality of scientific or artistic achievements, being a graduate of first-cycle studies or a student who has completed the third year of long-cycle master’s studies.
2. The admission limits for particular scientific or artistic disciplines in a given academic year shall be determined by the Director with the Rector’s consent.
3. Admission to the Doctoral School shall take place through a competition, under rules specified by the Senate of the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, hereinafter referred to as the “Senate.”
4. The rules and criteria for admission to the Doctoral School shall be developed by the Director, after consultation with the School Council, and submitted to the Rector for consideration by the Senate.
5. The rules and criteria for admission referred to in paragraph 4 shall be adopted in time to make them publicly available in accordance with the Act.
6. A person admitted to the Doctoral School shall commence education and acquire the rights of a doctoral student upon taking an oath, the content of which is defined in the Statute. The admitted person shall confirm taking the oath with a signature.
7. A person admitted to the Doctoral School may not be a doctoral student at another Doctoral School.
8. Upon fulfilling the requirement referred to in paragraph 6, the doctoral student shall receive a student ID card.
9. Education at the Doctoral School lasts four academic years and concludes with the submission of a doctoral dissertation.
10. The credit period at the Doctoral School shall be the academic year.
11. Education at the Doctoral School is conducted on a full-time basis.
12. Education at the Doctoral School shall be carried out in accordance with the study program adopted by the Senate, under the procedure defined in the Statute, and the doctoral student’s individual research plan.
13. Education at the Doctoral School covers four areas of doctoral student activity:
    1. conducting scientific research or artistic/project work;
    2. completing courses included in the study program;
    3. preparing a doctoral dissertation forming the basis for awarding the doctoral degree;
    4. acquiring skills necessary for teaching;
    5. completing a scientific or artistic internship. The rules of the internship shall be determined by the Director of the Doctoral School by regulation.
14. The Director shall be responsible for preparing the study program of the Doctoral School. The School Council, the Doctoral School Quality Assurance Committee, and the doctoral students’ self-government shall issue an opinion on the study program within 14 days of receiving the draft. If the deadline passes without effect, the requirement of obtaining an opinion shall be deemed fulfilled.
15. The study program referred to in paragraph 12 shall be developed for the fields and disciplines in which education is provided at the Doctoral School.
16. Education at the Doctoral School is conducted in Polish, except for courses taught in English in specific disciplines, as defined by a resolution of the Scientific Council of the Doctoral School, included in the course organization published on the Doctoral School’s website (currently: https://sd.ujk.edu.pl/) before the start of each academic year. Education may also be conducted entirely in English.
17. The structure of the study program is common to all fields and disciplines. The content of courses offered within each discipline differs.
18. The study program referred to in paragraph 12 shall be prepared in time to be made available in accordance with the Act.
19. During the course of study, changes may be introduced to the study program, in particular regarding the names, content, or hours of courses, provided that such changes do not affect the intended learning outcomes or result from generally applicable laws.
20. The education of a doctoral student admitted under the rules referred to in paragraph 1(2), or within the “Implementation Doctorate” program, shall take place under the generally applicable rules, in accordance with the study program, and—at the doctoral student’s request—according to an individual study plan.
21. The individual study plan, covering the timing and forms of course completion in line with the academic year structure, shall be determined by the Section Head in consultation with the doctoral student and their supervisor, separately for each academic year, and shall require the Director’s approval. Setting an individual study plan shall not alter the deadlines for submitting the individual research plan or undergoing the mid-term evaluation.
22. The doctoral dissertation shall be prepared under the supervision of a supervisor, supervisors, or a supervisor and an auxiliary supervisor.

§ 3

Supervision of Doctoral Research

1. Supervision of the preparation of the doctoral dissertation shall be exercised by a supervisor or supervisors, or by a supervisor and an auxiliary supervisor.
2. Subject to exceptions provided for in the Act, the function of supervisor may be performed by a person holding the degree of doktor habilitowany (habilitation) or the title of professor, while the function of auxiliary supervisor may be performed by a person holding at least the degree of doktor (PhD).
3. The Director shall submit to the chair of the competent scientific council of the institute an application for the appointment of persons responsible for supervising the preparation of doctoral dissertations by students admitted to the Doctoral School. The application shall include proposed candidates for supervision.
4. The competent scientific council of the institute shall appoint:
   a) supervisors – within 3 months from the date of commencement of education by the doctoral student,
   b) auxiliary supervisors – within 6 months from the date of commencement of education by the doctoral student.
   The chair of the competent scientific council of the institute shall immediately forward the resolutions on the appointment of a supervisor or supervisors, or a supervisor and an auxiliary supervisor, to the Director of the Doctoral School.
5. Duties of the supervisor:
   1. to provide direct academic supervision of the doctoral student;
   2. to prepare, together with the doctoral student, the individual research plan and to support the student in its implementation;
   3. to provide consultations and assess the scientific progress as well as the progress in the doctoral student’s artistic or project work;
   4. to support the doctoral student in their research or artistic work;
   5. to assist the doctoral student in preparing research project applications;
   6. to ensure financial resources for the doctoral student’s research, artistic, or project work;
   7. to monitor the progress in preparing the doctoral dissertation;
   8. to supervise and confirm the doctoral student’s completion of professional practice;
   9. to provide opinions on applications submitted by the doctoral student in connection with their education;
   10. to inform the Director of difficulties affecting the implementation of the doctoral student’s individual research plan;
   11. to submit to the Director a request for removal of the doctoral student from the list of doctoral students, in particular in cases specified in § 9(2).
6. Duties of the auxiliary supervisor:
   1. to give an opinion on the doctoral student’s individual research plan;
   2. to assist in planning and carrying out research within the scope determined by the supervisor.
7. One person may serve as supervisor or auxiliary supervisor for no more than three doctoral students, of whom no more than two may be in their first or second year, and after at least one of them has received a positive mid-term evaluation – for an additional doctoral student, subject to paragraph 8.
8. The number of doctoral students referred to in paragraph 7 may be increased by no more than three if each of them participates in an external grant. An external grant shall mean a research project financed by domestic or foreign external institutions established to support scientific activity in the field of basic (empirical or theoretical) research, in particular the National Science Centre, the National Centre for Research and Development, the National Programme for the Development of the Humanities, the Foundation for Polish Science, the National Agency for Academic Exchange, or an artistic project financed, among others, by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Creative Europe Programme, or Culture Moves Europe.
9. A doctoral student may submit to the Director a request to change the supervisor, in particular in the event of the supervisor’s failure to fulfil the duties referred to in paragraph 5. The request must include justification.
10. In the case of a request referred to in paragraph 9, the Director shall request opinions on the matter from the head of the relevant section and the supervisor, within 7 days from the date of receipt of the request. Based on the opinions submitted, the Director may request the chair of the scientific council of the relevant institute to change the person appointed to supervise the doctoral student.
11. A supervisor may, including at the request of a doctoral student, apply to the Director for a change of auxiliary supervisor in the event of the auxiliary supervisor’s failure to fulfil the duties referred to in paragraph 6. The request must include justification.
12. A resolution on the change of supervisor or auxiliary supervisor shall be adopted by the competent scientific council of the institute at the request of the Director.

§ 4

Individual Research Plan

1. The doctoral student, in consultation with the supervisor or supervisors, shall prepare an individual research plan covering the entire period of study at the Doctoral School.
2. The individual research plan, the template of which is set out in Annex No. 1 to these Regulations, shall include in particular:
   1. plan of the research to be conducted by the doctoral student during their studies at the Doctoral School;
   2. timetable for the preparation of the doctoral dissertation;
   3. plan of activities aimed at enhancing competences that prepare the doctoral student for research, research and development, or artistic work.
3. The individual research plan shall indicate possible sources of funding for the planned tasks.
4. The supervisor or supervisors shall confirm by signature that the doctoral student’s individual research plan has been prepared in consultation with them.
5. The doctoral student’s individual research plan shall require the opinion of the auxiliary supervisor – if one has been appointed.
6. The doctoral student shall submit the individual research plan to the Director by filing it with the Doctoral Students’ Affairs Section, after consultation with the supervisor or supervisors or with the supervisor and auxiliary supervisor, taking into account paragraph 5, no later than the deadline specified in the Act.
7. The individual research plan shall be evaluated by the disciplinary team for the evaluation of individual research plans, acting as an advisory body to the Director. The team shall consist of: the head of the section as chair, and two representatives of each discipline within the given disciplinary section, one of whom is a representative of the Scientific Council and the other a representative of the Doctoral School’s Quality Assurance Committee.
8. The Director shall approve the individual research plan within one month of its submission.
9. The doctoral student shall be obliged to submit a revised individual research plan in the event of changes required by the Director, within 14 days of being notified of the recommendations. The provisions of paragraphs 1–6 shall apply accordingly.
10. The doctoral student shall be obliged to submit an updated individual research plan within 30 days after the expiry of a period of suspension of education or an extension of the dissertation submission deadline, under the principles set out in paragraphs 1–6, for its approval. The provisions of paragraphs 7–9 shall apply accordingly.

§ 5

Documentation of the Course of Education

1. The documentation of the course of education of doctoral students at the Doctoral School is kept electronically in the University’s IT system and in the doctoral student’s personal file.
2. Doctoral students are provided with access to the documentation of the course of education through individual accounts in the University’s IT system.
3. At the request of a doctoral student, the Doctoral Student Office issues an extract from the documentation of the course of education at the Doctoral School, certified by the director.
4. Documentation of a doctoral student’s achievements, including periodical achievement reports, is kept in the doctoral student’s personal file in the form of printouts of electronic data, signed by the director.
5. Each doctoral student is assigned a student record number (album number).
6. The doctoral student’s individual electronic account contains, among others:
   1. the doctoral student’s personal data,
   2. the student record number (album number),
   3. the scientific or artistic discipline in which the doctoral student is being educated,
   4. information on qualifications obtained entitling them to undertake education at the Doctoral School,
   5. the start date of education at the Doctoral School,
   6. the end date of education at the Doctoral School,
   7. information on the course of education.
7. A personal file folder is created for each doctoral student, identified with their student record number, and kept in the Doctoral Student Office for the entire duration of education at the Doctoral School.
8. The personal file folder contains, among others:
   1. a certificate of entry on the list of doctoral students or an administrative decision on admission to the Doctoral School (in the case of foreign nationals),
   2. documents required from the candidate during the recruitment process,
   3. the doctoral student’s signed matriculation oath,
   4. rulings related to the doctoral student’s disability,
   5. decisions regarding the course of education, including in particular:
      a) suspension of education at the Doctoral School,
      b) extension of the deadline for submitting the doctoral dissertation,
      c) removal from the list of doctoral students and confirmation of its delivery,
   6. the declarations referred to in § 6(2)(6),
   7. the individual research plan,
   8. doctoral student’s periodical achievement reports,
   9. the mid-term report on the implementation of the individual research plan together with the documents specified in Annex No. 5 in paper form,
   10. the report of the mid-term evaluation of the implementation of the individual research plan at the Doctoral School,
   11. reports on scientific or artistic activity,
   12. confirmation of receipt of documents or confirmation of delivery in electronic form,
   13. a certificate or diploma of completion of studies or a certificate confirming the passing of an examination certifying knowledge of a modern foreign language at a proficiency level of at least B2,
   14. the doctoral dissertation reviewed and accepted by the supervisor,
   15. a certified copy of the certificate of completion of education at the Doctoral School,
   16. the doctoral student’s clearance card.
9.  The personal files of doctoral students who have completed their education at the Doctoral School are transferred to the archive by the Doctoral Student Office.

§ 6

Rights and Obligations of the Doctoral Student

1. A doctoral student has the right to:
   1. academic supervision provided by a supervisor or supervisors, or by a supervisor and an auxiliary supervisor,
   2. support from the persons referred to in point 1:
      a) in preparing and implementing the individual research plan,
      b) in research, artistic, or project work,
   3. request a change of supervisor or auxiliary supervisor in cases specified in these Regulations,
   4. use the University’s library collections and IT resources,
   5. use the University’s laboratories, equipment, and research apparatus to the extent necessary for the implementation of the education program, conducting research or artistic/project activities, and preparing the doctoral dissertation, in accordance with the University’s rules,
   6. participate in competitions announced by institutions financing scientific research, artistic or project activities, or academic mobility, in agreement with the supervisor,
   7. undertake scientific or artistic internships, subject to a positive opinion from the supervisor and the director’s consent; the duration of the internship is included in the education period,
   8. participate in national and international doctoral student exchange programs under applicable agreements and arrangements,
   9. hold a doctoral student ID card,
   10. hold an e-mail address on the University’s server,
   11. receive a doctoral scholarship under the rules defined by the rector’s ordinance,
   12. apply for an extension of the deadline for submitting the doctoral dissertation under the rules specified in § 8,
   13. submit to the director a request to suspend education in cases and under the rules set out in the Act,
   14. submit to the director a request to transfer obligations to the next year of education,
   15. apply for a student loan under the rules set out in the Act,
   16. apply for a scholarship granted by a local government unit or a natural or legal person that is not a state or local government legal entity,
   17. apply for accommodation in a student dormitory under the rules set out in the regulations on student benefits,
   18. social insurance and general health insurance under the rules specified in separate regulations,
   19. vacation breaks not exceeding 8 weeks per year,
   20. join the doctoral student self-government,
   21. evaluate academic teachers, including the supervisor(s) and auxiliary supervisor, regarding the fulfillment of their duties related to education, under the rules specified by the rector,
   22. report conflict situations, discrimination, acts of violence, complaints, and requests – in accordance with the procedures in force at the University,
   23. join doctoral student organizations,
   24. participate in scientific research, development, implementation, or artistic projects carried out at the University, to the extent agreed with the supervisor,
   25. in the case of completing education at the Doctoral School, undergo the procedure for awarding the doctoral degree without paying the fee referred to in Art. 182 of the Act,
   26. undertake employment as an academic teacher or researcher under the rules set out in the Act.
2. A doctoral student is obliged to:
   1. comply with the principles set out in the matriculation oath,
   2. act in accordance with these Regulations and the Code of Ethics for Doctoral Students,
   3. set up an account on the server ujk.edu.pl, in accordance with the Computer Network Regulations of the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce,
   4. prepare an individual research plan and submit it to the director no later than within the time limit specified in the Act,
   5. implement the education program and the individual research plan,
   6. submit to the director declarations regarding:
      a) holding an electronic researcher identifier compliant with international standards – ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) – within 14 days from the start of education at the Doctoral School; the template of the declaration is provided in Annex No. 2 to these Regulations,
      b) the discipline in which the doctoral dissertation is being prepared – within 14 days from the start of education at the Doctoral School; the template of the declaration is provided in Annex No. 3 to these Regulations,
      c) authorizing the University to report scientific or artistic achievements for the purpose of evaluating the quality of scientific activity conducted at the University – in the year preceding the evaluation of scientific activity quality or before completing the final year of education at the Doctoral School; the template of the declaration is provided in Annex No. 4 to these Regulations,
   7. create an individual account in the Polish Scientific Bibliography (PBN) system and link it to the ORCID system account – within 14 days from the start of education at the Doctoral School,
   8. submit a mid-term report on the implementation of the individual research plan within the deadline specified in § 7(11); the template of the report is provided in Annex No. 5 to these Regulations,
   9. submit a report on scientific activity, the template of which is provided in Annex No. 7 to these Regulations, after the 1st and 3rd year of education, and, in the case of persons applying for an extension of the deadline for submitting the doctoral dissertation, after completing the 4th year of education at the Doctoral School, covering the 4th year of education,
   10. submit a certificate or diploma of completion of studies or a certificate confirming the passing of an examination certifying knowledge of a modern foreign language at a proficiency level of at least B2 – by the end of the 4th year of education. The requirement to submit proof of foreign language proficiency within the above deadline also applies to doctoral students who have been granted an extension after the 4th year of education,
   11. submit the doctoral dissertation reviewed and accepted by the supervisor within the deadline specified in the individual research plan, subject to § 8(1),
   12. promptly notify in writing of any changes in personal and contact details as well as any factual circumstances affecting the fulfillment of the doctoral student’s obligations and the exercise of doctoral student’s rights.
3. The rights and obligations of a doctoral student expire on the day of:
   1. submission of the doctoral dissertation, subject to Art. 209(8) of the Act,
   2. the final decision on removal from the list of doctoral students.
4. For violations of law and University regulations, a doctoral student bears disciplinary responsibility under the rules specified in separate regulations.
5. Doctoral students pursuing education at the University form the doctoral student self-government.
6. The bodies of the doctoral student self-government are the sole representative of all doctoral students.
7. The bodies of the doctoral student self-government have the right to submit requests to the director regarding matters related to education at the Doctoral School.

§ 7

Mid-Term Evaluation

1. At the midpoint of education at the Doctoral School, the implementation of the individual research plan shall be subject to a mid-term evaluation.
2. The evaluation referred to in paragraph 1 shall be carried out by a committee approved by the School Council at the request of the Director.
3. The supervisor, co-supervisors, or auxiliary supervisor may not be members of the committee conducting the mid-term evaluation of the doctoral student under their academic supervision.
4. The committee shall consist of three persons:
   1. a person holding the degree of doktor habilitowany (habilitation) or the title of professor in the discipline in which the doctoral student is preparing the dissertation, employed at the University, as chair;
   2. a person holding the degree of doktor habilitowany or the title of professor in the discipline in which the doctoral student is preparing the dissertation, employed at the University;
   3. a person holding the degree of doktor habilitowany or the title of professor in the discipline in which the doctoral student is preparing the dissertation, employed outside the University, subject to the exceptions provided for in the Act (Article 190(5)).
5. A doctoral student delegated by the University Council of Doctoral Students may participate in the committee’s work as an observer, without voting rights.
6. In the case of the evaluation of an interdisciplinary research plan, the committee shall consist of:
   1. a person holding the degree of doktor habilitowany or the title of professor in the field including the discipline in which the doctoral student is preparing the dissertation, employed at the University, as chair;
   2. a person holding the degree of doktor habilitowany or the title of professor in one of the disciplines within which the doctoral student is preparing the dissertation, employed at the University;
   3. a person holding the degree of doktor habilitowany or the title of professor in one of the disciplines within which the doctoral student is preparing the dissertation, employed outside the University, subject to the exceptions provided for in the Act (Article 190(5)).
7. A committee member employed outside the University shall receive remuneration in the amount specified in the Act.
8. Candidates for committee membership referred to in paragraph 2 shall be nominated by the Director and approved by the School Council. The same provision applies to changes in committee membership.
9. The committee shall make decisions by a simple majority of votes, in the presence of all committee members.
10. The doctoral student shall submit to the Director a mid-term report on the implementation of the individual research plan, covering the first and second years of education at the Doctoral School, together with the documents referred to in § 5(8)(9), in both paper and electronic form. The storage medium with the electronic documentation shall be returned to the doctoral student, and its copies permanently deleted once the doctoral student has received a positive mid-term evaluation or once the decision to remove the doctoral student from the list has become final in the event of a negative result.
11. The deadline for submitting the report referred to in paragraph 10 shall be determined by order of the Director of the Doctoral School no later than two months before the planned date of the mid-term evaluation.
12. The Doctoral Students’ Affairs Section shall inform the doctoral student of the date and place of the committee meeting conducting the mid-term evaluation of the implementation of the individual research plan.
13. The committee shall carry out the mid-term evaluation of the implementation of the individual research plan on the basis of:
    1. the individual research plan;
    2. the mid-term report on the implementation of the individual research plan;
    3. an interview with the doctoral student.
14. As part of the interview, the doctoral student shall present a multimedia presentation including the dissertation plan, a discussion of the research issues, research methods, and answers to the committee’s questions.
15. The committee’s evaluation shall cover:
    1. timeliness in implementing the plan;
    2. the progress of work on the dissertation;
    3. the research or artistic tasks completed;
    4. the doctoral student’s scientific, artistic, and organizational activity.
16. The committee shall assess each of the criteria listed in paragraph 15 individually, formulating the result of the assessment as positive or negative.
17. The mid-term evaluation – established on the basis of the assessment of the individual criteria referred to in paragraph 15 – shall result in a positive or negative outcome. The evaluation must be justified by the committee.
18. The committee shall document the evaluation by preparing a report on the mid-term evaluation of the implementation of the individual research plan. The template of the report is set out in Annex No. 6 to these Regulations.
19. After the committee meeting, the report referred to in paragraph 18 shall be forwarded to the Director.
20. The committee’s evaluation is final.
21. The results of the mid-term evaluation, together with justification, shall be public.

§ 8

Extension of the Deadline for Submission of the Doctoral Dissertation or Suspension of Education at the Doctoral School

1. At the request of a doctoral student, the Director may extend the deadline for submission of the doctoral dissertation as specified in the individual research plan.
2. The request referred to in paragraph 1 requires the opinion of the supervisor or supervisors, or the supervisor and auxiliary supervisor.
3. The total extension referred to in paragraph 1 may not exceed two years.
4. The extension of the deadline for submission of the doctoral dissertation specified in the individual research plan may be granted in the event of:
   1. the doctoral student being on sick leave due to illness;
   2. the necessity to provide personal care for a sick family member;
   3. possession of a disability certificate;
   4. the impossibility of conducting research or engaging in artistic or project activity within the time specified in the individual research plan for reasons beyond the doctoral student’s control; the extension granted in connection with the impossibility of conducting research or engaging in artistic or project activity may cover a maximum of six months at a time.
5. The request referred to in paragraph 1 must be accompanied by a document confirming the existence of the circumstance referred to in paragraph 4.
6. At the request of a doctoral student, the Director shall suspend education at the Doctoral School under the principles set out in the Act.
7. During the period of extension or suspension of education, the doctoral student shall retain the rights of a doctoral student, unless the provisions concerning scholarships state otherwise.
8. Deadlines for fulfilling obligations, including the completion of credits required by the study programme, shall be extended by the period of the extension accordingly.
9. The doctoral student’s return after the expiry of the period of extension or suspension of education shall take place under the principles determined by the Director.
10. In the event of refusal to grant an extension of the dissertation submission deadline, the doctoral student may appeal, via the Director, to the Rector within 14 days from the date of notification of the decision.

§ 9

Removal from the List of Doctoral Candidates

1. A doctoral candidate shall be removed from the list of doctoral candidates in the event of:
   1. receiving a negative outcome of the mid-term evaluation;
   2. failure to submit the doctoral dissertation within the deadline specified in the individual research plan, subject to § 10(1);
   3. resignation from doctoral education at the Doctoral School;
   4. failure to commence doctoral education;
   5. violation of the prohibition referred to in Art. 200(7) or Art. 209(10) of the Act;
   6. disciplinary penalty of expulsion from the Doctoral School.
2. A doctoral candidate may be removed from the list of doctoral candidates in the event of failure to carry out the education program and the individual research plan, in particular due to:
   1. failure to present the individual research plan within the time limit specified in the Act;
   2. unsatisfactory progress in the preparation of the doctoral dissertation;
   3. conduct inconsistent with the content of the oath or the regulations of the Doctoral School.
3. The decision to remove a doctoral candidate from the list of doctoral candidates shall be issued by the director on behalf of the rector.

§ 10
Application of the Code of Administrative Procedure

1. Refusal of admission to the Doctoral School and removal from the list of doctoral candidates shall take place by way of an administrative decision.
2. Against the decisions referred to in section 1, an application for reconsideration of the case or a complaint to the administrative court may be filed.

§ 11

Detailed Rules for Introducing and Applying Alternative Solutions for Doctoral Candidates with Disabilities

1. All alternative solutions applied at the Doctoral School for doctoral candidates with disabilities are aimed at ensuring equal opportunities to complete their education, while maintaining the principle of not lowering substantive requirements for such doctoral candidates.
2. If a candidate’s disability prevents direct participation in classes, the section head, at the candidate’s request, may:
   1. excuse absences based on documents presented by the candidate;
   2. establish, in consultation with course instructors, individual deadlines and forms of fulfilling course requirements or teaching internships;
   3. grant consent to change the form of knowledge assessment.
3. If required by the nature of the disability, the section head, at the candidate’s request, may grant consent to include third parties in classes, in particular acting as: sign language interpreters, stenographers, or laboratory assistants assisting candidates with impaired hand function.
4. If, due to disability, the candidate cannot take notes independently during classes, the section head may allow the use of additional technical devices enabling full participation in classes, as well as audiovisual devices for recording teaching activities.
5. The decision referred to in sections 1–3 shall be made by the section head after consulting the head of the university-wide unit responsible for persons with disabilities.
6. When using devices that record sound or sound and image during classes, the candidate is obliged to submit a written declaration of not violating copyright to works created during these classes and of using the recorded materials exclusively for private purposes.
7. If, due to disability, the candidate cannot use teaching materials in standard print, they must report to the section head the need to obtain teaching and research materials from specified classes in an alternative format. Alternative formats include, in particular: Braille, large print, audio recordings, and electronic text.
8. The decision on the use of an alternative format shall be made by the section head after consulting the head of the university-wide unit responsible for persons with disabilities.
9. Depending on the type of disability, the candidate may submit a request to the section head for a change in the method of taking an exam in a given subject.
10. For the purpose of changing the method of examination, the section head may issue a decision granting consent to:
    1. extend the duration of the exam;
    2. use technical devices during the exam, such as: computers, screen readers, Braille devices, alternative keyboards, magnifiers;
    3. use an alternative format of record during the exam;
    4. change the form of the exam from written to oral or from oral to written;
    5. participation of third parties in the exam, in particular a sign language interpreter, stenographer, or lector;
    6. change the location of the exam.
11. The provisions of sections 9–10 shall apply accordingly to course credit requirements.

New Regulations of the Doctoral School – ATTENTION! IT WILL ONLY ENTER INTO FORCE ON 1 OCTOBER 2025