Doctoral education in Poland is regulated by the The Law on Higher Education and Science of 20 July 2018 (Chapter 2).

Here are some of the main points:

1) Your current degree (MA or equivalent) gives you the right to pursue doctoral training in a doctoral school in Poland if it fulfils at least one of the following criteria:

• it gives access to doctoral studies or gives right to start doctoral proceedings in the country where it was obtained;
• it confirms completion of a joint programme provided by foreign higher education institutions and gives access to doctoral studies or gives right to start doctoral proceedings in at least one of the country in the education of which it was provided is recognised on the basis of an international agreement.

2) An academic degree (MA) awarded by an authorised institution operating in the education system of one of the EU, EFTA, OECD countries is recognised as equivalent to the appropriate Polish one.

An academic degree (MA) obtained in another country may be recognised as equivalent to a Polish one either on the basis of an international agreement or (if there is no such agreement) by way of nostrification.

3) The procedure for obtaining a doctoral degree is free of charge for all Doctoral School graduates. A PhD degree is awarded to candidates who a) have achieved specified qualifications (usually by graduating from a doctoral program) and b) have submitted and successfully defended a doctoral dissertation before a committee.