ESSENTIALS OF A PHD STUDENT
On 15 February 2024, a new Regulation amending the regulation on the minimum monthly basic remuneration for a professor employed in a public higher education institution has been signed (Dz.U. – Journal of Laws, item 235). It states 30% increase of remuneration since 1 January 2024 which means that the basic salary of a professor has risen from PLN 7210 to PLN 9370. The provisions of the regulation has entered into force in the day following its announcement, that is on 22 February 2024 as applicable from 1 January 2024. The regulation has been published under item no. 235 in the Dziennik Ustaw (abbreviated „Dz. U.”) or the Polish Journal of Laws.
Why is this important for doctoral students? It affects the amount of scholarship (stipend) grant that you receive each month – since its amount is steadily proportional (pegged) to the value of professor’s salary, it has now increased accordingly, and you may even expect an extra balance payment once, due to the increase being applicable from January.
Pursuant to Article 209 clause 4 of the Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws 2023, item 742, amended) the amount of monthly doctoral scholarship should be at least:
1) 37% of a professor’s salary – gross amount of PLN 3466,90 – up to the month in which the mid-term evaluation was conducted;
2) 57% of a professor’s salary – gross amount of PLN 5340,90 – after the month in which the mid-term evaluation was conducted.
By virtue of the amendments made to the aforementioned Act by the Act of 28 July 2023 amending the Act - Teachers' Charter and certain other acts (Journal of Laws 2023, item 1672), as of 1.10.2023, the prohibition on employing doctoral students of a doctoral school as academic teachers or research staff does not apply any longer (because Article 209(10) has been repealed and the related Article 203(1)(5) has been amended). The Act does not prohibit doctoral students from taking up employment in any other capacity.
In addition, the provision making the stipend payout conditional on the amount of remuneration received has been changed. It used to refer to project participants specifically, but now it only refers to a certain form of employment.
A doctoral scholarship will not be awarded to a doctoral student whose:
- curriculum at a doctoral school involves a mandatory employment contract in an entity running that doctoral school,
- employment contract provides a remuneration exceeding the amount of the minimum monthly professor’s salary (currently PLN 9 370.00 gross).
The doctoral scholarship is not subject to income tax. However, doctoral students studying at doctoral schools and receiving a doctoral scholarship are covered by compulsory pension and accident insurance. Sickness insurance is voluntary.
A doctoral student may apply for a student loan. The provisions on student loans shall apply accordingly, except that:
• the loan may be obtained by a doctoral student under the age of 35;
• the loan shall be granted for the duration of training at the doctoral school only once and for no longer than 4 years.