Agriculture and horticulture

The discipline of agriculture and horticulture is examined at Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW) by two scientific and research units: Institute of Agriculture and Institute of Horticultural Sciences.

The Institute of Agriculture (IoA) consists of the Department of Agronomy, the Department of Biometry, the Department of Soil Science, and the Division of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry. The Prof. Marian Górski Experimental Station of the Institute of Agriculture in Skierniewice is the experimental facility.

The Institute of Agriculture has been conducting research in the areas of agricultural science, soil science, and environmental science for many years. The Institute staff conducts research in the form of field experimental works, field research, laboratory analysis, and analysis using remote sensing and computer methods. The research is conducted as part of national and international research projects, in cooperation with research centres, business entities, public bodies and government departments in Poland and abroad. Research results contribute to the advancement of knowledge, they are applied in business activities, and enable SGGW students to receive first-class education.

Research conducted at IoA focuses on the following topics, among others: (1) analysis of the relation between soil properties and the spatial diversity of fields, yield and quality of potato as well as crop yield estimation using remote sensing; (2) the effects of silicon foliar application on the crop yield quantity and quality of different agricultural plant species; (3) the effects of different tillage and plant cultivation systems on selected chemical and physical soil properties and plant yield; (4) floristic diversity of meadow communities, methods of diversity preservation and restoration; (5) the use of telemetric methods in the assessment of habitat preferences of Polish Konik horses grazing in protected areas; (6) use of mixed models for incomplete agronomic data and analysis of multivariate agricultural data; (7) use of statistical methods (including geostatistics) and geographic information systems (GIS) in data analysis in environmental studies; (8) development of soil-forming processes and variability of soil properties in natural, semi-natural and anthropogenic environments; (9) anthropogenic contamination of soils by various substances (trace elements, salinity, others) and its effects on micro-biochemical processes and functioning of plant communities; (10) metabolism of soil carbon compounds and its effects on soil properties and climate; (11) interactions in the soil-plant system.

The Institute of Horticultural Sciences (IoHS) includes the Department of Environmental Protection and Dendrology, the Independent Department of Ornamental Plants, the Department of Vegetable and Medicinal Plants, the Department of Plant Protection which includes the Division of Applied Entomology, the Division of Phytopathology and the Division of Natural Horticulture, and the Department of Orcharding and Horticultural Economics established by combining the Division of Orcharding and the Laboratory of Organisation and Economics of Horticulture. The IoHS’s experimental facility consists of the Greenhouse Experimental Centre, the Experimental Field in Wilanów-Zawady and the Blueberry Experimental Field in Błonie near Prażmów.

Research conducted at IoHS focuses on determining the effects of biotic and abiotic factors (including stress) on the development, yield and quality of selected fruit, vegetable, herb and ornamental plants. It is also concerned with evaluating the effects of post-harvest processing and storage conditions of horticultural raw materials on their sowing value. The development of sustainable and environmentally friendly methods of crop production, using natural techniques to control diseases, pests and weeds, is given special attention by researchers. Moreover, they study the use of energy-efficient crop production technologies, including the use of LED lamps in greenhouses, or the use of plants in environmental restoration (phytoremediation). At IoHS, more general research is also conducted on environmental protection, both in urbanised and rural areas, including the preservation of historic parks as well as rare wild crop plants.

The above research is carried out using modern research methods and its results can be used in horticultural and agricultural practice as well as in food and phytopharmaceutical industries.

Recruitment

Recruitment schedule 2025/2026

The following dates are adopted in the recruitment process:

1) 28 July-11 August 2025 – registration in IRK system – submission of an application for admission to the Doctoral School and other required documents

2) 20-22 August 2025 – submission of copies of documents (originals must be available for review) by candidates qualified for the second stage of recruitment (place of submission – Doctoral School office)*

3) by 28 August 2025 – publication of the recruitment interview schedule

4) 2-8 September 2025 – recruitment interviews conducted by recruitment committees appointed for each discipline

5) by 18 September 2025 – announcement of the list of those admitted to the Doctoral School

Start of PhD education – 1 October 2025

The recruitment schedule may change and is always published in the Doctoral School tab on the Warsaw University of Life Sciences website.

*Candidates staying out of Poland, admitted to the Doctoral School, submit the original documents for inspection upon arrival in Poland

Recruitment fee

The Doctoral School charges a fee for the recruitment process. The amount of the recruitment fee for the WULS-SGGW Doctoral School in the academic year 2025/2026 is:

 ·         PLN 300 if the payment is made to an account in PLN

 (account number for PLN payments - 68 1240 6003 1111 0011 3480 4676)

 ·         or EUR 80 if the fee is paid to an account in EUR

 (account number for EUR payments - 73 1240 6003 1978 0011 3480 4692).

[Transfer title: Name and Surname - SD recruitment fee]

Form of the qualification procedure

The Doctoral School recruitment shall be carried out in the form of an open competition, and it shall consist of three stages:

a) the first recruitment stage consists in formal verification of the documents submitted. Only those candidates who successfully complete verification of the documents shall be admitted to the second stage;

b) the second recruitment stage consists in substantive assessment of the documents by the recruitment committee;

c) the third recruitment stage consists in an interview with the candidate and assessment of the doctoral dissertation concept.

The maximum score that may be obtained by a candidate in the qualification procedure is 60 points. The minimum score necessary for admission to the Doctoral School is 31 points. The minimum score does not guarantee admission to the Doctoral School.

Language of the qualification procedure, including the interview

The interview may be carried out  in Polish language.

Candidates for learning pathway with English language of instruction shall be interviewed in English.

 A candidate to the Doctoral School shall submit the following documents:

• application for admission to the Doctoral School;
• Data for the personal questionnaire
• CV;
• a copy of the uniform long-cycle magister degree studies completion diploma together with a supplement (or 1st cycle and 2nd cycle studies completion diplomas with supplements) or a certificate of having passed the magister examination;
• preliminary concept of the doctoral dissertation containing the working title of the dissertation, purpose of research, proposed research methods, short review of literature with the bibliography (maximum 3 -5 pages);
• the consent from the future supervisor of the candidate’s choice to accept to exercise supervision over the candidate with regard to the proposed concept of the doctoral dissertation; if the future supervisor of the candidate’s choice is not an SGGW employee, the candidate shall attach the consent of the second supervisor or auxiliary supervisor who must be an SGGW employee;
• 1 photograph – complying with the requirements applicable for ID cards;
• documents confirming knowledge of a modern foreign language at least at the proficiency level of B2 according to the requirements of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (originals must be available for review); if the candidate holds a diploma of completion of studies with a supplement, the document confirming knowledge of the foreign language at the B2 level is the diploma supplement;
• list of publications and other scientific and research accomplishments, along with copies of documents confirming such accomplishments (originals must be available for review);
• documents evidencing additional qualifications that are important from the point of view of the planned doctoral dissertation (originals to be presented for inspection);

• scans of documents confirming the secured financing of doctoral research as part of the implemented project (if applicable).

      A candidate who has obtained a graduation diploma from studies abroad that are equivalent to master’s studies, shall additionally submit:

• original diploma;
• translation of the diploma into Polish or English, authenticated by competent persons or institutions;
• document confirming recognition of the diploma or a certificate releasing from the recognition procedure, if required;
• document confirming knowledge of the English language at B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (applicable to candidates for the learning pathway with the English language of instruction);
• document confirming knowledge of the Polish language at B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (applicable to candidates for the learning pathway with the Polish language of instruction).

 The qualification procedure is initiated at the above-mentioned application for admission to the Doctoral School, submitted by a candidate who registered in the IRK system and paid the recruitment fee.

Assessment criteria

Requirements for admission to the school - obtaining at least 31 points throughout the entire qualification process.