Forestry science

The discipline of forestry science includes two lines of research: forestry and wood science. Forestry is aimed at identifying processes and phenomena that occur within the forest, as well as understanding the role and importance of the forest in maintaining sustainable human existence. Forests are natural wealth, and forestry is the guarantor of their sustainability and renewability. Both research areas, forestry and wood science, share many elements with other disciplines, hence the exceptionally broad spectrum of studies, and especially Ph.D. theses, resulting from the research activities of both the Institute of Forestry Sciences and the Institute of Wood Sciences and Furniture.

The Institute of Forestry Sciences is engaged in analysing key issues for forestry and socio-economic development regarding the exploitation and protection of forest resources while ensuring their multifunctionality. It is a thriving facility conducting research in the field of farming, management, utilisation and protection of forest, dendrometry and forest productivity, economics of forestry, forest botany, zoology and hunting, nature conservation and geomatics and spatial management. As research findings are applied to forestry practice, forests can simultaneously perform environmental, economic, and social functions.

The Institute of Wood Sciences and Furniture conducts research focused on woody biomass with elements of natural sciences, including botany (especially dendrology), biotechnology, materials engineering, as well as, to certain extent, technical sciences, economics, and even marginally social sciences and fine arts. Here we discover new uses for wood and its derivatives, promoting this ecological and natural resource. Research results are often of practical importance and contribute to the implementation of innovative technologies in the industry and effective protection of tangible cultural goods containing wood, as well as the broadly defined environment in which the wood and furniture industry operates.

Recruitment

Recruitment schedule 2026/2027

 The following dates are adopted in the recruitment process:

 1) 29 June-6 July 2026 – registration in IRK system - submission of an application for admission to the Doctoral School and other required documents

 2) 15-17 July 2026 – 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 22 July 2026 – publication of the recruitment interview schedule

 4) 27-31 July 2026 – recruitment interviews conducted by recruitment committees appointed for each discipline

 5) by 14 August 2026 – announcement of the list of those admitted to the Doctoral School

Start of PhD education – 1 October 2026

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 2026/2027 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 four stages:

 a) the first recruitment stage consists in filing a recruitment application in the Online Candidate Recruitment system [system Internetowej Rekrutacji Kandydatów] (IRK) and attaching the documents required in the system;

 b) the second stage consists in formal verification of the documents filed;

 c) the third stage consists in assessment of the content of the documents by the recruitment committee. Those candidates who have successively passed the document verification only are admitted to the third stage;

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

The maximum score that may be obtained by a candidate in the qualification procedure is 58 points. The minimum score necessary for admission to the Doctoral School is 30 points. The minimum score does not guarantee admission to the Doctoral School.

 Language of the qualification procedure, including the interview

 The interview is conducted in Polish, but may be partially conducted in English.

 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;
• confirmation of payment of the application fee;

• CV;
• a copy of a diploma confirming the degree of master, master of engineering [magister, magister inżynier] or an equivalent degree, together with a supplement (if issued) 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 (the total of 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;
• a list of publications and other scholarly and research achievements numbered and listed in accordance with the recruitment procedure form;
• numbered copies of documents evidencing such achievements (originals to be presented for inspection); documents evidencing additional qualifications that are important from the point of view of the planned doctoral dissertation (originals to be presented for inspection);

·   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:·         

• a scan of the original diploma with an apostille or legalised in the country of issue, together with a translation of the diploma into Polish or English confirmed by authorised 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 30 points throughout the entire qualification process.