Procedure for the Recognition of Academic Degrees at the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences
WHAT IS FOREIGN DEGREE RECOGNITION?
Foreign degree recognition is a procedure to establish a Polish equivalent of a foreign degree.The recognition procedure covers degrees in science and arts issued by authorised entities operating outside the EU, OECD or EFTA, not subject to recognition as equivalent under international agreements.
Legal basis: Article 328(3) of the Higher Education and Research Law Act of 20 July 2018 (Journal of Laws of 2023, item 742, as amended).
HOW TO PROCEED?
Excerpt from the regulation: required documents
The applicant shall submit an application (Appendix No. 1 to the procedure for the recognition of academic degrees) to the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as ID PAS) requesting the recognition of a foreign academic degree as equivalent to the corresponding Polish academic degree attaching the following documents:
1) in the case of an application for the recognition of a research degree as equivalent to:
a) the Polish PhD degree [doktor]:
• the certificate confirming the award of that degree,
• documents forming the basis for the award of that degree (in particular the doctoral dissertation in electronic or printed format, reviews, and the list of publications before the award of the PhD degree),
• certificate of completion of higher education entitling the holder to apply for the award of a research degree the recognition of which is sought by the applicant,
b) the Polish post-doctoral degree of doctor habilitated [doktor habilitowany]:
• the certificate confirming the award of that degree,
• documents confirming research achievements forming the basis for the award of that degree (the dissertation ans well as photocopies or electronic copies of publications forming the basis for the award of that degree, reviews and the list of publications after the award of the PhD degree),
• certificate confirming the award of the research degree providing the basis for
• the application for the award of a research degree the recognition of which is sought by the applicant,
2) the applicant’s declaration:
• the applicant’s declaration whether the research degree the recognition of which is sought by the applicant has been the object of the foreign degree recognition procedure in the Republic of Poland (Appendix No. 2),
• birth place and date declaration (Appendix No. 3),
• declaration of familiarity with the foreign degree recognition procedure at the PAN Institute of Dendrology (Appendix No. 4).
The documents listed in 1 may be submitted as copies certified as true to the originals by the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences.
In particularly justified cases, the Institute may require the applicant to provide translations into Polish of the documents forming the basis for the award of the degree and of the documents confirming scientific achievements forming the basis for the award of the degree. Such translations must be prepared and certified by a sworn translator, or prepared by a foreign translator and certified by the relevant Consul of the Republic of Poland.
DATES
The launch date of the procedure is the date of serving the application on the PAN Institute of Dendrology, at the following address:
Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences
Department of Scientific Information
ul. Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland
The application is first assessed for conformity with formal criteria. If formal deficiencies in the application are identified, the Institute sets a time-limit of 14 days to eliminate those formal deficiencies, or otherwise the application is not examined.
The timing of submission of the application is at the applicant’s discretion.
The ID PAS Research Council recognises or denies recognition of a research degree as equivalent to the relevant Polish research degree within 90 days of submission of the application conforming to formal criteria. The 90-day time-limit does not include time-limits set for the submission of document translations.
TERMS OF PAYMENT OF FEES
A fee is charged for the procedure. The cap of the fee is 50% of the professor’s compensation. The fee is not charged if the absence of competence to conduct the foreign degree recognition procedure is identified.
The fee for the foreign degree recognition procedure is paid into the bank account of the Institute of Dendrology PAS within 14 days of submission of the documents to the Institute of Dendrology PAS.
Bank account:
For: foreign degree recognition_First name Last name
The fee is not subject to refund and is charged regardless of the outcome of the foreign degree recognition procedure.
In particularly justified cases, at the request of the person applying for the recognition of a foreign research degree, the Director of the Institute of Dendrology PAS may exempt the applicant from the foreign degree recognition procedure fees in full or in part.
ORDER No. 44/2024 Director of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences dated July 17, 2024 regarding the principles of determining and collecting fees by the Institute of Dendrology PAS for the recognition procedure of scientific degrees awarded abroad, as well as the conditions and procedure for exemption from this fee - The source document is available here [PL version]; [Plik do pobrania PL_EN / Polish-English file for download]
ACADEMIC DEGREE RECOGNITION PROCEDURE – EFFECTIVE FROM 30 SEPT 2025
1) Formal Evaluation of the Application
- The Department of Scientific Information of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the DSI, ID PAS) shall conduct a formal evaluation of the application. In the event of any formal deficiencies, the applicant shall supplement the application within 14 days from the date of receiving the information about the deficiencies, otherwise the application shall be left unconsidered.
- The Institute may require the applicant to submit non-certified translations into Polish of the documents referred to in 1(1) (1).
- In particularly justified cases, the Institute may require the applicant to provide translations into Polish of the documents forming the basis for the award of the degree and of the documents confirming scientific achievements forming the basis for the award of the degree. Such translations must be prepared and certified by a sworn translator, or prepared by a foreign translator and certified by the relevant Consul of the Republic of Poland.
- Upon completion of the formal evaluation, the Department shall prepare an evaluation report indicating whether the formal requirements have been met.
If the formal requirements are not met, the application shall be left unconsidered. - If the formal requirements are met, the Department shall forward the evaluation report to the Director of the Institute and inform the applicant of the fact by email, providing the date on which the fulfilment of the formal requirements was recognised.
- The DSI, ID PAS shall maintain a register of applications and issued certificates.
2) Committee for the Recognition of Academic Degrees
- Upon receipt of the report from the Department confirming that the formal requirements have been met, the Director of the DSI, ID PAS shall appoint a Committee for the Recognition of Academic Degrees (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) for the given case and shall set a deadline for submitting an opinion. At the same time, through the DSI, ID PAS, the Director shall inform the Chair of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the Chair) about the initiation of the case and the composition of the Committee.
- The Committee shall consist of three members of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, each holding at least a PhD habil. degree in the discipline relevant to the application.
- The Committee shall carry out a substantive evaluation of the submitted documents and prepare a report recommending the recognition or non-recognition of the foreign academic degree as equivalent to the corresponding Polish academic degree, which shall then be forwarded to the DSI, ID PAS.
- Upon receipt of the signed report from the Committee, the DSI, ID PAS shall immediately forward it to the Chair, attaching the applicant’s application. After reviewing the report, the Chair shall present it to the members of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences and convene a meeting of the Council to vote on the resolution.
- In special cases, where doubts arise regarding the achievements forming the basis for awarding the applicant’s academic degree, the Committee may request that the Director of the Institute appoint reviewers.
- The Director of the Institute shall appoint no more than three reviewers from among the staff of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, each holding at least a PhD habil. degree in the discipline relevant to the application, and shall specify the scope and deadline for the preparation of the reviews.
3) Refusal to institute the recognition procedure
If the Scientific Council of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences determines that it lacks jurisdiction to conduct the procedure, it shall issue a decision refusing to conduct it. The applicant has the right to appeal against this decision.
4) Decision of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences
- After reviewing the Committee’s reports, the Scientific Council of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences shall adopt a resolution either recognising or refusing to recognise the foreign academic degree as equivalent to the corresponding Polish academic degree.
- The DSI, ID PAS shall immediately notify the applicant of the resolution adopted by the Scientific Council as referred to in 1. The applicant may request reconsideration of the matter.
- Upon completion of the recognition procedure and the recognition of the academic degree as equivalent to the corresponding Polish academic degree, the Director of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences shall issue a certificate.
- The original certificate (Appendix No. 5) shall be delivered to the applicant by the DSI, ID PAS.
DOCUMENTS – ACADEMIC DEGREE RECOGNITION PROCEDURE (EFFECTIVE FROM 30 SEPT 2025)
Resolution of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences No. 28/2025 of 30 September 2025 - The source document is available here [PL version] [Polish-English file for download]
Procedure for the Recognition of Academic Degrees at the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences - The source document is available here [PL version] [Polish-English file for download]
Appendix No. 1 to Essential Information in the Process of Recognition of Academic Degrees at the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences (effective from 30 Sept 2025) [Polish-English file for download]
Appendix No. 2 to Essential Information in the Process of Recognition of Academic Degrees at the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences (effective from 30 Sept 2025) [Polish-English file for download]
Appendix No. 3 to Essential Information in the Process of Recognition of Academic Degrees at the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences (effective from 30 Sept 2025) [Polish-English file for download]
Appendix No. 4 to Essential Information in the Process of Recognition of Academic Degrees at the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences (effective from 30 Sept 2025) [Polish-English file for download]
Appendix No. 5 to Essential Information in the Process of Recognition of Academic Degrees at the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences (effective from 30 Sept 2025) - The source document is available here [PL version] [Polish-English file for download]
ORDER No. 44/2024 Director of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences dated July 17, 2024 regarding the principles of determining and collecting fees by the Institute of Dendrology PAS for the recognition procedure of scientific degrees awarded abroad, as well as the conditions and procedure for exemption from this fee - The source document is available here [PL version] [Polish-English file for download]
ACADEMIC DEGREE RECOGNITION PROCEDURE – VALID UNTIL 30 SEPT 2025
1) Formal assessment of the application
The Department of Scientific Information of the Institute of Dendrology PAS conducts a formal assessment of the application. If formal deficiencies in the application are identified, the applicant, within 14 days of being advised to that effect, is required to amplify the application, or otherwise the application is not examined.
2) Appointment of the foreign degree recognition Committee
Upon formal assessment, the Department of Scientific Information of the Institute of Dendrology PAS submits the application to the Director of the Institute of Dendrology PAS which, by order, appoints the foreign degree recognition committee for a particular case, and sets the scope of the review and time-limit for its submission. The Committee is composed of three persons appointed from among staff members of the Institute of Dendrology PAS, holding a post-doctoral degree as a minimum in the discipline covered by the application.
The Committee submits the outcome of its assessment to the Research Council of the Institute of Dendrology PAS.
3) Refusal to launch the foreign degree recognition procedure
If the absence of competence to conduct the procedure is identified, the Director of the Institute of Dendrology PAS issues an order denying the launch of the procedure. The order is appealable.
4) Decision of the Institute of Dendrology PAS Research Council
Upon verification of reports from the foreign degree recognition Committee, the Institute of Dendrology PAS Research Council adopts a resolution recognising or denying recognition of a research degree as equivalent to the relevant Polish research degree.
If the application is denied, the Research Council issues an order denying the issue of the certificate. The Applicant is promptly advised of the Council’s decision. The applicant has 14 calendar days from receiving the denial order to submit an application for re-examination of the case.
The certificate (Appendix No. 5) and resolution of the Institute of Dendrology PAS Research Council is submitted to the applicant by the Department of Scientific Information of the Institute of Dendrology PAS.
DOCUMENTS – ACADEMIC DEGREE RECOGNITION PROCEDURE (VALID UNTIL 30 SEPT 2025)
Terms of the foreign degree recognition procedurę at the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences
Appendix No. 1 to the Terms of the foreign degree recognition process at the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences
Appendix No. 2 to the Terms of the foreign degree recognition process at the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences
Appendix No. 3 to the Terms of the foreign degree recognition process at the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences
Appendix No. 4 to the Terms of the foreign degree recognition process at the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences
Appendix No. 5 to the Terms of the foreign degree recognition process at the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences
ORDER No. 44/2024 Director of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences dated July 17, 2024 regarding the principles of determining and collecting fees by the Institute of Dendrology PAS for the recognition procedure of scientific degrees awarded abroad, as well as the conditions and procedure for exemption from this fee
Contact
Department of Scientific Information
e-mail:
phone: +48 61 817 00 33