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).

Excerpt from the regulation: required documents

The person applying for a foreign degree recognition submits an application (Appendix No. 1)
to the Research Council of the Institute of Dendrology PAS through the degree recognition committee (below the Committee) for the recognition of a research degree as equivalent to a Polish research degree, including the following appendices:

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).

Documents referred to in section 1 may be submitted as copies certified as true copies of the original by the Institute of Dendrology PAS.

In particularly justified cases, the  Institute of Dendrology PAS may require the applicant to submit translations into Polish of documents that allow the assessment of the course of higher education, its results and duration, prepared and certified by a Polish certified translator, or prepared by a foreign translator and certified by the competent consul of the Republic of Poland.

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.

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.

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.

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