14 - Poland - Progression of Students

College programmes

Detailed rules for taking examinations, progressing to the next semester and year, repeating a year and admitting to the final (diploma) examination are laid down in the study regulations adopted by individual colleges. However, all college students are allowed to take a resit examination, including the final examination, and an examination following a failed resit examination, conducted by an examination review board after an appeal made by a student to such a board. In order to be admitted to the final examination, students are required to complete all courses and practical placements as provided for in the curriculum, and to submit their diploma thesis which must then receive a positive assessment.

The director of a given college may strike a student from the register of college students in the cases specified in the statutes of individual colleges.

Degree programmes

Detailed rules for taking examinations, progressing to the next semester and year, repeating a year and admitting to the final (diploma) examination are laid down in the study regulations adopted by individual HEIs. However, all students are allowed to take a resit examination, including the final examination, and an examination following a failed resit examination, conducted by an examination review board after an appeal made by a student to such a board. In order to be admitted to the final examination, students are required to complete all courses and practical placements provided for in the curriculum, and to submit their final thesis (except in medical fields) which must then receive a positive assessment. If the study programme does not provide for the preparation of a thesis and taking the final examination, students are only required to complete all courses and practical placements provided for in the curriculum.

In accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 3 October 2006, which entered into force on 1 January 2007, students will be required to obtain a minimum number of ECTS credits, specified on the basis of the study regulations, in order to progress to the next semester or academic year and to complete a degree programme.

The head of a basic organisational unit of a HEI (e.g. faculty) is obliged to strike a student from the register of students in case he/she has not taken up or withdrawn from study, has not submitted the final thesis or has not taken the final examination within the time limit specified in the study regulations. The head may also strike from the register a student who has made no progress in learning or has not completed successfully a semester or academic year within the time limit specified in the study regulations.

Doctoral programmes

Detailed rules for progressing and taking examinations are laid down in the doctoral study regulations by the units of HEIs and research institutions other than HEIs which provide doctoral programmes. In order to be admitted to the final stage leading to the award of the academic degree of doktor, applicants (students following a doctoral programme or other applicants because enrolment on a doctoral programme is not a precondition for the award of this degree are required to pass doctoral examinations as decided by the board of a given unit and to submit their doctoral dissertation.

A student enrolled on a doctoral programme may be struck from the register of doctoral students in case he/she has not passed examinations provided for in the curriculum, has not demonstrated any progress in research or the preparation of the doctoral dissertation or has not submitted reports on the progress in his/her work. Such decisions are taken by the head of a given doctoral programme.

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