Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must have earned a first degree in social sciences or humanities from a recognised university or institution of higher education, or provide documentation indicating that they will earn their first degree from such an institution by the time of enrolling on the MA programme of GSSR.

Language Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English. Those applicants whose first language is not English must submit standardised English language test scores (see the table of accepted tests below). Students who have taken the TOEFL or IELTS should request a copy of their results to be sent directly to the GSSR Admissions Office. The TOEFL institution code for the GSSR is 7962.

Exceptions from the Language Requirements

Non-native applicants who have obtained their first degree from an English-medium university  may be exempt from the language testing requirements.

The GSSR reserves the right to request evidence of English language proficiency

How to Apply

 The following are Required:

 Application Form

 Candidates to MA programme must download and submit an application form: this may be sent to GSSR by post or as a scan . All additional documents required may also be sent by post or as e-mail attachments (scans, pdf etc) .  We will of course need to see the originals of diplomas , transcripts etc if you are accepted to the programme.

Download ApplicationForm(pdf)
Download ApplicationForm(doc)

  Candidates applying for more than one programme simultaneously are required to rank them in order of preference on the application form.

 An application form without the required additional documents does not constitute a complete application and will not be processed.

 Letters of Recommendation

 Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation assessing their ability to conduct graduate-level work and their potential for a successful academic or professional career. Referees are requested to complete these letters in English or, if written in another language, to attach an English language translation. When completed, each letter of recommendation (with translation, where needed) should be sealed in an envelope, with the referee’s signature across the seal, and be mailed directly to the GSSR Admissions Office (or sent directly as an  e-mail attachment from the email address of the person providing the recommendation).

 The letter of recommendation form can be downloaded from here:

Download letter of recommendation (PDF)
Download letter of recommendation (DOC)

 Statement of Purpose

 Applicants must submit a maximum 200-word statement of purpose (a part of the application form) describing their personal aim and ambitions.

Essay

 Applicants to the MA programme must provide a short (600-1000 words) outline of their proposed research topic for the MA dissertation, which will be weighted heavily in the admissions decision. The topic is expected to fall within the broad thematic focus of the MA programme as described above, and should be delimited and set out with the greatest possible clarity. This document should be enclosed with the application documents package.

 Transcript of Academic Records

 For applicants who have already obtained a first degree

 A copy of the diploma in the original language with an ink stamp and a signature of a notary public or an authorised university official;

1. An official English language translation of the diploma with an ink stamp and a signature by an official of the translating company or an authorised university official;
2. A copy of the full transcript* in the original language with an ink stamp and a signature of a notary public or an authorised university official;
3. An official English language translation of the transcript* with an ink stamp and a signature of the translating company or an authorised university official.

 Applicants who hold an official transcript, issued by their university in the English language, which contains a statement about the degree obtained, including the date of graduation and title of the academic degree awarded, are exempt from the requirement to submit an official copy of their diploma in the original language.

 For applicants who are completing their first degree

 If the official document is not in English or in Polish applicants must submit:

 If the applicant is enrolled in the final year of his/her academic programme, an official letter in English with an ink stamp from the university, stating that the student is expected to complete his/her course of study before October of the current academic year, and an up-to-date academic transcript* in the original language and translation as explained in points 3 and 4 above.

 *A copy of an official record of the work of a student which shows courses taken and grades achieved.

 CV or Resume

 A full curriculum vitae or resume, including a list of publications, if any.

 English Test Score Certificate

 This is defined as an official score report from one of the English language examinations listed under Language Requirements.

 Two Passport Sized Photographs

 Optional

 Application for Financial Aid

 The Application for Financial Aid is part of the general application form

 Application for GSSR Stipend

 The Application for GSSR Stipend is part of the general application form

Deadlines for study in 2019-20

Deadlines to begin study in October 2019

Applications are considered on a rolling basis throughout the year.

You may apply at any time,  but when deciding when to do so, please bear in mind that potential sources of funding for your studies do have specific deadlines.

Candidates who plan to apply for study grants from governmental sources, foundations or organizations (eg Visegrad Fund In-coming scholarships that have a January application deadline) should submit their application to the School in good time, and every effort will be made to inform these candidates about their admission status within the time frames needed for them to apply for such grants. Such applicants may also apply for financial aid from the School, (provided they do so by the deadline below) but they will be informed about their School financial aid status only in June/July after the competitive review of all other candidates has been completed  (see also the How to apply  section above).

Applications with requests for financial aid  (tuition fee waivers etc) from the School itself:

These cannot be submitted after:

May 8, 2019

unless they are applications from citizens of Belarus, Ukraine or the Russian Federation. These  must be submitted before                                                               September 26, 2019.

(but please remember that if you need to apply for a visa you might need our acceptance letter sometime before this date!)

All other MA applications  (ie  without financial aid requests) will be considered when submitted, provided this is before :

            September 26, 2019

(but please remember that if you need to apply for a visa you might need our acceptance letter sometime before this date!)

Documents Checklist

• Application Form
• Two Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• Essay
• Transcript of Academic Records
• CV or Resume
• English Test Score Certificate (if available)
• Two Passport Sized Photographs

The Admissions Process

Stage One: Evaluation of Application Documents

Upon receipt of all application materials the departmental selection committee evaluates candidates on the basis of their past academic performance, strength of recommendations, work experience and his/her future plans. Successful applications are invited to continue with the selection process.

Stage Two: Interviews

Applicants who pass the first stage of the admissions process are invited for a telephone or Skype interview (in the case of international applicants) or for an interview at the GSSR (in the case of students who live/reside in Poland). The Admissions Office will contact the applicants to make the necessary arrangements.

Stage Three: Final Evaluation

Those applicants who have passed the first two stages of the admissions process are once again evaluated by a departmental selection committee before the final decisions of acceptance are made. Each applicant is considered on the basis of past academic achievement, strength of recommendations, English language competency, intellectual merit and general compatibility with the goals of the department.

The departmental selection committees may offer an applicant admission or decline admission.

Notification of Acceptance or Rejection

The GSSR Admissions Office issues the official notification of acceptance or rejection.

Non-Discrimination Policy

 Our institution does not discriminate on the basis of (including but not limited to) national or ethnic origin, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation in administering its admission and education policies, financial aid and other school-administered programmes.