Thesis structure in Poland: chapters, typical length and who assesses it

Praca licencjacka, inżynierska and magisterska

In Poland there are three main types of thesis, depending on the level of study.

• Praca licencjacka — a bachelor’s thesis in the humanities, economics and social sciences. You are expected to gather and organise the literature, describe a problem and carry out a small piece of research or analysis of your own.
• Praca inżynierska — an engineering thesis on technical programmes. It often includes a design element: calculations, software, a prototype or a technical solution.
• Praca magisterska — a master’s thesis. The expectations for independence, methodology and depth of analysis are higher, and the research part is usually more extensive.

Approximate length

Each university sets its own length requirements. The figures below are only an example of common practice, not a standard.

Some departments measure length not in pages but in characters including spaces. If the guidelines specify characters, go by those, because the page count depends on the font and spacing.

Parts of a thesis, from title page to appendices

Title page and required declarations

The title page is almost always based on the university template: the name of the university, faculty and programme, the title in Polish (and often in English), the author’s name, student number (numer indeksu) and the promotor’s name. The template can usually be downloaded from the faculty website or from APD (Archiwum Prac Dyplomowych, the thesis archive).

The title page is often followed by declarations (oświadczenia): that you wrote the thesis yourself, that you consent to it being stored in the repository, and so on. Which declarations are needed, and their wording, are set by the university.

Streszczenie and słowa kluczowe

Most universities require a short abstract (streszczenie) in Polish and English and a few keywords (słowa kluczowe). It is a short text, but it is read first, so it is worth writing it at the very end, once the whole thesis is ready.

Spis treści

The table of contents (spis treści) is generated automatically by your word processor. Before submitting, check that the page numbers and chapter titles match the text.

Introduction (wstęp)

The introduction explains what the thesis is about and why. It usually includes:

1. the reasons for choosing the topic;
2. the aim of the thesis (cel pracy) and, where relevant, research questions or hypotheses;
3. a brief description of the methods;
4. an outline of the structure — what each chapter covers.

Like the abstract, the introduction is best finalised once the main chapters are finished. For more on defining the aim and chapters before you start writing, see our article how to write a thesis outline.

Theoretical chapter

Here you show that you know the state of research on your topic: key concepts, approaches, authors and debates. The theoretical chapter is not a summary of a textbook but a structured review that leads into your own research. Every idea taken from someone else must be referenced.

Methodology chapter

In many theses, especially at master’s level, the methodology has its own chapter or section: the subject and object of the research, methods, sample, tools and limitations. In engineering theses, its place is often taken by a description of requirements and design decisions.

Research or design part

This is the core of the thesis. Here you present the results of your own analysis: survey data, a company case study, a comparison of documents, calculations or code. The results are described, interpreted and compared with the theory.

Conclusion (zakończenie)

The conclusion responds to the aim set out in the introduction. Here you summarise the results and point out the limitations of the research and possible directions for further work. New facts that did not appear in the main text are not usually introduced in the conclusion.

Bibliography, lists and appendices

At the end come the bibliography, lists of tables and figures and, if needed, appendices (a questionnaire, large tables, code snippets). The bibliography style is set by the department — there is more on this in our guide to thesis formatting requirements.

How the structure differs between fields

The general pattern is the same, but the emphasis depends on the field:

• Economics and management. A case study of a specific organisation or a survey is often expected, along with practical recommendations in the conclusion.
• Law. The research part is often replaced by an analysis of legislation and case law, so the theoretical and analytical chapters are closely intertwined.
• Technical programmes. Instead of conventional research, there is a description of requirements, followed by the design, implementation and testing of a solution.
• Psychology and social sciences. There is a strong emphasis on methodology: sample, tools and statistical analysis of the results.

If you are not sure which structure suits your topic, ask your promotor for examples of theses defended in your department. Many universities let you consult them in the library or the repository.

What the promotor does

The promotor is your thesis supervisor. They:

• approve the topic and outline;
• read your chapters and give feedback;
• assess the JSA (Jednolity System Antyplagiatowy, the national anti-plagiarism system) report;
• admit the thesis to the defence (obrona) and write their own assessment of it;
• usually sit on the examination committee at the defence.

The promotor does not write the thesis for you and is not obliged to correct every mistake. Their job is to guide you. So the more specific your questions and the more polished the text you send, the more useful their feedback will be.

What the reviewer (recenzent) does

The reviewer (recenzent) is a second academic appointed by the faculty. They read the finished thesis, write a review with a grade and often ask one or two questions at the defence. The reviewer comes to the thesis with fresh eyes, so they focus on its logic, how well the content matches the topic, and whether the referencing and formatting are correct.

You can usually read the review before the defence; at many universities it is made available in APD. It is worth reading it in advance and preparing responses to the comments.

Planning your thesis structure: practical tips

• Start with an outline. An outline agreed with your promotor saves weeks of rewriting. If you need help with the structure, you can get a free thesis outline as a starting point for discussion with your supervisor.
• Keep the proportions right. Theory should not take up two-thirds of the thesis if your department expects original research.
• Write the chapters in whatever order suits you. You do not have to start with the introduction; it is often easier to begin with the theory or methodology.
• Keep your bibliography from day one. Record sources straight away so that you do not have to hunt for the origin of a quotation at the end.

If you are writing the thesis yourself but would like a consultant for certain stages, see how our support for a bachelor’s thesis or master’s thesis works: consultations on structure, editing, formatting and defence preparation.