Internal Security

The INSTITUTE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF WARSAW, as one of the first academic centres in Poland, decided to launch a new field of study – INTERNAL SECURITY. Since 2012, these studies have gained a practical profile, due to which they are also a response to the need of improving professional qualifications of officers of different state services (e.g. police, border guard).

The educational profile is the answer to the demand for both the knowledge as well as the practical preparation in the sphere of national security and public order maintenance. The Institute of Political Science provides educational opportunities at the first- and second-cycle (full-, part-time and extramural) studies as well as it offers numerous postgraduate programmes.

Improving its educational offer, the INSTITUTE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE decided to start a new and unique GRADUATE PROGRAMME IN SECURITY STUDIES (GPSS) which are addressed to persons with a Bachelor’s degree awarded upon completion of a Bachelor’s degree program (undergraduate studies) in Poland or elsewhere. They are second-cycle full-time graduate studies (2 years). The language of tuition is English.

The study programme covers both theoretical (such as Theory of security) and practical (f.ex. Emergency management) courses. Our students apart from regular courses could take part actively in the academic life, taking part in such events as: conferences, debates and lectures of distinguished guests from all over the world invited often by our University as well as social events.

The course lasts two years. In order to receive the Masters’s degree, the graduates will be required to write a Masters’s thesis and pass the examination.

The Ist year

• Theory of security
• International security
• Contemporary terrorism
• Psychology of emergency situations
• Reinventing urban democracy/ smart cities
• Military security
• Optional subject
• Introduction to critical methods in security studies
• Intermestic security
• Human security and human rights
• Introduction to criminology
• Civil protection and defence
• Emergency management
• General University subject

The IInd year

• Policing and community safety
• International and domestic conflicts
• Democratic states’ security systems
• Justice and home affairs
• Financial crime and security
• Energy security
• Diploma seminar
• Cyber security and cyberspace
• White collar crime
• Counterterrorism strategies
• Strategic intelligence analysis
• Negotiation skills

Required documents:

• High school diploma or IB or EB (copy certified by the University of Warsaw);
• Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma (copy certified by the University of Warsaw) in any area of studies;

      and, in case of foreign diplomas:

1. document in form of legalization or so called Apostille if a diploma was issued by the institution operating in the educational system of the state being side of the Hague convention from 5 October 1961;
2. sworn translation into Polish of the diplomas and the aforementioned document (if it was issued in the foreign language);
3. document of recognition of Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma in Poland – so called nostryfikacja (if needed)

• Application form – printout  from the Internet Registration of Candidates – IRK;
• Application for the Electronic Student ID (ELS) - printout  from the Internet Registration of Candidates – IRK, together with the application form (after photo uploading);
• Application form of the Institute of Political Science;
• Copy of ID that was the basis for the IRK registration;
• Four ID photographs of the candidate;
• Written commitment to regular payment of tuition fees;
• Receipt of the administration fee in case of payment abroad (foreign candidates);
• Health certificate that confirms the ability of a candidate to study within the program, with translation if it was not issued in Polish (foreign candidates);
• Photocopy of the document confirming legalization of a candidate's residence in the territory of Poland (foreign candidates);
• Certificate confirming the knowledge of English at least at B2 level (the certificate confirming the knowledge of the English language at least B2 level, the English language grade on the diploma supplement) - the candidate without a certificate must submit an essay in English about issues relating to security (the formal requirements: 5-7 pages, Word Document, font Times New Roman 12, line spacing 1,5, margins 2.5 cm); the candidates, whose mother tongue is English or whose previous education was conducted in English, don’t need to submit language certificates.

Candidates will be admitted on the basis of the documents submitted until all places have been filled.

When the number of applications exceeds the limit of students, the additional procedure will start.

Candidates will prepare the essay in English on security issues which are sent by e-mail or post (formal requirements: 5-7 pages, Word Document, font 12, line spacing – 1,5, margins 2.5 cm).

The essay will test the English language skills and the general knowledge of subjects included in the programme of studies, as well as scientific skills.

 A candidate can obtain 30 points maximum as a result of assessment of the following issues:

• English language skills – 0-10 points
• correctness of argumentation, hypotheses formulation and conclusion drawing – 0-10 points
• knowledge of the discussed issues – 0-10 points.

An additonal a fee of 200 Euro is required as part of the first year tution fee.

Foreigners can study at BA, MA / MSc / LLM, MBA, PhD level on various financial terms:

1. as the Republic of Poland or foreign governments grant holders (check also: Ministry of Science and Higher Education)
2. as the University of Warsaw grant holders (e.g. as exchange students on the basis of bilateral agreements)
3. as students of Erasmus partner institutions/ Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window institutions (with a scholarship)