Master's Seminar WP-PRZ-SEM-MW-V
The seminar develops independent legal research skills and supports the preparation of a master's thesis in criminal procedure or related legal fields.
Classes cover:
1. Reviewing the research problem, research questions, methods and thesis structure.
2. Selecting, critically evaluating and updating scholarship, case law and legislative sources, with regard to the temporal scope of the research.
3. Conducting legal analysis, comparing positions and developing independent arguments.
4. Drafting successive thesis sections, formulating conclusions and recognising research limitations.
5. Presenting research findings, answering questions and discussing participants' work.
6. Drafting a legislative provision and a legal decision with reasons related to the seminar topics.
7. Preparing a brief written research summary and an oral presentation in a foreign language.
8. Improving terminology, citations, the bibliography and textual coherence.
9. Analysing dilemmas of legal professions associated with the research topics.
10. Cooperating during the seminar, providing constructive feedback and using justified comments.
During the winter semester, students develop their research and draft further thesis sections according to a schedule agreed with the supervisor. Passing this semester requires completion of specified assignments and documented research progress; completion of the entire thesis is not required.
During the summer semester, students complete their analysis, formulate final conclusions, edit the entire thesis and prepare to present and defend their findings during the diploma examination. Passing this semester requires submission of a completed thesis and completion of the other required assignments.
Students prepare their theses independently under the supervisor's guidance, respecting academic integrity and copyright. They follow the requirements applicable at UKSW and its Faculty of Law and Administration. Required materials, deadlines and assessment arrangements are specified for each semester.
(in Polish) Dyscyplina naukowa, do której odnoszą się efekty uczenia się
(in Polish) E-Learning
Term 2019/20_L: (in Polish) E-Learning | Term 2020/21_Z: (in Polish) E-Learning (pełny kurs) z podziałem na grupy | Term 2021/22_L: (in Polish) E-Learning (pełny kurs) z podziałem na grupy | Term 2021/22_Z: (in Polish) E-Learning (pełny kurs) z podziałem na grupy | Term 2022/23_L: (in Polish) E-Learning (pełny kurs) z podziałem na grupy | Term 2022/23_Z: (in Polish) E-Learning (pełny kurs) z podziałem na grupy | Term 2023/24_L: (in Polish) E-Learning (pełny kurs) z podziałem na grupy | Term 2023/24_Z: (in Polish) E-Learning (pełny kurs) z podziałem na grupy | Term 2024/25_L: (in Polish) E-Learning (pełny kurs) z podziałem na grupy | Term 2024/25_Z: (in Polish) E-Learning (pełny kurs) z podziałem na grupy |
(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych
Course coordinators
(in Polish) Opis nakładu pracy studenta w ECTS
Term 2025/26_L: Seminar attendance – 16 hours.
Expanding and updating the literature, case law and legislative sources – 35 hours.
Developing the legal analysis and final research conclusions – 45 hours.
Completing and editing the thesis, including checking citations and the bibliography – 69 hours.
Drafting a legislative provision and a legal decision with reasons – 10 hours.
Preparing a presentation of research findings, a brief written summary and an oral presentation in a foreign language – 10 hours.
Preparing for discussions of other participants' work and providing feedback – 5 hours.
Preparing to present and defend the findings of the student's own research during the diploma examination – 10 hours.
Total student workload: 200 hours.
Including: 16 hours of seminar attendance and 184 hours of independent work.
ECTS credits: 8.
Conversion applied: 1 ECTS credit = 25 hours of student work. | Term 2025/26_Z: Seminar attendance – 16 hours.
Expanding and updating the literature, case law and legislative sources – 45 hours.
Developing the legal analysis, comparing positions and constructing arguments – 45 hours.
Drafting further thesis sections and revising them in response to the supervisor's comments – 64 hours.
Drafting a legislative provision and a legal decision with reasons – 10 hours.
Preparing a presentation of research progress, a brief written summary and an oral presentation in a foreign language – 10 hours.
Preparing for discussions of other participants' work and providing feedback – 5 hours.
Reviewing progress and preparing a schedule for thesis completion in the summer semester – 5 hours.
Total student workload: 200 hours.
Including: 16 hours of seminar attendance and 184 hours of independent work.
ECTS credits: 8.
Conversion applied: 1 ECTS credit = 25 hours of student work. | Term 2026/27_L: Seminar attendance – 16 hours.
Expanding and updating the literature, case law and legislative sources – 35 hours.
Developing the legal analysis and final research conclusions – 45 hours.
Completing and editing the thesis, including checking citations and the bibliography – 69 hours.
Drafting a legislative provision and a legal decision with reasons – 10 hours.
Preparing a presentation of research findings, a brief written summary and an oral presentation in a foreign language – 10 hours.
Preparing for discussions of other participants' work and providing feedback – 5 hours.
Preparing to present and defend the findings of the student's own research during the diploma examination – 10 hours.
Total student workload: 200 hours.
Including: 16 hours of seminar attendance and 184 hours of independent work.
ECTS credits: 8.
Conversion applied: 1 ECTS credit = 25 hours of student work. | Term 2026/27_Z: Seminar attendance – 16 hours.
Expanding and updating the literature, case law and legislative sources – 45 hours.
Developing the legal analysis, comparing positions and constructing arguments – 45 hours.
Drafting further thesis sections and revising them in response to the supervisor's comments – 64 hours.
Drafting a legislative provision and a legal decision with reasons – 10 hours.
Preparing a presentation of research progress, a brief written summary and an oral presentation in a foreign language – 10 hours.
Preparing for discussions of other participants' work and providing feedback – 5 hours.
Reviewing progress and preparing a schedule for thesis completion in the summer semester – 5 hours.
Total student workload: 200 hours.
Including: 16 hours of seminar attendance and 184 hours of independent work.
ECTS credits: 8.
Conversion applied: 1 ECTS credit = 25 hours of student work. |
Subject level
Learning outcome code/codes
Type of subject
Preliminary Requirements
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the seminar, the student:
W01 – explains the nature and significance of the sources of law relevant to the thesis topic and their historical and contemporary context (PR_W02).
U01 – applies legal knowledge and the chosen research methods to analyse the thesis problem, assess competing positions and formulate reasoned conclusions (PR_U02).
U02 – prepares coherent sections of a master's thesis in Polish, containing independent legal analysis, accurate references to sources and conclusions addressing the research questions, integrates these sections into a complete thesis at the final stage, and produces a brief research summary in a foreign language (PR_U07).
U03 – drafts a legislative provision and a legal decision with reasons, related to the subject matter of the seminar (PR_U08).
U04 – presents and justifies research findings, responds to questions and objections concerning the thesis, and delivers a brief presentation of its main findings in a foreign language (PR_U09).
K01 – recognises the need to update legal knowledge and takes account of developments in legislation, case law and scholarship, as appropriate to the scope of the research (PR_K01).
K02 – identifies dilemmas associated with legal professions that arise within the research topic and justifies proposed solutions, taking account of responsibility for the use of research findings (PR_K02).
K03 – cooperates with seminar participants as a presenter and discussant, provides constructive feedback and uses justified comments to improve their own work (PR_K03).
Assessment criteria
Assessment covers the accuracy and independence of legal analysis, selection and use of sources, coherence of arguments and conclusions, quality of submitted texts, drafting assignments, presentation of research findings and cooperation during the seminar. Verification covers outcomes W01, U01–U04 and K01–K03, as appropriate to the stage of thesis development.
To pass each semester, students must achieve all outcomes required at that stage at least at a basic level and complete the required assignments.
In the winter semester, assessment concerns submitted thesis sections and documented research progress in accordance with the schedule agreed with the supervisor. Completion of the entire master's thesis is not required.
In the summer semester, students must submit a completed, independently prepared master's thesis meeting University and Faculty requirements and complete the other assignments.
Grade 2.0 (fail): the student fails to achieve at least one learning outcome required at the given stage or does not meet the requirements for passing the semester.
Grade 3.0 (satisfactory): the student achieves all required outcomes at a basic level. Analysis and use of sources are generally correct but limited; argumentation and presentation require support. Submitted materials meet basic substantive and formal requirements.
Grade 3.5 (satisfactory plus): the student exceeds the basic level in some assessment areas. Analysis and argumentation are better organised, although independence or accuracy remains uneven.
Grade 4.0 (good): the student analyses the problem accurately and independently, selects appropriate sources and presents coherent arguments and reasoned conclusions. Assignments are completed correctly, findings are clearly presented and participation in discussion is substantive.
Grade 4.5 (good plus): the student provides an in-depth analysis and critically compares competing positions. Conclusions are well justified, questions are answered competently and contributions to group work are valuable. Minor shortcomings do not affect the overall quality of the results.
Grade 5.0 (very good): the student demonstrates a high degree of independence, precision and critical judgement. The analysis is thorough and coherent, supported by appropriate sources. Conclusions are convincingly justified and research limitations are recognised. Written and oral assignments and constructive feedback are of a very high standard.
The seminar grade is separate from the thesis grade and the diploma examination grade. Detailed assignments, scoring and passing requirements are provided in the section concerning the class group for the relevant semester.
Practical placement
No work placement is required for this course.
Bibliography
Required reading:
A. Pułło, Prace magisterskie i licencjackie. Wskazówki dla studentów, Warsaw 2006.
Supplementary reading:
J. Boć, Jak pisać pracę magisterską, Wrocław 2009.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: