PhD students can benefit from a variety of discounts that allow them to reduce their expenses for transportation, culture, and daily services. The biggest benefit is the statutory 51% discount for rail travel, available until the age of 35. In many cities, it is also possible to purchase cheaper public transport tickets, and museums offer discounted entrance fees. Starting June 2026, confirming your credentials will be even more convenient thanks to mLegitimacy for PhD students. Check which PhD discounts are valid in the 2026/2027 academic year, where you can use them and what documents will be required.
In short – the most important information:
Individuals holding the status of a doctoral student, particularly those studying in doctoral schools, are eligible for discounts. The primary document confirming this status is the doctoral student’s ID card.
However, it is worth distinguishing between two types of discounts:
This is an important distinction, because not every company has to honor a doctoral degree credential on the same terms as a student credential.
For example, a 30-year-old doctoral student can buy a train ticket with a 51% discount, but in some cinemas or online stores the discounts may only be available to students, excluding doctoral students.
One of the most important benefits of being a doctoral student is the ability to purchase train tickets with a statutory discount. 51%.
The entitlement applies to doctoral students up to the age of 35 and includes certain domestic trips.
The discount applies to:
The benefit can be used, among other things, when traveling by PKP Intercity, POLREGIO and regional carriers’ trains, within the scope covered by the regulations.
For example, if a normal train ticket costs 100 zł, after applying the 51% discount you will pay 49 zł.
With regular travel, savings can be significant.
Price of a regular ticket | Price with discount 51% | Saving money |
30 zł | 14,70 zł | 15,30 zł |
50 zł | 24,50 zł | 25,50 zł |
100 zł | 49,00 zł | 51,00 zł |
200 zł | 98,00 zł | 102,00 zł |
It is worth remembering that the statutory concession applies to certain categories of tickets. Not all international connections, special offers, or first-class travel are subject to the same rules.
Before purchasing a ticket, it is sufficient to select the appropriate type of doctoral discount in the carrier's sales system.
Yes. Doctoral students can also benefit from the statutory discount for public bus transport, but the rules differ from those applicable on trains.
The discount is 51% and applies to nominal monthly tickets. in regular and accelerated bus communication.
This means that:
For example, if a normal monthly bus ticket costs 240 PLN zł, a doctoral student entitled to a discount of 51% PLN will pay 117.60 PLN zł.
Before purchasing a ticket, it is worth checking whether the selected connection is covered by the statutory discount system. The mere designation of the carrier as a PKS does not guarantee that all its offers are subject to the same regulations.
PhD students can also benefit from discounts on buses, trams and the metro. However, there is no one uniform doctoral discount for public transport throughout Poland.
According to Article 214 of the Higher Education and Science Act, self-governing bodies may grant doctoral students discounts for travel by local public transport.
Therefore, the amount of the discount and the additional requirements depend on the city.
A good example is Poznań, where doctoral students are among the groups eligible to benefit from the 50% discount on transport organized by ZTM.
The discount may apply to both single-use and periodic tickets, in accordance with the current fare schedule.
However, it is worth remembering the additional rules regarding the PEKA system. If you use tPortmoneta, the entitlement to the discount should be correctly recorded in your account so that the system charges the appropriate fee.
The easiest way to do three things:
It should not be assumed that the relief granted in one city automatically applies in another as well.
One of the most frequently asked questions is whether doctoral students can benefit from discounts after reaching the age of 35.
The age limit of 35 applies to statutory discounts for rail travel and certain bus services. After reaching this age, a doctoral candidate can no longer benefit from these discounts solely on the basis of their status as a doctoral candidate.
However, this does not mean the loss of all other rights.
A doctoral candidate after the age of 35 can still:
For example, a person aged 37 who is still studying for a doctoral degree no longer has the right to the statutory 51% -percent discount for being a doctoral student. However, they may receive a discounted ticket to a museum if they have a valid document and meet the requirements of the institution in question.
It is therefore worth checking the restrictions separately for each discount.
A doctoral degree certificate can be useful not only during travel. It also allows you to limit expenses for sightseeing, cultural events, and entertainment.
PhD students belong to groups entitled to discounted tickets in state museums, according to the rules set out in the Museum Act.
For example, discounted tickets for people undertaking doctoral studies offer:
The fee depends on the specific museum, the type of exhibition and the applicable price list. On selected days, free visits to the permanent exhibitions are also possible.
In the case of theaters, cinemas, or symphony orchestras, the situation is different. There is no single discount for doctoral students that applies to all such institutions.
It is worth checking whether the chosen institution:
Even if the „student ticket” appears on the price list, it does not always mean that it can be purchased using a doctoral student ID card.
In addition to transport and culture, you can also find promotions offered by private companies.
It is worth looking for them primarily in the following categories:
In the case of such offers, it is best to check the terms and conditions each time.
Some companies treat students and doctoral candidates as a single group. Others offer discounts exclusively to individuals with a specific student status or who meet the requirements of a specific verification program.
Yes. From June 30, 2026, doctoral students can use the digital ID available in the mObywatel application.
The doctoral student's ID card is a full-fledged document confirming the status of a doctoral student, Therefore, it can be used to document permissions on the same basis as the traditional, valid ELD.
This is an important change, because previously, doctoral students primarily used plastic ID cards.
Currently, there are two forms of the document:
Doctoral student's ID card | Plastic ELD |
Available in the mObywatel app | Physical electronic card |
Does not require holographic sticker | Requires annual confirmation of validity |
The status is verified based on the data from POL-on. | Validity confirmed by the appropriate entity |
It can be shown on a phone | You need to have the card with you |
The new mobile document does not change the principles of granting discounts itself. If the statutory rail discount is available until the age of 35, using the mLegitimation does not eliminate this restriction.
Yes, but only for physical ELD credentials.
The validity of the plastic card is confirmed by the authorized entity by updating the data recorded in the electronic system and placing an appropriate holographic sticker.
The process takes place in accordance with the procedure applicable in the doctoral school.
With each passing year, new hologram markings and designs appear. For this reason, older and newer editions are also of interest to collectors.
Our store offers the following products: ELD doctoral holograms in collector's editions, covering various years and series.
However, they should be distinguished from official stickers issued by universities. Collector's items do not confirm the validity of the document or grant the right to discounted travel.
A Polish doctoral degree does not automatically guarantee the right to discounts outside the country.
Many foreign institutions apply their own rules for granting discounts and may require a specific international card or document confirming academic status.
Before traveling, it is therefore worth checking:
Not all doctoral students are automatically eligible to receive an ISIC card. The possibility of issuing one depends on the program conditions and the applicant's status.
PhD students up to the age of 35 can benefit from the statutory 51% discount on certain rail tickets. This includes single tickets on passenger trains, express trains, and special express trains, as well as name-based monthly tickets on passenger trains and express trains.
Yes, but not all of them. After reaching the age of 35, the statutory rail discount resulting from the status of a doctoral student no longer applies. It is still possible to benefit from municipal, cultural, and commercial discounts, if their regulations allow for it.
In many cities, yes, but this is not a uniform nationwide entitlement. The rules are determined by local governments. For example, in Poznań, doctoral students belong to groups entitled to 50% allowances.
Yes. The statutory 51% discount is available to doctoral students up to the age of 35 for monthly name-based tickets on regular and express bus services. It does not automatically apply to all single tickets.
Yes. PhD students belong to groups entitled to discounts at state museums according to the rules set out in the Museum Act. The exact price depends on the institution and the type of exhibition.
Yes. The mObywatel app-based ID is a full-fledged document confirming the status of a doctoral student. However, you must meet all the other conditions for the benefit, including a minimum age limit of 35 years.
Yes. If they still hold the status of a doctoral student, have a valid document, and meet the remaining conditions of the given benefit, they can also use it during the holiday period. The holidays themselves do not result in the loss of their rights.
It depends on the cinema. Some establishments offer discounts for doctoral students, while others limit discounted tickets to students, pupils, or certain age groups. Before purchasing, it’s worth checking the regulations of the specific cinema.
If you have any questions about our products or need help choosing the right solution, please contact us. We are at your disposal by phone, email, and via the contact form.
The Hologramykolekcjonerskie24.com editorial team has been specializing in the topic for over 10 years. collectible holograms and patterns related to educational documents. We are preparing practical guides on ELS student holograms, doctoral ELDs and school-based ones, and their dates, variants, safeguards, and histories.
The published content is based on reliable sources regarding the Polish education system, applicable legal regulations, regulations of the relevant ministries, and official information provided by universities, schools, and public institutions. We regularly update the materials to reflect changes in regulations, document templates, and policies applicable in Polish education.
The website is informational and collector-oriented and is not affiliated with any university, school, ministry, or other public institution.
