In 1973, he graduated with honors from the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Maria Curie-Sklodowska (UMCS) in Lublin.

In 1982, he defended his doctoral thesis, entitled "Transforming Cooperative Property Rights," written under the direction of Professor Jerzy Ignatowicz.

In December 2008, Cioch was named Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Stefczyka in Sopot.

In January 2010, President Lech Kaczyński named him as a member of the National Development Council.

After campaigning for a seat in the upper house of Parliament, he tallied 52,961 votes, winning the election.