Study in Poland

Located at the intersection of eastern and western Europe, Poland has a reputation for high-quality education, a low cost of living and rich cultural heritage. Popular student cities include:

• Łódź
• Kraków
• Warsaw (Polish capital)
• Wrocław.

With many university courses taught in English it should be easy to settle into student life. However, you should use your time in Poland to learn a second language - having some knowledge of Polish will help you get by day-to-day. Language skills are also valuable when it comes to looking for work after graduation.

Polish universities

There are more than 300 higher education institutions (HEIs) in Poland, both state (public) and private. Institutions offer either academic or vocational studies.

There are also specialist institutions, such as maritime and medical universities, universities of agriculture, and government service HEIs - for a list, see Go! Poland - Higher Education Institutions.

The QS World University Rankings 2027 feature 20 Polish institutions, including two in the top 500:

• the University of Warsaw (289th)
• Jagiellonian University (329th).

The Polish academic year runs from October to early February (fall semester), and from mid-February to June (summer semester), each term ending with exams.

Depending on your course teaching is delivered in the form of:

• classes
• discussion groups
• lectures
• laboratory sessions
• seminars.

Degree courses in Poland

Bachelors degrees in Poland, or first-cycle studies, are typically three to four years in length and are offered as either a Bachelor of Arts (Licencjat) or Bachelor of Science or Engineering (Inżynier). Courses are primarily focused on preparing students for employment or further study.

Many Bachelors degrees are offered in English, with these full-time programmes amounting to 180-240 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits. Applicants must have successfully completed upper secondary school (sixth form or college).

To successfully complete a semester, you'll need to pass all exams according to the common grading scale:

• 5 - very good (bardzo dobry)
• 4 - good (dobry)
• 3 - satisfactory (dostateczny)
• 2 - unsatisfactory/fail (niedostateczny)
• credit/pass (zaliczenie).

Search for Bachelors programmes at Go! Poland - StudyFinder.

Masters degrees

Masters courses - leading to the title of Magister - follow one of two structures:

• second-cycle courses last 18 months to two years and are worth 90-120 ECTS credits.
• long-cycle, integrated courses start in your first year of university, take up to six years to complete and are worth 270-360 ECTS credits. These are offered in a limited number of fields, including dentistry, pharmacy and law, and involve in-depth specialisation.

Course content is focused on deepening theoretical knowledge, and on more creative courses the development and application of creative skills. It's likely you'll be required to submit a dissertation before defending it in an oral exam.

Search for Masters courses at Go! Poland - StudyFinder.

PhDs

Third-cycle, Doctoral (Doktor) studies typically last three to four years and lead to a PhD. They're offered by research institutions and universities, and you'll need to have already gained a Masters qualification to apply.

You'll receive heavy supervision and engagement from your mentor and will be expected to carry out teaching duties and training, as well as complete and publicly defend your thesis.

Student exchanges

If you'd like to experience studying in Poland you could apply for a student exchange as part of your course.

Many UK universities, including Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and Swansea University have exchange agreements with Polish institutions, allowing students to study abroad for a semester or academic year while earning credits towards their degree. Contact your faculty, study abroad or international office to find out what opportunities are available through your course.

The Turing Scheme is for students looking to secure overseas placements and study abroad at an overseas university. Your university must have a formal agreement with a partner university in Poland. Check that your institution is involved in the programme and offers the Turing Scheme in Poland.

Course fees

Full-time education at Polish HEIs costs nothing for Polish citizens. It's also free for international students from the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and in some other circumstances such as if you’re a relative of a Polish resident, if you hold refugee status, or can speak Polish at a C1 level or above.

For those expected to pay for their course fees, the current averages are:

• €2,000 (£1,700) per year for the first, second and long cycle studies
• €3,000 (£2,550) per year for postgraduate as well as scientific, arts, specialist and post-Doctoral internships.

Private institutions have the freedom to set their own fees - these can range from €2,000 (£1,700) to €6,000 (£5,101) per year, depending on the course and institution. MBA programmes are between €8,000 (£6,802) to €12,000 (£10,203).

Regardless of your fee-paying status, you'll have to pay an administration fee to your university when you enrol. Some may charge an administration fee per year - contact your university to find out how much you'll owe.

Funding to study in Poland

The Polish government has a list of current scholarships for international students, available in specific subjects, typically as part of agreements with other nations - to see what's available, visit NAWA - Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange.

A number of Polish universities have their own scholarship programmes, usually offered on a merit basis. Contact your institution to see what you could receive as an international student.

Student visas

EU citizens are permitted to live in any EU country while studying as long as you:

• are enrolled at an approved university/other educational institution
• are studying for more than three months
• have comprehensive health insurance cover
• have sufficient income (from any source) to live without needing income support.

Students looking to study at a Polish university for a minimum of three months will still need to obtain a residence permit from their local Voivodeship Office. Speak to your university's international office for further guidance or visit the Polish Ministry of Administration.

If you're from a country outside of the EU - such as the UK - and you plan on studying in Poland for a minimum of three months, you'll need to contact the Polish government to process your visa application, which can take up to 15 days. You'll require all the necessary documentation such as your passport and travel insurance, and you'll need to pay the £175 visa application fee.

How to apply

There's no central applications system for higher education in Poland, meaning you'll submit your applications directly to your chosen institutions. Because of this there's no limit on how many universities you can apply to, but remember to prioritise quality over quantity to make the best impression.

To enrol on any postgraduate programme, you'll need an undergraduate degree that's legally recognised in Poland, and you must provide proof of recognition to the Polish university by the end of the first term. It's likely you'll also need to provide a personal statement, academic references and copies of ID, as well as other documents.

Apply as early as possible - university applications can take months to process, and you'll need to allow extra time for visa or scholarship applications if you're submitting any. You'll usually be able to apply from the end of May, when postgraduate course details are listed on university websites.

Language requirements

While a large selection of Bachelors and Masters programmes are taught in English, it's worth learning Polish - even if it's just to enjoy a balanced life outside of the classroom. You can arrange for intensive language courses before you go.

NAWA offers Polish summer courses. Alternatively, if you'd like to learn the language before you arrive, sites such as Duolingo, e-polish and Babbel offer online Polish courses at varying proficiency levels.

Comparison to UK qualifications

Existing undergraduate qualifications acquired in other European countries will usually be recognised and accepted by Polish universities. Your Polish Masters degree or PhD will also be internationally recognised, including by UK employers, due to Poland's involvement in the Bologna process.

For more information on having your qualifications officially recognised, see ENIC-NARIC - Poland and NAWA - Recognition.

Find out more

• Discover what it's like to work in Poland.
• Read practical advice for international students at study in Poland.