Polish higher education institutions today are extremely popular among most students, especially among residents of Ukraine, Belarus, India and other Asian countries. The reasons for this popularity are different: budget prices, similar mentality, temporary and permanent residence permits and, of course, the most important thing - the opportunity to get a high-quality European education. Poland stands out from other European countries by the availability and quality of education. Most Polish universities offer education in Polish and English. For example, the Jagiellonian University even teaches in Ukrainian. All this makes the educational process more accessible for foreign students.
In addition, Poland is becoming an attractive destination for those who decide to pursue higher education at the age of 40+, as it is "never too late" to get an education (this is mostly the case when an employer requests and requires a higher education diploma from an employee).
How to become a student of a Polish university, and what are the nuances you need to know? Today we will look in detail at the whole process of entering a Polish university, as well as pay attention to the pitfalls and subtleties faced by foreign students.
What language certificates should an applicant have for university admission?
In this matter, it all depends on the university, whether it is private or public. If you plan to enrol in a private university in Poland, you should be prepared that your knowledge of Polish should be at the B1 level, while for a public university your level should be at least B2. If you are applying for a budget place at a university - your language level should be C1. It is worth considering that studying in English is more expensive (about 2500-3500 euros per year). But Polish programs are cheaper, you can find options for 1000 euros a year and the program includes a course of Polish. In addition, there is an option to pay per semester. But it is also worth taking into account when requesting a visa, as they may require confirmation for the full academic year. There will also be a registration fee - it is different and depends on the chosen institution and speciality (public universities - from 85 PLN (20 EUR) to 200 EUR; private universities - from 80 EUR to 250 EUR). It is important to know that the cost of the registration fee is not refunded by the university in case of subsequent cancellation of the admission process or refusal of enrolment by the university.
Also, as we mentioned before, there are also English language programs in the country. The English language level must meet the B2 norms.
Universities accept such English language certificates: TOEFL; Certificate in Advanced English (CAE); First Certificate in English (FCE); CEIBT and others. Also, if you plan to move abroad, for example to the USA, you will need these certificates. Therefore, we recommend express courses and certificates in British Council, but keep in mind that some universities in the USA, Canada, Australia and England may require IELTS test.
Full list of required documents for admission to a Polish university in 2023
For those who have just finished school, or who have just come to their senses to get higher education, you should not delay. It is better to start collecting all the necessary documents at once:
→ Identity card in Poland. A copy of your passport or your birth certificate (with a notarized translation into Polish) will fit into this category.
→ Photos. 4-6 photos of 3x4cm size are required.
→ Educational documents. Certificates of internal examinations of your country are generally not requested, but a school leaving certificate and grades from the school leaving certificate are mandatory. Important: all educational documents must be translated into Polish.
→ Additional documents for admission.
A motivation letter in which the applicant tells about his/her goals, motivation and plans for the future. This is an important document that allows the committee to understand why the applicant wants to study at their university.
Letters of recommendation from professors confirming the applicant's academic achievements and professional qualities.
In case the admission involves competitive works or projects, it is required to submit works that meet the requirements of the university.
→ Polish/English language certificate. We have already written about this above - you need to have a Polish/English certificate of at least B1 level.
→ Medical certificates. As a rule, medical certificates are not requested by all universities, but by most of them. Sanitary and epidemiological certificates, vaccination certificates and others may be required.
→ Application, questionnaire and paid receipt.
Applicant's questionnaire on the state portal IRK (internetowa rejestracja kandydata). This is a personal office of the applicant, where you must register. This process will take you no more than 15 minutes.
A written application addressed to the rector of the university where you plan to enrol.
A paid receipt of the admission tax. As a rule, the payment should appear in your personal account, but in some cases you will be given an invoice at the university.
If you feel that this whole process is complicated and confusing for you, you can put a third party in charge of the whole admissions process. However, to do this, you will need to issue a power of attorney for this representative to be authorized to act on your behalf and represent you at the universities.
Education after 40 years
This is an innovative project in Poland called "Third Generation Education". Those people who at one time for some reason were not able to get higher education or their diploma is not quoted in the EU after the collapse of the USSR, have a chance to do it now. There are several peculiarities here from the usual education:
Lectures and seminars are held in the evening so that people can continue working.
There is a concessionary price for the first degree and a special price for the second degree.
You do not need to pass exams to enrol, the main thing is to find your old school leaving certificate.
Students "40+" also receive a student card, which gives many benefits and advantages in Poland.
This set of documents is sufficient to be presented at border crossing to all interested services and border guards. The requirements and the full list of documents are described below.
Deadlines for the admission campaign in Poland
Private universities:
Private universities in Poland do not usually have strict time limits for application and admission, although they do specify a registration period for both Polish and English destinations: end of July - end of August. However, we recommend that you do not delay the process. If you expect to live in a dormitory, there may simply not be enough places available if you delay your enrolment too much.
State universities:
Unlike private universities, state universities have a stricter time frame for the admission campaign. It usually starts at the beginning of summer and lasts about 1-2 months. During this time you should have time to collect all the necessary documents and submit them to the university.
TOP 5 best Polish universities in 2023
1. Warsaw Medical University. This is one of the most prestigious medical universities in Poland.
2. Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. One of the oldest universities named in honor of the Polish writer Adam Mickiewicz.
3. Wroclaw University of Science and Technology. Offers a wide range of engineering and technical programs, including information technology, mechanical engineering, architecture and more.
4. Gdansk Polytechnic. Gdańsk Polytechnic is known for its excellent education in engineering sciences and technical specialities.
5. Academy of Mining and Metallurgy in Krakow. The university provides unique opportunities to study mining sciences, geology, metallurgy and other related fields.
Full-time or part-time study in Poland - what to choose?
The pass rate for part-time studies is lower than for full-time studies. The main disadvantage of part-time study in Poland for foreigners is that students do not receive a visa on the basis of this form of study. A part-time student has no right of permanent residence on the territory of the Republic. However, full-time students can apply for a visa and a residence card.
Another important point! Part-time study does not give you access to the job market as well as after graduation. That is, every time you change jobs, you will have to apply for a work permit in Poland. In order to obtain a work permit for life, you need to graduate full-time.
Take a responsible approach if your documents are important beyond your studies and work! You will not be transferred from part-time studies to full-time studies. In many countries outside the EU, it may be possible, but not in Poland.
It is also an important fact that only full-time students or those who are traveling to Poland for a college preparatory course can get a visa labeled "student".
Required list of documents for applying for a Polish visa
Confirmation from the university about admission to study or continuation of studies.
Payment of tuition fees (if it is a paid study).
A document proving sufficient financial resources to cover the costs of accommodation and return travel to the home country, as well as the costs of study:
1) a traveller's cheque;
2) a statement of credit card limit;
3) a certificate of cash in the bank;
4) a document confirming the award of a domestic or foreign scholarship;
5) certificate of employment.
If the applicant is a minor who is supported by their parents, the above-mentioned documents issued to parents or legal guardians are acceptable. (e.g. certificate of credit card limit of the parent/legal representative - in any bank).
In such a case, a notarized sponsorship letter from the parents/legal guardians, in which they undertake to cover all travel and living expenses of the applicant, as well as a statement that they are being supported by their parents, must be submitted.
Amount of funds needed:
A foreigner applying for a national visa for the purpose of study must submit a document proving that he or she has sufficient financial means to cover:
Return trip costs to the home country or transit costs to a third country that will grant an entry permit in the amount of:
200 PLN if he came from a country neighboring Poland (i.e. Ukraine).
2,500 PLN if he came from a country other than the aforementioned one.
cost of living is the amount of available financial resources after deducting the funds intended to cover living expenses.
For each month of the planned stay, it must be at least:
This means that a person applying for a 365-day visa must have financial means of at least PLN 8,612 plus the means necessary to cover living expenses.
A person applying for a national visa for the purpose of study must submit documents on the basis of which the consul will be able to determine the cost of accommodation (e.g. flat rental contract, decision on the provision of a hostel, etc.). If such documents are not submitted with the application, the applicant may be asked to complete them within 7 days.
The timeframe for obtaining such a visa is up to 30 days. We wrote about how to get a visa earlier in our article.
Erasmus European Student Program
Let's start with the fact that the Erasmus program is created for students and teachers, with the aim of exchanging experience between EU countries. Poland actively participates in this program and also cooperates with Ukrainian educational institutions, which means that Ukrainians can benefit from this program. Let's look at a case study:
You are 18 or 35 and above, you are enrolled in Hotel and Restaurant College or higher school in Poland. During your bachelor's degree you are given several times a year to go on an internship paid for by the Erasmus program. Let's say you go on an internship in Mallorca, Spain, you stay in a hotel where you work in your speciality. For this you also get money, not a lot of truth, but mostly from 600 euros and more. A good bonus if you consider that your accommodation and meals are included.
How can we help?
Experienced migration agents will assist you in applying to a Polish university as soon as possible.
Our experienced staff will help you to find the most suitable university based on your preferences, interests and the location of the university. We will provide you with information about different study programs, university rankings and opportunities. We will assist you in collecting all the necessary documents for admission to the university, our aksis team will also help you with filling out the application form and application. We will accompany you every step of the way on your way to becoming a student.
Do you want to get a European education? Everything is possible with aksis!
