How to Study in Poland

Poland is located in Europe's Eastern Hemisphere. Poland is the European Union's sixth most populated member state, with a population of 38 million people. Warsaw, Poland's capital and largest city, is a bustling metropolis with a magnificent Old Town that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kraków, Wroclaw, Gdansk, and Szczecin are connected by the Vistula and Oder rivers, which are Poland's longest rivers.

Poland’s Higher Education System

The Polish higher education system is notable for its large number of private institutions: there are 457 higher education institutions in Poland, with 326 of them privately held.

However, according to the OECD, university education attainment is rising, with nearly 30% of persons holding a tertiary qualification in 2017, up from 11% in 2000. Poland is becoming a more popular location for overseas students. In the academic year 2017/2018, there are 57,00 international students from 170 countries studying in Poland, up from 6,950 a year ago (a 10% rise). Foreign students now account for 5.63 percent of all students in the country (compared to 0.71 percent 10 years ago and 4.88 percent in the academic year 2016/2017).

Polish universities follow the Bologna method and provide three levels of degrees: The Polish counterpart of a bachelor's degree is the first-cycle studies (3 to 4 years), which leads to the title of license or inner (engineer). It is followed by a two-year or two-and-a-half master's program. There are extended, comprehensive master's degrees in various fields (for example, law, pharmacy, psychology, and medicine) (five to six years). Doctoral programmes are the final stage (usually with an additional three years).

Poland’s Higher Education System in International Comparison

The table below shows the national breakdown of Polish universities and where they fall on the scale of above average (a score of 'A' (very good) or 'B' (good) to below average (a score of 'D' (below average) or 'E' (weak). Study in Poland ThinkNew provides a clear image of the country's strengths and opportunities for progress as a result of this.

Polish higher education institutions outperform the worldwide Study in Poland ThinkNew sample of institutions in the teaching and learning and regional involvement aspects, but their performance in the knowledge transfer and international orientation dimensions lags behind.

National performance: Poland

How much does it cost to study in Poland?

Tuition expenses at public universities in Poland are waived for students from EU/EEA countries. All other foreigners must pay tuition costs, which are on average as follows: For first, second, and long cycle studies, the annual fee is EUR 2,000; for doctorate and postgraduate studies, the annual fee is EUR 3,000. For more information click here.

Addition of information on fees and financial support

Source: Eurydice 
Reference year(s): 2020/2021

Fees

This section focuses on the costs of studying in Poland. The fees are listed in local currency and cover a wide range of price categories, including tuition, enrolment (part-time or full-time), certification, and other administrative expenditures. Exempt students are also described, as well as information on international student fees if they differ.

• All students pay an administrative fee of PLN 250 related to enrolment procedures once per study cycle. It includes also small fees for issuing student ID cards, student record books and diplomas.
• Fees for other international students, defined as non-EU/EEA students, are decided by higher education institutions (HEIs).

Source: Eurydice - National Student Fees and Support Systems in European Higher Education – 2020/21.

Financial Support

In this section, we will focus on Poland's financial assistance system. Grants, loans, tax benefits for students' parents (or students themselves) and family allowances are all included in this section. The following is a list of how these terms are defined:

• All students pay an administrative fee of PLN 250 related to enrolment procedures once per study cycle. It includes also small fees for issuing student ID cards, student record books and diplomas.
• Fees for other international students, defined as non-EU/EEA students, are decided by higher education institutions (HEIs).

Source: Eurydice - National Student Fees and Support Systems in European Higher Education – 2020/21.

Financial Support

In this section we highlight the financial support system implemented in Poland. The types of support covered in this section include: grants, loans, tax benefits for students' parents (or students themselves) and family allowances.  How these terms are defined, are outlined below:

• Grants are provided in the national currency and are differentiated between merit-based and need-based (or universal, where applicable). All main public financial support that does not need to be paid back is included, with the exception of grants for study abroad (i.e. mobility grants). Information is also presented on the proportion of students (in the short, first and second cycle) who receive grants.
• Loans: information focuses on the existence of a student publicly-subsidised loan system and the percentage of students that take out a loan. Information on the interest rate and modalities for the repayment of loans may also be provided.
• Tax benefit is any tax relief that is granted to parents whose child is a higher education student or to students themselves. The information aims to cover the amount of the tax relief, how it can be claimed and who is eligible to apply.
• Family allowances for students' parents: this part provides information on their amount and the eligible population.
• Need-based grants, provided by the ministry and managed by HEIs, are available for all students (both first- and second-cycle, full-time and part-time) with a low personal/family income, and for students with disabilities. The income threshold to be eligible for a need-based grant for students with low family income is decided by HEIs and is between PLN 686.40 and 1,051.70 per person per month. In 2018/19, 13.8% of first-cycle and 15% of second-cycle full-time students received a need-based grant. The average amount was about PLN 6,680 per year (2018/19).
• Merit-based grants, provided by the ministry and managed by HEIs, are allocated to the best-performing full-time and part-time students. The average amount of the merit-based grant is about PLN 5,700 per year (20181/9). In 2018/19, 22.9% of first-cycle and 13.9% of second-cycle full-time students received a merit-based grant.
• The total monthly amount of the need- and merit-based grants for a student shall not be higher than 38% of a professor's salary (i.e. PLN 2,435.8/month, PLN 24,358/year) – the highest academic position at higher education institutions – as regulated by legislation.
• Loans of maximum PLN 10,000/year may be taken out in any cycle by students starting their studies before the age of 30, whose personal income is below net PLN 3,000/month (in 2020/21). The state guarantees 90-100% of the loan, depending on the student’s family situation/income. The loan is granted for the period of study and for a maximum of six years, and repayment begins two years after graduation. While the loan is being paid out and for the following two years, interest is paid by the state, and later on interest rates are capped. The interest rate is 1.05 % (June 2020). The number of repayment years can be twice the number of paid instalments. The best-performing 10 % of graduates may have 20-50 % of their loan cancelled. In 2019, banks made loan agreements with 2 166 students, which is fewer than 1 % of all students.
• A tax benefit (relief) of PLN 1 112.04 (2019) per child per year for parents/guardians of students up to 25 years of age is available, provided income does not exceed a specified level, and the student does not earn a taxable income (including capital gains) exceeding PLN 3,089/year. There is no tax relief dedicated specifically to students.
• Family allowances are based on the low income of parents or disability of a student.

What are the entry requirements for universities in Poland?

In general, the requirements for international students applying for universities in Poland include:

• Notarized secondary school certificate or an official duplicate issued by the candidate's high school, filled out application form, 4 passport-size photographs and a copy of candidate’s ID (passport).
• Certificate of the English language proficiency optionally (unless the high school courses were taught in English).
• Medical certificate with no contraindication for studying, admission fee payment receipt.

Admission for MA (Master) candidates requires:

• Undergraduate program diploma or an official duplicate issued by the university, candidate's CV with the details about the school and professional career optionally, one academic reference and one personal reference optionally, filled out an application form, 4 passport-size photographs and a copy of the candidate’s ID (passport).
• Proof of English language proficiency (unless the first degree was taught in English).
• Medical certificate with no contraindication for studying, admission fee payment receipt.

How to get a Scholarship in Poland?

Poland offers government, foundations and university scholarships that are available as well to international students both from within the EU itself and from countries outside the EU. For more information, please click here.

Do I need a Student Visa for Poland?

To be able to study in Poland international student have to legalize their stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland. European Union (EU) citizens who would like to stay longer than three months in Poland, simply need to register their stay in the country. Non-EU citizens need to obtain a visa at a Polish consulate in your their country before arrival in Poland. For more information, please click here.

How do Polish Universities fare in Study in Poland ThinkNew ?

1. The 2021 edition of Study in Poland ThinkNew presents data on 100 Polish universities.
2. In Study in Poland ThinkNew . Polish universities score strongest in the dimension of Regional Engagement.
3. The Study in Poland ThinkNew top performers having a number of top-group positions (‘A’ scores) from Poland exhibit diverse profiles: amongst them are comprehensive universities, technical universities as well as medical universities.
4. The universities with the highest number of ‘A’ scores are SGH Warsaw School of Economics (11), SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities (11) and The Medical University of Warsaw (10).
5. Maritime University of Szczecin is listed among the global ‘Top 25 Performers’ in Co-publications with Industrial Partners.