How to Apply to Universities in Poland: Requirements, Deadlines and Portals

Find your program

Poland runs a decentralized admission system. There is no UCAS-style national portal. Instead, each of the country's close to 380 higher education institutions manages its own recruitment process, according to Study in Poland . Start by browsing university websites directly or using a study finder tool to shortlist programs that match your subject and language preference.

Check entry requirements per university

Requirements differ by institution and program, so check the admission page of each school you apply to. Study in Poland lists the documents most bachelor's applicants need.

• Completed application form through the university's own online recruitment system

• Digital copy of your passport photo

• Your high school leaving certificate

• A certified translation of that certificate if it is not already in Polish or English

• A certificate confirming your language proficiency (Polish or English, depending on the program)

Master's and doctoral applicants add a bachelor's or master's diploma and transcript, and some programs ask for a motivation letter, references or an entrance interview. Confirm the exact list with your target university before you start, since requirements vary between institutions.

Get your diploma recognized

If you hold a diploma from an EU, OECD or EFTA country, recognition in Poland works automatically as long as your qualification meets minimum duration rules: at least 3 years for a first-cycle degree, at least 4 years for a second-cycle or long-cycle degree, according to Study in Poland's recognition page .

Diplomas that fall outside these categories go through nostrification, a formal equivalence procedure run by higher education institutions authorized to award doctoral degrees in the relevant field. Use the KWALIFIKATOR tool, referenced on the same page, to check upfront how your specific diploma is treated before you apply.

Application deadlines and the recruitment calendar

Recruitment campaigns for the October intake typically start in April or May and run for up to 6 months, closing as late as September, per Study in Poland. Exact dates depend on the individual university and program, and popular programs close earlier once places fill. Set calendar reminders for each university you target rather than relying on a single national deadline, since none exists.

Tuition and application fees: EU/EEA vs other students

If you are an EU/EEA citizen, a Polish citizen, or a Karta Polaka holder, and you study full-time in Polish at a state institution, you pay no tuition, the same as Polish nationals. Students from outside the EU/EEA, and anyone choosing an English-taught program, pay tuition starting around EUR 2,000 a year for bachelor's, master's and long-cycle programs, with postgraduate and specialist internship fees closer to EUR 3,000 a year, according to Study in Poland's fee page . Some universities charge a non-refundable application fee at submission time. Check your chosen university's admission page for the exact amount, since there is no fixed national rate.

After acceptance: enrollment, residence and next steps

Once a university accepts you, it issues an admission letter you use to enroll and, if you are not an EU/EEA citizen, to apply for a national visa or residence permit at a Polish consulate. EU/EEA citizens do not need a visa to study in Poland but must register their stay with local authorities if it runs longer than 3 months. Contact your university's international office early. It handles enrollment paperwork, student ID cards and, in many cases, guidance on housing and health insurance.