Poland's IRK Portal: How to Apply to Polish Universities Online

What IRK is

Internetowa Rejestracja Kandydatów (IRK) is the online candidate registration system most Polish public universities use for admissions, including major institutions like the University of Warsaw, Jagiellonian University, and Warsaw University of Technology. IRK is not one national platform. Each university runs its own separate instance under its own domain, so you register separately at every institution you apply to, even though the interface and steps look similar across schools.

Step 1: register and build your profile

Go to your target university's IRK site (University of Warsaw and Jagiellonian University each run a separate subdomain, for example), create an account with your email address, and fill in your personal details. You then browse available programs and add the ones you want to apply for to your candidate account.

Step 2: pay the application fee

Each program you add carries its own recruitment fee, commonly around 85 PLN, and fees for multiple programs at the same university add up rather than being shared (University of Warsaw Admissions Office ). Pay by card or bank transfer directly in the portal. Applications without payment are not evaluated, so confirm your payment shows as received before the deadline.

Step 3: upload your documents

Typical requirements include a scanned diploma or school-leaving certificate (with apostille or legalization if required), academic transcripts, a language test certificate if the program is taught in a language other than your native one, a passport copy, and a photo. Some universities also run qualification recognition (nostryfikacja) for foreign secondary credentials as part of the process, so check whether your target program requires this separately or handles it internally.

Step 4: track your status and deadlines

Deadlines differ significantly between universities and even between programs at the same university. Some October-intake programs close registration by mid-July, others accept applications through August or into September for a second recruitment round if places remain. Check your specific university's IRK calendar directly rather than rely on one general Polish deadline, there isn't one.

Step 5: enroll in person

Once accepted, you bring your original documents to the university in person, or through an authorized representative, for verification against what you uploaded. Certified copies must match exactly, so keep your originals accessible before you travel. After verification, the university confirms your enrollment and you receive your student status.

Polish-taught vs English-taught programs

Polish universities run both Polish-language and English-language tracks for many degrees, especially at bachelor's and master's level. English-taught programs need an IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent certificate uploaded in IRK, while Polish-taught programs need a Polish language certificate or a passed entrance exam in Polish, unless you completed prior schooling in Polish.

When nostryfikacja applies

Nostryfikacja is the formal recognition process for a foreign secondary-school diploma that confirms it corresponds to the Polish matura. Not every applicant needs it, many diplomas from EU countries and countries with recognition agreements with Poland get accepted directly. Check your target university's IRK admissions page for a country list before assuming you need a separate nostryfikacja procedure, since it adds weeks to your timeline if required.

Academic calendar

Most Polish degree programs start in early October, following the standard European academic year. A smaller number of programs, mainly master's degrees, also admit a February intake, with its own separate IRK registration window opening in the preceding months. Confirm which intake your target program actually runs before you plan your application timeline around it.

Where to get official guidance

NAWA, the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, publishes country-level guidance for international students applying to Polish universities, including recognition rules and scholarship programs separate from individual university admissions (NAWA ).

Practical tips

• Start your IRK registration well before the deadline. Document collection, especially apostilles and translations, takes longer than the online form itself.

• Check whether your university needs separate qualification recognition (nostryfikacja) alongside your IRK application, requirements differ by country of origin.

• If you apply to more than one Polish university, budget for separate fees at each one, IRK accounts don't transfer between institutions.

• Watch for a second recruitment round in August-September if you miss the first window or your first-choice program fills up.