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Education in Poland: how to enter, how much it costs, are there scholarships and opportunities for free education, university rankings.
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According to the educational reform of 2017, education in Poland is compulsory from ages 6 to 18. Children under 6 years old can attend kindergartens (żłobek) and preschool centers (punkt przedszkolny) at the discretion of parents.
Compulsory primary education includes three sub-levels:
| Level of education | Grades | Age | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool education (przedszkole) | 0 | 6 | Compulsory preparation for school |
| Primary school (szkoła podstawowa, etap I) | 1-3 | 7-10 | General preparation without a clear division into subjects; all classes are taught by one teacher. |
Basic School (szkoła podstawowa, etap II) | 4-8 | 10-15 | Division into subjects, different teachers. Examinations in order to determine the vector of further education |
Secondary education is implemented in schools of four types:
| Educational institutions | Title in Polish | Duration | Age | Eligible for university |
| Lyceums | Liceum ogólnokształcące | 4 years | 15-19 | Yes |
| Trade-school | Technikum | 5 years | 15-20 | Yes |
| Vocational school, 1 stage | Branżową szkołę pierwszego stopnia | 3 years | 15-18 | No |
| Vocational school, 2 stage | Branżową szkołę drugiego stopnia | 2 years | 18-20 | Yes |
Lyceums, as a rule, have a wide profile. Their primary goal is to prepare students for admission to college.
Graduates of trade schools receive a diploma on the appropriation of a professional and technical qualification (IT specialist, mechanic, accountant), which gives them access to employment.
Vocational schools of the first stage involve obtaining working qualifications (seller, cook, gardener, hairdresser) at a basic level. Upon request, graduates can improve their qualifications by continuing their education at an advanced level (the second stage). Such education is equivalent to training in a trade school.
After graduating from the lyceum, technical school, and the 2nd stage of a vocational school, students are entitled to take the Matura (egzamin maturalny) — a comprehensive exam that tests knowledge gained in high school and gives the right to enter Polish universities.
For students who have graduated from lyceums, but want\ to get a professional qualification in Poland, there is a higher non-university (additional) education in the szkoła policealna. It offers courses that last from 1 to 2.5 years, at the end of which students pass exams similar to the final exams in trade and vocational schools, and receive a diploma of professional and technical qualification.
Education in Poland retained many elements of the old education system from the USSR. But at the same time, being a member of the European Union, Poland is actively modernizing its educational system: it follows the latest academic trends within the framework of a single European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and strives to reach the level of quality equal to European.
| Type of studies | Min.age | Duration | Min. cost | Avg. cost | Min. language proficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer camps | 7+ | 2 weeks. | 565 USD | 757 USD | Polish A1 |
| Language courses | 15+ | 1-36 weeks | 203 USD/week | 294 USD/week | Polish A1 |
| Secondary education | 7+ | 10-13 years | Free | 11,300 USD/year | Polish B1/TOEFL iBT 45 |
| Foundation | 16+ | 1 year | 1,130 USD/year | 2,260 USD/year | Polish B1/TOEFL iBT 45 |
| Bachelor's | 18+ | 3-4 years | 1,356 USD/year | 2,486 USD/year | Polish B2/TOEFL iBT 60-69 |
| Master's | 20+ | 2 years | 1,356 USD/year | 2,825 USD/year | Polish C1/TOEFL iBT 90-100 |
| MBA | 18+ | 1-2 years | 9,040 USD/year | 13,560 USD/year | Polish C1/TOEFL iBT 90-100 |
| Doctoral | 22+ | 4 years | 1,469 USD/year | 4,520 USD/year | Polish C1/TOEFL iBT 90-100 |
| Housing | |
| Dormitory | 113 USD/month |
| Single room | 226 USD/month |
| Double room | 169 USD/month |
| Apartment | 395 USD/month |
| Meals | |
| Basic meals | 85 USD/month |
| Lunch at the cafe | 23 USD/month |
| Transportation | |
| Commute | 17 USD/month |
| Other | |
| Insurance | 17 USD/month |
| Visa fee | 40 USD |
| Residence permit | 96 USD |
The academic year in Polish universities consists of two semesters, each of which ends with an examination period. The first semester begins in October and ends in mid-February. The second semester lasts from mid-February to the end of June.
The admissions are carried out not only from October 1, but also from March 1.
The most popular specialties are taught in English. The proposed programs are more modern and competitive in terms of material and teaching staff. But programs in English have tuition fees, even for local students. Therefore, most of them choose educational programs in Polish.
For admission to programs conducted in English, you must confirm the level of English proficiency. Minimum requirements may vary from university and program, but the majority will require the score of at least IELTS 5.5–6.0 or TOEFL 500 (computer based).
To enter Polish-language programs, you must pass an exam conducted by the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language (Państwową Komisję do spraw Poświadczania Znajomości Języka Polskiego jako Obcego). The minimum level for bachelor’s programs is B2, for master's/doctoral studies — C1.
For most universities, the legalization procedure is a prerequisite. Member countries of the Hague Convention of 1961 legalize documents by apostilization.
In addition, the education received in a foreign educational institution should be recognized as equivalent to Polish through nostrification (recognition). However, you can start studying at a university in Poland without it. Most educational institutions allow you to undergo the procedure during the first semester in the city where the university is located.
The recognition of foreign certificates of maturity, documents that can give the right to study bachelor’s programs, is carried out by authorized local education authorities (kuratoria oświaty). This is a free service. The review period is 3-6 weeks. Detailed information on the recognition of foreign certificates is available on the website of the Ministry of National Education of Poland.
Nostrification of higher education diplomas is carried out in the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland (Departament Współpracy Międzynarodowej Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego). The price of the service is 2000-6000 PLN. The review period is 3 months.
For nostrification of a diploma you will need:
For nostrification of the certificate of secondary education:
Polish universities offer annual preparatory courses for international students who intend to enter bachelor’s / master’s / doctoral programs but do not have the necessary language competencies, or want to brush up the subjects in the chosen specialty. Training is conducted in Polish or English, depending on the educational program. Admission is held in August and September.
Required documents:
In case of successful completion of the program, students are awarded a certificate of language proficiency of level B2 and or a certificate of completing training in selected subjects.
The system of higher education in Poland includes 3 types of state colleges:
Colleges offer three-year programs for students of ages 19 to 21, who have passed the Matura.
Students receive grades for coursework and tests. At the end of the three-year study period, they pass the final exam. To successfully complete the program, students must complete practical exercises and submit a thesis.
College graduates enter the labor market as fully qualified workers. In academic terms, each college is attached to a university. Under such agreements with universities, students can take the final exam at a supervisory institution and immediately receive a bachelor's degree.
Bachelor's degrees in Polish universities are of two types: Licencjat (BA, Bachelor of Arts, ) — 3-4 years of training, and Inzynier (BSc, Bachelor of Science) — 3.5-4 years of study, depending on the educational program. In fact, an Inzynier is a Licencjat in the field of technical sciences, economics, or agriculture.
Bachelor’s education allows you to acquire a profession. To build a career in Poland, it is enough to get a bachelor's degree, but still about 70% of students continue their studies[4].
For some specialties (for example, for doctors, veterinarians, dental technicians, architects, lawyers, artistic studies), there are actually no bachelor’s programs. Instead, they study under the integrated master's programs (jednolite studia magisterskie), which last an average of 5-6 years.
The process of studying bachelor’s programs consists of seminars and lectures, as well as compulsory internships. Students can choose some disciplines for themselves, others are obligatory. The examination process is done in writing.
Students begin writing their scientific works from the 1st year. The process is monitored by curators. At the end of their studies, Polish students defend their final qualification work.
In addition to the five-point grading scale, each student is required to collect from 180 to 240 ECTS credits for the entire time of study. This is used when transferring a student from one EU institution to another or to determine the "success" of a candidate’s diploma when hiring in any of the EU countries.
To apply for bachelor’s programs, foreign students may need the following documents:
These types of students can enter the master’s programs in Poland:
Master's studies take two years. Master's programs can be divided into practical and research. The former is suitable for students who wish to learn a new profession, while the latter is suitable for those who intend to continue their studies in doctoral studies. Students who intend to acquire a new specialty during their master's, will have to additionally take exams in some core subjects.
Each university has the right, at its discretion, to conduct additional entrance tests for master’s programs, as well as establish the number of state-funded and fee-paying places available for applicants, with the exception of the fields of medicine and dentistry. The maximum number of students in these specialties is established by the Ministry of Health with the assistance of the Ministry of Education of Poland.
To obtain a master's degree, you need to collect from 90 to 120 credits and get at least a "satisfactory" mark for defending a master's thesis. For the successful completion of integrated master's programs, you need to get from 270 to 360 credits.
Sample list of documents for admission to the master’s:
To enter a doctoral program, a student will need a master's degree. Training lasts from 3 to 4 years. The educational process does not differ from other European countries: the first two years are occupied by studies, then the student needs to write a dissertation, which is defended in front of the commission.
Each university has the right to establish the rules for the implementation of doctoral programs. Generally speaking, doctoral students should attend classes, take exams, conduct research, compile reports and work on a dissertation. In addition, doctorate students are required to teach at their university.
Examinations are conducted by a senior teacher or a researcher. The pedagogical activity of doctoral students, their progress in research and writing a doctoral dissertation is also evaluated by a senior professor.
Upon successful completion of a program a doctoral degree is awarded. Students who failed to pass the doctoral program will receive a certificate, which indicates the studied disciplines and achieved results. A doctorate can be awarded to students studying in doctoral studies, as well as to other applicants who have fulfilled the following requirements:
The decision to award a degree is made by the dissertation council, consisting of scientists, curators of applicants, dissertation reviewers.
| Position | Name in Polish | Required qualifications |
|---|---|---|
| Full Professor | Profesor zwyczajny | Title of professor |
| Extraordinary Professor = Professor at the University | Nadzwyczajny Profesor = Profesor Uczelniany | Title of professor / PhD |
| Visiting Professor | Profesor wizytujący | Title of professor / PhD |
| Associate Professor | Adiunkt | Doctoral degree |
| Assistant | Asystent | Master's degree or equivalent |
While studying in Doctoral studies, a student can work at the university as an assistant professor, as well as in other positions requiring master's degree: senior lecturer (starszy wykładowca), lecturer / teacher of foreign languages (lektor), instructor (instruktor).
To be promoted to full professor, the academic staff member must receive the title of professor (assigned by the government). This title is awarded to outstanding scientists who have done major research and have extensive teaching experience, including work on the training of scientific personnel.
Salaries of academic staff in Poland are low. Assistant teachers and lecturers receive an average of 2400 PLN[5] per month, associate professor — 4500 PLN[6], and professor — 5940 PLN[7].
The CEEPUS Exchange Program involves 16 countries of Central and Eastern Europe . Students participating In the program are exempted from tuition and receive grants covering living expenses from the host country.
Scholarships of the Eastern Partnership and post-Soviet countries — these scholarships are provided to students from countries of Eastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Among them are:
Scholarships for researchers — organizes the studies in doctoral programs / support for post-doctoral studies and academic mobility of scientists from around the world. The program is funded by the Polish government.
The ERASMUS+ exchange program — allows students to study in another country without paying for studies or accommodation. The program involves all EU countries, as well as Northern Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey, Serbia, and the United Kingdom.
The Leyna Kirkland program — for students from the CIS countries and Georgia who have at least 2 years of work experience in the specialty and who wish to contribute to the development of the economy, civil society and democracy in their homeland[8].
To study at a Polish university, a student needs a temporary residence permit. In order to receive it, it is necessary to apply to the local voivode department, already being in the country.
EU students do not need any visas to enter Poland. For non-EU nationals there are 2 types of visas that students can use:
It should be noted that foreigners from a number of countries are exempted from visa requirements when entering the Schengen territories for periods not exceeding 90 days during a 180-day period.
An application for a temporary residence permit must be submitted before the visa expires. Documents required are as follows:
Upon receipt of permission, you will be issued a temporary residence card — an identity card confirming the legitimacy of your stay in the country. Together with a travel document, it will allow you to cross the Polish border without restrictions. The first residence permit is issued for a period of 15 months. It can be extended for up to 3 years, but no longer than the planned training period.
Health insurance, which is necessary to obtain a residence permit, can be obtained in advance through insurance agencies or obtained upon arrival by signing a voluntary health insurance agreement with the National Health Fund (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia — NFZ). Insurance premiums will be around 17 USD per month. As for EU students, they are eligible for free or discounted health care provided they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Full-time students who have received a temporary residence permit have the right to work part-time while studying and full-time during summer vacation. Full time work for the whole period of study is permitted only for Residence Card holders.
Part-time students will need a work permit. It is issued for a period of three years and is canceled after leaving the position. Therefore, if a person changes jobs, he will have to get a new permit.
A large number of companies provide paid internships for students. This is a good opportunity to gain the necessary experience, and also, if a student managed to prove himself, to receive an offer for further cooperation. Some universities have career centers that help students find work and practice.
To stay in the country after graduation, neither EU/EEA students nor nationals from other countries need a work permit. It is important just to extend the temporary residence permit. To do this, you need to apply to the voivode office at the place of residence. The request will be satisfied if:
Usually a temporary residence permit can be extended for a period of 9 months. The cost of the procedure is 96 USD.
Then, a foreigner can apply for a permanent residence permit[9] if he has lived in Poland for at least 5 years. During this period, only 50% of the time spent in the country while training is counted. The application is also submitted to the voivode office at the place of residence. The cost of the service is 169 USD.
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