Study abroad·Europe· 9 min read

How to Study in Poland: Complete Guide for International Students

A complete guide to studying in Poland for international students — universities, English-taught programmes, applying via study.gov.pl and NAWA, and the national (type D) student visa.

Last updated 3 July 2026

Key facts

Official portals: study.gov.pl (Ministry) and NAWA (nawa.gov.pl)
Languages of study: Polish or English-taught programmes
How you apply: Directly to each university (no single national exam)
Recognition: NAWA (ENIC-NARIC) — KWALIFIKATOR / nostrification
Visa: National (type D) visa for stays over 90 days (non-EU), then residence permit
Scholarships: NAWA schemes (Poland My First Choice, Stefan Banach) + Erasmus+; gen. Anders for students of Polish origin

Why Poland, and how its higher education works

Poland has become one of the faster-growing study destinations in the European Union, with a large network of public and private higher education institutions and a growing catalogue of degrees taught in English. Degrees follow the European (Bologna) three-cycle structure: bachelor (licencjat or inżynier), master (magister), and doctorate, so your qualification is comparable across Europe.

The official starting point is the Ministry's "Go Poland!" portal (study.gov.pl) and the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA). These sites list institutions and programmes and explain the steps for foreign applicants. Poland hosts several hundred state and private institutions, so choosing the right university and programme is the first real decision.

As a foreign applicant you can apply to study in either Polish or English. English-taught programmes exist at bachelor's, master's, and PhD level across many fields, though the exact catalogue changes each year — confirm current programmes on the official portal.

Degrees follow the European three-cycle system (bachelor, master, doctorate)
Official portals: study.gov.pl (Ministry) and NAWA (nawa.gov.pl)
You may apply for programmes taught in Polish or in English

Choosing a university and programme

Poland's institutions include broad public universities, technical universities, medical universities, and private higher education institutions. Use the programme search on study.gov.pl to filter by field, level, city, and language of instruction, then shortlist a few universities and read their own admissions pages.

Admission requirements are set by each institution, not by a single national competition, so the required documents and any entrance tests differ from one university to another. The Ministry portal is clear on this: contact the admissions office of your chosen institution directly to confirm exactly what they need.

Because requirements vary, start early and keep a checklist per university. Popular English-taught programmes and medical courses in particular can have earlier deadlines and additional steps.

Search and compare programmes on study.gov.pl by field, level, and language
Each university sets its own requirements — no single national exam
Confirm documents and any entrance test with each admissions office

Recognition of your prior education

To be admitted, your secondary school certificate (for a bachelor's) or your degree (for a master's) generally has to be recognised as giving access to that level of study in Poland. NAWA is the Polish ENIC-NARIC centre and provides recognition information and the online KWALIFIKATOR tool to help you understand how your qualification is treated.

Some qualifications are recognised automatically under international agreements, while others may need a formal recognition (nostrification) procedure carried out by a Polish university. Which route applies depends on your country and diploma, so check your specific case with NAWA and with the university you are applying to.

Indian applicants typically also need to have their educational documents legalised — usually through apostille via the competent authority in India — before they are accepted abroad. Verify the exact legalisation and translation requirements with your chosen university, as they can differ.

NAWA is Poland's ENIC-NARIC recognition centre
Check recognition or nostrification needs via NAWA's KWALIFIKATOR tool
Indian documents usually need apostille/legalisation — confirm per university

Language requirements

For English-taught programmes, universities usually ask for proof of English proficiency, commonly through a recognised test such as IELTS or TOEFL, or an accepted equivalent. The exact score or certificate accepted is set by each university and each programme.

For Polish-taught programmes you will normally need to show Polish-language ability, and some universities run a preparatory Polish-language year for international students who need it. This is worth considering if you want the wider, and often lower-cost, catalogue of Polish-taught degrees.

Always verify the accepted tests, minimum scores, and any waiver options directly with the programme, because these details change and are not uniform across the country.

English-taught: proof of English (e.g. IELTS/TOEFL) as set by the programme
Polish-taught: Polish-language proof; preparatory-year options exist
Confirm accepted tests and scores with each programme

Student visa and residence in Poland

Poland is in the Schengen Area. Citizens of non-EU/EEA countries who will study in Poland for longer than 90 days generally apply for a Polish national (type D) visa at the Polish consulate in their country, using their acceptance/admission letter from the university.

After arriving, students often legalise a longer stay by applying for a temporary residence permit for the duration of their studies. The documents typically include the acceptance letter, proof of sufficient funds, health insurance, and accommodation, but the exact list and process are set by the authorities.

This is general information, not immigration advice. Visa types, proof-of-funds levels, and timelines change and depend on your situation, so verify everything on the official Polish government and consular sources before you travel.

Non-EU students staying over 90 days generally need a national (type D) visa
After arrival, apply for a temporary residence permit for your study period
Verify visa rules and required funds on official government sources

Costs and scholarships

Tuition and living costs in Poland are often lower than in Western Europe, which is a large part of its appeal, but the actual tuition depends on the university, the programme, and whether it is taught in Polish or English. Treat any figure you see online as something to verify on the university's own fee page for your specific programme and year.

Scholarship support is available through NAWA, which runs schemes for international students such as Poland My First Choice and the Stefan Banach Programme, alongside Erasmus+ opportunities and grants offered by individual universities. NAWA also runs the gen. Anders Programme, which is aimed at students of Polish origin/descent. Eligibility, amounts, and deadlines are set by each scheme and change every cycle, so always check whether a scheme applies to you.

A scholarship is competitive and awarded on published criteria — it can never be bought or guaranteed by any agent. Apply only through the official NAWA and university channels, and confirm current eligibility and deadlines on the official scheme pages.

Tuition and living costs are often lower than Western Europe — verify per programme
NAWA runs schemes (e.g. Poland My First Choice, Stefan Banach) + Erasmus+; gen. Anders targets students of Polish origin
Never pay anyone to "guarantee" a scholarship — apply via official channels and check your eligibility

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in Poland in English?

Yes. Polish universities offer bachelor's, master's, and PhD programmes taught in English across many fields, and you have the right to apply in either Polish or English. The exact English-taught catalogue changes each year, so confirm current programmes on study.gov.pl and the university's site.

What visa do I need to study in Poland?

Non-EU/EEA students planning to study for more than 90 days generally apply for a Polish national (type D) visa at the Polish consulate, then apply for a temporary residence permit after arriving for the length of their studies. This is general information, not immigration advice — verify the current rules on official government sources.

How do I get my qualifications recognised for Poland?

NAWA is Poland's ENIC-NARIC recognition centre. Use its recognition pages and the KWALIFIKATOR tool to see how your certificate or degree is treated; some qualifications are recognised under agreements, while others need a nostrification procedure at a university. Check your specific case with NAWA and your chosen university.

Are there scholarships for international students in Poland?

Yes. NAWA runs schemes for international students such as Poland My First Choice and the Stefan Banach Programme, and there are Erasmus+ and university grants (the gen. Anders Programme is aimed at students of Polish origin). Eligibility, amounts, and deadlines are set by each scheme and change each cycle — check whether a scheme applies to you, apply only through official channels, and never pay to "guarantee" an award.

Do I apply through one central system for all Polish universities?

No. Each Polish institution runs its own admissions with its own requirements and any entrance tests, so you apply to each university directly. Use study.gov.pl to find programmes, then contact each admissions office to confirm exactly what they need.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: Study in Poland — Go Poland! (Ministry of Science and Higher Education); Study in Poland — how to apply; NAWA — foreign students.

Last verified: 3 July 2026.