Admissions to the study programs are administrated by the higher educations institutions (HEIs) and candidates apply directly to the institution of their choice. It is best to contact the international relations office of the given university well before the course starts in order to find out all the necessary details about the application procedures and other important information.
General requirements for admission to degree programs offered by higher education institutions in Poland are the same for both university-type and non-university HEIs. The candidate must hold a matriculation certificate (the Matura certificate) or another equivalent document attesting that the holder is eligible for admission to higher education in the country in which he or she completed secondary school.
Access to first-cycle studies, leading to the professional title of licencjat or inżynier (Engineer), as well as long-cycle studies, leading to a Master’s degree (magister or an equivalent degree), is open to holders of an upper secondary school certificate (Matura certificate) or an equivalent entitling the holder to enrol in such programs in Poland. Additional entrance examinations may be conducted by HEIs only if this is necessary to assess knowledge or skills that are not assessed by the Matura examination or the applicant holds an upper secondary school certificate obtained abroad.
Access to the second-cycle studies is open to holders of a licencjat (Bachelor) or inżynier (Engineer) degree, a Master’s degree (magister or an equivalent degree) or the equivalent of the Polish higher education diploma entitling the holder to enrol in such programs in Poland.
Access to the doctoral programmes is open to applicants who hold a Master’s degree (magister or an equivalent degree) or a foreign second cycle degree recognised in Poland, and who meet the admission conditions laid down by the specific institution. The detailed admission conditions are laid down by the board of the entity authorised to offer doctoral programmes within an institution. While respecting such general admission requirements, each HEI may define its own additional admission conditions and procedures, including the number of places available to students, except in the medical fields of study (limited number of places). The admission conditions and procedures may be similar across a HEI or may vary according to the field of study. Different conditions and procedures may be applied by different HEIs for the same fields of study. The admission conditions andprocedures must be published by each HEI not later than 5 months before the admission process starts.
There are two paths to obtain a doctorate: doctoral college and individual doctorate. In doctoral colleges, each doctoral student will receive a scholarship, regardless of their citizenship. All doctoral colleges are tution-free, also for foreigners. Foreigners are free to take up and continue studies and participate in scientific research and training projects and schemes on the same terms as Polish citizens if they:
- hold a residence permit,
- have refugee status granted by the Republic of Poland,
- have been granted temporary protection in the territory of the Republic of Poland,
- are migrant workers – EU/EEA national, formerly or currently employed in Poland; this right extends also to members of their families if residing in the territory of the Republic of Poland, citizens of the EU Member States or the EFTA States that are members of the European Economic Area Treaty, as well as members of their families, who have means sufficient to cover their living costs during the period of study; however, they are not eligible for need-based scholarships.