Poland : Postgraduate study

How does the higher education system work?

Poland’s higher education system consists of state (public) and non-state institutions, including vocational education schools. Higher education may be studied full time, part time or as extramural programmes.

What courses are available?

Polish institutions are going through the process of joining the three-stage system that is used throughout Europe and agreed in the Bologna Process. The three-stage system comprises of Bachelors, Masters and doctoral studies. According to the new Law on Higher Education of 2005, programs in all fields, except law, pharmacy, psychology, veterinary medicine, medicine and medicine and dentistry are provided on a two-cycle basis. The third cycle, doctoral studies are accessible to those who hold a degree of magister (Masters) or the equivalent. Doctoral studies usually take four years but can be shortened or extended in some cases.

Where can I study?

There are over 500 universities and higher education colleges in Poland and the academic year runs from October to September - see the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education for more information. Universities Worldwide has details of universities and higher education colleges in Poland.

For study programmes in Poland see the Europlacement, which also has details of internships and voluntary work.

What are the entry requirements for postgraduate study?

Universities determine the rules and procedures for admission and these are listed on their websites. These rules and procedures do vary from year to year but by 31 May of each year, the requisites for postgraduate study will be listed.

More than 90% of programmes are provided in Polish. Some are available in English, but rarely in other languages. Foreigners who do not speak Polish must enrol on language courses at one of the centres recognised by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education. These are:

• Jagellonian University Polish Institute 
• University of Lodz Polish Language Centre for Foreigners 
• Nicolaus Copernicus University 

When do I apply?

The academic year consists of thirty weeks of study, with the winter semester starting in October and ending in February and the summer semester starting in February and ending in September.

How much will it cost?

Full-time education at Polish state higher education institutions is free for Polish citizens. It is also free for foreigners who commence studies in Poland at state HEIs on terms applicable to Polish citizens. See the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education for details. All other foreigners are required to pay tuition fees. Professional higher studies, including Masters programmes, cost €2,000 (around £1,800) and doctoral, specialist and scientific courses, cost €3,000 (around £2,800).

Are any scholarships available?

From time to time, the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education  has a number of scholarships available through international agreements or under the decision of the minister responsible for higher education. Individual HEIs may also have scholarship programmes.

Are there any exchange programmes?

UK students on undergraduate degree programmes or postgraduate Masters and some PhD programmes may be interested in spending time studying in Poland through Erasmus. This programme is open to all subject areas, but check with your institution's Erasmus coordinator first (usually based in the international office) to see which countries they have links with and in what subject areas.

Erasmus is a component of Socrates, targeting higher education institutions and aimed at coordinating student exchange.

The Leonardo da Vinci Programme co-finances activities such as practical training and preparing innovative course programmes, curricula or educational materials. The programme targets young people participating in the undergraduate vocational education.

More information is available on Ploteus, the Portal on Learning Opportunities throughout the European area.

Will my qualification be recognised in the UK?

Poland is a member of ENIC-NARIC, a network of national centres that aims to improve academic recognition of diplomas and periods of study in European Union (EU) member states, EEA countries and associated countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The website includes information on current issues in international academic and professional mobility, and on procedures for the recognition of UK (and other European) qualifications.