Programy przygotowawcze i foundation

A preparatory programme exists to close a gap. Sometimes that gap is language, and sometimes it is that your high school diploma is not directly accepted in the target country. At Weroglobal Student, our first task is to clarify whether a preparatory programme is really necessary for you, because an unnecessary preparatory year is a loss of both time and budget.

Is a preparatory programme necessary? Three scenarios

• You have chosen a Russian-taught programme but do not speak Russian: in this case, a preparatory programme is almost always part of the plan.
• You have chosen an English-taught programme and have a B2-level certificate: at many universities you can skip the preparatory year and start your programme directly.
• Your diploma is not considered sufficient in the target country: in Germany, a one-year preparatory course called Studienkolleg may come into play in this case.

Russia: language and subject courses combined

Preparatory faculties in Russia do not only teach language. Depending on the programme you choose, subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry or biology are also added. Our partner sources give a duration of between 6 months and 1.5 years and state that students who successfully complete the programme generally reach B1–B2 level. Some universities administer a proficiency exam similar to TORFL (ТРКИ) at the end of the preparatory programme.

There are differences between our sources regarding fees depending on the period. A table for the 2025–2026 academic year lists, for example, $5450 for Saratov State University and $9600 for Lomonosov Moscow State University, while a more recent table gives 6,750 and 11,000 USD respectively for the same universities. We therefore treat the figures as indicative only and confirm the exact amount with the university at the time of application. The city, language of instruction and the choice between a 1-year or 1.5-year duration are the main factors affecting the price.

To apply, a notarised Russian translation of your high school diploma and passport plus the application form are usually sufficient; the medical report and visa procedures come after admission.

Poland: English preparatory courses and a mid-year intake

Preparatory programmes in Poland are mostly in English and last one year. Sample annual fees given in the source are 2400 Euro for Vincent Pol University in Lublin, 3700 Euro for the University of Wroclaw and 7500 Euro for the general medicine preparatory course at the Medical University of Warsaw.

Classes mostly start in October; some universities also open a preparatory programme starting in February, with applications for this intake opening in October. For the mid-year intake, however, candidates with at least B1-level English are generally accepted. Those who can document B2 level may skip the preparatory programme; the source gives the equivalents of this level as IELTS 5.5, TOEIC 700 and TOEFL iBT 80. Some universities may also assess language level through their own interview.

Latvia: preparation for technical programmes

Technical universities in Riga offer candidates who are not yet at a sufficient level in the language of instruction both language courses and foundation courses that lay the groundwork for engineering. The source states that applications for preparatory programmes are accepted in the summer and classes start in September; the university's official announcement should be taken as the basis for exact dates.

Germany: a note on Studienkolleg

In Germany, the Turkish high school diploma is assessed for equivalence with the Abitur. If the requirements for direct application are not met, the route to a bachelor's degree can be followed by completing a one-year Studienkolleg. A good level of German is usually required before taking this route, so most students start with a language course in Germany first.

If you tell us the programme and city you are aiming for after the preparatory year, we can work out together the preparatory options that suit you and an approximate timeline.