Studia w Polsce

Why is Poland becoming an increasingly popular choice?

Poland, one of the most populous countries in Central Europe, has been a member of the European Union since 2004 and is part of the Schengen Area. For students from Turkey, its appeal does not rest on a single reason: a variety of English-taught programmes, budgets that are more manageable than in Western Europe, and well-connected cities with large student populations all come together. In this guide, we at Weroglobal Student have compiled data from our partner sources to summarise the key topics, from the education system to city-by-city fee examples.

Education system and programme durations

Polish higher education has a three-cycle structure in line with the Bologna Process. According to the durations stated in the source, bachelor's programmes mostly last 3 years; for engineering bachelor's degrees, this can extend to between 3.5 and 4 years. Master's programmes generally take 2 years, and 1.5 years in some technical fields. Medicine is planned as a 6-year and dentistry as a 5-year long-cycle programme. Some fields, such as psychology, may be offered as 5-year integrated programmes combining bachelor's and master's studies.

Since the credit structure is based on the Europe-wide system, Erasmus+ exchanges and planning postgraduate studies in another EU country later on become easier. Courses place a strong emphasis on projects, laboratory work and presentations; students with regular study habits get more out of this structure.

Admission requirements

For most programmes in Poland, no central exam similar to Turkey's YKS is required. The application is based on a high school diploma, transcript, passport and an English proficiency certificate; many programmes may additionally ask for a statement of purpose or a short interview. Our partner sources state that the diploma and transcript must bear an apostille and that notarised English translations must also be prepared for bachelor's and master's applications. It is also recommended that your passport be valid for at least 2 years.

On the language side, B2 level is accepted as the threshold for starting a programme directly. The source gives the equivalent of this level as IELTS 5.5, TOEIC 700 and TOEFL iBT 80. If you do not have a certificate, some universities assess your level through their own interviews; if your level is not considered sufficient, you start with a one-year preparatory programme.

How does the application process work?

• Drawing up a shortlist of programmes and universities according to your career goals
• Completing the apostille and translation of your documents
• Online application and, if required, a language or academic interview
• Paying the tuition fee after admission and obtaining the official letter of acceptance
• Arranging accommodation, booking an appointment via VFS Global and preparing the visa file

Academic calendar

In Poland, the academic year mainly starts in October. Public universities mostly accept applications between May and July, while some private universities accept applications until September. Some programmes and preparatory classes also admit students in February; applications for this mid-year intake open in October, and the source states that at least B1 English is required. Considering quotas and document processing times, it makes sense to start preparing several months in advance.

University and fee examples by city

The figures below are first-year fees taken from our partner sources. Current amounts may change from term to term; the euro equivalent of fees announced in PLN may vary with the exchange rate.

Warsaw

The capital offers the widest range of universities. According to the examples given in the source, the University of Warsaw lists a first-year fee of 3600 euros for the bachelor's in International Relations and Political Science, and 2900 euros for Finance, International Investment and Accounting. At the Warsaw University of Technology, fees differ markedly by programme: the bachelor's degrees in Power Engineering and Aerospace Engineering are listed at 4200 euros, Mechatronics at 5980 euros and Computer Science and Information Systems at 11,220 euros. Among business-focused options, the bachelor's programmes of SGH Warsaw School of Economics are shown at around 4800 euros, Kozminski University's management and finance programmes at 7920 euros, and the bachelor's programmes of the University of Business in Warsaw at 3500 euros.

Kraków

Founded in 1364, the Jagiellonian University is known as the country's oldest academic institution. In the table in the source, International Relations and Political Science is listed at 3600 euros, European Politics and Economics at 3500 euros and Philosophy at 1500 euros at bachelor's level; at master's level, Data Science and Business Analytics is listed at 3200 euros.

Wrocław

At the Wrocław University of Science and Technology, the first-year fee for bachelor's programmes such as Mechanical Engineering, Applied Computer Science and Medical Informatics is stated as 3000 euros, and for most master's programmes as 4000 euros. At the University of Wrocław, Chemistry is listed at 3650 euros, Business and Management at 3750 euros and International Relations at 3550 euros.

Poznań

At Poznań University of Technology, the first-year fee for Automatic Control and Robotics and for Electronics and Telecommunications is given as 14000 PLN (equivalent in the source to €3,250), and for Architecture as 18500 PLN (€4,300). At the Poznań University of Economics and Business, the bachelor's in Business and Finance is 13,140 PLN, equivalent in the source to 3100 euros.

Łódź and Lublin

The University of Łódź page gives an annual range of approximately €2,000 – €3,500 for English-taught bachelor's programmes. At Vincent Pol University in Lublin, Nursing and Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics are shown at €3500, International Business Management at €2500 and Tourism and Hospitality Management at €2300. Both cities are known for their long-established medical universities; we cover medical fees in a separate guide.

Rzeszów

At Rzeszów University of Technology in the south-east of the country, Chemical Engineering and Technology is listed at 3120 euros, Civil Engineering at 3000 euros and the Modern Management bachelor's at 2340 euros. For the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów, in the same city, the source gives bachelor's fees in the range of €2,000 – €3,500 per year.

Preparatory programmes

Many universities offer a one-year preparatory programme for students whose English has not yet reached B2 level. Some of the fees stated in the source are as follows: SWPS University 3200 euros, Warsaw University of Technology 3900 euros, University of Wrocław 3700 euros, Wrocław University of Science and Technology 3450 euros, Vincent Pol University in Lublin 2400 euros. Pre-medical programmes for those aiming for medicine are more expensive; for example, the Medical University of Warsaw's medical preparatory programme is listed at 7500 euros.

Cost of living and accommodation

Our partner sources show monthly living costs across Poland in the range of €400 – €800, public dormitories at €100 – €250 and rented flats at €300 – €500. By city, Warsaw is given as 120 – 250 EUR per month for a dormitory and 500 – 900 EUR for general expenses; Wrocław and Poznań as 100 – 220 EUR for a dormitory and 450 – 800 EUR for general expenses. The capital is somewhat more expensive; Kraków, Wrocław and Poznań offer a more balanced budget.

Career opportunities and recognition

Students can work part-time during their studies; since the details depend on the residence permit, the current rules should be checked separately. The growth of the technology, finance and service sectors in cities such as Warsaw and Wrocław makes it easier to find internships. The equivalence of the diploma in Turkey is assessed according to YÖK's current legislation. As summarised in the source, the 2024 regulation sets different conditions depending on whether the university is in the top 400 or top 1000 of accepted rankings. In fields that require a YKS ranking, such as law, medicine, pharmacy and dentistry, it is important to review these criteria before making your choice.

If you would like to draw up a shortlist of Polish universities that suit your budget, academic background and choice of city, our consultants can help you.