A Polish bachelor's degree lasts at least six semesters (180 ECTS credits) and leads to the licencjat; engineering programmes last at least seven semesters and lead to the inżynier. For a non-EU student, an English-taught programme at a public university usually costs $2,500–6,800 a year: Business and Management at the University of Warsaw costs $4,519 (€4,000) in 2026/27, and Mechanical Engineering at AGH in Kraków $1,949 (€1,725) per semester. Polish-taught study is free only for those covered by the statutory exemptions. For a school leaver from Russia, Belarus or Kazakhstan, admission has three mandatory parts: NAWA information on the school certificate, the university's entrance exam and proof of the programme language at B2 or above; registration usually runs from June to July.
| At a glance | Bachelor's in Poland, 2026/27 intake |
|---|---|
| Degrees | Licencjat (6+ semesters, 180 ECTS), inżynier (7+ semesters) |
| Long-cycle master's | 9–12 semesters: medicine, law, psychology, pharmacy |
| Language | Polish or English, proof at B2 or higher |
| Non-EU tuition | Usually $2,260–6,779 (€2,000–6,000) a year according to Study in Poland |
| Selection | University entrance exam + NAWA information for Russian, Belarusian and Kazakh certificates |
| Registration | University of Warsaw 9 June–9 July 2026; SGH 23 June–23 July 2026 |
| Start | 1 October (some AGH master's programmes also start on 1 March) |
What this guide covers and where the rest lives
This guide helps you choose a first-cycle programme: which degree and language to pick, what a specific programme and the whole degree cost, how to vet a programme before applying and when to register. The NAWA procedure and general admission rules are in applying to universities in Poland, university types and cities in universities in Poland, and medicine in studying medicine in Poland. If you are already thinking about the second cycle, see the guide to a master's degree in Poland.
How the degree is structured: licencjat, inżynier and the long-cycle master's
The Law on Higher Education and Science sets minimum durations, and each university builds its curriculum on top. The choice affects length, budget and what you can do next.
| Programme type | Statutory length | ECTS | Outcome | Typical fields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First cycle, licencjat | At least 6 semesters | At least 180 | Licencjat degree | Business, economics, international relations, humanities, social sciences, some sciences |
| First cycle, inżynier | At least 7 semesters | At least 180 | Inżynier (engineer) degree | Computer science, mechanical, energy, civil engineering, IT |
| Long-cycle master's (jednolite) | 9–12 semesters | 300–360 | Straight to the magister | Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law, psychology |
What follows from the table:
- An engineer studies one semester longer but can then take a short three-semester master's. At AGH, for example, English-taught master's programmes for inżynier holders last three semesters and start on 1 March.
- A licencjat in a technical field does not include the engineering qualification. At AGH, for example, a licencjat holder enters the Chemical Technology master's through an extra bridging semester taught only in Polish, and Space Technologies through a four-semester version of the programme instead of the three-semester one.
- A long-cycle master's is not a bachelor's with an add-on: you cannot leave after three years with a degree. Psychology at the University of Warsaw is organised this way and costs non-EU students $7,130 (PLN 27,600) a year.
- The academic year runs from 1 October to 30 September in two semesters.
The study mode matters for visas and work rights. A "student" D visa and the work-permit exemption are available only for full-time study (studia stacjonarne); part-time or evening study (niestacjonarne) does not work for moving from abroad.
Language: English or Polish
This decision shapes everything: programme choice, price and the chance of free tuition.
| English-taught | Polish-taught | |
|---|---|---|
| Fields on offer | Business, economics, international relations, IT and some engineering, medicine | Almost every field, including engineering, law and education |
| Non-EU tuition | Always charged | Charged unless you qualify under Art. 324 |
| Free | Only as a scholarship holder | With a Pole's Card, a C1 Polish certificate, permanent residence and other grounds |
| Language at entry | B2 English; the university picks the test and score | B2 Polish: state certificate or a document on the ministry list |
| Preparation | Usually none | A year of Polish; Study in Poland puts a preparatory course at about $2,260 (€2,000) a year |
If you have no Polish at all, there are two realistic paths: an English-taught programme straight after school, or a year's preparatory Polish course at a university followed by a Polish-taught programme. The second takes longer but opens more fields, and a C1 certificate eventually allows free study. Who studies without fees and how is covered in tuition-free study in Poland.
Programmes and 2026/27 fees
Poland has no single tariff: each university sets its fees before admissions open, and the spread is wide even within one institution. The table shows non-EU rates from the universities' official documents.
| University, programme (English-taught) | Length | Fee | Per year, $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Warsaw, Business and Management | 3 years | €4,000 a year | $4,519 |
| University of Warsaw, International Relations; Political Science; European Politics and Economics | 3 years | €4,300 a year | $4,858 |
| University of Warsaw, American Studies | 3 years | €5,500 a year | $6,214 |
| University of Warsaw, English Studies | 3 years | €2,200 a year | $2,486 |
| AGH (Kraków), Computer Science | 7 semesters | €3,000 per semester | $6,779 |
| AGH, Computer Physics | 7 semesters | €2,000 per semester | $4,519 |
| AGH, Mechanical Engineering | 7 semesters | €1,725 per semester | $3,898 |
| AGH, Mechatronic Engineering | 7 semesters | €1,800 per semester | $4,067 |
| AGH, Space Engineering | 7 semesters | €1,250 per semester | $2,825 |
| Jagiellonian University, English-taught programmes | — | from PLN 16,000 to €15,500 for the first year | $4,133–17,512 |
The Jagiellonian University notes that fee reductions or waivers on a student's request are available only from the second year. The law allows universities to raise fees for enrolled students no more than once per academic year, by no more than the previous year's consumer price index and by no more than 30% in total over the programme, so budget for a small increase. The full budget with housing and visa fees is in the cost of studying in Poland.
What the whole degree costs
Compare the cost of the full programme and of living for the whole period, not the annual rate.
| Example | Tuition for the full programme | Living in a dorm (PLN 1,500–2,000 a month) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGH, Mechanical Engineering, 7 semesters | $13,642 (€12,075) | about 42 months: $16,275–21,700 | $29,900–35,300 |
| University of Warsaw, Business and Management, 3 years | $13,558 (€12,000) before any indexation | about 36 months: $13,950–18,600 | $27,500–32,200 |
Living costs follow the Study in Poland estimate for a student in a dormitory; rents in Warsaw and Kraków are higher. Add the D visa (€200, $226), the residence permit (PLN 340 fee plus PLN 100 for the card, $114 in total), insurance and application fees.
How to vet a programme before applying
A university's ranking says little about a specific programme. Check five things.
- The institution's status. A public academic university needs no interior ministry approval. A private academic or public vocational institution must be on the ministry list; otherwise there is no student residence permit and no right to work without a permit.
- The curriculum. Number of semesters, internships, and the language of every course, including electives.
- The entrance exam. Its format is set out in the admission rules (uchwała rekrutacyjna): a written test, an online interview or subject exams. SGH, for example, required the exam to be passed by 3 August 2026 in its main round.
- Competition. In the 2026/27 round the University of Warsaw received 26.23 applications per place for Business and Management, one of its most competitive programmes. Keep a less competitive programme on your list.
- Quality review. The Polish Accreditation Committee (PKA) publishes programme assessment results on its website; a negative assessment is a reason to drop the option.
Admission dates
There is no national application system: each university runs its own registration, usually in IRK. Most universities publish 2027/28 dates in spring, so use the last cycle as a guide.
| University | 2026/27 intake | What matters |
|---|---|---|
| University of Warsaw, main schedule | Registration 9 June–9 July 2026, results 22 July | Some English-taught programmes follow their own dates under Rector's Order No. 9 of 20 January 2026 |
| SGH, English-taught bachelor's | Main round 23 June–23 July 2026, exam by 3 August; supplementary round 27 August–12 September | Offer acceptance by 18 August (main round) |
| AGH, English-taught bachelor's | June–September, start 1 October | Seven semesters on engineering programmes |
For non-EU applicants the timeline is tighter than it looks: after admission you must pay tuition, obtain a D visa and arrive by 1 October. Register early in the window and request the NAWA information straight after school graduation.
What a school leaver from Russia, Belarus or Kazakhstan needs
- NAWA information on the certificate. Free, online in SYRENA; no translation for Russian-language documents. Without it there is no visa for the first year.
- The university's entrance exam. Mandatory for these certificates since 2025; EGE, UNT or CT results do not replace it.
- Programme language at B2 or above. The document is needed at registration; a school grade does not count.
- Application fee. Paid for each programme chosen; at SGH, for example, to an individual account shown in the applicant's portal.
Full steps and documents are in applying to universities in Poland.
After college or after grade 9
You cannot enter a Polish university after grade 9: a basic general education certificate does not give access to higher education in the issuing country. A vocational college diploma may qualify if it opens access to university at home; each document is assessed individually. Routes after college in different countries are compared in university admission after college.
Work during the degree and after graduation
Since 1 December 2025 a full-time student may work without a work permit if the university is a public academic institution or has been approved by the interior ministry to admit foreigners. After graduation you can obtain, once, a nine-month temporary residence permit to look for work or start a business. In many fields the bachelor's is only the first step: engineers, psychologists and lawyers usually continue to the magister.
Notes for citizens of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan
Admission rules are the same; entry differs. Kazakh citizens apply for the D visa at the embassy in Astana or the consulate general in Almaty, and Belarusians through visa centres in Belarus. For Russian citizens, Poland has restricted entry since 2022, and consulates in Russia accept visa applications only in exceptional cases; who can study in Poland now is explained in studying in Poland as a Russian citizen. Visa details for all three countries are in the student visa for Poland. If you are comparing Poland with an English-speaking country where the degree starts in September, see the guide to a bachelor's degree in Ireland; Russian citizens can also compare studying in Finland.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a licencjat in a technical field when you need an engineering qualification. Moving to an engineering master's later may require an extra semester or a longer programme.
- Comparing annual rates instead of the full programme: seven semesters at AGH and six in Warsaw add up differently.
- Choosing part-time study to save money. It does not qualify for a study visa or the right to work without a permit.
- Applying only to one highly competitive programme.
- Leaving B2 until after school graduation. Language proof is needed at registration.
- Not checking a private university against the interior ministry list.
FAQ
At least six semesters, or three years, for the licencjat and at least seven semesters (three and a half years) for the inżynier engineering degree. Medicine, law, pharmacy and psychology are long-cycle master's programmes of 9–12 semesters. The exact length is set by the university in its curriculum.
For non-EU citizens, usually $2,260–6,779 (€2,000–6,000) a year. English-taught bachelor's programmes at the University of Warsaw cost $2,486–6,214 (€2,200–5,500) a year, and at AGH $1,412–3,389 (€1,250–3,000) per semester. Each university sets the fee for every intake, and the admissions office applies any statutory exemption.
Not with a school certificate from Russia, Belarus or Kazakhstan: since 2025 the law requires a pass in the university's entrance exam, and EGE or UNT results do not replace it. Holders of certificates from the EU and OECD can be admitted on documents. The admissions committee decides on admission based on the exam result.
English gets you started without a preparatory year but is always fee-paying and offers fewer fields. Polish opens almost every field and, with a C1 certificate, allows free study at a public university, but requires a year of language study. The university applies the fee exemption if you have a statutory ground.
Most universities register applicants between June and July: in 2026 the University of Warsaw accepted applications from 9 June to 9 July and SGH from 23 June to 23 July. Request the NAWA information right after graduation and book a visa appointment as soon as you are admitted. The consul decides on the visa, so leave a margin.
Part-time and evening study gives no ground for a student D visa or the right to work without a permit, and non-EU students pay for it under the general rules. Only full-time study works if you are moving to Poland. The university decides on the study mode at admission, and the consul decides on the visa.
The licencjat and inżynier degrees of the University of Warsaw and the Jagiellonian University are on list No. 186-r and are recognised without a procedure. Degrees from other universities go through recognition, and Rosobrnadzor decides.
Sources
- Law on Higher Education and Science, Art. 65–66 and 76 (Journal of Laws 2024, item 1571)
- University of Warsaw: tuition fees 2026/27 (PDF), 2026/27 admissions timetable, preliminary 2026/27 admission results
- AGH: English-taught bachelor's programmes, dates, length and fees and master's programmes
- Jagiellonian University: fees for international students
- SGH: 2026/27 schedule for English-taught bachelor's programmes
- Study in Poland (NAWA): tuition fees and preparatory course, cost of living
- Ministry of Science: guidance on the act of 4 April 2025 (admission of foreigners, B2, NAWA); NAWA: information on a school certificate
- Interior ministry: institutions approved to admit foreigners; Polish Accreditation Committee (PKA)
- Regulation on work without a permit (Journal of Laws 2025, item 1620); Act on Foreigners, Art. 186 (Journal of Laws 2025, item 1079)
- Russian Government Order No. 186-r as amended on 19.02.2026
Sources checked 01–02.10.2026. Conversions use the ECB reference rate of 01.10.2026: €1 = $1.1298, €1 = PLN 4.3735.
If you want to work through your route, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the university makes the admission decision.
Next steps
- Applying to Universities in Poland: the 2025–2026 Rules Step by Step
- Universities in Poland for International Students: Types, Languages and How to Choose
- Studying Medicine in Poland in English: 2026/27 Fees, Entrance Exams, LEK and Recognition
- Master's Degree in Poland: English-Taught Programmes, 2026/27 Fees, Your Diploma and NAWA, Application Dates
- Tuition-Free Study in Poland: Who Qualifies Under the Law and How to Prove It
- Cost of Studying in Poland in 2026/27: Tuition, Living Costs, Visa Fees and a First-Year Budget
