For a student from outside the EU, a year in Poland has three cost blocks: tuition, living costs and mandatory fees. According to the Study in Poland portal, tuition for foreigners is usually $2,270–6,810 (EUR 2,000–6,000) a year, and English-taught medicine costs $16,690–21,350 in 2026/27. Living in a dormitory starts at $390–520 (PLN 1,500–2,000) a month. On top come the $227 (EUR 200) visa fee, $114 (PLN 440) for the residence permit and the funds you must show to the consul. This guide breaks down each amount and gives three sample first-year budgets.
| Item | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's and master's tuition for foreigners | $2,270–6,810 (EUR 2,000–6,000) a year | Study in Poland |
| Example: International Relations, University of Warsaw, 2026/27 | $4,880 (EUR 4,300) a year | UW fee table |
| English-taught medicine, 2026/27 | $16,690–21,350 a year | Rectors' fee orders at medical universities |
| Living in a dormitory | $390–520 (PLN 1,500–2,000) a month | Study in Poland |
| National D visa | $227 (EUR 200); Belarusian citizens applying in Belarus until 31 Dec 2026: $68 (EUR 60), with students travelling to study on the embassy's exemption list | Polish embassies |
| Residence permit for studies | $88 (PLN 340) stamp duty + $26 (PLN 100) card fee | Office for Foreigners |
| NFZ health insurance | about $17 (EUR 15) a month | Study in Poland |
Amounts converted at the ECB reference rate of 30 September 2026 and rounded.
Tuition: what drives the price
There is no single national fee for foreigners. Each institution sets its fees by a rector's decision before admissions open, and the law caps them only at the cost of providing the programme. Five factors matter.
- Language of instruction. English-taught programmes are fee-paying for all non-EU citizens. Polish-taught programmes are free only for eligible categories; other foreigners pay for them too.
- Type of institution. Public and private institutions differ in discount policy, but both publish fees in advance.
- Field of study. Medicine and dentistry cost several times more than humanities or economics.
- Level. Master's programmes are sometimes cheaper: Machine Learning at the University of Warsaw costs $3,750 (EUR 3,300) a year.
- Citizenship. EU citizens often study free or at a reduced rate; Russian, Belarusian and Kazakh citizens pay the non-EU rate.
Examples for 2026/27 from official documents:
| Programme | Annual fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| University of Warsaw, Business and Management (bachelor's, English) | $4,540 (EUR 4,000) | Non-EU rate |
| University of Warsaw, Data Science and Business Analytics (master's) | $5,560 (EUR 4,900) | Same |
| University of Warsaw, American Studies (bachelor's) | $6,250 (EUR 5,500) | Same |
| Medical University of Gdańsk, Polish-taught first- and second-cycle degrees for foreigners | $2,755 (PLN 10,600) | PLN 5,300 per semester unless exempt under Article 324 |
| Medical University of Gdańsk, Medicine in English | $16,690 (PLN 64,200) | Plus a one-off orientation week fee of PLN 3,100 |
| Medical University of Warsaw, Medicine in English | $21,350 (EUR 18,800) | EUR 112,800 for six years |
Study in Poland quotes EUR 8,000–12,000 ($9,080–13,630) a year for MBA programmes. Medical schools are covered in studying medicine in Poland.
Can fees rise during your studies?
Yes, within legal limits. Until you graduate, the university may not introduce new fees for students already admitted, and it may raise existing fees once per academic year by no more than the previous year's consumer price index, and by no more than 30% in total. Wrocław Medical University states that its fees may be indexed annually from 2025/26. Allow 3–5% a year for fee increases and currency movements.
Instalments and bank charges
Many universities accept payment by semester or in instalments, but this can cost more: at Wrocław Medical University two instalments add 2.5% to the annual fee and four add 3.5%. The Medical University of Warsaw accepts bank transfers in euros only, and the full amount must reach its account net of charges, which the sender pays.
One-off costs of applying and moving
| Cost | Amount | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| University application fee | $23–27 (EUR 20–24) at the medical universities of Warsaw and Łódź | Other institutions set their own |
| Confirmation fee, Medical University of Warsaw | $1,136 (EUR 1,000) | Counts towards tuition, largely non-refundable |
| NAWA statement on your school certificate | Free | Filed online via SYRENA |
| Polish language certificate exam | up to $170 (EUR 150) for B1–B2 and up to $204 (EUR 180) for C1–C2, plus $23 (EUR 20) for the certificate | Statutory maximums |
| Apostille and sworn translations | Local rates in the issuing country | The university decides whether they are needed |
| D visa | $227 (EUR 200) | Not refunded if the visa is refused |
| Visa centre service fee in Belarus | about $20 (EUR 18, payable in Belarusian roubles) | On top of the consular fee |
| Residence permit | $88 (PLN 340) + $26 (PLN 100) | Two separate payments to separate accounts |
Budget also for visa insurance: a policy covering at least EUR 30,000 for the whole period until you join the Polish system. Once in Poland, non-EU students can sign a voluntary agreement with the National Health Fund (NFZ), which Study in Poland puts at about EUR 15 a month.
Living costs per month
Study in Poland gives these averages for a student living in a dormitory:
| Item | Per month |
|---|---|
| Dormitory | PLN 400–600 ($104–156) |
| Groceries | PLN 700–900 ($182–234) |
| Public transport | PLN 50–60 |
| Health insurance | PLN 40–60 |
| Phone and internet | PLN 80–100 |
| Leisure | PLN 150–200 |
| Total | PLN 1,500–2,000 ($390–520) |
Treat this as the floor. Dormitory places are limited, and a room in a shared flat in Warsaw or Kraków costs considerably more. If you are not sure of a dormitory place, budget for private rent and check local prices before signing anything.
How much you must show the consul and the voivode
Proof of funds is not a payment, but without it you get neither a visa nor a residence permit. The Act on Foreigners requires a student's monthly funds, after housing costs, to exceed the income threshold for social assistance, which since 1 January 2025 is PLN 1,010 ($262) for a single person. You also need money for the return journey: PLN 200 ($52) if you arrive from a country bordering Poland (Belarus, Russia) and PLN 2,500 ($650) from Kazakhstan and other distant countries. Tuition must be paid or otherwise evidenced.
Worked example: with a PLN 500 dormitory, a year requires about PLN 18,120 ($4,710) for living costs, plus the return-journey amount and paid tuition. Consuls ask for bank statements for the last three months; if parents pay, their statements and proof of relationship. The full consular checklist is in our student visa guide for Poland. The Polish Embassy in Kazakhstan specifies an account statement rather than a bank letter, together with a notarised sponsor's undertaking.
Three sample first-year budgets
Twelve months in a dormitory at PLN 1,750 ($455) a month, ECB rate of 30 September 2026.
| Scenario | Tuition | Living | Visa and residence permit | Total for the year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English-taught bachelor's, University of Warsaw (International Relations) | $4,883 | $5,458 | $341 | about $10,680 |
| Polish-taught programme with an Article 324 exemption (e.g. Karta Polaka holder) | $0 | $5,458 | $114 (no visa fee for Karta Polaka holders) | about $5,570 |
| Medicine in English, Medical University of Gdańsk | $17,517 (including orientation and registration) | $5,458 | $341 | about $23,320 |
Flights, apostilles and translations, rental deposits and set-up costs are not included. A reserve of 10–15% of the annual total is sensible.
Saving money without taking risks
- Learn Polish and use the exemptions. A C1 Polish certificate gives a statutory right to free Polish-taught study at a public university. The exam costs up to EUR 180; the saving is the whole tuition fee. Details are in tuition-free study in Poland.
- Choose the city. Rents in Łódź and Lublin are lower than in Warsaw and Kraków.
- Scholarships. Belarusian and Kazakh citizens can apply for NAWA's Banach scholarship for master's study: a tuition waiver at a public university and PLN 2,500 a month. Russian citizens are not eligible. See also our overview of scholarships abroad in 2026.
- Pay annually. If instalments carry a surcharge, a single payment also reduces bank charges.
Paying tuition from Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan
The medical universities of Warsaw, Łódź and Gdańsk take payment by bank transfer to their own accounts and ask the sender to cover all charges. Residents of Russia should check in advance which lawful transfer route their bank supports and which documents currency control will require; see how to pay for studies abroad from Russia. Keep proof of every payment: you will need it for both the visa and the residence permit.
If your visa is refused, refunds depend on the institution. The Polish Embassy in Kazakhstan notes that fees at public universities are governed by the Law on Higher Education and Science, while private institutions apply their internal rules. Read the refund clause before transferring money.
Budgeting mistakes
- Budgeting only for the programme fee. The consul and the voivode also look at your living funds, and that money has to be in your account before you apply.
- Using an advertised price instead of the rector's decision for your intake.
- Ignoring exchange rates: fees are in euros or złoty while family income may be in roubles or tenge.
- Planning only the first year; renewing the residence permit again requires paid tuition and sufficient funds.
- Paying at the last minute: international transfers take several days, and the Medical University of Warsaw warns that its system can take up to five days to confirm receipt.
FAQ
According to Study in Poland, typically EUR 2,000–6,000 ($2,270–6,810) a year for bachelor's or master's study, EUR 8,000–12,000 for an MBA, and $16,690–21,350 for English-taught medicine in 2026/27. The exact amount is set by each university in the rector's fee decision for the intake.
Study in Poland estimates PLN 1,500–2,000 ($390–520) a month for a student in a dormitory, covering housing, food, transport, insurance and phone. Renting a room in Warsaw or Kraków costs considerably more, so choose the city together with the budget.
Monthly funds after housing must exceed PLN 1,010 ($262), plus money for the return journey: PLN 200 from neighbouring countries (Belarus, Russia) or PLN 2,500 from Kazakhstan. Tuition must be paid or evidenced. The consul, and later the voivode, decides whether the funds are sufficient.
A public university may charge a foreigner for full-time study in Polish unless they have a ground under Article 324 of the law (Karta Polaka, a C1 certificate, permanent residence and others). For 2026/27, for example, the Medical University of Gdańsk charges such students PLN 5,300 ($1,380) per semester for first- and second-cycle programmes and PLN 26,900 ($6,990) per semester for medicine. Who is exempt is covered in our guide to tuition-free study in Poland.
Yes, but no more than once per academic year and by no more than annual inflation, with a cumulative cap of 30% of the original fee. New fees cannot be introduced for students already admitted. The university decides on indexation and announces it in advance.
It depends on the institution and the type of payment. Public universities follow the Law on Higher Education and the rector's decisions; private institutions follow their internal rules. For example, the Medical University of Warsaw's confirmation fee is largely non-refundable, and the consular visa fee is never refunded.
Sources
- Study in Poland (NAWA): tuition fees, cost of living, health insurance
- University of Warsaw: tuition fees 2026/27 (PDF)
- Medical University of Gdańsk: fee order 2026/27 (PDF)
- Medical University of Warsaw: fees 2026/27, Wrocław Medical University: tuition 2026/27
- Law on Higher Education and Science, Articles 79–80 and 324 (Dz.U. 2024 item 1571)
- Polish Embassy in Russia: D visa, EUR 200 fee, Polish Embassy in Belarus: D visa, EUR 60 until 31 Dec 2026, Polish Embassy in Kazakhstan: funds required for entry
- Act on Foreigners, Article 144 (Dz.U. 2025 item 1079), regulation on students' funds (Dz.U. 2022 item 78), PLN 1,010 income threshold from 1 Jan 2025 (Dz.U. 2024 item 1044)
- Office for Foreigners: stamp duty and residence card fee
- State Commission for the Certification of Polish: exam fees
Sources checked on 30 September – 1 October 2026. ECB reference rate of 30 September 2026: EUR 1 = USD 1.1355 = PLN 4.3690 (USD 1 ≈ PLN 3.85).
If you want to work through your route, send a request: budgeting for specific programmes, document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the university makes the admission decision.
Next steps
- Studying Medicine in Poland in English: 2026/27 Fees, Entrance Exams, LEK and Recognition
- Tuition-Free Study in Poland: Who Qualifies Under the Law and How to Prove It
- Student Visa for Poland in 2026: Rules for Russian, Belarusian and Kazakh Citizens
- How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026
