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Meta title: Applying to Polish Universities: 2026 Rules | StudyU
Meta description: How to apply to a Polish university under the rules in force since July 2025: NAWA statement, entrance exam, B2 language proof, documents, timing and visa.
Last modified: 2026-10-01

# Applying to Universities in Poland: the 2025–2026 Rules Step by Step

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Since July 2025, applying to a Polish university with a school certificate from a country outside the EU, OECD and EFTA, such as Russia, Belarus or Kazakhstan, follows a new procedure. You need three things: a written statement from the national agency NAWA confirming that your certificate entitles you to apply for higher education (free, online via the SYRENA system), a pass in the university's own entrance examination, and proof of the language of instruction at B2 or higher. Without the NAWA statement, the consul will refuse a first-year student visa. This guide covers the order of steps, documents, timing, and what changes for master's degrees and medicine.

| Stage | What you need | Who decides |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Eligibility | NAWA written statement on your certificate (or an earlier decision of a Polish education superintendent) | NAWA |
| Language | Proof of the language of instruction at B2 or higher | The university, against the ministry's list |
| Selection | University entrance exam, sometimes combined with certificate grades | Admissions committee |
| Enrolment | Certificate of admission; payment of the first instalment on fee-paying programmes | University |
| Entry | National D visa | Polish consul |
| Residence | Temporary residence permit for studies, filed through the MOS portal | Voivode (regional governor) |

Collegium Novum of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. Photo: Bahnfrend / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Collegium_Novum,_2024_(01).jpg), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

## What changed on 1 July 2025 {#section-1}

The Act of 4 April 2025 on eliminating irregularities in the visa system changed admission of foreigners to first-cycle (bachelor's) and long-cycle master's programmes, which in Poland cover five- and six-year degrees such as medicine, law and pharmacy. The Ministry of Science explained the rules to universities on 30 May 2025.

Certificates fall into two groups. Documents from EU, OECD and EFTA countries, IB and EB diplomas, and certificates covered by recognition agreements (for example Ukraine and China) are recognised automatically. Certificates from Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are not: NAWA lists them as third-country documents.

The second group faces a double filter. The applicant presents the certificate together with a written statement from the NAWA Director and must pass an entrance examination set by the university. The exam tests the knowledge required for the programme or artistic and physical aptitude, and it may count for up to 100% of the ranking score. Admission based on certificate grades alone is therefore no longer available to these applicants.

Language applies to everyone. Every foreigner who is not a citizen of the EU, EFTA, Switzerland or the UK must present proof of the language of instruction at B2 or higher. Universities may set a higher bar, never a lower one.

Universities are monitored. Foreigners may not exceed 50% of an institution's students, and data on admitted foreigners go into the national POL-on system, which consuls can now access.

## Step 1: get the NAWA statement on your certificate {#section-2}

Recognition of school certificates for university admission used to be handled by regional education superintendents. Since 1 July 2025 the NAWA Director decides on eligibility, and the document is called an individual statement of the NAWA Director. If you already hold a superintendent's recognition decision, you do not need the new statement.

How it works:

- you apply online in SYRENA, and the statement is issued electronically as a PDF with a qualified signature, in Polish;
- the service is free of charge;
- you upload your certificate, the transcript, the previous school certificate, your passport, any change-of-name document and, for minors, a parental declaration;
- sworn translations are not needed for documents in English, Russian, Ukrainian or Belarusian.

The statement only confirms the right to continue education in Poland; recognition for employment or other purposes is a separate matter. Apply as soon as you receive your certificate: NAWA warns that it handles a very large number of applications.

### After year 9, after college, or before your certificate arrives

The law links eligibility in Poland to eligibility in the country that issued the document. Three practical consequences follow.

- After year 9 (basic general education) you cannot enter a Polish university: that certificate does not give access to higher education in Russia, Belarus or Kazakhstan. Complete upper secondary school or a college first.
- After college, a secondary vocational diploma can qualify if it gives access to university in the issuing country. NAWA's list of third-country documents explicitly names, for example, the Kazakh diploma of secondary vocational education; each application is assessed individually.
- Before the certificate is issued, some universities let you start with predicted grades, as the Medical University of Warsaw does. NAWA, however, issues its statement only for a final document, and without it there is no first-year visa.

## Step 2: choose programmes and check the institution {#section-3}

Before registering, answer four questions.

1. What is the language of instruction, and will you have B2? For English, a certificate with the university's score; for Polish, the state certificate or another document from the ministry's list.
2. What is the entrance exam? The format is set out in the university's admission resolution (uchwała rekrutacyjna): a written test, an online interview or subject exams.
3. Is the institution approved for admitting foreigners? Public academic universities are exempt; private academic and public vocational institutions must be on the Interior Ministry list.
4. What does the programme cost? Look for the rector's fee decision for your intake.

Institution types and status checks are covered in our overview of [universities in Poland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-poland).

## Step 3: register and submit documents {#section-4}

You apply directly to each university; there is no national application system. Most universities use an online platform called IRK (Internetowa Rejestracja Kandydatów) or something similar, and you can apply to several institutions in parallel.

A typical bachelor's application includes:

- the online form and the paid application fee (for example EUR 24 at the medical universities of Warsaw and Łódź);
- your school certificate with transcript and the NAWA statement (or the superintendent's decision);
- proof of the language of instruction at B2 or higher;
- your passport;
- parental consent for minors;
- where required, a motivation letter, a portfolio or a medical certificate.

Legalisation: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Poland are all parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so where a university requires legalised documents, an apostille from the issuing country is used. Each university states whether it needs an apostille and a sworn translation; NAWA itself does not require translations from Russian, but a university may.

## Step 4: exam, ranking and decision {#section-5}

After registration the university invites you to its exam. English-taught medicine illustrates the range:

- the Medical University of Łódź first scores grades in two science subjects (biology, chemistry, physics or mathematics) and then holds a 30-minute online oral exam covering motivation and the two subjects;
- the Medical University of Warsaw requires biology and chemistry on the school certificate and runs a competency test, from which, after the 2025 law, most candidates cannot be exempted.

The admissions committee decides on the basis of the ranking. Admitted candidates receive a certificate of admission (zaświadczenie o przyjęciu na studia) and, on a fee-paying programme, pay a semester or a year; proof of payment is needed for the visa. Medicine is covered in depth in [studying medicine in Poland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-in-poland).

## Step 5: D visa and residence permit {#section-6}

Study requires a national D visa marked "student", issued only to full-time students and participants of preparatory courses. For the first year of a bachelor's or long-cycle programme the consul requires the NAWA statement, and refuses the visa without it. After arrival and before the visa expires, you apply for a temporary residence permit for studies, which since 27 April 2026 can only be filed electronically through the MOS portal. The first permit is issued for 15 months.

Russian citizens face an additional constraint: Polish consular posts in Russia currently accept visa applications from Russian citizens only in exceptional cases. Consulates, fees and rules for Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are in our [student visa guide for Poland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-visa-for-poland).

## Master's degrees: what is different {#section-7}

To apply for a master's degree with a bachelor's diploma from outside the EU, OECD and EFTA, the university requires a NAWA written statement on the diploma confirming eligibility for second-cycle study, unless the diploma has already been recognised under an international agreement or through nostrification. The B2 language requirement applies as for bachelor's degrees. The law does not require an entrance examination for master's programmes, although universities may interview candidates or assess their profile.

Belarusian and Kazakh citizens can apply for NAWA's Banach scholarship for master's study; Russian citizens are not among the eligible countries. See [tuition-free study in Poland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-tuition-free-study-in-poland) for details.

## Differences by citizenship {#section-8}

|  | Russia | Belarus | Kazakhstan |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| School certificate | NAWA statement plus entrance exam | Same | Same |
| Translation for NAWA | Not needed (Russian) | Not needed (Russian, Belarusian) | Not needed for Russian-language documents |
| Visa | Consular posts in Russia accept applications from Russian citizens only in exceptional cases | Visa centres in Belarus; reduced fee until the end of 2026, students exempt | Embassy in Astana or Consulate General in Almaty |
| Banach scholarship | Not eligible | Eligible (master's) | Eligible (master's) |

Applicants from Kazakhstan may also find our overview on [studying abroad from Kazakhstan](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-study-abroad-from-kazakhstan) useful, and Russian applicants can compare options in [study abroad for Russian citizens](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-study-abroad-for-russian-citizens).

## Preparation timeline {#section-9}

1. 12–15 months before the start: choose the language and field, start preparing for B2, check the visa route for your citizenship.
2. 8–10 months before: shortlist four to six programmes and study their admission rules and exam formats.
3. Right after graduation: apply in SYRENA for the NAWA statement.
4. Spring and summer of the admission year: registration, exams and rankings, on dates set by each university. Some run a supplementary round; the Medical University of Warsaw, for instance, accepted supplementary registrations until 3 October 2026.
5. After admission: payment, insurance, consulate appointment, visa.
6. During your first months in Poland: residence permit application through MOS before the visa expires.

## Common mistakes {#section-10}

- Waiting until graduation to start language preparation; without B2 the application is not considered.
- Delaying the SYRENA application; without the NAWA statement the consul refuses a first-year visa.
- Trusting offers of admission without exams; for certificates from Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan the university exam is a legal requirement.
- Paying an intermediary for a "NAWA nostrification"; the statement is free and you file it yourself online.
- Applying to only one university; exams and consular timelines make a back-up essential.

## FAQ {#faq}

### Can I apply to a Polish university straight after secondary school?

Yes. A general secondary school certificate from Russia, Belarus or Kazakhstan qualifies once NAWA issues a written statement on it. You then need to pass the university's entrance exam and prove the language of instruction at B2; the admissions committee takes the admission decision.

### Do I still need nostrification of my school certificate?

The former recognition procedure at a Polish education superintendent is no longer used for university admission. Since 1 July 2025 it has been replaced by the free NAWA written statement, requested online through SYRENA. A superintendent's decision issued earlier can still be used instead.

### Can I be admitted without exams?

Not with a certificate from Russia, Belarus or Kazakhstan. The 2025 law requires these applicants to pass the university's entrance examination for bachelor's and long-cycle master's programmes. Holders of EU, OECD, EFTA, IB or EB documents are not subject to this rule, and the law sets no exam requirement for master's programmes.

### What language level do I need?

At least B2 in the language of instruction; this is a statutory requirement for every applicant who is not a citizen of the EU, EFTA, Switzerland or the UK. Each university chooses the accepted certificates and scores; the Medical University of Warsaw, for example, accepts IELTS Academic 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 87.

### Can Russian citizens apply to Polish universities now?

Universities consider applications from Russian citizens, and the admissions committee decides on admission. The difficulty is the visa: according to the Polish Embassy in Moscow, consular posts in Russia accept applications from Russian citizens only for humanitarian, urgent or specially justified reasons, and the consul decides. Check your visa route before paying fees.

### When should I apply?

The academic year starts in October, and universities run registration and exams under their own admission resolutions, usually in spring and summer. Request the NAWA statement as soon as you have your certificate, and plan the consulate appointment right after admission; the university decides on admission and the consul on the visa.

## Sources {#section-12}

- [Ministry of Science: guidance on the Act of 4 April 2025 (admission of foreigners, B2, NAWA statement, 50% cap)](https://www.gov.pl/web/nauka/komunikat-dla-uczelni-na-temat-wybranych-rozwiazan-przyjetych-w-ustawie-z-dnia-4-kwietnia-2025-r-o-zmianie-niektorych-ustaw-w-celu-wyeliminowania-nieprawidlowosci-w-systemie-wizowym-rzeczypospolitej-polskiej)
- [Act of 4 April 2025, Dz.U. 2025 item 622 (ISAP)](https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2025/622/text.pdf)
- [NAWA: statement on a secondary school certificate via SYRENA](https://nawa.gov.pl/uznawalnosc/wydawanie-informacji-o-zagranicznych-dyplomach/swiadectwo-szkoly-sredniej) and [list of third-country certificates (PDF, 21 July 2025)](https://nawa.gov.pl/images/Uznawalnosc/Dokumenty-uprawniajace-do-ubiegania-sie-o-przyjecie-na-studia_informacja-NAWA_21.07.2025.pdf)
- [Polish Embassy in Kazakhstan: changes to student visas from 1 July 2025](https://www.gov.pl/web/kazachstan/wizy)
- [Polish Embassy in Belarus: D visa and student documents](https://www.gov.pl/web/bialorus/wiza-typu-d)
- [Medical University of Warsaw: admission criteria 2026/27](https://ed.wum.edu.pl/admissions-criteria) and [fees](https://ed.wum.edu.pl/admission-fees)
- [Medical University of Łódź: admission criteria, 6-year MD](https://studymed.umed.pl/admission/6-year-md-medicine/admission-criteria/)
- [Office for Foreigners: residence permit applications via MOS from 27 April 2026](https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/info-mos)
- [NAWA: Banach scholarship call 2026/27 (PDF)](https://nawa.gov.pl/images/Banach/2026/Banach-2026---Call-for-applications-EN.pdf)

Sources checked on 30 September – 1 October 2026. ECB reference rate of 30 September 2026: EUR 1 = USD 1.1355 = PLN 4.3690.

If you want to work through your route, send a [request](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply): programme selection, document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the university makes the admission decision.

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Universities in Poland for International Students: Types, Languages and How to Choose](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-poland)
- [Studying Medicine in Poland in English: 2026/27 Fees, Entrance Exams, LEK and Recognition](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-in-poland)
- [Student Visa for Poland in 2026: Rules for Russian, Belarusian and Kazakh Citizens](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-visa-for-poland)
- [Tuition-Free Study in Poland: Who Qualifies Under the Law and How to Prove It](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-tuition-free-study-in-poland)
- [Study Abroad from Kazakhstan: Where and How in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-study-abroad-from-kazakhstan)
- [Studying Abroad as a Russian Citizen in 2026: Where You Can Go, Where to File Your Visa, How to Pay and How to Get Your Degree Recognised](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-study-abroad-for-russian-citizens)

Updated: October 2026