Higher education
Bilateral agreements
In , foreign citizens can be accepted to the following higher education programs:
- Bachelor degree, Master degree or five years long Master degree programs
- Post B.S. and post M.A. graduation studies
- Post doctorate studies
- Post PhD dissertation (habilitation) fellowships
- Research fellowships,
- Polish language courses and courses designed to increase Polish language abilities for studies purposes
- Job internships
Polish Language Skills
In order to pursue graduate or post graduate level studies in Polish language, student must proof her/his Polish language skills through:
Completion of a one year long language course preparing to study in Polish language (language course is viewed as a part of the overall higher education and, therefore, students attending a language course have the same rights and privileges as any other higher education student)
Polish language certificate issued by the National Commission to Certify Knowledge of Polish language as a second language
Certification from the accepting school
Foreign citizens, can also be admitted to higher education programs conducted in a foreign language if they can provide a document proving that their foreign language skills are on an appropriate level.
Eligibility
In order to peruse graduate or post graduate studies in a foreign citizen must have all of the following:
- obtain a student visa or any other document proving a legal stay on the
- document certifying student’s physical ability to peruse studies at a particular program
- proof of insurance or European Insurance Card (please, keep in mind that student might also become insured through the National Health Fund)
Foreign citizens who study in are eligible to receive the same benefits as Polish citizens if they belong to one of the following categories:
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Individuals who received a permit to settle on the
territory of Poland -
Individuals with a Polish Card (Karta Polaka)
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Refugees
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with granted temporary protection on the
territory of Poland -
Posted workers EU or EFTA citizens as well as their family members
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Individuals granted a EU residency permit
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Individuals with additional protection on the
territory of Poland -
EU and EFTA citizens as well as their family members
Foreigners who do not belong to these categories can study in based on international agreements, between school agreements, as well as based on a ministry regulation or directive of the director of the institution they want to study at.
In order to continue studies in at an appropriate level an individual will need to provide following documents:
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For undergraduate or 5 years Masters programs – an individual needs to provide a high school diploma completed with the necessary examination.
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For graduate programs – an individual needs to provide an undergraduate diploma obtain either in or abroad.
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For postgraduate programs – an individual needs to provide graduate diploma.
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For PhD – an individual needs to provide a graduate degree diploma or a diploma certifying completion of the 5 years Master program.
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Only current PhD students can be accepted for the PhD fellowship.
Scholarships
Foreigners who study in with the same rights as Polish citizens are eligible for the following scholarships:
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Social scholarship
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Special needs scholarship
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Merit scholarship
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Sport scholarship
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The ministry of education scholarship for academic merits or sports
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Living stipend
Students EU and EFTA citizens can not apply for a living stipend if they are able to support themselves during their studies unless it is allowed in the agreement between countries or institutions of higher education. In that case, a student can apply for a living stipend according to the rules stated in the agreement.
Simultaneously, all students are able to apply for academic merits and sport scholarships.
A scholarship from may be awarded to a foreign individual studying outside of who fulfills the requirements stated in the Act of repatriation form the 9th of November 2000. According to the Act of repatriation, a foreign citizen can be awarded Polish scholarship when:
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An individual proclaims Polish nationality and at least one of the individual’s parents or grandparent or both grand grandparents were of Polish origin.
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An individual proclaims Polish nationality and the individual, at least one of her/his parents or grandparents or both of her/his grand grandparents had Polish citizenship. Scholarships for these students, awarded by the appropriate ministry, are distributed through consulates or Polish nongovernmental organizations.
When you are planning to come to for study:
According to the Office for Foreigners, an individual who is not a Polish citizen and who plans to come to in order to study, should be prepared to cover the living expenses for the first two months of her/his stay in the amount of 1600PLN (or its equivalent in foreign currency).
