Skip to content

Study in Poland: How to apply for Poland’s Student Visa?

Study in Poland is always an interesting option for international students. The option is inexpensive and affordable for many international students. Poland offers more than 400 English taught programs for international students.

It is always an excellent option to study in Poland with great affordability. Students get a chance to study in more than 400 programs every year. There are 2 different ways to study in Poland. One can opt to study in the English medium of instruction or in the Polish medium degree program. In both ways, you need a certificate of language proficiency proof for admission and visa. Reasoning why education is quite inexpensive in Poland is that institutions are free to set yearly tuition fees themselves.

Tuition Fees in Poland Universities

Students belonging to EEA states, do not need to pay any tuition fees to study in Poland. Whereas all other foreigners are required to pay tuition fees that on average are the following:

  • EUR 2000 per year for first, second, and long cycle studies,
  • EUR 3000 per year for doctoral, postgraduate, and medical postgraduate internships as well as scientific, arts, specialist, and post-doctoral internships,
  • EUR 3000 per year for vocational courses and apprenticeships,
  • EUR 2000 per year for an annual preparatory Polish language course to commence studies in Polish

Tuition fees at public and non-public HEIs are established by the institution itself. The tuition fees range from EUR 2000 to 6000 per year and depend on the institution and study program. For MBA programs they cost is about EUR 8000-12,000 per year.

Work During Studies in Poland

As an international student outside the EEA area, you are allowed to work legally in Poland. In some cases however your employer must apply for you for a work permit. For full-time students, work permission is always granted.

Living Expenses

No doubt Poland is much cheaper as compared with other European countries. However, living cost in Poland does change from city to city. Some examples of average prices per month:

  • Rent in a shared flat (or dormitory) – EUR 80-150
  • Transportation (in big cities) – EUR 15-20
  • Telephone/mobile, Internet, TV – EUR 12- 75

Selected prices

  • Bread: EUR 0.50 – 1.50
  • Water 1.5l: EUR 1
  • Milk: EUR 1
  • Coffee: EUR 2 -3 EUR

In the cheapest and affordable places you can eat a one-course meal for EUR 2–4, on the other hand in standard restaurants you will pay EUR 12 or more for a three-course meal. Cinema tickets will set you back by EUR 3–7. Theatre, opera or concert tickets are more expensive: about EUR 7–23.

Accommodation Expenses

The cost of accommodation in a dormitory (universities offered accommodation) ranges around EUR 60-80 monthly for a shared room and between EUR 100-150 for a single room.
Private accommodation is also an option for international students. The average monthly rent of the room ranges from EUR 150 and 200. Do not forget that the Cost of the apartment rent depends on the city, its location, and size. For example, the average monthly rent of a small one-room flat is around EUR 300/350 in Warsaw.

Student Visa Requirements

Study in Poland requires some special documents that you need to present in order to apply for a student visa. There are some extra requirements especially if you are from Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, etc. So make sure you get in hand all documents before visiting the Polish embassy in your country or the region. Below are some major documents that you must include before applying for a student visa. However, you must consult the local Polish mission (embassy) in your country of origin for complete and correct documents.:

  • Recent photographs of the applicant, passport sized.
  • Duly filled visa application form. This form must be signed by the applicant. If you are under 18, the visa form must be signed by both parents. Visa application form availability is here online where you can print it after completely filling it in. Click on this link to go to fill in the application form. https://secure.e-konsulat.gov.pl/
  • Photocopy of your identity card.
  • Your original passport with a minimum of 3 months expiry date after the completion of your visa. The passport must have few empty pages for a new visa sticker to be placed. You must present all previous passports too with photocopies.
  • If you reside in a country of which you are not national, then present a valid visa or residence permit.
  • Visa refusals of previous applications.
  • Family Registration Certificate (photocopy and original) issued by NADRA (in English or with a certified translation if in Urdu) (for Pakistani nationals)
  • Affidavit of sponsorship (proof of sufficient financial means of your sponsor,  income, and the last six months bank statements), attested by a Public Notary in Pakistan. ( You do not need these if you have a Polish scholarship.)
  • Last three salary slips (in case you work)
  • Personal original bank statements of the last six months.
  • Unconditional Letter of acceptance letter from a Polish university.
  • The fee deposit receipt.
  • Proof of accommodation you have availed in Poland.
  • Letter from IBCC (Inter Board Committee of Chairmen) proving that you are eligible to study at any National/International University. (for Pakistani nationals)
  • Proof of English language proficiency test such as:
    * TOEFL {Test of English as a Foreign Language} (minimum score of 550 points for the Paper Based Test or 213 points for the Computer Based Test) or IELTS {International English Language Testing System} (Band 6.0)
  • You must provide proof of possession of 800 zlotych or the equivalent in foreign currency, so as to be able to cover the costs of living and lodging for each month of the stay throughout the whole time of study or the first year if the stay is to be longer.
  • Don’t forget to add any other certificates – according to school requirements.
  • Proof of health insurance for the whole period of stay in Poland or travel health insurance policy.
  • Copy of flight booking(s) – both ways.

Important Note

There is an important factor that counts towards visa award, that if you are going to study with a paid program, a proof of payment covering the first year of studies or its full term. On the other hand, if the course consists of less than a year, it is necessary to show that you held funds in the amount sufficient to cover the cost of studies, provided in the declaration.
The embassy or consulate may ask for additional documents.

How to apply for university admission?

(a) Admission Requirements for BA or BSC (Bachelors) Candidates:

  1. Notarized secondary school certificate or an official duplicate issued by the candidate’s high school,
  2. filled out the application form,
  3. 4 passport-size photographs,
  4. copy of candidate’s ID (passport),
  5. certificate of the English language proficiency optionally (unless the high school courses were taught in English);
  6. the medical certificate with no contradiction for studying,
  7. admission fee payment receipt.

(b) Admission Requirements for MA (Master) candidates:

  1. Undergraduate program diploma or an official duplicate issued by the university,
  2. candidate’s CV with the details about the school and professional career optionally,
  3. one academic reference and one personal reference optionally,
  4. filled out the application form,
  5. 4 passport-size photographs,
  6. copy of the candidate’s ID (passport),
  7. proof of English language proficiency (unless the first degree was taught in English),
  8. the medical certificate with no contraindication for studying,
  9. admission fee payment receipt.

As an international applicant might be additionally asked to submit:

  • Notarized secondary school certificate or an official duplicate issued by the candidate’s high school (when applying for master program),
  • A supplement to the undergraduate program diploma or a copy of the bachelor thesis, and other documentation*

*Please do note that asks your chosen university for any extra documents that they may need from you. Each university has different requirements for admission to make it at the beginning possible so that you do not waste time and get enrolled in time in university.

List of English universities in Poland