Poland is a large country with a rich history, a vibrant culture, and welcoming people. Thanks to recent efforts in internationalisation, Poland is attracting ever more students from abroad. The country offers world-class education at modest tuition fees and remarkably affordable cost of living.

A brief introduction to Poland

Located in Central Europe, Poland borders on Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (via its Kaliningrad exclave).

Warsaw, Poland’s capital and largest city, is a modern, exciting hub with many universities offering a wide range of courses. Other major university cities include Cracow, Poznan, Lodz and Wroclaw.

Studying at a university in Poland

Higher education in Poland has a history dating back nearly 800 years, and the country is home to over 400 institutions - many of which now also offer study programmes in English.

Jagiellonian University in Cracow is Poland's oldest university, founded in 1364, and is the alma mater of astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, Pope John Paul II, and two Nobel laureates. Poland's largest university is the University of Warsaw. Founded in 1816, it too has an impressive list of alumni, including Israel’s first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and celebrated composer Frédéric Chopin.

Poland’s higher education system is also known for its specialised technical institutions. They educated tens of thousands of specialists every year in subjects like engineering or computer science. Warsaw University of Technology and AGH University of Science and Technology enjoy an exceptional standing in international rankings, and there are many other fine institutions you can choose from.

And if you are seeking a degree in medicine, medical schools in Poland are known for their world-class education. Among the best-ranked are the Medical University of Silesia and the Medical University of Warsaw.

Living in Poland as a student

Studying in Poland is attractive not only academically, but also for the high quality of life available there. The country's economy has grown dramatically over the past 20 years. It is modern, clean, and safe, and offers all of the social and cultural opportunities available elsewhere, but at a cost of living still much lower than in Western Europe, and international students are flocking there.

Tuition fees and cost of living

Poland is an attractive destination for students. International students can study at public universities in Poland at an average cost of 2,000 EUR per year for a first degree, while fees for higher degrees and vocational programs average at 3000 EUR per year.

Poland’s cost of living are also surprisingly low, and in fact lower than in most other European countries. A place in a student dormitory may cost less than 100 EUR per month for a shared room. Overall, depending on the city on what lifestyle you desire, you might get by on less than 500 EUR per month.