Studying at higher education institutions in Poland

Ways to obtain education in Poland

Higher education can be obtained at public and private educational institutions, that is, universities, polytechnic institutes, and higher schools (colleges). As a rule, public educational institutions are funded by the state, and no tuition fees are charged for studying at the full-time department. Studying at a private university is paid.

The list of educational institutions and addresses of Polish higher educational institutions is available here: http://www.nauka.gov.pl/szkolnictwo-wyzsze/system-szkolnictwa-wyzszego/uczelnie/

Levels of higher education in Poland:

Bachelor's degree. Studying for a bachelor's degree lasts at least 6 semesters (3 years), and for engineering professions — at least 7 semesters, after which the graduate defends a thesis for the award of a bachelor's or engineer's degree. A bachelor's degree (licensee) in Poland is approximately equal to a bachelor's degree in England and a licensee in France. After that, you can continue your education at the second level.

Master's degree. The second level involves both 2 years and 1.5 years of study under programs in Polish and English (the duration depends on the chosen specialty). After defending a dissertation at the master's level, the student is awarded the degree of master (in architecture, senior engineer, or another equivalent special title (doctor, dentist, veterinarian).

Postgraduate studies. After completing a master's degree, masters can continue their studies in doctoral studies (analogous to postgraduate studies). Defending a dissertation at this level is marked by the award of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. After that, the doctor can undergo the procedure of habilitation (another defense of a doctoral dissertation) — for the degree of Doctor Habilitat. Studies last 3-4 years.

Polish universities are divided into several types:

Colleges. Admission requirements: possession of a Certificate of Completed Secondary Education and the results of a medical examination.

Higher vocational schools. Admission requirements: Certificate of Completed Secondary Education, successful passing of exams, and the resulting qualification of "Technician".

Higher education schools. Admission requirements: each institute sets its own rules for enrollment.

Universities. Admission requirements: each university sets its own rules for enrollment.

All foreigners can study at Polish universities. However, the rules for their admission and conditions of study at public universities differ depending on the legal status of the foreigner in Poland. Some groups of foreigners may study on the same terms as Polish citizens, free of charge. These groups include:

- foreigners with a permit to settle in Poland;
- foreigners with a valid Card of the Pole;
- foreigners with refugee status recognized by Poland;
- foreigners enjoying temporary protection in Poland;
- foreigners who are migrant workers who are citizens of a member state of the European Union (EU), Switzerland, or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) — parties to the agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA), and members of their families if they reside in Poland;
- foreigners with a residence permit for a long-term resident of the EU issued in Poland; - foreigners who have been granted additional protection in Poland;
- citizens of EU member states, EFTA — parties to the EEA agreement or Switzerland and members of their families who have the right of permanent residence.

Other foreigners can start studying in Poland on a paid basis, unless they receive scholarships that exempt them from these fees.

If you have a Polish Card, you can study at Polish universities for free on the same basis as Poles. You can apply to a Polish university in two ways: through the Polish consulate or independently. What is the difference? More information can be found at the following link: https://dyjalog.by/postuplenie-v-polshu-gajd-ot-belorusskogo-studenta-2/

List of documents required to apply to a Polish university:

1. passport;
2. certificate confirming knowledge of the Polish language (if studying in English, you must also have the corresponding certificate);
3. birth certificate (apostille is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 37a K. Marks Street, Minsk);
4. high school diploma and appendix to the diploma, for admission to the master's program, a diploma with an appendix and a degree with an appendix are submitted (apostille is issued on the diploma and degree at the Department of Quality Control of Education of the Ministry of Education at 28 Kozlova Street, room 201, Minsk);
5. certificate stating that the obtained diploma gives the right to enter universities in Belarus (certificate issued by the Department of Quality Control of Education of the Ministry of Education at 28 Kozlova Street, room 304, Minsk);
6. medical certificate with an official seal regarding the state of health.

IMPORTANT! The apostille is placed only in the original documents. Later, all these documents must be translated, all documents must be translated along with the apostilles. It is best to do this at a translation agency.

These are the main documents. The full list of documents must be clarified at the university.

Application for a national "D" visa for the purpose of study. List of documents:

• completed, printed from the Internet (e-konsulat) and signed visa application form;
• current, color photograph 3.5 x 4.5;
• passport issued within the last ten years, valid for at least 3 months from the date of planned return, with at least 2 blank (clean) pages intended for visas;
• copy of passport pages with personal data;
• a document confirming the presence of mandatory health insurance provided for by the law of August 27, 2004 «On healthcare services funded from the state budget», or a health insurance policy in the amount of 30,000 euros, valid during the stay of a foreign citizen in Poland, covering all expenses that may arise during the stay in this territory in connection with the need to return home for medical reasons, the need for emergency medical care, in connection with urgent hospitalization or death.
• a document confirming the purpose and conditions of the planned stay in Poland — an original certificate of admission to an educational institution;

If you are going to study on courses, a certificate of enrollment in the student list, drawn up by the host educational institution. The certificate must contain detailed information about the courses (detailed course plan, number of hours and days of study). In the case of paid courses, proof of payment is required.

List of additional documents that minors must provide:

• birth certificate;
• notarized consent of a parent or legal guardian who did not sign the visa application for the departure of a minor citizen from Belarus (original and copy). If both parents/legal guardians are present when applying for a visa for a minor citizen, notarized consent to travel abroad is not required.
• if a minor has only one guardian, the relevant document must be provided (court order for sole custody of the child, death certificate or other document);
• minors traveling with their parents must provide a copy of their parents' valid visas.

More information: http://www.minsk.msz.gov.pl/be/consular_information/visas/narodowa/

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