Poland offers international students a wide range of ways to learn, from computing and engineering to business, international relations and the arts. Its university cities can provide a lively setting for a degree, with opportunities to meet people, develop practical skills and explore a different part of Europe.
Affordability is often part of the appeal, but there is no single price for studying in Poland. An English-taught course, a private room in a large city and a particular lifestyle can produce a very different budget from a Polish-taught programme with a dormitory place. This guide helps you compare real options.
Reviewed 18 October 2026. Fee and accommodation examples below refer to 2026/27 where stated. They are useful reference points, not confirmed prices or application dates for every later intake.
Finding an English-taught degree
Start with the official Study in Poland portal and the university’s own admissions catalogue. Search for the subject you want to study, then confirm the degree level, teaching language, campus, duration and current intake.
A university may offer the same subject in Polish and English under different admission and fee arrangements. Make sure the page you are reading describes the English-taught version. Also check whether practical training, placements or optional modules use another language.
English-taught study does not require you to arrive speaking fluent Polish. Learning the language can nevertheless make everyday life easier and help you connect with people beyond the international student community. It may also widen the kinds of work and practical experience available to you.
Examples at the University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw’s English-language offer for 2026/27 includes programmes across several fields. Use it to compare subjects rather than assuming one institution specialises in only one area.
Its International Relations bachelor’s programme is a three-year full-time degree taught in English. It is an option to explore if you enjoy understanding how countries, institutions and people interact.
The Machine Learning master’s programme is a two-year English-taught course at the university’s Ochota campus. It brings together mathematical and computing foundations with the design and training of models. Read its entry requirements carefully to understand the preparation expected.
Engineering and computing at Warsaw University of Technology
Warsaw University of Technology publishes an English-taught bachelor’s offer covering several engineering and computing routes. Similar programme names can refer to different faculties, lengths and fees, so compare the exact entry.
Its Computer Science programme in the Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology is listed as eight semesters. Computer Science and Information Systems is a separate option. Keep that distinction when comparing tuition or preparing an application.
These are examples, not a ranking. Your best course may be elsewhere in Poland. Look at modules, projects, teaching facilities and the kind of work students produce. Our computing, engineering and business study guides can help you ask useful questions.
How to compare courses
Begin with the learning experience. A course title does not tell you how much time you will spend in a laboratory, seminar, studio or independent project. Read the curriculum and ask about assessment, electives and the final project.
Think about the experience you want alongside the degree. Would you value a placement, an exchange semester, a student society or the chance to work on a practical problem with classmates? Ask how these opportunities operate and whether they are built into the course or arranged separately.
For a master’s, compare your previous subjects with the expected background. If you are changing direction, identify the knowledge you already bring and any gaps you may need to address. Admissions teams can often clarify which module descriptions or other evidence they need.
Tuition fees: language and category matter
The official tuition fees guidance explains that eligible students can study full-time in Polish at public institutions without tuition. That does not mean every English-taught degree is free, including for EU students.
Use the exact programme price and your fee category. Broad national averages are a weak basis for a decision when individual courses differ substantially.
University of Warsaw examples for 2026/27
The university’s official 2026/27 fee schedule lists:
- International Relations bachelor’s degree: €4,300 per year.
- Machine Learning master’s degree: €3,300 per year for the listed non-EU/EFTA/Swiss category, while the EU/EFTA/Swiss category is tuition-free.
The difference is a useful reminder that there is no single rule saying all English degrees charge the same fee to everyone. Ask the university to confirm your category and any applicable exemption.
Warsaw University of Technology example for 2026/27
For Computer Science in the Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology, the published bachelor’s offer lists €5,520 per semester for the non-EU category and PLN 7,800 per semester for the EU/EFTA category.
At €5,520 per semester, two semesters total €11,040. That is a semester-based fee, not an annual figure. Other computing programmes and faculties have different prices, so keep the course name attached to the number.
Before accepting an offer, calculate the full degree cost and check payment dates. Ask whether the quoted fee is fixed for your cohort and how refunds are handled if your plans change. Our tuition fees guide can help organise the comparison.
Living costs and accommodation
Build the budget around actual accommodation options rather than a low national headline. A dormitory place, a room in a shared flat and a private studio are different products, with different availability and costs.
As a current reference, the University of Warsaw’s dormitory guidance lists monthly prices of PLN 520–1,100 for 2026/27, depending on the accommodation. Places are not guaranteed, and private rentals should be budgeted separately.
For a broader comparison, these are illustrative monthly budgets, not city averages:
- PLN 2,500 per month becomes PLN 30,000 over twelve months.
- PLN 3,500 per month becomes PLN 42,000 over twelve months.
- PLN 4,500 per month becomes PLN 54,000 over twelve months.
Tuition and arrival expenses are extra. Replace each estimate with your own rent, utilities, groceries, transport, phone, insurance, study materials and personal spending. A private studio or higher-cost routine may require more than these examples.
Keep currencies clear. A university may quote tuition in euros while rent and daily purchases are in Polish złoty, or PLN. Allow for exchange-rate movement and transfer charges if your funds are held elsewhere.
Ask whether accommodation is available throughout the summer and whether bills are included. A nine-month room arrangement does not automatically provide a home for a twelve-month stay. Add deposits, travel and essential household items to the money needed before arrival.
Choosing a city and settling in
Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk and other university cities offer different environments. The most useful comparison starts with your course and realistic housing choices, then considers travel, interests and everyday routine.
Look at the campus location rather than the university’s postal address alone. A degree may be taught across several buildings or at a campus away from the city centre. Check the commute from the accommodation you can actually obtain.
For a private rental, verify the offer, read the contract and understand the deposit. Ask what happens if you need to leave early and which costs are paid separately. Your university’s international office may be able to explain common local arrangements.
Give yourself time to develop a social routine. Orientation helps, but regular activities are often what create friendships. A sports club, language exchange, volunteer project or subject society can bring you into contact with people outside your immediate class.
Applications and entry requirements
Polish universities publish their own recruitment calendars and programme requirements. There is no single deadline that covers every English-taught bachelor’s and master’s degree. The 2026/27 pages linked in this guide show current examples; use the new call when applying for a later intake.
Undergraduate applicants should check accepted school qualifications, required subjects and English evidence. Master’s applicants need a suitable prior degree and any programme-specific preparation. Some courses may involve an interview, portfolio, examination or additional selection task.
Prepare a simple application folder with your academic documents, translations where required, language evidence and any requested personal statement. Keep programme-specific instructions separate so that one university’s requirements are not accidentally applied to another.
Some applicants with overseas school qualifications need additional information from NAWA as part of the admission or visa process. Requirements depend on the qualification and circumstances. Ask the university early if this applies to you; it is easier to arrange documents before the final weeks.
Where a statement is requested, focus on what you want to learn and the experience you bring. A project, a useful skill or a thoughtful explanation of your interests can make your application more informative than a generic description of Poland.
Scholarships and financial support
Check university awards, home-country funding and programmes administered by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, NAWA. Eligibility can depend on nationality, previous education, degree level and the specific annual call.
The Banach scholarship programme is one example for eligible master’s applicants. Its 2026 call included a monthly scholarship of PLN 2,500 and tuition exemption at eligible public institutions under the programme’s conditions.
The 2026 application round has closed. Its published deadline was 8 May 2026, with the possibility of earlier closure if the quota was reached. Do not treat that date as a 2027 deadline; follow NAWA for the next official call.
Understand what an award covers and what remains your responsibility. A scholarship may make a degree possible without covering every travel, housing or personal expense. Keep confirmed funding separate from applications still awaiting a decision.
Our scholarships hub offers a place to continue the search and compare opportunities.
Visas, residence and healthcare
Your nationality, study duration and current residence status determine the route you need. Use the relevant Polish consulate and the Office for Foreigners’ official visa guidance, rather than assuming that the same checklist applies to every applicant.
Prepare to demonstrate admission, funding, accommodation and suitable insurance as required for your case. Language evidence and additional qualification documents may also be needed. Follow the current consulate instructions and university guidance together.
Allow time for appointments and document preparation. There is no universal promise that every student visa will be issued within a particular short period. Avoid booking non-refundable travel around an assumed decision date.
Before buying insurance, check the coverage required for the application and how you will access healthcare after arrival. Ask the university what arrangements students in your situation normally use.
Working while studying
The Office for Foreigners’ student work guidance explains that qualifying full-time students with the appropriate study visa or residence permission can work without a separate work permit. The conditions matter: this should not be extended automatically to every course format or residence status.
Permission to work is not the same as a guaranteed job. Polish language skills, experience, location and your timetable can influence the options. Fund the degree on the basis of confirmed resources and treat employment as a possible addition.
Look for experience that helps you learn. A placement, project, student organisation or part-time role can develop communication, teamwork and practical judgement. Ask your course team how placements are arranged and whether language requirements affect the choice.
After graduation
Eligible graduates can apply for a one-time nine-month temporary residence permit to look for work or plan a business. The official graduate guidance explains the conditions. Work-permit exemptions and legal residence are related but separate questions.
During your studies, keep examples of projects and practise explaining what you contributed. Build relationships through shared work and interests. Those experiences can help whether you stay in Poland, return home or move elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study in Poland in English?
Yes. Search for the full English-taught degree and confirm the compulsory curriculum, campus and current intake with the university.
Is Poland always a low-cost option?
No. Some combinations of tuition and housing are affordable, while others cost considerably more. Compare a real programme and accommodation offer, not just a national average.
Are English-taught degrees free for EU students?
Not necessarily. The University of Warsaw examples above show that fee treatment differs by programme. Confirm the exact category for your offer.
What is the best next step?
Shortlist three courses, compare their learning content and calculate the full cost. Our country guides and English-taught programmes guide can help you explore alternatives before deciding.