Direct application with a Turkish high school diploma
Because Türkiye is an OECD member, the Turkish high school diploma is recognized automatically in Poland. The condition is that the diploma gives the right to apply to university in Türkiye. Poland has no central placement system. You apply separately to the admissions office of each university.
Some schools, such as the Medical University of Gdańsk, ask for a sworn Polish translation of the documents. We suggest you check the document list separately on each university's page.
Study in Poland lists Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Poznań, Łódź and Katowice as the cities students often choose. It also notes that life in the capital and in tourist cities can be a little more expensive.
Programs in Polish are not always without a tuition fee for international students
Older guides said that a student studying in Polish does not pay a tuition fee in most cases. In fact, public universities can charge international students tuition fees for Polish-language programs too. For example, an international student who starts the Polish-language economics bachelor's at the University of Warsaw in 2026/27 pays €2,600 a year.
In medicine the amount is higher. At the Medical University of Łódź, the 2026/27 tuition fee for an international student studying medicine in Polish is 54,000 zloty a year.
There is one exception. An international student with a Polish certificate of at least C1 level, issued by the state commission, does not pay tuition fees. This exemption applies to full-time programs that have no tuition fee for Polish citizens. Holders of the Polish Card also benefit from the tuition fee exemption.
English programs and language requirement
For English programs, English of at least B2 level is asked for. Study in Poland writes that English programs cost around €3,000 a year on average. The University of Warsaw's English Finance, International Investment and Accounting bachelor's was €3,550 a year for 2025/26, in a single payment.
The academic year usually starts in early October and has two semesters of 15 weeks each. A bachelor's takes 3 to 4 years and a master's takes 1.5 to 2 years. Fields such as medicine and dentistry are single-cycle programs of 4.5 to 6 years.
The accepted exams and scores change by school. Instead of the IELTS and TOEFL ranges in older guides, we suggest you look at the requirement of each program.
Visa through VFS Global
For long-term study, you apply for the national D visa at VFS Global centers. For the Consulate General in Istanbul, the centers are in Harbiye, Altunizade, İzmir, Gaziantep and Trabzon. For the Embassy, they are in Ankara and Antalya. You apply at the earliest 6 months and at the latest 15 days before travel. The document list also includes proof of tuition fee payment, health insurance of at least €30,000 and proof of accommodation.
A student coming from Türkiye shows 2,500 zloty for the return journey in addition to living funds. After arriving in Poland, a first-year student is given a temporary residence permit for 15 months.
Working during and after your studies
A full-time student with a student visa or a temporary residence permit can work without getting a separate work permit. A graduating student can get a 9-month temporary residence permit to look for work. This permit is given only once. For details, see our Poland page.
Related pages
Last checked: 23 October 2026. Rules and fees may change; we check the current situation together before you apply.
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