Poland is the cheapest serious study destination in the European Union: English-taught degrees at public universities cost about EUR 2,000–6,000 a year, living costs are roughly half those of Berlin or Paris, and a Polish degree gives you access to the whole EU job market after graduation. Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw and Gdansk are safe, student-friendly cities with large international communities. The trade-off is that Poland is less well known than Germany or the Netherlands, so you need to do your own research on which universities and programmes are strong. This guide gives you the 2027 numbers, the visa process and the scholarships.
Tuition fees 2026-27
According to the official Study in Poland portal (study.gov.pl, run by NAWA, the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange), full-time studies in Polish at public universities are free for EU/EEA citizens and holders of the Polish Card (Karta Polaka). Other students pay fees set by each university: on average about EUR 2,000 a year for degree studies, within a range of EUR 2,000–6,000, and about EUR 3,000 a year on average for English-taught studies. English-taught medicine is much more expensive — about EUR 9,500–13,000 a year, or EUR 16,690–21,350 in 2026-27 at some universities. The University of Warsaw's Ordinance No. 78 of 9 June 2026 sets English-taught fees of EUR 1,000–9,000 a year for students starting in 2026-27, with business and management bachelor's at EUR 4,000. Jagiellonian University in Krakow — Poland's oldest university, founded in 1364 — charges about EUR 2,000–4,500 a year for most English-taught programmes. Studying in Polish can be free for non-EU students too, if you hold a C1 Polish certificate — a route worth considering if you are willing to learn the language.
Living costs and the money you must show
The Study in Poland portal puts student spending at PLN 1,500–2,000 a month (about EUR 350–470), including groceries of PLN 700–900. A shared dormitory room costs about EUR 105–235 a month, a room in a shared flat EUR 235–515, and a studio in Warsaw EUR 585–820 or more. The clearest official figure is the residence permit's proof of funds: under the Act on Foreigners, your monthly money after housing costs must exceed PLN 1,010 (since 1 January 2025) if you have no dependants, plus PLN 2,500 for the return journey to a country outside the EU/EEA that does not border Poland. At the visa stage, the Polish embassy in New Delhi's checklist asks for funds of 701 PLN for each month of your stay plus 2,500 PLN for return travel, with bank statements for the last three months. Consuls also require medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000, or Polish public health insurance (NFZ, about EUR 15 a month). The national D visa costs EUR 200; the residence permit costs 340 PLN stamp duty plus 100 PLN for the card, and the first permit for first-year students lasts 15 months.
The visa and residence permit
Non-EU students usually enter on a national visa, type D (wiza krajowa typu D), which allows a stay of more than 90 days and up to one year. You apply at a Polish embassy or consulate before you travel, with your passport, the application form, a photograph, proof of the visa fee payment, medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000, the university's admission letter, proof of funds and proof of accommodation. After arrival, you apply for a temporary residence permit at the regional Voivodeship Office — within 90 days of entry is the usual advice — and the first permit for first-year students lasts 15 months. Students on a valid residence permit may work without a separate work permit: full-time students can work part-time during term (the commonly cited limit is 20 hours a week) and full-time during holidays. After graduation, you can apply for a temporary residence permit to look for work, which gives you time to find a job in Poland or elsewhere in the EU.
Universities, programmes and scholarships
Poland has more than 90 universities, including 50 public ones. The strongest for international students are the University of Warsaw, Jagiellonian University (Krakow), Warsaw University of Technology, AGH University of Krakow (science and technology), Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Gdansk University of Technology and the Medical University of Warsaw. English-taught programmes are widest in business, computer science, engineering, medicine and international relations. The main scholarship is the NAWA scholarship family: the Banach NAWA Programme for master's students from 36 Polish Aid countries gives a tuition waiver, PLN 2,500 a month and a PLN 2,500 travel allowance (its 2026 call closed on 8 May 2026), and NAWA also runs the Poland My First Choice and Ulam programmes. Some universities offer their own tuition waivers for strong applicants. Apply for scholarships at the same time as your university application — NAWA deadlines fall months before the academic year starts.
Applying from Pakistan
Apply directly to the university through its online admissions portal — most Polish universities open applications in spring for autumn entry, and some offer a spring intake too. You will need your FSc or A-level results, a passport, proof of English (usually IELTS 6.0 or equivalent — check the programme page), and sometimes an entrance exam or interview for medicine and engineering. After admission, apply for the D visa at the Polish embassy, allowing 2–8 weeks for processing. Book your visa appointment as soon as you have the admission letter: Polish embassies in the region have limited appointment slots, and a late appointment is the commonest reason students miss the start of term. Budget for the visa fee (EUR 200), the residence permit (440 PLN in total), health insurance, and the proof of funds — and keep the money in your account for at least three months before the visa application, because the consul will ask for three months of bank statements.
Frequently asked questions
Is studying in Poland really that cheap? Yes — tuition of EUR 2,000–6,000 a year and living costs of PLN 1,500–2,000 a month make it one of the cheapest EU destinations, though Warsaw is more expensive than smaller cities.
Can I study in English? Yes — hundreds of English-taught programmes exist, at about EUR 3,000 a year on average. Studying in Polish is free for EU citizens and for holders of a C1 Polish certificate.
Can I work while studying? Yes — full-time students on a valid residence permit can work, usually part-time during term and full-time during holidays, without a separate work permit.
Can I stay after graduation? Yes — you can apply for a temporary residence permit to look for work, and a Polish degree gives you access to the EU labour market.
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Sources and verification: Study in Poland portal (study.gov.pl, NAWA, checked October 2026): tuition EUR 2,000–6,000/year, English-taught about EUR 3,000/year average; living PLN 1,500–2,000/month; proof of funds PLN 1,010/month after housing + PLN 2,500 return journey (Act on Foreigners); D visa EUR 200; residence permit 340 PLN + 100 PLN card; University of Warsaw Ordinance No. 78 of 9 June 2026 (English-taught EUR 1,000–9,000/year). Confirm the current fee and visa checklist with the university and the Polish embassy before applying.