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Poland

The best value in the EU — with a genuinely free route for Karta Polaka holders

Language of instruction: English or Polish

Visa: National type D visa, then a residence card

Scholarship: NAWA (Stefan Banach Programme)

Cost: who actually studies free

According to the government portal study.gov.pl, free full-time study on Polish-taught programmes at public institutions is available to Polish citizens, EU/EEA citizens, and holders of the Karta Polaka (Polish Charter). Everyone else pays — which matters, because the familiar "education in Europe is free" line does not apply to Poland for most people.

Official reference figures from the portal: around EUR 2,000 per year for bachelor's, master's and long-cycle programmes, and around EUR 3,000 per year for postgraduate programmes; preparatory Polish courses run at about EUR 2,000 per year. The stated national range is EUR 2,000–6,000.

Doctoral study deserves separate mention: full-time doctoral programmes are tuition-free, and all full-time doctoral candidates receive a scholarship. For anyone aiming at a research career, this is one of the strongest offers in the European Union.

The Karta Polaka is a real free route

If you have Polish ancestry and hold the Karta Polaka, you study Polish-taught programmes on the same terms as Polish citizens — that is, without tuition. For applicants from CIS countries with Polish heritage this is the most underrated path into European education, and we think it deserves to be said plainly.

Visa and practical notes

You apply for a national type D visa, and for stays beyond it, a temporary residence permit (karta pobytu).

One practical point that matters: since 1 April 2026 Poland no longer recognises non-biometric Russian passports — only a passport with a biometric chip is valid for entry and stay. Unlike some other EU states, students are among the categories Polish consulates do accept applications from.

The national scholarship agency is NAWA (National Agency for Academic Exchange), whose flagship inbound programme is named after Stefan Banach. No currently open application window was published when this page was prepared, so we quote no dates — check the NAWA site directly.

UNIPROFI and Poland

We are launching the Poland direction. The most useful things we can do here are two: establish honestly whether you fall into a tuition-free category — Karta Polaka above all — and match an English-taught programme to your profile and budget.

Write to us and we will tell you where this direction stands and what can be done now.

This destination is launching

We're at the very start of our Poland direction — building the team and partnerships. If this interests you, reach out — we'll tell you honestly where things stand and how we can already help.

Learn more

Or message us directly

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