Medical education in Poland

There are two formats of education in Polish medical universities – contract and budget. The best applicants who received high scores in the entrance exams can study for free. Foreigners also have access to budget-funded education on equal terms with Poles.

Free medical education in Poland

Free medical education in Poland is available to every applicant, regardless of his social status, age, nationality and other characteristics. Foreign citizens have free access to budgetary education in various Polish medical universities, but for this you need to meet a number of conditions:

• to issue a Pole’s Card or a Permanent Residence Card;
• obtain a C1 language certificate, confirming a high level of knowledge of the Polish language at a conversational level;
• pass a competitive selection, which includes passing exams in physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics (the list of subjects varies depending on the specialty).

Each applicant participates on equal terms in the competitive selection for budget places. Universities set the number of budget places for individual specialties, in which they can recruit students. Therefore, only the best of the best will study for free – people who have received high exam scores.

There are dozens of higher educational institutions in Poland, which have state-funded places. Therefore, if you wish, you can get a quality education for free, but only if you work hard.

Nineteen medical universities in Poland provide medical education. Among them, nine are state-run, two are private, and there are three collegiums and five medical faculties. Admission to each of these universities guarantees a quality education in medicine in accordance with international standards.

Also, the Bologna modular system operates in the Polish towers. This enables students to participate in exchange programs, travel to other European universities and gain new knowledge. Medical education in Poland is held at a high level, provided by qualified teachers according to thoughtful curricula.

How to apply to a medical school in Poland

In order to answer the question of how to get a medical education in Poland, you need to understand the principles of functioning of the educational system of this country. Those wishing to become doctors in various specialties go through a tough competitive selection, since not every person is given the opportunity to treat people.

The procedure for admission to medical universities by applicants includes the following steps:

1. register in the electronic system of the selected educational institution;
2. send copies of documents required for admission;
3. pay the registration fee to consider the request;
4. pass the required exams and pass an interview (if established by the university);
5. provide the original documents of the selection committee upon successful completion of the competitive selection.

Foreigners must confirm knowledge of the Polish language and a pobutu card before admission. Education in universities is entirely conducted in Polish, so a high level of language knowledge is mandatory. Some medical institutions may also require you to complete an interview on Skype or Zoom on a general topic.

Medical education in Poland: cost

Paid medical education in Poland is more expensive than in Ukraine, but more affordable than in educational institutions of a similar format in most European countries. The price of prestigious Polish education varies from 2 to 15 thousand euros per year, but it largely depends on the specialty and the chosen educational institution.

If we talk about specific areas, then the cost of education is set at the following level:

• medical and dental direction – 8-12 thousand euros for programs in Polish;
• pharmaceutical direction – 4-8 thousand euros;
• training of midwives, nurses, dentists, emergency physicians – 4-6 thousand euros;
• Cosmetology, nutrition and physiotherapy – 2-5 thousand euros.

Prices are indicated for the year of study, and in total it will take 5-6 years to study, depending on the specialty. It should be borne in mind that each university sets its own tuition fee, so before entering, go to the official website of the selected educational institution and carefully read the information.

The cost of education is fixed, that is, after admission, the entire period of study, the student will pay the same amount per year. Find out information about the cost of training only on official platforms. Also enroll in licensed schools to ensure you get a quality education.

Investing in a Polish medical education is profitable, as working in Poland with a medical education is prestigious and highly paid. Taking into account the salaries of qualified doctors and a salary of about PLN 8,000 (€1,700) per month, you will be able to recoup your investment in studies in just a few years. But there is an opportunity to study completely free of charge.

After receiving a diploma, graduates of higher medical universities in Poland undergo a mandatory postgraduate internship (staż podyplomowy¬). This is an internship in one of the medical institutions, which will allow you to gain the necessary experience and in the future find a job in a highly paid position.

You must pass the LEK final exam to be eligible to practice medicine. You also need to complete a residency to become a narrowly focused specialist. So, in general terms, it may take up to 8 years to study in the medical field. But it’s worth it, because doctors are always in demand people with good salaries and respect in society. Ukrainians can get education in Poland on favorable terms with subsequent employment.