MUP Oświęcim Cavalry Captain Witold Pilecki State University of Małopolska in OświęcimiuFOREIGNERS

FOREIGNERS

A foreigner is any person who does not have Polish citizenship.
Persons who simultaneously hold Polish citizenship and citizenship of another country or several other countries are treated as Polish citizens on the territory of the Republic of Poland.

Rules for taking up and pursuing studies by foreigners

A foreigner may undertake and complete studies or courses at the University:

under the rules applicable to Polish citizens
on terms other than those applicable to Polish citizens.

Rules for taking up and pursuing studies

1. Studies or courses at the University are conducted in Polish in all fields of higher education, with the exception of language courses and classes in the field of English Philology, where studies are conducted in English and German.
2. A foreigner may be admitted to studies or courses conducted in Polish if he or she meets one of the following conditions:
1) completed a one-year preparatory course for studying in Polish
in units designated by the minister responsible for education
higher;
2) has a certificate of knowledge of the Polish language issued by the State Commission
Certification of Knowledge of Polish as a Foreign Language;
3) has obtained confirmation from the receiving university that his/her preparation and level of knowledge of the Polish language allow him/her to undertake studies in Polish.
3. O A foreigner who has one of the following documents may apply for admission to first-cycle studies:
1) a certificate and other documents issued by a school or educational institution operating within the education system of a European Union Member State, a member state of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), member states of the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) – parties to the agreement on the European Economic Area, entitling them to apply for admission to higher education in these countries;
2) an IB (International Baccalaureate) diploma issued by the International Baccalaureate Organization in Geneva;
3) the EB (European Baccalaureate) diploma issued by the European Schools in accordance with the Convention on the Statute of the European Schools, signed in Luxembourg on 21 June 1994 (Journal of Laws of 2005, No. 3, item 10);
4) another document, if international agreements so provide.
4. A foreigner who holds a diploma confirming completion of higher education studies abroad may apply for admission to second-cycle or postgraduate studies if this diploma has been recognized as equivalent to a Polish diploma.

Taking up studies by foreigners
under the rules applicable to Polish citizens

1. Under the terms applicable to Polish citizens, a foreigner may undertake and complete studies or courses if:

1) is a citizen of a Member State of the European Union, the Swiss Confederation or a Member State of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – a party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, or a member of his/her family, residing in the territory of the Republic of Poland,
2) has a permanent residence permit,
3) is a long-term resident of the European Union,
4) holds a temporary residence permit in connection with the circumstances referred to in Article 159 paragraph 1 or Article 186 paragraph 1 point 3 or 4 of the Act on Foreigners,
5) has refugee status granted in the Republic of Poland,
6) benefits from temporary protection or subsidiary protection in the territory of the Republic of Poland,
7) has a certificate confirming knowledge of Polish as a foreign language at least at the C1 language proficiency level,
8) has a Pole's Card or a decision confirming Polish origin,
9) I am a spouse, ascendant or descendant of a citizen of the Republic of Poland, residing in the territory of the Republic of Poland,
10) holds a temporary residence permit in connection with the circumstances referred to in Article 151 paragraph 1 or Article 151b paragraph 1 of the Act of 12 December 2013 on foreigners, or I am staying on the territory of the Republic of Poland in connection with the use of short-term mobility of a scientist under the conditions specified in Article 156b paragraph 1 of this Act,
11) holds a national visa for the purpose of conducting scientific research or development work.

2. The conditions and procedure for admission to studies of a foreigner undertaking studies under the rules applicable to Polish citizens are the same as in the case of Polish citizens – check here.

Taking up studies by foreigners

on terms other than those applicable to Polish citizens

A foreigner may undertake and pursue studies on terms other than those applicable to a Polish citizen, i.e. on the basis of:

1) international agreements, under the terms specified in these agreements;
2) agreements concluded with foreign entities by universities, on the basis of
specified in these agreements;
3) decision of the minister;
4) decisions of the NAWA director regarding its scholarship holders;
5) the decision of the NCN director to allocate financial resources for the implementation
basic research in the form of a research project, internship or scholarship,
qualified for financing through a competition;
6) administrative decision of the rector, director of the PAN institute, director of the institute
research or director of an international institute.

The procedure for admitting a foreigner undertaking studies at the University based on the Rector's decision on a fee-paying basis

1. A foreigner who does not apply for studies under the rules applicable to Polish citizens and does not apply for admission to studies on the basis of an international agreement and the decision of the Minister of Science and Higher Education may apply for admission to studies on a fee-paying basis.

2. An application for admission to studies on a fee-paying basis must be submitted to the Rector by 16 September of the given academic year.

3. In exceptional circumstances, upon a justified request from the candidate, the Rector may extend the deadline for submitting documents.

4. The decision on the admission of a foreigner to studies on a fee-paying basis is made by the Rector after obtaining the opinion of the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Promotion.

Required documents

1. A foreigner applying to study at the University is required to submit the following documents:

1) Personal questionnaire – file to download below;

2) medical certificate confirming the absence of contraindications to undertake education in the selected field – Dietetics, Nursing, Preschool and Early School Pedagogy, Physical Education and Emergency Medical Services.

3) certified by the University a copy of the secondary school leaving certificate (or maturity) or higher education diploma issued in Poland entitling to undertake appropriate studies, or an appropriate document issued abroad, i.e.:

a) in the case of a candidate for first-cycle studies – a photocopy of a legalized or stamped apostille the original secondary school leaving certificate or secondary school leaving certificate obtained abroad, and in the case of a secondary school leaving certificate or secondary school leaving certificate which, in accordance with applicable legal provisions, is subject to recognition by way of an administrative decision, also a decision issued by the relevant education superintendent,
b) in the case of a candidate for second-cycle studies – the document referred to in point 3a and a photocopy of the legalized or stamped apostille an original diploma or other document confirming completion of studies abroad, recognised – in accordance with the regulations on the recognition of diplomas – as equivalent to a Polish first-cycle diploma, or recognised on the basis of an international agreement or other provisions of law generally applicable in Poland as equivalent to the relevant Polish first-cycle diploma or as entitling to undertake second-cycle studies in Poland;
c) in the case of a candidate for postgraduate studies, a photocopy of a legalized or certified apostille a diploma or other document confirming completion of studies abroad, recognised – in accordance with the regulations on the recognition of diplomas – as equivalent to a Polish diploma of completion of first- or second-cycle studies, or recognised on the basis of an international agreement or other provisions of law generally applicable in Poland as equivalent to the relevant Polish diploma of completion of first- or second-cycle studies, or as entitling to undertake postgraduate studies in Poland;

4) Confirmation of knowledge of the Polish language (for candidates applying for admission to studies conducted in Polish)

List of documents confirming knowledge of the Polish language at a minimum level of B2 was published in the regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of July 31, 2025.

5) insurance declaration health insurance and a document confirming health insurance, file to download below;

6) passport (for inspection);

7) visa or residence card or another document entitling to stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland (available for inspection);

8) 1 photograph of the candidate in paper form in accordance with the requirements applicable to the issuance of identity cards;

9) original power of attorney, in the case of a person acting on behalf of the candidate, download file below.

10) translations prepared by a Polish sworn translator or by a foreign translator and certified by the competent consul of the Republic of Poland of all the above-mentioned documents issued in a foreign language;

11) proof of payment for the ID card - 22 PLN (fee information available here);

12) recruitment fee – PLN 85

13) confirmationthat the diploma/certificate held entitles you to take up studies in the country of its issue

14) in the case of foreigners undertaking studies or a course under the terms applicable to Polish citizens, also other documents, the list of which is included in here,

2. Persons who are under 18 years of age on the day of submitting documents for studies are obliged to submit documentation together with the written consent of their legal guardian, file to download below.

3. Foreigners submit a complete set of required documents to the Department of Student Affairs within the deadlines applicable to Polish citizens, specified in the Rector's Order on recruitment deadlines.

Files to download

Personal questionnaire - FOREIGNERS

Personal questionnaire must be completed electronically and print it out and certify it with your own signature

Statement-regarding-health-insurance_to-the-system

Acceptance of the legal representative

If the candidate is unable to submit the documents in person within the specified deadlines, a third party may do it for him – the candidate is then asked to fill in powers of attorney

Power of attorney