Studying medicine in Poland in English: admission, tuition and what comes next

Medicine in Poland: one national standard

Polish medical universities train doctors to one national standard. Besides the programmes in Polish, many of them run paid programmes in English for applicants from all over the world, often called the English Division. The diploma is the same Polish medical degree, whichever language you studied in.

The number of places is set every year by the Minister of Health, and the limit also covers programmes taught in a language other than Polish. For example, the Medical University of Warsaw has 170 such places in medicine in 2026/2027. That is why it pays to apply early and to more than one university.

What the programme looks like

Medicine lasts 12 semesters, that is 6 years, and includes at least 5,700 hours of classes and 360 ECTS credits. Dentistry lasts 10 semesters, with at least 5,000 hours and 300 ECTS credits. This minimum is set by the national regulation on training standards, so the programme at every university has the same basis, and graduates receive the professional title of physician (lekarz) or dentist (lekarz dentysta).

The first years cover the basic sciences, and from the middle of the programme classes move to the university hospitals. On the English programmes the whole curriculum is taught in English. If you plan to work in Poland later, start learning Polish early in your studies, because you will need it with patients.

Admission to programmes in English

Each university has its own rules, but the same elements usually count. This is how it works at the Medical University of Gdańsk:

1. Subjects Your results in biology (compulsory) and in chemistry, physics or mathematics at an advanced level count.
2. Exam Applicants take an entrance exam in biology and chemistry at secondary-school level.
3. English You present a certificate of English, and the interview with the committee also checks your English.
4. Admission Once accepted, you sign a contract with the university, pay the tuition and submit your original documents.

Universities accept many kinds of school-leaving certificates: the Medical University of Warsaw, for example, has separate rules for national school-leaving certificates, the International and European Baccalaureate and applicants with test results such as UCAT or BMAT. Admissions usually open in spring. We keep track of the deadlines for you.

How much does it cost to study medicine in Poland?

Programmes in English are paid, and each university sets its own tuition. Examples for 2026/2027:

University	Medicine in English
Wrocław Medical University	PLN 62,384 a year
Medical University of Gdańsk	PLN 32,100 a semester

On top of tuition come the application fee, accommodation and living costs. For comparison: at the universities we work with in Ukraine, medicine costs from USD 4,000 a year. We help you work out the whole budget before you choose.

After graduation: LEK, internship and work in Poland

A Polish medical diploma is the first of three documents that together make up the full qualification:

1. Medical diploma You complete the 6-year medicine programme.
2. LEK You pass the Medical Final Examination: 200 questions, pass mark 56%. It can also be taken in English (fee PLN 400). Practice questions for the LEK exam, also in English, are available on Medmigrant, our learning platform.
3. Postgraduate internship You complete the internship on a limited right to practise.
4. Full right to practise in Poland It is granted by the regional medical council. To work in Poland you also need spoken and written Polish.

These three documents, the diploma, the LEK certificate and the internship certificate, are exactly what Annex V of Directive 2005/36/EC lists for Poland. The Supreme Medical Council (Naczelna Rada Lekarska) issues the certificate of full qualifications that doctors need abroad.

Working in the UK or Ireland with a Polish degree

A medical qualification awarded in the EEA may be classed by the GMC as a relevant European qualification, with its own registration route without PLAB:

1. Check the GMC page for Poland The GMC has a page for each EEA country that lists the documents for that route.
2. Complete the qualification For a Polish degree, the qualification is the diploma plus the LEK and the postgraduate internship.
3. Evidence of English You show evidence of your English. We check with you which evidence the GMC accepts on this route.
4. Registration You apply for registration with a licence to practise through GMC Online.

This route rests on transitional rules: after Brexit, the UK kept recognising EEA qualifications automatically, and a 2023 government review decided to retain this for a temporary period of five years. For the UK Foundation Programme, priority depends on where your degree is from, and a Polish degree is not prioritised, whatever your nationality; you can still apply.

In Ireland, every doctor must be registered with the Medical Council. For citizens of EU member states, Irish citizens included, Directive 2005/36/EC provides for automatic recognition of the medical qualifications listed in it; for a Polish degree that means the diploma plus the LEK and the internship.

For the full step-by-step route, read our guides to working as a doctor in the UK, in the USA, in Canada and in Australia with a Polish degree.

Poland after a start abroad

There is also a second road to a Polish degree: you start in Ukraine or Georgia, where tuition is lower, and then transfer to an English-taught programme in Poland. It is an option, not a requirement, because many students graduate where they started.

We transfer students from universities outside the EU even into the fifth year. In our experience the transfer always works out, although not always to the university chosen first, so together we choose several preferred ones. We prepare the comparison of curricula, the translations and the application.

Frequently asked questions

How long does medicine take in Poland?

Six years (12 semesters). Dentistry takes five years (10 semesters).

Can I work in Poland after studying in English?

Yes, after passing the LEK, completing the internship and with good Polish. You can take the LEK in English.

Is a Polish medical degree recognised in the UK?

Yes, at present through the GMC’s route for relevant European qualifications, without PLAB. For a Polish degree, the qualification includes the LEK and the postgraduate internship.

Where should I start?

With a conversation about your results in biology and chemistry, your budget and your plans after graduation. Based on that, we choose the universities and deadlines.

Universities in Poland

Read also: Medical degree recognition in the UK and Ireland: what it depends on and how to prepare. You will find all universities on the Poland page and in the university directory. Book a free consultation.