Admission to Polish Universities for Indian Students: NAWA Recognition, English, Entrance Exams and Deadlines

Step by step

1. Shortlist programmes (October–March)

   Check fee, English level, exam and deadline on the university page; Polish universities set their own rules.

2. Request NAWA recognition (January–April)

   Apply online through NAWA's SYRENA system for an individual recognition statement on your Class 12 certificate or degree. It can take up to 60 days.

3. Attest and apostille

   State attestation at the Regional Authentication Centre, then the MEA apostille.

4. Take an English test

   Usually IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 72; some universities want 6.0 or 6.5.

5. Register in IRK (May–July)

   Upload scans and pay the application fee of PLN 85–150 per programme.

6. Exam or interview

   Maths for engineering, biology and chemistry for medicine, interviews for some master's.

7. Pay the first instalment

   The admission letter for the visa usually follows payment.

8. Apply for the visa

   Book through e-Konsulat and VFS straight away.

The NAWA step, explained

Before 2025 many Indian students had their certificate recognised by a regional education office (kuratorium). That route closed on 30 June 2025. Now:

• For a bachelor's, you need NAWA's individual recognition statement on your Class 12 certificate. Some universities, such as Rzeszów Tech, call it "NAWA Director's information".
• For a master's, you check your degree in the NAWA Kwalifikator tool. If it needs individual recognition, you apply in SYRENA and upload the final statement. A Kwalifikator printout alone is not enough at most universities.
• Allow up to 60 days. Several universities, such as SGGW, let you apply with a declaration and submit the statement later.

English

A national regulation of 30 July 2025 lists the English certificates universities may accept at B2. Typical minimums:

• IELTS Academic 5.5 (6.0 at Warsaw Tech, Łódź and Lodz Tech; 6.5 at Poznań's medical university);
• TOEFL iBT 72 (87 at Warsaw Tech and the University of Łódź);
• PTE Academic 59;
• Cambridge B2 First or higher, LanguageCert B2, TOEIC with speaking and writing.

Duolingo is not on the list, and universities that state it explicitly do not accept it.

Entrance exams

Because India is outside the EU and OECD, many universities test Indian bachelor's applicants: AMU Poznań, Wrocław Tech, Gdańsk Tech, Silesian Tech, Rzeszów Tech and Lodz Tech set maths or general exams, and SWPS sets history and maths. Exams are usually online and short. Master's programmes more often use an interview.

Deadlines

Non-EU deadlines for October are usually in July, with some second rounds in September for students who already have a visa. Plan for July, not September: a Polish visa takes up to a month after you get the admission letter. February intakes close in December or January.