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Last modified: 2026-10-01

# Studying Medicine in Poland in English: 2026/27 Fees, Entrance Exams, LEK and Recognition

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Medicine in Poland is a six-year long-cycle master's programme leading to the lekarz (physician) degree, and the public medical universities teach it in English to international students. For the 2026/27 intake, a year costs $16,690–21,350: PLN 64,200 in Gdańsk, EUR 15,100 for the first year in Łódź, PLN 67,900 in Wrocław and EUR 18,800 in Warsaw. Since 2025, applicants with school certificates from Russia, Belarus or Kazakhstan must pass the university's entrance exam and prove English at B2 or higher. To work as a doctor in Poland, graduates also pass the LEK exam, complete a postgraduate internship and prove their Polish; practising in Russia or Kazakhstan requires separate recognition and licensing.

| At a glance | Fact |
| --- | --- |
| Duration | Medicine six years, dentistry five years |
| Degree | Lekarz (physician), lekarz dentysta (dentist) |
| English-taught medicine fee, 2026/27 | $16,690–21,350 a year; about $100,000–128,000 over six years |
| Selection | Biology and chemistry grades (plus physics or mathematics) and a university exam |
| Language | Document at B2 or higher, e.g. IELTS Academic 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 87 in Warsaw |
| Practising in Poland | Diploma + LEK exam + postgraduate internship + Polish language; licence granted by the regional medical council |
| Medicine in Polish | Free only for exempt categories; otherwise e.g. PLN 26,900 per semester in Gdańsk |

The rectorate building of the Medical University of Warsaw. Photo: Adrian Grycuk / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Warszawski_Uniwersytet_Medyczny_2025.jpg), [CC BY 3.0 pl](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/pl/deed.en).

## What medicine costs at four medical universities {#section-1}

Figures come from the rectors' fee orders for 2026/27. Fees are set for each intake and may be indexed for enrolled students no more than once a year.

| University | Medicine, per year | Six years | Dentistry, per year | One-off payments |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Medical University of Warsaw (WUM) | $21,350 (EUR 18,800) | $128,080 (EUR 112,800) | $23,730 (EUR 20,900) | Application EUR 20–24; EUR 1,000 confirmation fee counted towards tuition |
| Medical University of Łódź | $17,150 (EUR 15,100) for year 1, $16,920 (EUR 14,900) for years 2–6 | $101,740 (EUR 89,600) | Five-year DMD offered; see the university's fee page | Application EUR 24 |
| Medical University of Gdańsk (MUG) | $16,690 (PLN 64,200) | $100,110 (PLN 385,200) | Not listed in the English Division fee order for 2026/27 | Orientation week PLN 3,100, registration PLN 100 |
| Wrocław Medical University (UMW) | $17,650 (PLN 67,900) | about $105,880 before indexation | $20,450 (PLN 78,700) | Instalments cost 2.5–3.5% more |

Converted at the ECB reference rate of 30 September 2026. Add living costs, which Study in Poland puts at PLN 1,500–2,000 ($390–520) a month in a dormitory, plus visa fees; the full budget is in our guide to the [cost of studying in Poland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-poland).

One detail at the Medical University of Warsaw: the EUR 1,000 confirmation fee counts towards tuition but is largely non-refundable. A candidate who withdraws in writing before 15 July 2026 gets EUR 500 back.

## How selection works {#section-2}

### Subjects on your school certificate

Medical universities focus on the sciences. Warsaw requires passing grades in biology and chemistry plus physics or mathematics; if a subject is missing from your certificate, you can sit an additional exam at the university (biology, chemistry or physics, but not mathematics). Łódź scores any two of biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics and admits to the second stage those who reach the threshold.

### Entrance examination

Under the Act of 4 April 2025, school leavers with certificates from outside the EU, OECD and EFTA, including Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, must pass a university entrance exam. Formats differ:

- Warsaw: a competency test. The ranking combines 20% for certificate grades and 80% for the test. Exemption based on UCAT, BMAT, MCAT or GAMSAT scores is now available to few candidates, and the university asks applicants to confirm eligibility by email first.
- Łódź: a 30-minute online oral exam covering motivation, socio-medical topics and four questions from each of two chosen subjects. The university publishes its own reading list and allows no more than two attempts per admission round.

### Language

Every non-EU applicant needs proof of English. Warsaw accepts IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 87, Cambridge FCE 173 and several other certificates; citizenship of an English-speaking country does not replace a certificate. Łódź publishes its own list.

### School certificate and NAWA

Certificates from Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan require a NAWA written statement confirming eligibility (free, via the SYRENA system). Warsaw lets you take part before graduation using a certificate of predicted grades. All steps are in our guide to [applying to universities in Poland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-universities-in-poland).

### Timing

The main round runs before the academic year starts in October. Some universities also hold a supplementary round: Warsaw opened one for 2026/27, with registration until 3 October 2026 and the test on 7 October. Places in such rounds are few and the consular stage cannot keep pace with late admission, so plan a year ahead.

## Other medical programmes and the preparatory year {#section-3}

Medical universities teach more than medicine in English. Fees for 2026/27 from official documents:

| Programme | University | Fee |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dentistry (five years) | Medical University of Warsaw | $23,730 (EUR 20,900) a year |
| Dentistry (five years) | Wrocław Medical University | $20,450 (PLN 78,700) a year |
| Pharmacy | Medical University of Gdańsk | $5,420 (PLN 20,850) per semester |
| Nursing, bachelor's | Medical University of Gdańsk | $3,560 (PLN 13,700) per semester |
| Nursing, bachelor's | Wrocław Medical University | $8,500 (PLN 32,700) a year |
| Pre-medical preparatory course | Medical University of Gdańsk | $8,580 (PLN 33,000) per course |

A preparatory year helps applicants whose biology or chemistry is weak, and Gdańsk charges its own preparatory course graduates a reduced orientation fee of PLN 2,050 instead of PLN 3,100. The course does not replace selection for the degree itself.

### A realistic preparation timeline

1. 18–24 months before the start: pick three or four medical universities, check subject requirements, start preparing for IELTS or TOEFL.
2. 12 months before: strengthen biology and chemistry using the textbooks named in the universities' exam syllabi.
3. Right after graduation: request the NAWA statement on your certificate in SYRENA.
4. Spring and summer of the admission year: registration, fees, exams, ranking.
5. After admission: payment, consulate appointment, insurance, housing.

## After graduation: LEK, internship and recognition {#section-4}

The lekarz diploma alone does not give the right to practise in Poland. The licence to practise (prawo wykonywania zawodu) is granted by the regional medical council (okręgowa rada lekarska) for the place where you intend to work. For a non-EU national, Article 7 of the Act on the Professions of Physician and Dentist requires, in addition to a Polish diploma:

1. passing the final medical exam LEK (LDEK for dentists), run by the state Medical Examinations Centre (CEM) in Łódź; graduates of English-taught programmes may sit it in English;
2. completing a postgraduate internship (the council issues a limited licence for the internship period);
3. demonstrating command of Polish to the level needed to practise;
4. meeting the legal capacity, health and professional-ethics conditions.

These requirements apply only to practising in Poland. Polish medical degrees fall under the EU directive on professional qualifications, but the Medical University of Łódź advises every student to check the rules of the medical chamber in their home country early. If you study in English and want to work in Poland, start Polish in your first year: an English-taught diploma is not enough for patients or for the council.

Russia. In the list of foreign institutions under Russian government order No. 186-r of 30 January 2023, Poland is represented only by the University of Warsaw and the Jagiellonian University, and the qualifications listed are licencjat, inżynier, magister, magister inżynier and research degrees, not lekarz or lekarz dentysta; the amendments No. 126-r of 27 January 2025 and No. 298-r of 19 February 2026 did not change the Polish section. A Polish medical diploma therefore goes through recognition and then through licensing under Russian rules. See [studying medicine abroad](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-abroad) for details.

Kazakhstan. Check the recognition and licensing procedure with the competent Kazakh authorities before you apply; general steps are in our overview on [studying abroad from Kazakhstan](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-study-abroad-from-kazakhstan).

## Medicine in Polish: cheaper, but not for everyone {#section-5}

The same universities teach medicine in Polish. For a non-exempt foreigner this is fee-paying too: PLN 26,900 ($6,990) per semester at the Medical University of Gdańsk, about $13,980 a year. Only foreigners listed in Article 324 of the law study free, for example holders of the Karta Polaka, a C1 Polish certificate or permanent residence. Admission requires Polish at B2 or higher and strong science grades. See [tuition-free study in Poland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-tuition-free-study-in-poland) for the exemption rules.

## Poland compared with other countries {#section-6}

Poland's strengths are public medical universities with English Divisions and published fee orders; its weak point for Russian citizens is the visa stage. To compare fees and requirements, see [medicine in Czechia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-in-czechia), [medicine in Hungary](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-medicine-in-hungary) and our [Medicine](https://www.studyu.org/en/program-medicine) and [Dentistry](https://www.studyu.org/en/program-dentistry) programme pages.

## Who medicine in Poland suits {#section-7}

- A good fit if you have strong biology and chemistry, English at IELTS 6.5 or above, a budget from about $130,000 for six years including living costs, and are ready for a university exam.
- Think twice if your goal is to practise in Russia: recognition and licensing are required, and a Polish diploma does not shorten that route compared with other countries.
- Not workable without a visa route: Russian citizens should first find out whether a consulate will accept their application (see our [student visa guide for Poland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-visa-for-poland)).

## Common mistakes {#section-8}

- Looking at the first-year fee instead of six years: over the full course Warsaw costs about $28,000 more than Gdańsk.
- Expecting admission on certificate grades alone; for certificates from Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan the exam is mandatory.
- Paying the confirmation fee before the visa outcome is known; in Warsaw it is largely non-refundable.
- Not checking recognition at home; the lekarz qualification is not on Russia's list No. 186-r.
- Confusing the LEK with a university final exam; it is a state exam after graduation, needed only to practise in Poland.

## FAQ {#faq}

### How much does medicine in English cost in Poland?

For the 2026/27 intake, from PLN 64,200 ($16,690) a year in Gdańsk to EUR 18,800 ($21,350) in Warsaw. In Łódź the first year costs EUR 15,100 and later years EUR 14,900; in Wrocław, PLN 67,900 a year. Over six years that is roughly $100,000–128,000 before living costs.

### Do I have to take an entrance exam?

Yes, if your school certificate was issued outside the EU, OECD and EFTA, for example in Russia, Belarus or Kazakhstan. The 2025 law requires such applicants to pass the university's exam. Each university chooses the format: a competency test in Warsaw, an online oral exam in Łódź. The admissions committee decides on admission.

### Which school subjects do I need?

Almost everywhere, biology and chemistry, sometimes with physics or mathematics. Warsaw requires biology, chemistry and either physics or mathematics, and offers additional exams if a subject is missing. Łódź scores any two of biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics.

### Can I work as a doctor in Poland after graduating?

Yes, after passing the state LEK exam at the Medical Examinations Centre and completing the postgraduate internship. The licence to practise is granted by the regional medical council, and for non-EU nationals the law also requires command of Polish. Practising in another country follows that country's rules.

### Is a Polish medical diploma recognised in Russia?

Not automatically. Russia's list No. 186-r includes only the University of Warsaw and the Jagiellonian University from Poland, and the lekarz qualification is not listed. The diploma therefore goes through recognition, with Rosobrnadzor deciding, followed by licensing under Russian rules.

### Can I study medicine in Poland for free?

Only in Polish and only with an Article 324 exemption, such as a Karta Polaka or a C1 Polish certificate. English-taught medicine is fee-paying for all non-EU citizens. Without an exemption, Polish-taught medicine is also fee-paying: PLN 26,900 per semester in Gdańsk.

## Sources {#section-10}

- [Medical University of Warsaw: fees 2026/27](https://ed.wum.edu.pl/admission-fees), [Rector's order No. 58/2026 (PDF)](https://ed.wum.edu.pl/sites/ed.wum.edu.pl/files/2026-03/order_58_2026_of_the_muw_rector_tuition_fee.pdf), [admission criteria](https://ed.wum.edu.pl/admissions-criteria), [supplementary round](https://ed.wum.edu.pl/pl/recruitment)
- [Medical University of Łódź: fees for students starting in October 2026](https://studymed.umed.pl/admission/6-year-md-medicine/tuition-other-fees/), [admission criteria](https://studymed.umed.pl/admission/6-year-md-medicine/admission-criteria/), [entrance exam](https://studymed.umed.pl/admission/6-year-md-medicine/ms-teams-entrance-exam/), [right to practise: LEK/LDEK](https://studymed.umed.pl/admission/6-year-md-medicine/right-to-practice/)
- [Medical University of Gdańsk: Rector's order No. 41/2026 on fees (PDF)](https://admission.mug.edu.pl/attachment/attachment/115883/ENG_z4126_oplaty_za_ksztalcenie_w_roku_akademickim_26_27.pdf)
- [Wrocław Medical University: tuition 2026/27](https://admission.umw.edu.pl/tuition-fee/)
- [Ministry of Science: Act of 4 April 2025 on the admission of foreigners](https://www.gov.pl/web/nauka/komunikat-dla-uczelni-na-temat-wybranych-rozwiazan-przyjetych-w-ustawie-z-dnia-4-kwietnia-2025-r-o-zmianie-niektorych-ustaw-w-celu-wyeliminowania-nieprawidlowosci-w-systemie-wizowym-rzeczypospolitej-polskiej)
- [Medical Examinations Centre (CEM), Łódź](https://www.cem.edu.pl/)
- [Act on the Professions of Physician and Dentist, Articles 5 and 7 (consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 item 37)](https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2026/37/text.pdf)
- [Russian government order No. 186-r of 30 January 2023 (Polish section on p. 66)](http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202302020018), amendments [No. 126-r of 27 January 2025](http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202501300011) and [No. 298-r of 19 February 2026](http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202602200041)
- [Study in Poland: cost of living](https://study.gov.pl/cost-living-poland)

Sources checked on 30 September – 1 October 2026. ECB reference rate of 30 September 2026: EUR 1 = USD 1.1355 = PLN 4.3690.

If you want to work through your route into medicine, send a [request](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply): choosing medical universities, document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the university makes the admission decision.

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Cost of Studying in Poland in 2026/27: Tuition, Living Costs, Visa Fees and a First-Year Budget](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-poland)
- [Applying to Universities in Poland: the 2025–2026 Rules Step by Step](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-universities-in-poland)
- [Studying Medicine Abroad: 12 Countries Compared, 2026/27 Fees and Degree Recognition in Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-abroad)
- [Study Abroad from Kazakhstan: Where and How in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-study-abroad-from-kazakhstan)
- [Tuition-Free Study in Poland: Who Qualifies Under the Law and How to Prove It](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-tuition-free-study-in-poland)
- [Studying Medicine in Czechia: Free in Czech or Paid in English — Faculties, Exams, Fees and Degree Recognition](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-in-czechia)

Updated: October 2026