Poland offers a broad selection of medical programs in English, including six-year MD programs at several public medical universities. Tuition and living costs can be lower than in many Western European or North American study destinations, while medical programs follow Polish and European higher-education standards. The country continues to welcome international students, and many universities provide English-taught medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, and related health-science programs through international divisions and admissions offices.
Poland also has a long academic tradition. The Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364, included medicine among its original faculties. Today, medical universities in Poland combine classroom learning, laboratories, clinical training, and simulation-based education. A Polish medical diploma can support further licensing or postgraduate training, but graduates must meet the licensing rules of the country where they want to practice. In this article, we are looking at some of the best medical schools in Poland.
Top Medical Schools in Poland
1. Medical University Warsaw
The Medical University of Warsaw traces its academic medical roots to 1809, when the Academic-Medical Faculty was established in Warsaw. Today, it is one of Poland’s major public medical universities, located in the country’s capital and connected with a large clinical and academic environment.
The university offers a six-year MD program in English for high school graduates and other eligible candidates. The program carries 360 ECTS credits and includes preclinical and clinical training, summer clerkships, and practical classes in clinical settings. Graduates receive a Polish medical diploma, and those who want to practice medicine outside Poland must also satisfy the licensing requirements of the relevant country.
2. Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University is the oldest higher education institution in Poland and one of the oldest universities in Europe. It was founded on May 12, 1364, by King Casimir the Great, and its original Studium Generale included faculties of liberal arts, medicine, and law.
This top medical school in Poland offers a six-year Medicine Program in English through the Jagiellonian University Medical College. The program includes preclinical and clinical courses, and students also take a medical Polish language course to help them communicate with patients during clinical education. After graduation, students receive the Polish title of lekarz, which is commonly treated as an MD-equivalent medical qualification.
The university is located in Krakow and enrolled 37,569 students, PhD students, and postgraduate students in the 2025/2026 academic year. Its long history and strong academic environment make it one of Poland’s most recognized universities.
3. Wroclaw Medical University
The history of Wroclaw Medical University dates back to the post-war period. The Faculty of Medicine was established at the joint University of Wroclaw and Wroclaw Technical University in 1946, became the Wroclaw Medical Academy in 1950, and later became Wroclaw Medical University in 2012.
The university offers English Division programs, including a six-year master’s degree program in Medicine, a five-year Dentistry program, and a three-year Nursing program. It also uses clinical facilities and modern teaching resources, including simulation-based learning, to help students develop practical medical skills in realistic educational settings.
4. Medical University Silesia
The Medical University of Silesia in Katowice was founded in 1948 as the Academy of Medicine in Bytom. It has grown into a large public medical university with several faculties and a long record of medical education in southern Poland.
The university has offered a medical program in English at the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice since 1996. Its medical simulation centers are used in teaching across different levels of education, from the first years of study through specialist postgraduate training, giving students opportunities to practice clinical skills in controlled settings.
5. Medical University Gdansk
The Medical University of Gdansk was founded in 1945 as the Akademia Lekarska in Gdańsk. Today, it is a major medical university in northern Poland and has a strong international profile, with students from many countries studying at the university.
Candidates from around the world can apply for the six-year Doctor of Medicine program at the university’s English Division. The university’s hospital base includes the University Clinical Centre, which comprises the Invasive Medicine Centre and the Non-Invasive Medicine Centre, giving students access to modern clinical environments during their education.
6. Medical University Lodz
The Medical University of Lodz was formally established in 2002 through the merger of the civilian Medical Academy of Lodz and the Military Medical Academy. Its history also includes the creation of a medical faculty at the newly opened University of Lodz in 1945, the establishment of the autonomous Medical Academy of Lodz in 1950, and the foundation of the Military Medical Academy in 1957.
The university offers a six-year MD program in English for high school or secondary school graduates. It also offers a PREMED course for students who want to review science subjects or improve English before starting Medicine or Dentistry. The Medical Simulation Centre opened in 2018, and the university also highlights modern teaching and clinical facilities as part of its student training.
7. Poznan University of Medical Sciences
Poznan University of Medical Sciences has more than 100 years of academic tradition, with roots going back to 1919. It is also strongly associated with English-language medical education in Poland: the university admitted its first students to an English-language MD program in the early 1990s and later expanded its English-language medical offer.
Poznan University of Medical Sciences provides English-taught programs and clinical training opportunities for international students. Its Center for Medical Education in English supports incoming students, and the university emphasizes practical learning, simulation, and direct contact with patients as part of medical education.
8. Medical University of Lublin
The Medical University of Lublin traces its history to 1944, when the Faculty of Medicine became part of the newly founded Maria Curie-Skłodowska University. In 1950, the faculty separated from MCSU and became an independent Medical Academy. The university later added other areas of education, including nursing, pharmacy, and dentistry.
The Medicine program at the Medical University of Lublin lasts 12 semesters. It is designed to combine theoretical education with practical medical training and prepare students for medical careers. The university also offers English-taught programs in Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, and Midwifery.
The Medical University of Lublin is an appealing option for students who want a medical education in eastern Poland with access to clinical training, modern laboratories, and an international academic environment.
9. Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin
If you’re still in search of a top-tier medical school in Poland, the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin is another excellent option to consider following the Medical University of Lublin.
Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin was established in 1948 and offers English-language medical education through its Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. Its English-language offer includes a six-year MD English Program, a six-year MD Asklepios Program, and a five-year DMD English Program.
The university is an option for students seeking a medical education in northwestern Poland. Students should check the university’s current admissions pages for the latest program availability, tuition, and scholarship information before applying.
10. Medical University of Bialystok
Located in northeastern Poland, the Medical University of Bialystok was opened on January 1, 1950, as the Medical Academy in Bialystok. Its main seat is the historic Branicki Palace, and the university has grown from a single Faculty of Medicine into a modern medical university.
The English Division Medicine program lasts six consecutive years. Its curriculum includes preclinical courses in the first two years, followed by clinical courses over the next four years. After completing the program, graduates are awarded a Medical Doctor degree, which allows them to apply for a license to practice medicine, subject to the relevant national licensing rules.
For students looking to pursue a career in the medical field, the Medical University of Bialystok offers a structured six-year medical education with theoretical, practical, and clinical components.
FAQs: Studying Medicine in Poland
Can International Students Enroll in Medical Schools in Poland?
Yes. International students can apply to universities in Poland and may study in Polish or English, depending on the program. Many Polish medical universities offer English-taught programs in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Physiotherapy, and related fields.
Admission requirements vary by university and program. Applicants usually need a secondary school certificate or equivalent qualification, strong preparation in science subjects such as biology and chemistry, proof of English proficiency or English-medium education, and, in some cases, an entrance exam or interview.
Poland remains a popular destination for international students because of its English-taught programs, central European location, academic tradition, and relatively accessible living costs compared with many Western European and North American destinations. Students should always check the current admissions, tuition, visa, and licensing information from official university and government sources before applying.
What is the Medical Curriculum like in Medical Schools in Poland?
Medicine in Poland is generally offered as a long-cycle master’s program lasting six years or 12 semesters. Study.gov.pl lists Medicine as a long-cycle master’s program with 360 ECTS credits for the full six-year program.
The curriculum usually combines basic science and preclinical subjects in the earlier years with clinical subjects and practical training in hospitals and other healthcare settings in the later years. Some universities also offer optional preparatory or premedical courses, but these are not the same as the medical degree itself and are not always required.
Medical education in Poland is regulated through national higher-education standards and institutional accreditation. After graduation, students who want to work as doctors must meet the licensing and postgraduate training requirements of the country where they plan to practice.
Poland is home to a number of established medical universities that provide education and training for future medical professionals. From hands-on clinical practice to simulation-based learning and research opportunities, these institutions can provide a strong foundation for students interested in healthcare careers.
We hope that this article on the best medical schools in Poland was helpful. If you are interested in knowing more information, check out the Study in Poland and Available Programs in Europe for International Students pages.
