Poland’s comparatively affordable medical education and English-taught medical programs make it a popular option for international students who want to study medicine in Europe. Most English-taught medicine programs in Poland are 6-year, full-time, long-cycle programs leading to the professional title of lekarz, commonly described in English as MD or Doctor of Medicine.
Poland also has a large international student community. According to Statistics Poland, 108,600 foreign students were enrolled in higher education institutions in Poland in the 2024/2025 academic year.
If you want to be part of this growing international community, here are some key things you need to know about studying medicine in Poland.
1. What are the requirements to study medicine in Poland?
Entrance to 6-year medical programs generally requires a high school diploma or secondary school leaving certificate that allows the applicant to enter higher education in the country where it was issued. Medical schools also usually require strong grades in science subjects, but the exact subjects and selection method vary by university.
At the Medical University of Łódź (MUL), applicants to the 6-year MD program must have two science-related subjects on their school-leaving documents, chosen from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Mathematics. Candidates who meet the first-stage score threshold are eligible for the second stage, an online entrance examination.
At Jagiellonian University Medical College, applicants to the Medicine Program in English must hold a high school-leaving certificate, show completed Biology or Physics and Chemistry courses, and prove English proficiency. Admission is based solely on the entrance examination result, and the 2026/2027 entrance exam is held online.
At the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, applicants to the 6-year MD English Program are assessed according to educational criteria and required documents. The university considers Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics, and at least two of these subjects must appear on the applicant’s certificate.
English-language medical programs require proof of English proficiency, but accepted tests and scores differ by university. For example, Jagiellonian University lists IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 87, or proof that secondary education was conducted in English. Pomeranian Medical University recognizes several B2-level English certificates, including IELTS and TOEFL iBT score ranges. Applicants should always check the current admissions page of each university before applying.
2. Can you study in Polish medical schools as an international student?
Yes. International students can apply to English-taught medicine programs in Poland. These programs are generally designed for international applicants and are offered by several Polish medical universities and faculties.
Students should know that studying medicine in Poland may involve both English and Polish. English-taught programs conduct academic instruction in English, but clinical communication with patients and hospital staff often requires Polish. Some programs include medical Polish to help students prepare for patient contact.
3. How many medical schools are in Poland?
In the 2025 Perspektywy ranking by subject for Medicine, there are 16 Polish institutions listed. However, not every institution listed in a medicine ranking necessarily offers a current English-taught MD program. Applicants should verify the current language of instruction, admissions rules, and program availability directly on each university’s official website.
4. How difficult is it to study medicine in Poland?
Medical education in Poland is demanding, as it is in other countries. Students study basic sciences, preclinical sciences, clinical subjects, practical training, and professional communication skills over a long-cycle medical curriculum.
Some universities provide year-level academic support. For example, the Pomeranian Medical University lists year tutors for each year of its 6-year MD program.
Another challenge is communication in clinical settings. Even if a program is taught in English, patients and many hospital interactions will be in Polish. For this reason, international students should expect to learn Polish during their studies.
To help students prepare, the Medical University of Łódź offers a PREMED preparatory course. It includes 974 academic hours and covers Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Medical English, Polish, Anatomy, Basic Life Support, and Introduction to Histology.
5. What are the components of the medical curriculum in Poland?
Polish medical programs taught in English are typically 6-year, long-cycle programs. Study.gov.pl describes long-cycle master’s programs for medical specialties as lasting 5–6 years, and individual medicine programs commonly list 6 years, or 12 semesters.
The 6-year MD program is open to high school or secondary school graduates. At the Medical University of Łódź, the program lasts 6 years, or 12 semesters. The curriculum includes preclinical subjects, such as anatomy, medical chemistry, biology with genetics and ecology, biophysics, physiology, histology, pathomorphology, and pharmacology, mainly in the first three years. Clinical subjects, such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, neurology, psychiatry, gynecology and obstetrics, dermatology and venereology, and infectious diseases, are taught mainly in the last three years.
At Jagiellonian University Medical College, the 6-year English-taught medical program focuses on basic sciences, research capacity, and clinical skills. Students receive clinical exposure every year. The first year focuses on basic sciences, the second year emphasizes pathology and pharmacological treatment, and the third year shifts toward clinical practice. The fourth and fifth years emphasize clinical training and skill development, while the sixth year is devoted to clinical training.
At the Pomeranian Medical University, the 6-year MD curriculum consists of 12 semesters and 5,710 hours of lectures and practical classes. Each year awards 60 ECTS points. The sixth year includes 30 weeks of practical training in fields such as Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, and an elective specialty.
6. What do you need to become a doctor in Poland?
After completing a medical degree, a graduate who wants to practice medicine in Poland must meet licensing requirements. These are separate from completing the university degree.
For graduates of Polish medical studies, the right to practice as a physician in Poland is obtained after completing the required postgraduate internship and passing the State Medical Final Examination, known in Polish as LEK. The LEK/LDEK exams are available in Polish and English language versions.
The Medical University of Łódź explains that the standard postgraduate internship route for medicine is a 13-month postgraduate internship. It also notes that graduates of English-taught medical studies in Poland may be able to complete a 6-month English-language practical training program, after which the graduate applies to the Ministry of Health for recognition of that training as equivalent to the Polish internship.
Students who want to complete a Polish-language internship or practice in Polish clinical settings should expect to need Polish language skills. Licensing and internship rules can change, so graduates should confirm the procedure with the Polish Chamber of Physicians and Dentists, the Ministry of Health, and their university before planning their post-graduation pathway.
The LEK consists of 200 multiple-choice test tasks, lasts 4 hours, and has a minimum passing score of 56% of valid questions. Passing the LEK and completing the required internship are key steps toward obtaining the right to practice medicine in Poland. The right to practice in other countries is determined by the legal regulations of those countries.
I hope this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Available Courses in Europe for International Students and Europe Scholarships Page.
