When considering nursing as a field of study, going abroad is an incredible opportunity to broaden your horizons as a healthcare professional. You will be immersed in high-pressure situations and learn to adapt to a wide range of cultures and personalities.
Poland offers attractive degree options and, in some English-taught programs, the opportunity to complete an undergraduate nursing degree in 3 years. The country is also conveniently located in Central Europe, and students can travel across much of Europe to explore more of the world. Here is everything you need to know about studying nursing in Poland.
Steps on How to Apply for a Nursing Program in Poland
Step 1. Know the Requirements of Becoming a Nurse in Poland
Poland is part of the EU, and Polish nursing qualifications are designed around European training standards. However, a nursing diploma does not automatically give you the right to practice everywhere. After graduation, you must complete the relevant registration or recognition process in Poland or in the country where you want to work.
In Poland, undergraduate nursing is generally a first-cycle bachelor’s degree. English-taught nursing programs may take 3 years to complete, but the exact length, credits, and admissions status vary by university. For example, the Medical University of Gdańsk lists its Bachelor of Nursing program in English as 3 years, 6 semesters, and 181 ECTS credits. At Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum, the English-language nursing program information states that the program lasts 3 years, but the university currently says that it is not offering admission to Nursing in English for the 2026/2027 academic year.
To study nursing in Poland, you will usually need to complete secondary education and meet the university’s subject and English-language requirements. For the Medical University of Gdańsk, applicants to the English-taught Bachelor of Nursing program need high school grades in biology, English, and one additional subject chosen from chemistry, physics, or mathematics. The university may also conduct an oral examination after registration. The current English requirement is at least B2, with accepted examples including IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 80.
After completing an undergraduate nursing degree, you may apply for a second-cycle master’s program in nursing if you meet the university’s entry requirements. Such programs commonly last 2 years or 4 semesters, but available study modes and specializations depend on the university.
Step 2. Research Nursing Schools in Poland
When studying nursing in Poland, there are many factors to consider when choosing your nursing school. In a country like Poland, it may be difficult to communicate if you do not speak Polish. Smaller, less metropolitan cities may offer cultural experiences that are better suited to some students, while larger cities can provide more international communities and clinical opportunities.
Several Polish universities offer nursing, but not every nursing program is taught in English. The Medical University of Warsaw has a Faculty of Health Sciences with nursing programs, but its current international admissions information says that there is no English program for Nursing and that nursing courses are conducted in Polish. Łódź is another major student city, but students should also check the current language of instruction before treating it as an English-taught nursing option. The Medical University of Łódź currently lists English Division programs in medicine and dentistry, while nursing is listed among Polish-taught studies.
Step 3. Meet the Prerequisites of Studying Nursing in Poland
Many nursing degrees in Poland are conducted in Polish, and some are conducted in English. To study nursing in Poland in English, you will usually need to prove your English proficiency through an accepted standardized English test or another approved certificate. At the Medical University of Gdańsk, applicants to the English-taught Bachelor of Nursing program are assessed based on high school subjects and may also be required to complete an oral examination conducted by the university after registration.
Even when courses are offered in English, it will benefit you greatly to study Polish in addition to your primary subjects. This can help you during clinical practice, daily life, and communication with patients, classmates, and healthcare staff.
Step 4. Know the Tuition Fees
Poland is an EU country with relatively affordable student living costs compared with many other European destinations, but costs vary by city and lifestyle. As an international student, you may be able to work depending on your visa or residence status. Poland’s EU immigration information states that holders of a national visa with a student annotation or a temporary residence permit for higher education may work in Poland without a work permit.
Scholarships are not guaranteed, but it is not accurate to say that international students are never eligible for financial support. Depending on your nationality, level of study, and university, you may be able to look into university scholarships, NAWA programs, Erasmus+, or bilateral scholarship programs.
Tuition fees vary by university and program, so always check the current official fee page before applying. For the 2026 admission cycle, the Medical University of Gdańsk lists tuition for its English-taught Bachelor of Nursing program at 27,400 PLN per year, plus a 3,100 PLN Orientation Week fee. Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum listed Nursing in English at 17,000 PLN per semester for 2025/2026 students, or 34,000 PLN per year, but it currently states that it is not offering admission to Nursing in English for 2026/2027. For Polonia University in Częstochowa, the current publicly available university information does not confirm the older claim that a nursing bachelor’s degree costs roughly $3,000 per year, so applicants should check the current official fee information before applying.
Step 5. Fill Out the Application Form and Prepare Your Application Materials
When applying to study nursing in Poland, your foreign certificates may need to be translated into Polish or English, depending on the university’s rules. The Medical University of Gdańsk currently requires candidates to submit an application form through its online enrollment system, along with a high school diploma and an English-language certificate confirming at least B2-level proficiency. You should attach your IELTS or TOEFL certification if that is the English certificate you plan to use.
Each school has different requirements, so you need to review the current specifications carefully. WSEI University currently lists several requirements for international candidates, including identification documents, educational documents, a health and fitness certificate for Nursing, proof of English at B2 level, and, for Nursing applicants, a certificate of no criminal record. Candidates who need a NAWA eligibility letter must also complete the required entry test. After arrival, students may need to present original documents, valid insurance, and one passport photo.
Step 6. Apply To Nursing Schools in Poland
As part of the EU, Poland’s academic year usually begins in the fall. Classes commonly start in late September or October, but application dates vary by university and program. For example, the Medical University of Gdańsk lists July 31, 2026, as the registration deadline for its Fall 2026 Bachelor of Nursing intake, with an obligatory Orientation Week in the last week of September. Many universities follow an online registration process, so check the current admission calendar for each school before applying.
Step 7. Once You Get Accepted, Prepare For Student Visa
EU citizens can study in Poland without a student visa. However, if they plan to stay in Poland for more than 3 months, they must register their stay with the local voivodeship office. This registration is free and confirms their right to remain in Poland for a longer stay.
Students from outside the EU usually need to apply for a student visa through the Polish consulate or embassy responsible for their country, unless they are visa-exempt. Carefully read the instructions on your local consulate website to gather all the necessary documents. These commonly include an application form, passport, biometric photo, proof of admission, health insurance, proof of sufficient funds, and documents confirming the purpose of stay.
After arriving in Poland, non-EU students who plan to stay longer than their visa allows can apply for a temporary residence permit before their legal stay expires. A Polish national visa is usually issued for up to 1 year, while a first temporary residence permit for studies is generally issued for 15 months or, for shorter programs, for the study period plus 3 months. Later permits may be issued for longer periods, but not longer than 3 years. A temporary residence permit can also make short-term travel within the Schengen Area easier, but you must still follow Schengen travel rules.
We hope that this article on how to study nursing in Poland was helpful. If you are interested, make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe for International Students!
