The Polish education system consists of several parts:
- 3 Years of kindergarten (przedszolke)
- 8 Year of primary school (szkoła podstawowa)
- 4 Year of general secondary school (liceum ogólnokształcące)
- 5 Year of technical secondary school (technikum – there, you can get a profession without going to high school)
- 3-5 Years of university
- 1-2 Years of post-secondary school (szkoła policealna – there, you can get a profession without a high school)
After completing szkoła podstawowa, children take exams and move on to study at a Liceum or a Technikum
🔞 Liceum vs Technikum
A liceum is a general secondary school focused on preparation for the matura exam (secondary education) and university admission.
A technikum lasts longer and combines general education with vocational training, so it can lead to a profession and also to the matura path.
⚠️ Only children under the age of 18 can attend Liceum and Technikum
👨🏻 Liceum for Adults (who reached 18 y.o.)
In Poland, there are also Licea for adults (Liceum dla dorosłych) if you reached 18 y.o.
If you have only completed elementary school in your country, you can enroll in a Liceum Dla Dorosłych in Poland and complete your secondary education at any age.
❗Education at Liceum is only in Polish.
These may be private licea that charge tuition or free public schools.
👨🏻🔧 Post-secondary school (Szkoła Policealna)
Post-secondary schools are designed for people who have completed secondary education and want vocational qualifications without entering a university degree programme.
There are private and public vocational schools. The most popular private schools in Poland are Cosinus, Teb, ŻAK, and Pascal. Look for free public schools in your city.
Students attend a vocational school for 1 to 3 years. Upon graduation, you’ll earn a qualification in the profession of your choice— ranging from healthcare to construction or systems administration.
🏛️ University
Foreigners may apply to Polish universities and study in Polish or English. For first-cycle studies, the basic requirement is a matura certificate or another equivalent document giving access to higher education in the country where it was issued.
There are universities that are free for all international students (such as the University of Silesia in Katowice) and those that charge tuition. The cost per semester at tuition-based universities ranges from 2000 PLN to even 5000 PLN.
One semester term is about ~3-4 months.
You may also be eligible for a scholarship or housing in a student dormitory
🇵🇱 Polish universities also offer “zerówki” — a one-year preparatory program for university admission, during which you attend general classes on Polish studies just like a regular student, but also take additional Polish language courses. After completing zerówka, you apply for a university. It costs about 2000-3000 EUR for 1 year.
⭐ Benefits of Studying in Poland
- Polish university students with a valid student ID can use a 51% discount on domestic rail tickets and public transport up to age 26
- Students of Liceum and Technikum can count on a 37% discount on train travel and a 50% discount on public transport up to age 26
- Students at universities and schools with valid student/school ID pay no income tax until they reach 26 years of age and receive a larger salary
- Museums, galleries and cultural institutions sell reduced student tickets
- Cinemas, gyms, language schools and online services often offer student pricing