Jagiellonian University (Uniwersytet Jagielloński, or JU) in Kraków was founded in 1364, which makes it the oldest university in Poland and one of the oldest in Europe. Nicolaus Copernicus was among its students. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 329th in the world and the second-highest-ranked university in Poland. It’s known for the humanities, medicine, the social sciences, mathematics and the natural sciences.
Most of JU’s programmes are taught in Polish, but it offers a range of bachelor’s and master’s programmes in English, as well as a School of Medicine in English. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on Jagiellonian University’s own guidance and official Polish information.
1. Choose your programme, and check its language
JU’s international admissions cover programmes taught in Polish and in foreign languages, and its English-taught options include master’s programmes and programmes such as the Joint Bachelor in Sustainability (BASUS) and the School of Medicine in English, which has its own admissions. You need to know the language of instruction at level B2 or higher to start your studies, and some programmes ask for more: for example, programmes at the Faculty of Medicine taught in Polish require Polish at C1 when you apply. Check the requirements on your programme’s page in the IRK system. Jagiellonian University: Welcome Centre.
2. Know the new rules for foreign documents
Under Poland’s Act of 4 April 2025, which aims to stop abuse of the student visa system, new rules have applied since 2025 to applicants whose school certificate or degree comes from outside the EU, EFTA and OECD. Bachelor’s applicants generally need a recognition statement from the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), a B2 certificate in the language of instruction and a pass in the university’s entrance exam or interview. Master’s applicants need a NAWA recognition statement for their degree. NAWA’s recognition can take 60 to 90 days or more, so apply for it through its online Syrena system as early as you can. JU advises starting early, as getting apostilles or NAWA recognition statements can take several weeks or longer.
3. Apply in the first round
JU runs several admission rounds for international candidates. For 2026-27, the main round for bachelor’s and long-cycle programmes ran from 23 February to 9 March 2026, with an additional round until 11 May, and for master’s programmes taught in English the first round ran from 23 February to 24 June 2026, with a second round until 2 September. Additional rounds only open for programmes that still have places, so apply in the first round. Expect similar dates for 2027-28, and check JU’s admission schedule. Jagiellonian University: application schedules.
4. Create your IRK account and pay the fee
You apply through JU’s IRK system at irk.uj.edu.pl: create an account, fill in your personal details and education, upload a photo that meets Polish ID requirements, choose your programme and submit your application. Each application costs PLN 100, which must reach the university by the last day of the round, so pay early, for example through Przelewy24, which credits faster than a bank transfer. You can apply before you have your school-leaving certificate or diploma, but you must present it when you enrol. Jagiellonian University: application step by step.
5. Prepare for your online interview
For most programmes, international applicants take an interview that assesses their aptitude for the programme and their knowledge of the language of instruction at B2 level or higher. Interviews are held online, usually on MS Teams. The interview result is the basis for the ranking list, and your certificate or diploma grades aren’t counted, so prepare well. Some programmes add written exams, fitness tests or a review of your documents.
6. Prove your English or Polish
English-taught programmes ask you to prove your English at level B2 or higher. Since August 2025, applicants from outside the EU must use one of the documents listed in a regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education. These include IELTS Academic (at least 5.5), TOEFL iBT (at least 72), PTE Academic (at least 59) and Cambridge B2 First, but some universities set higher minimums, so check yours. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests. At JU, a language certificate doesn’t exempt you from the interview. For Polish-taught programmes, you’ll need a Polish certificate at B2 or higher, such as the state certificate in Polish as a foreign language.
7. Enrol with all your documents
If you’re qualified, you must enrol by the deadline in the schedule with a complete set of required documents, including the certificate or diploma that entitles you to study. Missing documents can cost you your place, so check the list of required documents before you apply and start collecting them early.
8. Understand the fees and look for scholarships
International students pay tuition fees for bachelor’s, master’s and long-cycle programmes, and the amount is set for each programme in a Rector’s ordinance, paid in two instalments a year. You may be exempt from fees for full-time Polish-taught programmes if, for example, you’re an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, hold a Pole’s Card (Karta Polaka), have permanent residence in Poland or hold a C1 state certificate in Polish. This exemption doesn’t apply to programmes taught in foreign languages, except for NAWA scholarship holders. The National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) runs scholarship programmes for international students, such as the Stefan Banach programme for students from selected countries and Poland My First Choice, and NAWA scholarship holders are usually exempt from tuition fees. Jagiellonian University: fees.
9. Apply for your student visa, then a residence permit
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don’t need a visa, but if they stay longer than three months they must register their residence with the local voivodeship office. If you’re from outside the EU/EEA, you usually apply for a national (D-type) student visa at the Polish consulate in your country once Jagiellonian University has sent your acceptance letter. You’ll need to show that you can pay for your studies and living costs, have health insurance and can pay for your return journey. The University of Warsaw’s Welcome Point, for example, lists PLN 1,010 a month for a student living alone, plus rent and utilities, but the amount is set by regulation, so check the current figure. If you stay longer than your visa allows, you apply to the voivode for a temporary residence permit for studies. Since 27 April 2026, these applications can only be submitted online through the government’s MOS portal. Visa appointments in some countries are booked months ahead, so apply as soon as you have your acceptance letter.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
If you’re a full-time student at a Polish university, you can work in Poland without a work permit, but this doesn’t apply to part-time (extramural) students. Most part-time jobs need Polish, so don’t count on them to cover all your costs. When you graduate, you can apply once for a temporary residence permit for 9 months to look for a job or start a business, as long as you apply before your current permit runs out. As a graduate of full-time studies at a Polish university, you can work without a work permit. Jagiellonian University’s careers office can help you find internships and jobs. Zielona Linia: residence permit for graduates looking for work.
Applying for a PhD at Jagiellonian University?
Doctoral training at JU takes place in its doctoral schools, which run their own competitive admissions each year. You’ll usually need a master’s degree, a research proposal and a supervisor, and doctoral school students in Poland receive a monthly stipend. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Apply to more than one university to give yourself options. Read our guides to the University of Warsaw, the Warsaw University of Technology, Adam Mickiewicz University and AGH University of Krakow. Our guide to studying in Poland explains how the Polish system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from Jagiellonian University’s official admissions, schedule, language and fee pages, Polish government sources and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on Jagiellonian University’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with Jagiellonian University.