Home to institutions that consistently rank well in the QS World University Rankings. A stragtegic location between Western and Eastern Europe. A city where you can discover the largest medieval square in Europe or take a walk down memory lane to relive the heroic uprising for the liberation of Warsaw.
These are some reasons that pull international students to study in Poland.
In just the past decade, the number of international students in Poland has tripled, and in 2023, it reached a record high of over 100,000, according to the education magazine Perspektywy.
A total of 102,200 international students were registered in the education ministry database for the 2022/23 academic year, and about 9% of all students in Poland’s universities are now foreign.
And with Poland offering over 300 English-taught university programmes, its low living cost, and affordable universities and programmes, there’s no better time than now to pursue your studies in the country.
The most affordable universities to study in Poland, ranked from most expensive to least
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1. Warsaw University of Technology
Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) is not only the oldest, but also the best technical university in Poland. It continues the tradition of the Preparatory School for the Institute of Technology that used to function in Warsaw. Today, WUT offers comprehensive education in all key areas of technical sciences and related sciences.
The university has seven priority research areas: Photonic Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Data Science, Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering, Material Science and Engineering, High Energy Physics and Experimental Techniques, and Energy Conversion and Storage.
Undergraduate programmes start from as low as 14,700 euros (US$16,149). Postgraduate programmes start from 4,500 euros (US$4,943).
There’s no experience quite like the one you get while you study in Poland. Source: AFP
2. AGH University of Science and Technology
If there’s one word to describe the AGH University of Science and Technology (AGH UST), it would be innovation — which explains why the university has successfully over 100 patents and granted dozens of licenses.
AGH UST’s research activities span the fields of technical sciences, natural sciences, Earth sciences and social sciences — with an emphasis on current priorities of the economy and business areas such as digitisation, energy transformation and zero-emission economy, climate change, circular economy, and Industry 4.0.
Look beyond the university, and you’ll discover the majestic and vibrant city of Krakow — a town at the forefront of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life. The city also serves as one of Poland’s most important economic centres.
Tuition for a three and a half year bachelor’s starts from 12,075 euros (US$13,240) and 5,250 euros (US$5,756) for a master’s.
The city of Warsaw houses two top-tier Polish institutions: the University of Warsaw and the Warsaw University of Technology. Source: AFP
3. University of Wroclaw
The University of Wroclaw (UOW) is among the largest universities in the Central European region, housing over 25,000 students. It is the only university in South-Western Poland that qualified for the “Initiative of Excellence – Research University” programme.
Dubbed the “Meeting Place” of Poland, Wroclaw — the fourth largest Polish city — the town is filled with theatres, a concert hall, galleries and museums for a monthly living expense of 3,079 Polish zloty (US$796)
You will need to pay an application of 23 and 35 euros (US$25 and US$38), respectively, to start your undergraduate and graduate education at UOW. Tuition for a three-year bachelor’s and two-year master’s degree can go as low as 10,950 euros (US$12,006) and 6,150 euros (US$6,743).
There’s much to see, do, and learn — at very affordable prices — when you study in Poland. Source: AFP
4. WSB University
WSB University is one of the most popular Polish universities amongst international students. Here, nearly 2,000 foreign students from 60 countries worldwide can be found within the university’s halls.
The reason? The school offers a range of English-taught undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across 15 fields of study and over 130 specialties. Some bachelor’s studies include International Business, Trade and Marketing, Digital Marketing and Sales Management, and Mobile and Cloud Computing; master’s studies include Project Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management, and International Human Resources Management.
An application fee of 250 euros (US$274) must be made for all programmes. Undergraduate degrees last three to three-and-a-half years and cost around 6,293 euros (US$6,911). Postgraduate degrees take two years and total around 4,196 euros (US$4,608).
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5. University of Warsaw
Founded in 1816, the University of Warsaw is the largest in Poland. It sits among the top 300 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2025. As such, it conducts the largest research enterprise of its kind in Europe.
The University of Warsaw also offers a broad range of humanities, social and natural sciences courses. For international students, the English-language programmes cover subjects including but not limited to American Studies, European Politics and Economics, International Relations, and Political Science.
Beneath this dynamic institution lies the capital of Poland, Warsaw. Described by many as attractive and prosperous, you can get by with an average cost of living of 1,600 to 2,500 zloty (US$414 to US$647) per month as a student living in a shared apartment or dormitory.
You’ll also be required to pay an application fee of between 85 to 100 zloty (US$22 to US$25) depending on the programme. A three-year bachelor’s degree here can cost between 4,500 to 15,000 euros (US$4.943 to US$16,479), while two-year master’s degrees range from 3,700 to 36,000 euros (US$4,064 to US$39,550). Some programmes, like a bachelor’s and master’s in Archeology or a Master in Machine Learning, are free of charge.
6. Jagiellonian University
Another high-ranking university in Poland, Jagiellonian University has welcomed international students to its halls from its very beginnings back in 1364. From the Poles, Ruthenians, and Lithuanians, to the French, Spanish, and Italians, quality education was shared in droves.
While most of the university’s programmes are carried out in Polish, there are English programmes for international students to check out. This includes Business and Finance Management, European Studies, Global and Development Studies, International Relations, and a Doctor of Dental Surgery programme.
All applicants must pay a 100 zloty (US$25) fee. Here, tuition varies between 8,500 to 93,000 zloty (US$2,201 to US$24,082) — the most expensive of all (while still relatively affordable) being the six-year medicine programme.
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on April 10, 2025.
