Recognition of foreign education
Recognition of a foreign secondary school (maturity) certificate
for purposes of admission to first cycle (BA level) studies or long-cycle (MA level) studies in Poland————–
Recognition of a foreign secondary school leaving certificate takes place:
- by operation of law – i.e. automatically, without confirmation from other institutions or authorities in Poland;
- through administrative proceedings conducted by the Education Superintendent (Kurator Oświaty) or by obtaining an individual recognition statement on a foreign document issued by the Director of the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) (as of 1 July 2025).
1) Certificates obtained abroad that do not require additional formalities
No additional formalities are required for foreign certificates that are recognised in Poland by operation of law. Such documents may be submitted directly to the university, without the need to obtain additional confirmations from other institutions or authorities in Poland.
Types of certificates recognised in Poland by operation of law:
- Certificates or other documents issued by schools operating in education systems of a EU, EFTA or OECD member state which allow access to higher education institutions in those countries (at present: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States);
- International Baccalaureate (IB) diplomas issued by the International Baccalaureate Organization in Geneva;
- European Baccalaureate (EB) diplomas issued by European Schools in accordance with the Convention defining the Statute of the European Schools, signed in Luxembourg on 21 June 1994;
- Certificates recognised as equivalent on the basis of an international agreements –at present: China (Gaozhong) and Ukraine.
Attention! If a certificate or other document qualifies the holder to apply for admission only to certain departments (in specific fields of study) in the country of issuance, the holder may apply in Poland only to the same or similar departments
2) Certificates obtained abroad that require additional formalities
Candidates whose certificate was issued outside the education system of a EU, EFTA or OECD member state or has not been recognised as equivalent on the basis of an international agreement, and who do not hold an IB or EB diploma, are required to obtain the NAWA’s Director individual recognition statement on a foreign document.
More information on this procedure is available on the NAWA website:
*Attention! Candidates who already hold a decision on the recognition of a foreign certificate issued by the Education Superintendent (Kuratorium Oświaty) are not required to additionally obtain an individual recognition statement issued by the Director of NAWA.
As of July 1st, 2025, in accordance with the of the Act of April 4th, 2025, amending certain acts to eliminate irregularities in the visa system of the Republic of Poland, the director of NAWA gained the authority to issue written information about a certificate or other document confirming the right to apply for admission to first-cycle or long- cycle studies in the Republic of Poland, issued at the request of the interested party. As of July 1st, 2025, the Education Superintendent no longer process cases related to the recognition of certificates for confirming the right to apply to higher education in Poland based on foreign certificates. More information
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Recognition of foreign higher education degrees in Poland
for the purpose of further studies
1) Diplomas obtained abroad that do not require additional formalities
Candidates whose higher education diploma was issued within the education system of a EU, EFTA or OECD member state, or has been recognised as equivalent on the basis of an international agreement or through the „nostrification” procedure, are not required to obtain additional confirmations from other institutions or authorities in Poland. The diploma may be submitted directly to the university.
2) Diplomas obtained abroad that require additional formalities
Candidates whose higher education diploma was issued outside the education system of a EU, EFTA or OECD member state, or has not been recognised as equivalent on the basis of an international agreement or through „nostrification”, are required to obtain the NAWA’s Director individual recognition statement on a foreign document.
More information on this procedure is available on the NAWA website: https://nawa.gov.pl/en/recognition/how-to-obtain-a-recognition-statement/diploma-of-higher-education
Candidates whose diploma does not provide direct access to further studies in the country where it was obtained, and who intend to continue their education in Poland are required to have the diploma „nostrified” prior to commencing studies in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 28th September 2018 on the nostrification of higher education diplomas obtained abroad and on confirmation of completion of higher education studies at a given level of education (Journal of Laws, item 1881).
The „nostrification” of higher education diplomas is carried out by a university holding a scientific category A+, A or B+ in the discipline to which the nostrification application relates (pursuant to Article 327(4) of the Act).
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Other important information
A foreign secondary school (maturity) certificate / higher education diploma must be accompanied by a document (information) stating that the certificate / diploma entitles to undertake or continue university-level study in country in which the diploma was issued (such proof should be issued or certified by the school or educational institution which issued the certificate / diploma or by educational authorities of the country which issued the certificate or in which system of education the school operates).
When a foreign secondary school (maturity) certificate, a higher school degree or other document obtained abroad is recognized by way of nostrification, the candidate is required to submit a certificate stating its equivalence with the relevant Polish maturity certificate / diploma of higher education.