Study in Poland from Iraq

Poland has public and non-public (private) universities offering Bologna-structure degrees. It has invested heavily in English-taught programmes aimed at international students.

For applicants with non-EU qualifications, document recognition is central: the prior certificate usually must be legalised or apostilled and translated, and some universities require nostrification (formal recognition of equivalence) before admission.

Bachelor's entry is based on your secondary-school certificate; master's entry requires a relevant bachelor's degree. Doctoral study is usually organised through doctoral schools.

Poland offers a broad range of English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes, so Polish is often not required for study. English-taught programmes require English evidence at the level the university sets. Check the language of instruction per programme.

1. 1

   Choose a university and apply directly

   Most Polish universities accept applications directly through their own systems or a university recruitment portal. Start from the official programme page.
2. 2

   Prepare and legalise your certificate

   Have your secondary-school or degree certificate legalised or apostilled and translated by an accepted translator. Check whether the university also requires nostrification (formal recognition).
3. 3

   Provide language evidence

   Submit English evidence for English-taught programmes (or Polish evidence for Polish-taught programmes) at the required level.
4. 4

   Receive admission and a place confirmation

   The university confirms your admission and issues documents you will need for the visa.
5. 5

   Apply for the national (type D) visa, then register

   Apply for the national long-stay visa at the Polish consulate, then complete registration and any residence formalities after arrival.

Requirements differ by programme, but Iraqi applicants usually prepare the following. See our documents guide for what each one means.

• Passport
• Secondary-school certificate (bachelor's) or degree and transcripts (master's), legalised or apostilled
• Certified translations of academic documents
• Language certificate (usually English)
• Completed university application and photos
• Recognition/nostrification documents where the university requires them

The university decides admission; the Polish consulate decides the national visa. Recognition of your certificate is part of admission, while proof of funds and other conditions belong to the visa — treat them as two tracks that must both succeed.

For the visa stage, see our student visa preparation guide.

Tuition is set per university and programme. English-taught programmes are usually fee-paying for international students, though amounts vary and are often lower than in some Western European countries. Confirm the current fee on the official programme page.

The winter semester (starting around October) is the main intake, and some programmes also admit for the summer semester (around February/March). Application windows are set by each university — confirm current dates.

Living costs are generally moderate by European standards but vary by city. Budget for accommodation, food, transport, insurance and residence formalities, and check city-specific estimates.

The national visa requires evidence of sufficient funds for living costs and return. The required amount and accepted format are set by the authorities — confirm the current requirement with the Polish consulate.

Poland's national agency NAWA runs scholarship programmes for international students, and universities offer their own awards. Eligibility (including which countries or fields qualify) and cycles change — check current NAWA programmes and the university's scholarship page for options open to Iraqi applicants.

See also scholarships for Iraqi students.

Iraqi students apply for a national (type D) long-stay visa at the Polish consulate and complete residence formalities after arrival. Confirm the current document list with the consulate, which is the deciding authority.

• Start certificate legalization or apostille early — it is usually required and can take time in Iraq.
• Ask each university directly whether nostrification (formal recognition) is required, as it varies between institutions.
• Arrange certified translations of your documents into Polish or English as the university specifies.

• Underestimating how long certificate legalization and translation take.
• Assuming every Polish university requires nostrification — some do not, so confirm per university.
• Assuming English-taught means free — most such programmes charge tuition.

Can Iraqi students study in Poland?

Yes. Iraqi students can apply directly to Polish universities, many of which offer English-taught programmes. The key extra steps are legalising or apostilling your certificate, translating it, and (for some universities) having it formally recognised. The national visa is applied for separately at the Polish consulate.

Can I study in English in Poland?

Yes. Poland offers a wide range of English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes, so Polish is often not required. English-taught programmes require English evidence at the level the university sets.

What is nostrification?

Nostrification is the formal recognition of a foreign qualification as equivalent to a Polish one. Some universities require it for admission and some do not, so confirm the requirement with each university.

Do I need to legalise my certificate?

Usually yes. Iraqi certificates typically need legalization or an apostille plus certified translation before a Polish university will accept them. Start this early, as it can take time.

These are the official bodies that govern the topics above and where you should confirm current details such as fees, deadlines, proof-of-funds amounts and scholarship cycles. They are pointers to the deciding authorities, not a substitute for their official guidance.

• Study in Poland / scholarships — NAWA (Poland) (opens in a new tab)
• Study in Poland — Study in Poland (opens in a new tab)
• Poland — entry and visas — Government of Poland (opens in a new tab)