Academy of Silesia (Akademia Śląska), Katowice

The Academy of Silesia, Polish Akademia Śląska, is a private university headquartered in Katowice. It developed from the Wyższa Szkoła Techniczna founded in 2001 and has borne its current name since 2022. The medicine programme is based at the Prof. Zbigniew Religa Faculty of Medical Sciences, lasts twelve semesters, and leads to the Polish title lekarz. An important clarification: this university is not the same as the state Medical University of Silesia at the same location, which appears as a separate entry in the directory.

What makes the faculty stand out

The programme is offered in English and alternatively in Polish; the Polish Accreditation Committee PKA has awarded it a positive programme evaluation. The first two years form the pre-clinical phase with anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, histology, and embryology; from the third year onwards the clinical phase covers internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, gynaecology, neurology, and psychiatry. The final year is entirely practically oriented and corresponds to the German Praktisches Jahr. The programme comprises approximately 360 ECTS credits in total.

Two aspects distinguish this location from many others. First, the selection process: candidates are ranked by their school leaving grades in biology and a further natural science subject, and where those grades are insufficient or not directly comparable, entrance tests in biology and chemistry may be taken instead. School-level subject matter is tested. Second, the start dates: the programme begins both in the winter semester and in the summer semester, which is not standard among European locations and can save a half-year wait.

Where the limitations lie

The fees are graduated and increase twice during the programme: €7,200 per semester in the first and second year, €7,950 in the third and fourth, and €8,250 in the fifth and sixth. Over twelve semesters this amounts to around €93,600, with €500–700 per month on top for living costs. Anyone who only calculates the first academic year underestimates the burden of the later years. Study abroad BAföG is in principle available for an EU country, but does not cover the fees alone.

Teaching takes place in both Katowice and Zabrze, so commuting between the two cities is part of everyday life and needs to be factored into the search for accommodation. Then there is language: teaching is in English, but patients at the teaching hospitals speak Polish. The accompanying Polish language courses are therefore compulsory and represent real additional workload alongside anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry.

Who this location suits

The Academy of Silesia suits you if a clear science-based selection process appeals to you, if you need a flexible study start date, and if you can sustain the increasing fees over six years. Anyone looking for a public university with its own university hospital, or wishing to avoid commuting, should consider other locations. For the later career path in Germany, the private status of the institution makes no difference, since recognition depends on the EU directive rather than on the type of provider. Whether your grades are sufficient for the direct route or whether a test is the better option is something Medschool Experts assesses individually in a free consultation.

Admission

The general university entrance qualification is required; there is no numerus clausus as in Germany. Selection is based on your school leaving grades in biology and a further natural science subject. If those grades are insufficient or not directly comparable, you may take entrance tests in biology and chemistry instead; school-level subject matter is tested, nothing beyond that. The English-language programme additionally requires an English language certificate at B2 level. Your school grade alone does not decide admission. Those who revise biology and chemistry in advance approach the process with greater confidence.

Deadlines

The programme starts in both the winter semester and the summer semester, giving two application cycles per year. Places in the English-language programme are nevertheless limited, so an early start remains the most important lever. The specific dates for each cycle are confirmed in advance of each intake. The application process is generally fully online; travel to Katowice is not required. Which entry point is realistic for you and what it means in terms of timing is assessed individually in a free consultation.

Tuition fees and cost of living

The fees are graduated: €7,200 per semester in the first and second academic year, €7,950 in the third and fourth, and €8,250 in the fifth and sixth. Over twelve semesters this totals around €93,600. In addition there are one-off costs around the application and move, as well as ongoing expenses for textbooks, coat, and materials, plus travel between Katowice and Zabrze. Budget €500–700 per month for rent, food, insurance, and transport. Because the semester costs rise during the programme, your financing plan should cover all six years, not just the start.

Programme structure and language of instruction

The programme lasts twelve semesters and comprises approximately 360 ECTS credits. Teaching is in English, alternatively in Polish. In the first two years you work through the pre-clinical fundamentals of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, histology, and embryology, alongside compulsory Polish language courses. These courses are not an add-on: without them, later patient contact does not work, and they run in addition to the already demanding academic programme. The specialist medical vocabulary in English also comes to everyone as something new, regardless of school-level English.

Clinical training and practice

From the third year onwards the clinical phase begins with internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, gynaecology, neurology, and psychiatry. Clinical placements take place at the faculty's teaching hospitals in Katowice and Zabrze, within the Upper Silesian conurbation of around two million people. The final year is entirely practically oriented and corresponds to the German Praktisches Jahr. You can do Famulaturen (elective placements) in Germany during semester breaks; recognition of these is decided by the relevant authority, so clarify this early. Keep asking for your Transcript of Records with subjects, grades, and ECTS credits, as you will need it for recognition and applications.

Recognition in Germany

Poland is a member of the European Union. The title lekarz therefore falls under automatic recognition pursuant to Directive 2005/36/EC, Annex V, as amended by Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2023/2383. No equivalence assessment is required, and no knowledge examination; the application goes to the Approbation authority of the federal state in which you wish to work. The state examination LEK and the practical placement year Staż are requirements for professional registration in Poland only and are not required for the German Approbation.

Life in Katowice

Katowice has around 280,000 inhabitants and is the centre of the Upper Silesia metropolitan region with approximately two million people. The city, once shaped by coal mining, has become a services and conference hub; the site of the former Katowice colliery now houses the Silesian Museum and the concert hall of the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra. The cost of living is well below that of many German university cities, and public transport covers the entire conurbation.

Accommodation and everyday life

The usual options are dormitory places, private flats, and rooms in shared accommodation across the city; the market is broad because of the size of the region, but noticeably busier at the start of the semester. When looking for accommodation, bear in mind how you will get to Zabrze, as part of teaching takes place there. For travel to Germany, Katowice-Pyrzowice airport is around 30 kilometres to the north, and Kraków is roughly an hour and a half by train. €500–700 per month covers rent, food, insurance, and transport; the exact amount depends mainly on whether you live alone or in a shared flat.

Is the Academy of Silesia the same as the state Medical University of Silesia?

No. The Academy of Silesia (Akademia Śląska) is a private university in Katowice; the state Medical University of Silesia is a separate institution at the same location. Both train doctors but have their own application processes and their own fees. When researching, be precise about which of the two institutions is meant, otherwise you are comparing the wrong figures.

How does the selection process work?

Selection is based on your school leaving grades in biology and a further natural science subject. If they are insufficient or not directly comparable, entrance tests in biology and chemistry are available instead. School-level subject matter is tested. The English-language programme additionally requires an English certificate at B2 level. There is no numerus clausus.

What does the programme cost?

The fees are graduated: €7,200 per semester in the first and second academic year, €7,950 in the third and fourth, and €8,250 in the fifth and sixth, totalling around €93,600. Add €500–700 per month for living costs. Plan the financing across all six years, not just for the start of the programme.

Can I start in the summer semester?

Yes. The medicine programme in Katowice starts in both the winter semester and the summer semester. This is not standard among European locations and can save a half-year wait if one intake does not work out. The specific start dates are confirmed in advance of each intake, which is why an early application is worthwhile.

Is the degree recognised in Germany?

Yes. As an EU degree, the title lekarz falls under automatic recognition pursuant to Directive 2005/36/EC, Annex V. No equivalence or knowledge examination is required; the application goes to the Approbation authority of your federal state. The state examination LEK and the practical placement year Staż concern only professional registration in Poland.